16th Region Semifinal

Boyd County Lions (26-6, Media Poll #22) | Rowan County Vikings (23-10)

? | Ellis T. Johnson Arena in Morehead

Tip-off | Monday night at 6:30pm

? | It took the full 32 minutes, but the Lions were able to shake loose from East Carter in the quarters. Boyd has spent the last two games in grind mode. Meanwhile, Rowan County is rolling after claiming its district title and handily dispatching Russell by 25 in its quarterfinal. The optics inspire belief that this won't resemble the 36 point spanking the Lions handed the Vikings five weeks ago. Boyd shot a blistering 74% inside the arc while connecting for eleven threes that night. The defense did a masterful job denying good looks for Rowan's leading scorer, Colby Wilburn, who was relegated to a season low three points. Rowan's best is good enough to pull this off, but the defense has to reign the Lions in and Wilburn can't have another 1/9 night from the field.

Player Spotlight

BC ?? - Jacob Spurlock (22.6 ppg/125 3s) | Cole Hicks (14.6 ppg/72 3s) | Jason Ellis (11 ppg/7 rpg/62% FGs)

RC ?? - Colby Wilburn (17 ppg/79 3s) | Brayden Mirus (14 ppg/53% FGs) | Dashawn Watson (11 ppg/5.7 rpg) 

Streaming Option #1 (KOOLHITS)

 

Option two from Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=notif&v=416833060712434&notif_id=1710195292130974

Starting Line-ups

Boyd County - Spurlock, Hicks, Ellis, Holbrook, Taylor 

Rowan County - Wilburn, Watson, Mirus, Ingles, Maxey

Boyd is dialed in offensively, Spurlock and Ellis in particular. Ellis has 7, Spur has 5. Each has a three.

14-7 Lions

3:00 1Q

Spurlock shakes a defender and buries a 3.

Ingles knocks down his own triple for Rowan.

Three for Mirus. Little 6-0 spurt for Rowan.

19-15 Lions

:30 1Q

End of 1Q 

Boyd County 19

Rowan County 15

The Vikings are determined early not to let recent history repeat itself. When Boyd lands a haymaker, Rowan fires back. Really good opening quarter.

Rowan has ripped off an 18-2 run to surge in front. They've got Boyd off balance, scoring from all angles.

Timeout Boyd.

Ingles for 3. Rowan is pouring it on.

Ellis and Spurlock combine for three straight buckets for Boyd to stem the tide.

30-29 Rowan

2:00 2Q

Halftime

Rowan County 32

Boyd County 31

 

Wildly entertaining and well played half of basketball. At 19-9, it appeared Boyd was about to run this one out of reach, before Rowan erupted for an 18-2 run that wobbled the Lions as badly as I've seen them all season. Boyd returned fire late in the 2Q to nearly pull even at the half.

Rowan is 6/6 from behind the arc and 15/21 over the last game and a half. All of Boyd's offense has come from Ellis, Spurlock, and Taylor, while Rowan's has been dispersed among several Vikings.

Rowan picks up where it left off in the first half. An Ingles 3 puts them ahead by four.

Taylor cans a corner 3 for Boyd.

Holbrook ties the game from long range. His first contribution to the scoreboard. 

43 all

3:05 3Q

The last 90 seconds have been a free throw contest. 

Mirus has dominated the 3Q for Rowan. He's got 10 points this quarter. 

49-48 Rowan

:45 3Q

Taylor steals and takes it himself the other way. No basket, but he got two freebies out of it. Boyd reclaims the lead.

50-49 Lions

:30 3Q

End of 3Q 

Boyd County 50

Rowan County 49

Hicks shot fake and 3 puts Boyd up four.

Ellis continues to have a night. He drives hard and goes off the glass for 2.

Gavin Mirus ties the game with a drive and swooping left handed finish.

55 all Lions

3:50 4Q

Media timeout.

Still tied at 55.

1:58 remaining