16th Region Week 11 Review

Fleming triggers a reshuffling near the top…. Greenup clinches the 63rd one seed… And Spurlock climbs the ladder of Boyd greats
 

Just as the surface waters were beginning to calm after the overtime classic in Summit, Fleming County cannonballed into the deep end of the 16th Region pool.

How the Panthers would fare versus the region's apex predators was perhaps the most intriguing puzzle piece not already on the board.

Fleming's takedown of Ashland in Flemingsburg is the strongest indicator so far that we shouldn't pencil the exhilarating and all-too-familiar Tomcats vs. Boyd County rivalry in for the region final just yet.

The Panthers are just the third team in the 16th Region to beat the Tomcats since the 2018-2019 season, Russell and Boyd County (obviously) being the other two. 

Credit Buddy Biggs' defense - of which length and quickness play a significant role - for contributing to one of Ashland's worst shooting performances and lowest point total of the season.

The Tomcats recovered to pound Menifee County, while the Panthers kept their momentum rolling with lopsided wins over Menifee - the victim of unfortunate back-to-back schedulung - and Raceland, against whom Fleming shot 15/28 from behind the arc.

The Panthers will look to lay another trap in the den, as Boyd County visits this coming Tuesday followed by border rival Mason County three nights later. By this time next week, we could be anointing a new region #1.
 

In Other News...

Greenup unravels Russell again | The Musketeers have emerged as the clear favorite for the 63rd District championship after decisively beating the Red Devils for the second time while dominating the rebounding column. It was eerily similar to the first encounter, when Greenup trailed after one quarter before owning the next 10-12 minutes of game action. Eli Adkins was a one man show in the first half a month ago, this time it was Bryson Chandley with 18 points before halftime and seemingly grabbing every other rebound or getting a finger on every tipped ball.

Chandley blocking the shot of Russell's Caleb Rimmer. Photo by Matt Jones for the Daily Independent.

 

Spurlock cracks the Top 5 | With two-plus seasons still to play, Boyd's Jacob Spurlock is already joining the ranks of Lions royalty. He followed up a 35 point night against Russell earlier in the week with 32 against Perry County Central on Saturday. He shot a combined 14/24 from three point range for the week. The 67 total points moves him past Phil Pratt for fifth place on Boyd County's all-time scoring list. At this rate, Boyd icons like Frank Lee and Tyler Zornes are squarely in Spurlock's sights.

Spurlock earlier this season against Pikeville. Pic cred to DKO Photos.

 

District Standings

Seeding is set for three of the four districts, with only a coin flip remaining to decide the 61st one seed between Rowan and Fleming.

61st: t1. Rowan County (5-1) | t1. Fleming County  (5-1) | 3. Menifee County (2-4) | 4. Bath County (0-6)

62nd: 1. Morgan County (6-0) | 2. East Carter (4-2) | 3. West Carter (2-4) | 4. Elliott County (0-6)

63rd: 1. Greenup County (5-0) | 2. Russell (4-2) | 3. Raceland (2-4) | 4. Lewis County  (0-5)

64th: 1. Boyd County (3-0) | 2. Ashland (1-2) | 3. Fairview (1-2) | 4. Rose Hill (0-1)

 

 

Sixteen For the 16th (Rankings)

Fleming County leapfrogs Rowan County to #2 after toppling Ashland, despite the Vikings handling of the Panthers on Feb. 2nd. They've split the regular season meetings, with each winning on their home floor. Fleming gets the nod this week when taking resumés into account. Ashland is a hard sell as the fourth best team in the region, but Rowan did nothing to warrant being dropped on top of already being jumped by Fleming.

 

1. Boyd County Lions

Record: 22-4

Weekly Results: beat Russell (93-65) | bear Perry County Central (88-72)

 

2. Fleming County Panthers

Record: 19-7

Weekly Results: beat Ashland (59-48) | beat Menifee County (81-55) | beat Raceland (83-54)

 

3. Rowan County Vikings

Record: 17-8

Weekly Results: beat Montgomery County (66-51) | beat Bath County (65-30) | beat West Carter (67-35)

 

4. Ashland Tomcats

Record: 17-8

Weekly Results: beat Magoffin County (66-52) | lost to Fleming County (48-59) | beat Menifee County (85-50)

 

5. Morgan County Cougars

Record: 16-6

Weekly Results: beat Elliott County (73-45) | beat West Carter (75-53) | beat Greenup County (71-59)

 

6. East Carter Raiders

Record: 14-10

Weekly Results: beat Bath County (62-45) | beat Fairview (81-72)

 

7. Greenup County Musketeers

Record: 14-12

Weekly Results: beat Russell (66-52) | lost to Morgan County (59-71)

 

8. Russell Red Devils

Record: 14-9

Weekly Results: lost to Boyd County (65-93) | lost to Greenup County (52-66) | Coal Grove (OH) (76-52)

 

9. Raceland Rams

Record: 13-12

Weekly Results: lost to Greenup County (60-76) | beat Lewis County (64-55) | lost to Fleming County  (54-83)

 

10. Lewis County Lions

Record: 6-13

Weekly Results: beat West Carter (67-59) | lost to Raceland (55-64)

 

11. West Carter Comets

Record: 7-16

Weekly Results: lost to Lewis County (59-67) | lost to Morgan County (53-75)| lost to Rowan County (35-67)

 

12. Menifee County Wildcats

Record: 8-17

Weekly Results: lost to Powell County  (42-51) | lost to Fleming County (55-81) | lost to Ashland (50-85)

 

13. Bath County Wildcats

Record: 6-18

Weekly Results: beat Rose Hill (91-58) | lost to East Carter (45-62) | lost to Rowan County (30-65)

 

14. Fairview Eagles

Record: 7-18

Weekly Results: lost to East Carter (72-81)

 

15. Elliott County Lions

Record: 3-21

Weekly Results: lost to Jackson City (56-66) | beat Rose Hill (82-44) | lost to Morgan County (45-73) | lost to Jackson City (55-39)

 

16. Rose Hill Royals

Record: 6-13

Weekly Results: lost to Bath County (58-91) | lost to Elliott County (44-82) | forfeit win over Portsmouth Notre Dame (OH)

 

Get To The Point (High Scorers For The Week)

Jacob Spurlock (Boyd County) - 35 against Russell | 32 against Perry County Central 

Seth Hickerson (Fleming County) - 33 against Raceland 

Christian Blevins (Rose Hill) - 31 against Bath County 

Connor Thacker (Raceland) - 29 against Greenup County 

Collin Wilburn (Rose Hill) - 28 against Elliott County 

Julian Puente (Lewis County) - 28 against West Carter