16th Region Week 13 Review and Tournament Preview

 

Here are the key scores from the recently completed week of basketball.

 

61st District Tournament final: Fleming County def. Bath County, 76-61

62nd District Tournament final: Morgan County def. East Carter, 81-48

63rd District Tournament final: Lewis County def. Russell, 66-50

64th District Tournament final: Boyd County def. Ashland Blazer, 74-67

 

All eight teams qualified for the regional tournament.

 

HIGHLIGHTS: Boyd County ended Ashland Blazer's three-year reign as 64th District tournament champion with a seven-point win in the final at Boyd County Middle School. Boyd last won the crown in 2019. Boyd destroyed Fairview 108-69 in the semifinals for its sixth 100-point game of the season. The Lions have played 30 games which means they have scored 100 points 20 percent of the time or once every five games. Boyd beat Ashland with balanced scoring as five players reached double figures led by Cole Hicks' 16. Jason Ellis had a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Six players were in double digits vs. Fairview, led by Hicks' 22. Ellis had 20 points and 11 rebounds in that one. You know it's a good team when leading scorer Jacob Spurlock doesn't make the top of the highlights. All he did was post a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds vs. Fairview followed by 14 points and six rebounds against Ashland.

 

NOTEWORTHY: Lewis County, ranked No. 13 in the final regional rankings, shocked No. 4 Russell in the 63rd District championship game with a 16-point win as Xavier Prater recorded a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds and Caden Box scored 17. Lewis County's late-season turnaround enabled it to come away with a fourth district title in five years. The Lions have won six of their last eight games. They were 3-13 on Jan. 14. Over in the 62nd, Morgan County won the district for the first time since 2018 with a rout of East Carter thanks in part to a 22-point effort from Cameron Adams. Morgan County has won nine of its last 10 games. Fleming County put its winning streak into double figures while winning the 61st District tournament for the first time in nine years. Rowan County had won the last eight crowns.

 

REGIONAL TOURNAMENT AT MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY

 

WEDNESDAY FIRST ROUND

Ashland Blazer (19-11) vs. Morgan County (22-7), 6:30 pm

Russell (25-6) vs. Fleming County (22-8), 8 pm

 

THURSDAY FIRST ROUND

Bath County (16-13) vs. Lewis County (11-18), 6:30 pm

East Carter (19-10) vs. Boyd County (25-5), 8 pm

 

MARCH 6 SEMIFINALS

 

Ashland Blazer-Morgan County winner vs. Russell-Fleming County winner, 6:30 pm

Bath County-Lewis County winner vs. East Carter-Boyd County winner, 8 pm

 

MARCH 7 FINAL 7 PM

 

OUTLOOK: Most everybody is expecting yet another clash between defending champion Ashland Blazer and returning runner-up Boyd County in the championship game. Ashland won last year's final between the city archrivals, 84-52 for a 4-0 sweep of the Lions with an average winning margin of 24 points. This season has been a different story. Boyd has won the last two times out against Ashland after losing the season's first meeting, so confidence is running high. Boyd has won 14 of its last 15 games. Ashland is 7-5 over its last 12.

 

There could be some intrigue along the way. How will Boyd County match up against Bath County should both win first-round games and meet in the semis. They haven't met since 2018. It's worth noting that Bath County pushed Ashland in last year's regional semifinals before losing by just five. However, balance would be an issue. Bath County gives up too many points and gets most of them from its only double-digit scorer, Zack Otis, while Boyd scores points in bunches and gets them from a bunch of different players.

 

There is something similar in the upper bracket. Ashland has not played Morgan County this season. Ashland and Russell could meet in the semis (if Russell beats Fleming County in the first round) after not meeting this season. Russell beat Ashland in their last meeting in 2022. It's been more than two years since Ashland beat Russell. It's a longshot encounter. Russell lost to first-round opponent Fleming County by 21 earlier this season and Fleming is riding a 10-game winning streak. Russell has gone 4-3 since its 16-game winning streak. Co-favorites: Boyd County, Ashland Blazer. Sleeper: Fleming County. Darkhorse: Bath County

 

FINAL REGULAR SEASON REGIONAL RANKINGS (unchanged)

 

1. Ashland Blazer

 

1. Boyd County

 

3. Fleming County

 

4. Russell

 

5. Morgan County

 

6. Rowan County

 

7. Bath County

 

8. East Carter

 

9. Greenup County

 

10. Raceland

 

11. Menifee County

 

12. Fairview

 

13. Lewis County

 

14. West Carter

 

15. Elliott County

 

16. Rose Hill Christian

Nice synopsis Mr. Jones.  I appreciate the time you put into this. 

