ashley rochester

SoCal High School & Prep Report

Long Beach Press-Telegram: Ashley
Rochester Profile--(January 28, 1998)

Even though Whitney lost on Tuesday to Campbell Hall by a score of 63 to 55, Whitney has discovered a way to win. Earlier in the season, they were having real trouble finding ways to win. According to the Long Beach Press-Telegram, Whitney finally figured it out: Ashley Rochester (6'-0" Sr. PG).

Whitney coach Joseph Webber's solution was for his team's poor performances was to give the ball to his best player, Ashley Rochester, and clear out. "I learned that from watching (former Dominguez point guard) Kenny Brunner," Webber told the Press-Telegram. "We just said get the ball to Ashley and let (him) go. He's so quick, he breaks down the defense."

Rochester was originally a shooting guard for the Wildcats. But before the start of Delphic League play, Webber moved Rochester to point guard. And the switch has paid off. "He's just taken control," said Webber, whose team has won four of its past seven games to improve to 7-14. Rochester was, prior to the Campbell Hall game on Tuesday, averaging 26 points in four league games, including a week that included 33- and 31-point performances in league losses to highly ranked Pacific Hills (No. 2 in CIF V-AA) and Crossroads (No. 1 in CIF IV-A). He followed those up with 21-point efforts in league wins over Brentwood and Faith Baptist. Even though he struggled a bit against Campbell Hall, he still managed to score 11 points from the field.

"What I'm proud of is that he's not greedy," Webber told the Press-Telegram of Rochester, who had 13 assists in the victories over Brentwood and Faith Baptist. "He's just as happy to dish out assists. His assists have raised the scoring average of (guard Reggie Ligo and forward Eddie Kim)." Webber also lets Rochester shoot freely."I told him that any time he sees us going into a lull, to take it (himself)," Webber told the Press-Telegram. "He's done everything I've asked him to do. All the other players rally around him."

The Wildcats will host Pacific Hills on Friday, and then play Crossroads next Tuesday. Both of the games begin at 6 p.m.