Ashland Tomcats ? (22-7)
vs. 
Boyd County Lions ? (23-11)

?Ellis T. Johnson Arena in Morehead 

⏰️ 7:00pm, Tuesday (3/11)

Regular Season Meetings
December 10th: 85-57 ? 
January 31st: 72-66 ? 
February 27th: 96-65 ? 

? | It'll be all teeth and claws, manes and whiskers in Morehead as one of the state's premier rivalries writes the next chapter of a book that may never end.

You couldn't blame anyone for thinking they secretly like one another, with how much time they spend on the court together. But make no mistake about it, there's no one else each team would rather face for all the region's marbles. No other rivals matter when they occupy the same space at the same time. 
Anticipation, intensity, and desperation will fill the air inside Ellis T. Johnson Arena as the two meet again to decide the 16th Region championship. 

They've taken us on a roller-coaster ride this season, with the Tomcats accelerating out of the blocks to rock the Lions by 28 in December. Anyone penciling Ashland in as untouchable had to use the eraser in late January when Boyd won on the Tomcats’ home floor. We were dealt another head scratch inducing curveball a month later as Ashland revisited its December dominance with a very public undressing of the Lions, this time by 31. 

Zander Carter transforms into a bull at the sight of Boyd County red. He's averaged 33.6 ppg in three clashes with the Lions this season. Jacob Spurlock hasn't kept pace in the scoring column, but he's done some of his best work on the boards, averaging 10.6 rpg against Ashland. 

Boyd knows it has what it takes to outlast Ashland, but the Tomcats have proven capable of blowing the Lions off the court. Boyd doesn't necessarily need a fast start, but they can't let Ashland out of reach early. 

What's at stake?
Ashland's seventh consecutive regional championship, which would be a record for the 16th Region. A win for Boyd would be their first since 2018, the year before the Tomcat dynasty took off. The Lions have had opportunities to cut this run short the last three years, but have swung and missed each time. Will tonight be any different?

Players to watch 
? | Zander Carter (24 ppg/6.5 rpg/59% FGs) | Caleb Clarke (11.6 ppg/6 rpg/58% FGs) | Drew Smith, Preston Hoskins, and Tyson Lalonde (combined 29 ppg/175 3s) 

? | Jacob Spurlock (25 ppg/7.5 rpg/145 3s)) | Cole Hicks (16 ppg/96 3s/47% on 3s) | Jackson Childers (13 ppg/6 rpg/55% FGs) | Rhett Holbrook (7.6 ppg/top defender) | Ethan Rardon (9.2 ppg/59 3s)

Live Stream

MyTownTV: MyTownTV on YouTube

KoolHitsTV: KoolHitsTV on YouTube

Hard to beat a team 3 times.

Starting Line-ups

? | Carter, Lalonde, Hoskins, Smith, Clarke

? | Spurlock, Hicks, Holbrook, Childers, Rardon 

Boyd played an excellent quarter and shot around 70% and are still down 1 at 17-16 at the of the first quarter.

Not good for Boyd Co. as Jacob Spurlock limped off the court with what looked like a sprained ankle.

Childers is having a great night so far. He's got 14 points to lead all scorers.

23 all

3:15 2Q 

Clarke for 3 from the top of the key.

Brumfield matches for Boyd. 

26 all

Media timeout. 

2:21 2Q 

Halftime 

Ashland 27

Boyd County 27

 

Clarke and Childers have shouldered the offensive load for their respective teams.

Boyd conducted itself well after Spurlock exited. Can they keep it up for sixteen more minutes?

A great half and big for Boyd to hang without Spurlock.

Cole Hicks was scoreless in the first half. Boyd needs more from him. It's asking an awful lot to beat Ashland with your leading scorer sidelined and your #2 guy missing from the scoring column. 

Kool Hits announced that Spurlock is out for the remainder of the game. A tough break.

If I'm Boyd, I'm riding Childers until Ashland shows they can stop him.

Clarke again for 3, his fourth of the night.

Carter makes it two straight 3s for Ashland. 

33-29 Ashland 

5:40 3Q 

Congrats to Zander Carter who just surpassed Jonthan Fergerson as the 16th region tournament all-time leading scorer.

Carter goes right at/past Holbrook for 2.

35-29 Ashland 

Timeout Boyd.

5:29 3Q 

Hoskins has four fouls for Ashland. 

Clarke joins him with four, moments later.