Area product helps propel Governors

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Like everybody else associated with Austin Peay's men's basketball team, Corey Gipson was intent on seeing the Governors prove all the so-called experts wrong.

The Govs did just that -- with a major assist from former local star Gipson.

Gipson, who split his prep career playing for Scott County Central and Richland high schools before attending Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, scored 13 points Saturday as Austin Peay defeated Tennessee Tech 63-57 in the championship game of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.

Austin Peay (23-7) earns the OVC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

"It feels great," Gipson, sporting an ear-to-ear grin, said on the floor of the Gaylord Entertainment Center just moments after the victory.

The Govs, after losing standout Nick Stapleton from last year's squad, were not expected to be one of the OVC's better teams this season. Despite returning their other four starters, they were picked to finish fifth in the nine-team league.

Shows you what all those people knew. The Govs tied for the OVC regular-season title, then won three close games in the conference tournament.

"We proved a lot of people wrong," Gipson said.

Gipson, a 6-foot-1 junior guard, turned in a solid if unspectacular regular-season performance during his rookie campaign with the Govs, but he has stepped up his play in the postseason.

During Tuesday's 83-80 first-round OVC Tournament win over Eastern Kentucky, Gipson scored 22 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer with .9 seconds remaining.

After scoring five points during Friday's 59-56 overtime victory over Murray State in the semifinals, Gipson followed with 13 points and stellar defense on Tennessee Tech star Cameron Crisp, who was held to just four points.

Gipson was selected to the five-player all-tournament team.

"I told Corey that he has brought a quality to this team that we would not be sitting here happily like we are had it not been for Corey," Austin Peay coach Dave Loos told the Leaf-Chronicle of Clarksville, Tenn. "Corey's role was to defend, and I think he's the best perimeter defender in this league."

Gipson, who has started all 30 games at point guard this season, is the Govs' fifth-leading scorer at 8.5 points per game. He leads the team in assists with 2.5 a contest.

Gipson has had to tone down his offense quite a bit after averaging 30 points per game as a senior at Richland and also scoring well during two seasons at Three Rivers Community College.

But Gipson, who attended Scott County Central for his first two years of high school before transferring to Richland, doesn't seem to mind. He's getting a chance to play in the NCAA Tournament -- which he figures is plenty reward in itself.

"I couldn't have asked for anything more when I signed with Austin Peay," Gipson said. "It's been a great season."