By ST’s Jim Mashek / Photos ST’s Marlow Hazard
Logan County had the upper hand for most of the first half Monday night in the semifinals of the KHSAA Fourth Region Tournament at E.A. Diddle Arena.
Second-chance points, good shot selection, the Cougars were doing it all against Bowling Green High School.
Then, Dorian Morrison happened.
Did he ever.
Morrison hit all nine of his shots, including a 3-pointer just past the mid-court line before the halftime buzzer, and the only senior on the BGHS roster made them count. Morrison scored 23 points and added five rebounds and four assists as the Purples turned back Logan County 64-52.
“I had a feeling,” Morrison said. “I knew this could be my last game.”
Alas, but it isn’t. The Purples (26-7) will square off with crosstown rival Warren Central (25-7) in the championship game at 6 p.m. Tuesday, with the winner to advance to the state tournament starting March 18 at Lexington’s Rupp Arena.
“You’ve just got to find a way to win!”
BGHS coach Derrick Clubb
That’s where Morrison came in. Isaiah Mason, the Purples’ junior catalyst, got in early foul trouble and Logan County was holding their own on the boards. But Morrison stepped in to take the fight against the Cougars, and he never relented.
“He’s going to the rim every time,” BGHS guard Dez Wilson said.
John Tinsley, the Logan County coach, thought Morrison’s 3 as time expired in the first half was a critical point in the game. The Purples still trailed 30-28, but BGHS players savored the moment as they made their way to the locker room.
“I don’t know how to explain it,” Morrison said. “I saw a spot, got it off and had my follow-through … then, it went in.”
BGHS guard Turner Buttrey, who had a critical play of his own in the fourth quarter — he challenged the Cougars inside, was fouled as he hit the shot and completed the three-point play — said it gave the Purples some confidence.
“There’s a big difference going in five points down, as opposed to two,” he said.
Tinsley agreed.
“That’s a big shot, before the half,” he said. “We got some good looks. Most of the time, we bury them. We didn’t bury them tonight.”
Logan County swingman Anthony Woodard, who led the Cougars with 21 points and six rebounds, buried enough to keep things competitive. Logan County finishes the season 28-4.
“In the second half, we just lost our energy,” Woodard said.
Clubb said the Purples have grown as a team over the last month of the season. They’ll be looking for their first trip to the Sweet Sixteen since 2017, when they won a state championship under former coach D.G. Sherrill.
“These guys play for that jersey right here,” Clubb said.
Buttrey played a team-high 31 minutes and finished with 11 points, four rebounds and two assists. Mason was everywhere on defense and finished with nine points and 14 rebounds. Dez Wilson also had nine points for the Purples.
Dalton Thompson and Jose Nazario each had 12 points for Logan County.
Bowling Green stopped Warren Central 58-51 in the District 14 championship game at South Warren High School, taking a 2-1 series lead in the process. Introductions will not be necessary.
“Now, we just go play,” Clubb said. “Dorian and Dez, that’s the essence of our team right here. They always play hard, even if they’re not getting a lot of minutes. Loved their energy tonight.”
