16th Region Week 12 Review

 

No changes in the top 10 of the rankings, meaning Ashland Blazer and Boyd County finish the regular season tied for No. 1. Defending regional champion Ashland, Russell, Fleming County and East Carter captured top seeds at their respective district tournaments, which get underway this week at various locations. Defending district champion Ashland Blazer is the top seed in the 64th. Russell is top-seeded in the 63rd and defending champ. East Carter is the No. 1 seed in the 62nd District while Fleming sits atop the 61st. Elliott County is defending 62nd District champ and Rowan County defends the 61st. The KABC named Bath County's Zack Otis regional player of the year and Russell's Derek Cooksey coach of the year. Here are the rankings, highlighting who's hot and who's not.

 

Regional Rankings:

 

1. Ashland Blazer (18-10, 8-1 region, 3-1 64th District): The Tomcats were idle last week. They haven't played since Feb. 11. They went 6-4 over the final 10 games. As the No. 1 seed, they face No. 4 Rose Hill Christian in the district tournament opener. Barring an upset, they are destined to play Boyd County twice more, in the district and regional tournament finals, after splitting this season's two regular-season meetings with the Lions. 

 

1. Boyd County (23-5, 10-1, 3-1 64th): The Lions won their last two regular season games, beating Russell 78-64 and Morgan County 73-56 with 28 points from Jacob Spurlock for a 2-0 week. They won 12 of their last 13 games and finished with the region's best KHSAA RPI at .645. The No. 2 seed Lions host No. 3 Fairfield at Boyd County Middle School in the district tournament opener.

 

3. Fleming County (20-8, 10-2, 5-1 61st): The Panthers defeated a 24-6 Harrison County squad 55-48 at home in the season finale for a 1-0 week. Lucas Jolly led the team with 16 points and nine rebounds. They finished the season on an eight-game winning streak. They have won 11 of their last 12 and host the 61st District tournament with the No. 1 seed, playing No. 4 Menifee County in the opener.

 

4. Russell (24-5, 19-3, 6-1 63rd): The Red Devils went 2-1, losing to Boyd County by 14 and beating Fairview 81-63 and Rowan County 67-56. Damon Charles scored 31 points against Fairview. Went 3-2 after the 16-game winning streak ended. Earned the No. 1 seed in the district tournament with a first-round date against No. 4 Raceland at Lewis County Middle School.

 

5. Morgan County (20-7, 8-3, 5-1 62nd): The Cougars finished the week 1-1 with an 85-67 win over Buckhorn in the finale thanks to a 41-point explosion by Preston Hoskins. They've won seven of their last eight and claimed the No. 2 seed in the district, hosting No. 3 West Carter in the tournament opener.

 

6. Rowan County (13-15, 9-8, 4-2 61st District): The Vikings lost to Russell by 11 in the final game, ending the regular season on a four-game losing streak. They lost six of their final eight. They are the No. 2 seed in the district, playing No. 3 Bath County in the tournament opener. They have beaten Bath County twice this season and split two games with East Carter.

 

7. Bath County (15-12, 8-8, 3-3, 61st): Beat Lynn Camp 94-76 with 44 points from Zack Otis in the last regular season game. Went 5-7 over the final 12. Has beaten East Carter twice.

 

8. East Carter (18-9, 14-5, 5-1 62nd): The Raiders won their season finale, beating Lewis County with 23 points from Blake Hall, to finish the season on a five-game winning streak. They won 12 of their last 15 games and are the No. 1 seed in the district tournament, playing No. 4 Elliott County in the first round. Split a pair of games against Morgan County.

 

9. Greenup County (11-17, 8-9, 3-3 63rd): The Musketeers lot their last two games and had one cancelled due to weather. They had gone 8-2 over the previous 10 games. They play Lewis County in the district tournament opener.

 

10. Raceland (13-17, 8-12, 1-6 63rd): The Rams went 1-1, beating Greenup County and losing to Lawrence County in double overtime in the season finale. They lost 12 of their last 15 games.

 

11. Menifee County (10-19, 5-11, 0-6 61st): The Wildcats went 1-1 with a regular season-ending win against Nicholas County. They lost 10 of their last 13 but beat Fairview by 10.

 

12. Fairview (15-15, 7-11, 2-4 64th): The Eagles went 1-1, winning the regular season finale 105-55 over St. Patrick. Won four of their last five and beat West Carter twice.

 

13. Lewis County (9-18, 8-8, 3-3 63rd): The Lions lost their only game of the week in the season finale against East Carter. They won four of their last six. Beat West Carter by 23.

 

14. West Carter (7-19, 4-7, 2-4 62nd): The Comets won their last two games with a 26-point win over Elliott County. They had lost eight of 10.

 

15. Elliott County (3-24, 1-18, 0-6 62nd): The Lions went 1-1 for the week and had their last game cancelled due to weather. The win over Menifee County to start the week, their first in the region, snapped a 17-game losing streak.

 

16. Rose Hill Christian (7-22, 0-10, 0-2 64th): The Royals ended an 11-game losing streak and won their last three regular season games, one by forfeit.

16th Region Top Scorers

Zack Otis, Bath County 28.0
Brevon Ricker, Menifee County 24.2
Zander Carter, Ashland Blazer 22.3
Tanner Johnson, Fairview 20.7
Jacob Spurlock, Boyd County 20.6
Christian Blevins, Rose Hill Christian 18.6
Cole Hicks, Boyd County 18.5
Seth Hickerson, Fleming County 18.3