Ashland strives for more…. Boyd cruises while Morgan bruises…. And the struggle bus breaks down at the bottom of the region....

An essential ingredient in Ashland's recipe for success over the last several years has been scheduling that goes above and beyond the rest of the region. During the time of year when most teams are settling into the intra-regional grind, the Tomcats veered into the fast lane to welcome highly regarded Covington Catholic. After reminding us of the local pecking order with impressive wins over Russell and Morgan County, Ashland gave the blue Colonels a tussle before succumbing to the interior presence of CovCath big man Caden Miller. 

Highlights:

 

Despite the loss, this is what makes Ashland basketball what it is; the willingness to think bigger than anyone else around. They'll "think big" again in about three weeks when they host top ranked Great Crossing. 

Region #1 Boyd County went through three opponents last week like a hot knife through butter, averaging 93 points per game and winning by an average margin of 44 points. Jacob Spurlock set the pace, scoring 26 ppg during the three game sweep. 

 

Like Ashland's handling of Russell and Morgan County, Boyd similarly took it to Greenup County to further establish the class separation, the Lions and Tomcats being upper class and still seemingly beyond the reach of the middle.

Morgan County's week went from bad (17 point loss to Ashland) to worse, as the Cougars also dropped a fourteen point game to Breathitt County, necessitating a slip in the rankings below a Rowan County team that beat Breathitt by 23 a few days earlier. They've been without Eli Griffith for a few games and may have to get by without leading scorer Preston Hoskins for an extended period of time.

Menifee County, Bath County, Fairview, Elliott County, and Rose Hill found the win column elusive last week, going a combined 0-9. Aside from a pair of single digit losses by Menifee and Elliott, seven of the nine losses were by an average margin of 35 points. On the bright side, this is rock bottom. Things can only look up from here, as a few of those teams cross paths this week, guaranteeing wins.

 

District Standings

61st: 1. Fleming County (3-0) | 2. Rowan County (2-1) | 3. Menifee County (1-2) | 4. Bath County (0-3)

62nd: 1. Morgan County (3-0) | 2. East Carter (3-1) | 3. West Carter (2-3) | 4. Elliott County (0-4)

63rd: 1. Greenup County (2-0) | 2. Russell (3-1) | t3. Raceland (0-2) | t3. Lewis County  (0-2)

64th: 1. Boyd County (2-0) | 2. Ashland (1-1) | 3. Fairview (0-2) | Rose Hill hasn't played a district game yet

 

Sixteen For the 16th (Rankings)

1. Boyd County Lions

Record: 17-4

Weekly Results: beat Huntington Expression Prep (WV) (96-54) | beat Fairview (98-43) | beat Greenup County (86-51)

 

2. Ashland Tomcats

Record: 13-6

Weekly Results: beat Russell (67-42) | beat Morgan County (69-52) | lost to Covington Catholic (52-59)

 

3. Fleming County Panthers

Record: 14-6

Weekly Results: lost to Montgomery County (74-80) | beat Rowan County (61-51)

 

4. Rowan County Vikings

Record: 12-7

Weekly Results: beat Breathitt County (81-58) | beat Bath County (69-39) | lost to Fleming County (51-61)

 

5. Morgan County Cougars

Record: 12-5

Weekly Results: lost to Ashland (52-69) | lost to Breathitt County (75-89)

 

6. Greenup County Musketeers

Record: 11-10

Weekly Results: beat Raceland (69-59) | lost to Boyd County (51-86)

 

7. Russell Red Devils

Record: 10-7

Weekly Results: lost to Ashland (42-67) | beat Lewis County (57-49)

 

8. East Carter Raiders

Record: 10-9

Weekly Results: lost to Lawrence County (58-65) | beat Menifee County (72-48) | beat West Carter (54-48)

 

9. Raceland Rams

Record: 10-9

Weekly Results: lost to Greenup County (59-69) | lost to Clinton County (39-61)

 

10. Lewis County Lions

Record: 5-9

Weekly Results: lost to Cov. Holy Cross (48-59) | lost to Russell (49-57)

 

11. West Carter Comets

Record: 7-10

Weekly Results: beat Elliott County (49-41) | lost to East Carter (48-54)

 

12. Menifee County Wildcats

Record: 7-12

Weekly Results: lost to Estill County (37-69) | lost to East Carter (48-72) | lost to Iroquois (52-58)

 

13. Bath County Wildcats

Record: 5-13

Weekly Results: lost to Rowan County (39-69)

 

14. Fairview Eagles

Record: 6-15

Weekly Results: lost to Boyd County (43-98)

 

15. Elliott County Lions

Record: 2-16

Weekly Results: lost to Prestonsburg (45-78) | lost to West Carter (41-49)

 

16. Rose Hill Royals

Record: 5-9

Weekly Results: lost to Portsmouth East (55-85) | lost to Model (30-74)

 

Get To The Point (High Scorers For The Week)

Zander Carter (Ashland) - 31 against Morgan County

Jacob Spurlock (Boyd County) - 30 against Greenup County and 25 against Fairview

Seth Hickerson (Fleming County) - 29 against Montgomery County

Christian Blevins (Rose Hill) - 28 against Portsmouth East 

Brevon Ricker (Menifee County) - 28 against East Carter 

Connor Thacker (Raceland) - 27 against Greenup County 

Colby Wilburn (Rowan County) - 25 against Breathitt County

9 hours ago, DevilMayCare said:

They've been without Eli Griffith for a few games and may have to get by without leading scorer Preston Hoskins for an extended period of time.

It appears I jumped the gun here. Hoskins played tonight against Knott County Central with a face mask. Apologies if anyone was mislead by my erroneous assumption.