On 2/26/2023 at 8:34 PM, Basketball Jones said:

16th Region Week 13 Review and Tournament Preview

 

Here are the key scores from the recently completed week of basketball.

 

61st District Tournament final: Fleming County def. Bath County, 76-61

62nd District Tournament final: Morgan County def. East Carter, 81-48

63rd District Tournament final: Lewis County def. Russell, 66-50

64th District Tournament final: Boyd County def. Ashland Blazer, 74-67

 

All eight teams qualified for the regional tournament.

 

HIGHLIGHTS: Boyd County ended Ashland Blazer's three-year reign as 64th District tournament champion with a seven-point win in the final at Boyd County Middle School. Boyd last won the crown in 2019. Boyd destroyed Fairview 108-69 in the semifinals for its sixth 100-point game of the season. The Lions have played 30 games which means they have scored 100 points 20 percent of the time or once every five games. Boyd beat Ashland with balanced scoring as five players reached double figures led by Cole Hicks' 16. Jason Ellis had a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Six players were in double digits vs. Fairview, led by Hicks' 22. Ellis had 20 points and 11 rebounds in that one. You know it's a good team when leading scorer Jacob Spurlock doesn't make the top of the highlights. All he did was post a double-double of 19 points and 12 rebounds vs. Fairview followed by 14 points and six rebounds against Ashland.

 

NOTEWORTHY: Lewis County, ranked No. 13 in the final regional rankings, shocked No. 4 Russell in the 63rd District championship game with a 16-point win as Xavier Prater recorded a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds and Caden Box scored 17. Lewis County's late-season turnaround enabled it to come away with a fourth district title in five years. The Lions have won six of their last eight games. They were 3-13 on Jan. 14. Over in the 62nd, Morgan County won the district for the first time since 2018 with a rout of East Carter thanks in part to a 22-point effort from Cameron Adams. Morgan County has won nine of its last 10 games. Fleming County put its winning streak into double figures while winning the 61st District tournament for the first time in nine years. Rowan County had won the last eight crowns.

 

REGIONAL TOURNAMENT AT MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY

 

WEDNESDAY FIRST ROUND

Ashland Blazer (19-11) vs. Morgan County (22-7), 6:30 pm

Russell (25-6) vs. Fleming County (22-8), 8 pm

 

THURSDAY FIRST ROUND

Bath County (16-13) vs. Lewis County (11-18), 6:30 pm

East Carter (19-10) vs. Boyd County (25-5), 8 pm

 

MARCH 6 SEMIFINALS

 

Ashland Blazer-Morgan County winner vs. Russell-Fleming County winner, 6:30 pm

Bath County-Lewis County winner vs. East Carter-Boyd County winner, 8 pm

 

MARCH 7 FINAL 7 PM

 

OUTLOOK: Most everybody is expecting yet another clash between defending champion Ashland Blazer and returning runner-up Boyd County in the championship game. Ashland won last year's final between the city archrivals, 84-52 for a 4-0 sweep of the Lions with an average winning margin of 24 points. This season has been a different story. Boyd has won the last two times out against Ashland after losing the season's first meeting, so confidence is running high. Boyd has won 14 of its last 15 games. Ashland is 7-5 over its last 12.

 

There could be some intrigue along the way. How will Boyd County match up against Bath County should both win first-round games and meet in the semis. They haven't met since 2018. It's worth noting that Bath County pushed Ashland in last year's regional semifinals before losing by just five. However, balance would be an issue. Bath County gives up too many points and gets most of them from its only double-digit scorer, Zack Otis, while Boyd scores points in bunches and gets them from a bunch of different players.

 

There is something similar in the upper bracket. Ashland has not played Morgan County this season. Ashland and Russell could meet in the semis (if Russell beats Fleming County in the first round) after not meeting this season. Russell beat Ashland in their last meeting in 2022. It's been more than two years since Ashland beat Russell. It's a longshot encounter. Russell lost to first-round opponent Fleming County by 21 earlier this season and Fleming is riding a 10-game winning streak. Russell has gone 4-3 since its 16-game winning streak. Co-favorites: Boyd County, Ashland Blazer. Sleeper: Fleming County. Darkhorse: Bath County

 

FINAL REGULAR SEASON REGIONAL RANKINGS (unchanged)

 

1. Ashland Blazer

 

1. Boyd County

 

3. Fleming County

 

4. Russell

 

5. Morgan County

 

6. Rowan County

 

7. Bath County

 

8. East Carter

 

9. Greenup County

 

10. Raceland

 

11. Menifee County

 

12. Fairview

 

13. Lewis County

 

14. West Carter

 

15. Elliott County

 

16. Rose Hill Christian

 Very thorough, thanks!