Is anyone feeling like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day ? 

 

Ashland wins the region. Reload. Repeat ×7.

We're stuck in a feline frenzy timeline, one where Ashland teaches a masterclass on dribbling, passing, shooting, and defending every March in Morehead.

If you reside in Cannonsburg, Flemingsburg, Russell/Flatwoods, Morehead, or any other corner of the 16th Region, the last seven years have been like banging your head against a brick wall. It's got to be growing tiresome for the Cannonsburg crowd, in particular. They've poked holes in Ashland’s cloak of invincibility, only to have their Lionheart cut out when the stakes are highest.

It's not getting old for the folks in and around Blazer. They are bathing in the glory of repetition after a region record seventh straight championship. It's become a death/taxes situation in NEKY.

But there's always next year. Another opportunity to usurp the ?. So let's spend the off-season months looking for a ?.

• What does Ashland have left in the tank after the graduation of Zander Carter? Caleb Clarke and Elijah Neel will be two of the region's best. They may very well be your pre-season #1, but how sure is their footing? 
• Does Jacob Spurlock need a region title to cement his place as an all-time great in the 16th? He's got the individual accolades, but has yet to elevate Boyd County above and beyond region borders.
• Is Russell ready to take the training wheels off? We've heard about their youth, ad nauseam, for the last couple of years. They've crawled, then walked. It's time to watch them run.
•  Can small schools take big steps? Raceland, Elliott County, and Morgan County return pieces that should have them all trending up in the region pecking order.
• Be it predictions, off-season rankings, coaching changes, transfers, schedules… you name it, this is the place for it.

I know from my OVC Middle School Conference both Ashland and Boyd Co. have a lot of talent coming up. Boyd won the 7th grade title even without their big 6'7 7th grader playing and Ashland won the 8th grade without two of their top 8th graders playing in the tournament.

Boyd County has added a point guard from Huntington (WV). This will soften the graduation loss of Cole Hicks and give Spurlock a penetrator and distributor to help set up perimeter shots, which the Lions jack up in abundance.

More additions in Cannonsburg....

Gunnar Woods (6'3" SG) has transferred to Boyd County from neighboring Lawrence County. Woods averaged close to 19 ppg last season and led the Bulldogs with 82 threes.

The rich get richer.

 

On 5/28/2025 at 6:51 PM, DevilMayCare said:

More additions in Cannonsburg....

Gunnar Woods (6'3" SG) has transferred to Boyd County from neighboring Lawrence County. Woods averaged close to 19 ppg last season and led the Bulldogs with 82 threes.

The rich get richer.

 

It is strange to me that an Athletic Director and Administration would allow an official team page to announce transfers.  May not be a good thing to do.  I believe that I would find another social media person.

Bump.

Appears that the Lions have picked up another transfer.  27' Caleb Rimmer from Russell. 6'4" 200 lbs PF.  They are gonna be loaded.

1 hour ago, citycat said:

Appears that the Lions have picked up another transfer.  27' Caleb Rimmer from Russell. 6'4" 200 lbs PF.  They are gonna be loaded.

That's a massive blow to the Devils and probably installs Boyd as the heavy favorite in the region.

Russell would have been in the mix the next couple of years with Rimmer, but that's probably up in flames now, no pun intended.

I think Russell lost a good player to Ashland last year and now to Boyd County this year.

On 5/30/2025 at 1:19 AM, Reno said:

It is strange to me that an Athletic Director and Administration would allow an official team page to announce transfers.  May not be a good thing to do.  I believe that I would find another social media person.

They got ANOTHER in Caleb Rimmer, transfer from Russell. I remember that recorded phone call that went viral from a Boyd County parent a few years ago. Hmmmmm

Anyone know whether Rose Hill will be fielding a team this year?

On 9/15/2025 at 5:29 PM, Smallhoops said:

Anyone know whether Rose Hill will be fielding a team this year?

If they have any good players, they won’t be there for long. 

Bump.