Ellis T. Johnson Arena in Morehead sets the stage as one of the more heated rivalries in the Commonwealth will decide who reps the 16th Region at Rupp Arena.

Ashland (21-11) has won the last four region crowns, but Boyd County (27-5) has taken two in a row off the Tomcats this season. These are without question the two best teams in the 16th.

 

 

Zander Carter scores in transition off a steal to open the scoring.

2-0 Ashland

Carter off to a strong start with a transition bucket and a three.

5-2 Ashland

6:21 in the 1Q

Another 3 for Carter.

Timeout Boyd County at 5:28 of the 1Q.

10-2 Ashland

Rheyce Deboard cans a 3. Ashland looking good.

17-6 Tomcats

Media timeout at 2:48 of the 1Q

Carter with ten points in the 1Q.

21-6 Ashland

The Tomcats are picking up where they left off last night from behind the arc. Tristan Davis just knocked down another before the end of the quarter. All Ashland early.

 

End of the 1Q

Ashland 24

Boyd County 6

Boyd shooting 3/15 in the 1Q and 0/7 from deep. Getting killed on the boards too.

Boyd's finding success in the lane, but can't get stops. Ashland still in command.

35-18 Tomcats

3:32 in the 2Q

Drive and dish from Deboard to Nate Frieze.

37-18 Ashland

1:23 in the 2Q

Halftime

Ashland 39

Boyd County 22

 

The Lions settled down in the 2Q, but dug a deep hole in the 1st. Too deep to claw out of? Still a lot of basketball to go, but Ashland is looking good for a fifth straight trip to Rupp.

Nice fade away jumper by an ailing Jacob Spurlock.

41-27 Ashland

Another smooth J from Spurlock.

43-29 Ashland

5:39 in the 3Q

Boyd is on the move. Jason Ellis to the line for a possible and-1... he converts.

43-32 Ashland

We've got a single digit game. The Lions are on a 12-4 run. Timeout Ashland.

43-34 Tomcats

4:42 in the 3Q