16th Region Championship

Boyd County Lions (27-6, Media Poll #22) | Ashland Tomcats (22-10)

? | Ellis T. Johnson Arena in Morehead 

Tip-off | 7:00pm tonight 

? | The swish of game clinching free throws by the Lions and Tomcats in their semifinal victories was the sound of inevitability. 

"You hear that Mr. Anderson?"

They began the season at the top of the 16th Region rankings. There were hiccups along the way, but nevertheless, we've come full circle, much to the chagrin of the folks in Flemingsburg, Morehead, and anyone else railing against the establishment. 

The Lions are reaching for a broom to complete the four game season sweep, but as close as the series has been this year, it may as well be 0-0. The last two encounters needed more than 32 minutes to decide a winner.

This is the third straight season they'll decide who reps the 16th at Rupp, with Ashland taking the previous two. The Tomcats pounced on Boyd early last year and never looked back for a stunning 22 point win in the finals. Has the trap been laid again?

Streaming Option #1 (KOOLHITS)

 

Streaming Option #2 (MyTownTV)

 

Starting Line-ups

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

Ashland ?? - Carter, Jennings, Frieze, Davis, Adkins

Aggressive start for Jennings highlights the early minutes. He's already got 8, including a pair of 3s.

Both sides are getting after it, but the Tomcats are getting the better of it early.

12-6 Ashland 

3:26 1Q 

End of 1Q 

Ashland 16

Boyd County 13

High energy first quarter by both. Jennings was hot early, then Spurlock heated up late, including the deepest 3 of the tournament by anyone.

Typically crisp ball movement by Ashland has freed up shooters for open perimeter shots, which they're converting. They're also winning the battle of the boards, 12-5.

22-18 Tomcats

4:15 2Q 

Media timeout. 

25-21 Ashland 

2:20 2Q 

Halftime

Ashland 25

Boyd County 23

 

Not always the most aesthetically pleasing half of basketball, but the intensity never let up. Ashland had the upper hand, leading by as many as seven on multiple occasions, but Boyd responded as you'd expect in a rivalry game between two really good teams in a win or go home scenario. 

Adkins and Carter open the second half with high level shots in the lane.

Timeout Boyd.

29-23 Tomcats 

6:00 3Q 

Ashland comes out of the locker room smoking. A 9-0 run has opened up the largest lead of the game. 

Timeout Boyd.

34-23 Ashland 

4:56 3Q 

End of 3Q 

Ashland 42

Boyd County 29

The game has been ultra physical from the start, but the whistles really picked up in the 3Q. Boyd looks on the verge of coming apart. Randy Anderson needs to spin some magic in that huddle if the Lions are going to make this interesting down the stretch.

Ellis picks up his fourth foul and hits the bench. Not what Boyd needed.

Ashland has this game by the throat now.

Timeout Boyd.

53-39 Ashland 

4:00 4Q 

Ashland can smell it now. Boyd simply has nothing going its way. 

55-39 Tomcats 

Media timeout. 

2:55 to go