The 16th Region has run through Ashland since 2019. 7 straight trips to Rupp for the Tomcats. 5 of those Region Championship wins came at the expense of Boyd County. Can the Tomcats make it 8 in a row? Is this the year the Lions finally flip the script and make their first trip to Rupp since 2018? Will someone else rise up and take down the two powers? 

 

1. Boyd County - The Lions return Jacob Spurlock (24 PPG) and Ethan Rardon (9 PPG) but have added in some major reinforcements. Caleb Rimmer (15 PPG and 8 RPG at Russell), Gunnar Woods (19 PPG at Lawrence County), and Malachi Payne from Huntington will look to break the Tomcats 7 year region run. 
2. Ashland - The defending champs lose one of the best players in the state in Zander Carter but return a solid group of players including Caleb Clarke (12 PPG, 6 RPG), Drew Smith (11 PPG), and Elijah Neel (6 PPG). Championship experience and culture will go a long way in seeing if the Tomcats can return to Rupp. 
3. Raceland - Rams will look to replace leading scorer and rebounding Connor Thacker but have plenty returning to make the contenders. Jonah Arnett, Charles Welch, and Jacob Waller will handle the load this season. 
4. Russell - As mentioned, the Red Devils lost Mr. Everything Caleb Rimmer to Ashland but still return some young talent that will keep them right in the hunt this season. Look for Ryder Burgess to become a breakout player in the region this season. 
5. Morgan County - Cougars snuck up and took a district title from Elliott last season. That puts them ahead of the Lions here. Coach Griffith returns his top 4 scorers from last season and look to take another jump toward the top of the All-A and region. 
6. Elliott County - The Lions went 18-8 last season and won the All-A Region title and had zero seniors on the roster. They run into the buzz saw that is Ashland in the first round of region. Look for the Lions to take another big jump under Coach Adkins
7. Greenup County - The Musketeers will be under new leadership in Coach Nathan Sutton. They will lean heavily on Kasey Gammon to build on his 14 PPG from last season. How quick they adjust to the new coaching scheme will determine a lot. 
8. East Carter - Coach Brammer’s Raiders will look to improve on their 8 win season from a year ago. They return their top 3 scorers and will look to avenge their 48-47 loss in the first round of the district tournament to eventual champion Morgan County. 
9. Rowan County - For the first time since 2008, the Vikings will not have Shawn Thacker on the sideline. In steps relatively unknown Tim Kochendoerfer who will inherit a young team that may not have a single senior on the roster. Grant Rose and Daniel Flannery played major varsity minutes last year and will look to lead the youth movement in Morehead.  
10. Lewis County - The Lions won 18 games but got upset in the district first round. Lions return point guard Julian Puente (17 PPG), and Daylen Bivens (11 PPG). Biggest factor this season is can they find someone to replace big man Drew Noble and his 16 PPG and 8 RPG. 
11. West Carter - I think this is the year the Comets make the jump they have been looking for. 6-24 last season with an interim coach, Tanner Glancy, and missing their leading scorer in Nathan Webb. Both Webb’s are back this season and the Comets look to take the next step up the All-A and district ranks. 
12. Fleming County - Feels weird putting a Buddy Biggs team this low but they are having to replace a lot of production off a 21 win team. Gone are Seth Hickerson, Bradley Robinson, and Lucas Jolly. Panthers return 2 starters but those two starters (Cropper and Johnson) together only averaged 15 PPG. The rebuild is on in Flemingsburg. 
13. Bath County - Out is Coach Matthew Perry and in is Coach Jared Gambrel. Coach Gambrel is an unknown outside of coaching two seasons in Oklahoma. He will return two of the Wildcats top 7 last season. Issac Ulery (7 PPG) and Cooper Cox (2PPG) will look to shoulder the load of a rebuilding Wildcats program. If they develop, they can contend with Fleming to make it to Morehead. 
14. Fairview - I’m putting the Eagles here because they return more than Menifee County. Coach Conley returns Tevin Smith (9 PPG) and Jace Manning (7 PPG) and will look to continue to build on the 4 wins last season. Beating Ashland and Boyd is almost mission impossible in that district but they can make some teams uncomfortable in the All-A. 
15. Menifee County - The Wildcats will start the year looking up at the rest of the region. Second year coach Jason Evans will look to replace the school’s all-time leading scorer in Brevon Ricker and 15 PPG in Aiden Manley. The Wildcats combined return 6 PPG of those in the rotation from last season. Could be a big rebuild in Frenchburg this season. 

 

Preseason players to watch: 

Jacob Spurlock - Boyd County

Caleb Rimmer - Boyd County 

Gunnar Woods - Boyd County 

Calab Clarke - Ashland

Drew Smith - Ashland 

Elijah Neel - Ashland 

Julian Puente - Lewis County 

Jonah Arnett - Raceland 

Charles Welch - Raceland

Lake Adkins - Elliott County 

Aiden Barker - Elliott County 

Ryder Burgess - Russell

Gabe Pridemore - Russell

Grant Rose - Rowan County

Daniel Flannery - Rowan County 

Kasey Gammon - Greenup County 

Asher Gamble - Morgan County 

Eli Bradley - Morgan County 

William Burton - East Carter

Grant Menix - East Carter 

Nathan Webb - West Carter 

Brody Boggs - West Carter 

Preston Cropper - Fleming County 

Jacob Johnson - Fleming County 

Isaac Ulery - Bath County

 

If Boyd doesn't pry the region away from Ashland this year, it may never happen. The 16th would be a monarchy at that point with the Tomcats as king until the end of time.

That starting five in Cannonsburg is loaded. I don't love the way things work now, but it is what it is.

What might have been for Russell? They'll be pondering the lost potential for years to come. Rimmer leaves an enormous void that can't really be replaced. That doesn't mean the Devils can't still compete and have a 15-20 win season, but losing Rimmer results in an immediate downgrade.

I think Elliott is a team to watch this year. They were good last season - All "A" region champs and had wins over Raceland and Russell. As previously noted, they have everyone back in Sandy Hook. 

Cropper is not playing at Fleming County this season.  He is focusing on baseball.

1 hour ago, Pick-six said:

Cropper is not playing at Fleming County this season.  He is focusing on baseball.

That still would keep Fleming about where they are but I know the younger bunch didn’t have much success last season. Buddy is really going to have to work to develop. 

Ashland has been to Rupp 6 straight times. (Including 2020 when they may have won the whole thing...) I look for Boyd to dethrone them this year.