16th Region News and Notes

• What a difference nine days makes…. Rowan County survived Boyd County's three point assault on January 13th to earn a berth in the State “2A” Tournament. The Lions connected on 15 threes that night, but the Vikings gutted out a statement win and temporarily found themselves on top of the world, at least within the confines of the region. 

Rowan has found wins impossible to come by in the days since. They've lost four straight, including an 84-45 shellacking at the hands of Boyd County in a rematch last week. 

The Lions unleashed a torrent of three balls, connecting with ruthless efficiency and volume from behind the arc. Their 20 made threes are the fifth most ever in a single game in KHSAA history. 

Jacob Spurlock scored 29, moving him to #2 on Boyd's all-time scoring list. He's got Frank Lee in his sights, and it's not really a matter of if, but when he ascends to the top. Just 149 points separates the two, meaning it's likely to happen within the next few weeks.

 

Things snowballed for the Jekyll and Hyde Vikings as they followed up the Boyd loss with a 79-73 overtime defeat to a Bath County team sitting on just four wins going in. Rowan led by fourteen in the 4Q, but wilted down the stretch as Bath turned it on. Preston Roussos, Montana Brashear, Jacob Breeding, and Isaac Ulery accounted for 73 of Bath's 79 points. Roussos posted game highs for points (23) and rebounds (13).

Boyd County backed up the blowout of Rowan with a 72-53 victory over Morgan County. The Lions connected on ten more threes, giving them seven games in a row reaching double digits from long range. They have tune-ups coming against Fairview and West Carter before taking another swing at Ashland next Friday (1/31).

• Speaking of the Tomcats, they conquered Pike County with wins over Pike Central and Pikeville on consecutive days to extend their win streak to ten games. Zander Carter is justly recognized as the straw that stirs the drink for the region's top team, but he's been content deferring to teammates of late. Caleb Clarke continues to flourish in his first season as a featured player, posting 19 & 9 against Pike Central, while Tyson Lalonde canned five threes as part of a 28 point outburst against Pikeville. Ashland now has several days off to prep for Boyd County. 

• Lewis County brushed off January 3rd's 25 point drubbing to Russell to down the Devils in Vanceburg, 57-52. The visitors appeared to be on their way to another convincing district win, leading by 14 over the offensively challenged Lions. The halftime speech must have been a dandy, because Lewis erupted for 26 points in the 3Q and completely erased the deficit. Drew Noble was instrumental in the second half turnaround, scoring 17 of his game high 23 after halftime.

• Defense played a pivotal role in Elliott County's run to the region's All “A” title from January 4th-16th. The Lions allowed 47 ppg across three tournament contests. That defense boarded the bus for the All “A” state tourney last week, but the offense was left behind in Sandy Hook. The Lions battled Danville Christian Academy toe-to-toe on one end of the floor, but could only muster a season low 23 points on the other end, losing by 22 to the eventual All “A” state champs.

• The two sides of the Carter County coin continue to do their dance. East found the latest two-step much more agreeable than the season's first, three weeks earlier. West emerged by a point that night on a pair of final second free throws from the cool hand of Jacob Waddell. There would be no drama this time, as the Raiders strangled the Comets, defensively, rolling by a final of 46-24.

• After blasting border rival Mason County, Fleming County stepped outside the region again for their only game last week. The Panthers took on Media Poll #24 Cooper. The surging Jags and star Andy Johnson proved too much, prevailing 64-51.

Ranking The Region

1. Ashland (13-5) ? 

2. Boyd County (9-8) ?

3. Fleming County (12-5) ?

4. Elliott County (10-4) ? 

5. Lewis County (10-5) ?

6. Raceland (14-5) ?

7. Rowan County (8-10) ??

8. Russell (7-8) ?

9. Morgan County (7-9) ??

10. Bath County (6-9) ??

11. Greenup County (5-11) ??

12. East Carter (5-10) ??

13. West Carter (3-14) ☄️

14. Menifee County (3-15) ??

15. Fairview (4-13) ?

Player Of The Week 
Preston Roussos (Bath County) - The stat sheet star of the Wildcats’ OT upset of Rowan County. He posted a double-double of 23 & 13, both season highs. His work in the paint was a catalyst for Bath County and his free-throws in the final moments of OT drove a final nail in Rowan's coffin.

Nice work DevilMayCare!  Appreciate the time and effort. Always well written and informative.