Happy New Year 16th Region. School will be back in session this week and with that, teams will be back on a regular schedule and some important matchups await. Let’s get to it…

 

1. Ashland (8-3)

W vs. Simon Kenton 58-49

L vs. George Washington (WV) 63-58

• Tomcats have dropped 2 of their last 3 but they will stay at the top until someone from the 16th knocks them off. Tomcats would finish 3rd in their own AIT with Elijah Neel and Caleb Clarke taking hot All-Tournament honors. The Cats hosted GW out of West Virginia on Saturday and fell at home by 5 in a game they led with under a minute to go. Three big games this week will see where they stand going into 2026. 

2. Boyd County (9-4)

W at Lexington Catholic 74-60

L vs. Daviess Co. 86-78

W at Parkersburg South (WV) 96-62

W at Fleming Co. 99-55

• The Lions had an impressive run in one of the marquee tournaments in Kentucky at Lexington Catholic with a second place finish falling to a top 10 Daviess County team by 8. The Lions would play their 5th game in 5 days traveling to West Virginia to blow out Parkersburg the next day. The 2A sectionals got under way on Saturday with an easy 44 point win over Fleming County. Malachi Payne had 27 points and 7 assists in the championship loss to Daviess. 

3. Russell (9-2)

W vs. Ryle 55-50

W at Lewis Co. 66-63

• The Red Devils hold steady at #3 after a couple of impressive victories. They finished off a 3rd place finish at LCA with a close win over a good Ryle team and got a tough road region win at Lewis County. Burgess and Cordial paced the Devils with 18 and 17 in the Ryle win while Jagger Prickett exploded for 26 at Lewis. Many thought they might rebuild after their recent departures but Coach Cooksey has a team that can come at you in many ways and can contend. 

4. Raceland (8-4)

Idle week

• The Rams took the last week of 2025 to rest and gear up for the All-A Regional Tournament. After back-to-back titles, they will look to avenge their loss in the finals last season. They will get a game West Carter team at home in the semi-finals on Monday night. Jonah Arnett paces the Rams at 21 PPG while shooting 47% from 3. 

5. West Carter (10-2)

W vs. Marion Co. 73-68

W vs. Menifee Co. 96-40

• 6 straight victories for the Comets has them dreaming of an All-A Classic title. They went to Owingsville and won the Dan Swartz Classic and entered the All-A with a convincing 56 point victory over Menifee County. They will play Raceland Monday night in the semi-finals. Nathan Webb continues to light it up averaging 18 PPG and shooting 56% from three. 

6. Elliott County (7-4)

W vs. Betsy Layne 50-42

W at Belfry 75-67

L vs. Johnson Central 68-55

W vs. Fairview 80-39

• The Lions are coming into form. The defending All-A region champions are building momentum to defend their title this week. They would finish runner-up in the Mountain Schoolboy Classic at Belfry only falling to Johnson Central in the finals. They began All-A play with an easy 41 point victory over Fairview on Saturday. They will play Morgan County on Monday at Raceland.  

7. East Carter (6-4)

W vs. Low Country Prep (FL) 79-43

L vs. Horizon Christian Acad. (GA) 75-71

• The Raiders took on Georgia and came back to Kentucky 2-1. I love seeing teams travel out of state and prove how good the basketball is in the bluegrass. Burton, Menix, and McGuire are a three headed monster all averaging double figures for Coach Brammer. 

8. Greenup County (6-4)

W at East Jessamine 65-59

L vs. Bullitt East 58-54

L vs. McCreary Central 62-54

W at South Point (OH) 44-42

• Musketeers had a busy 4 game schedule this week going 2-2. Coach Sutton has a group that  is a mix of senior leadership with some exciting youth. If they are hitting shots, they can contend in the tough 63rd district. 

9. Morgan County (5-6)

W vs. Lake Oconee Academy (GA) 62-52

L vs. Goshen (OH) 69-43

L vs. James River (VA) 79-56

• The Cougars spent the week playing teams from 3 different states and going 1-2. That is what Christmas break is for, playing teams you usually wouldn’t play. So far, they are living and dying by the 3. They had a bye in All-A and will play the defending champs Elliott County on Monday night. 

10. Lewis County (4-7)

W vs. Doss 63-34

L vs. Russell 66-63

• The up and down season for the Lions continues. Julian Puente and Daylen Bivens are a lethal 1-2 punch but to get where they want, someone else will need to step up. The Lions showed what they are capable of by playing 3rd ranked Russell to a 3 point game on Saturday night. 

11. Rowan County (6-7)

W vs. Ludlow 70-54

W vs. Mason Co. 98-78

• The Vikings have won 3 in a row. Granted those 3 wins haven’t been against top flight competition but as inexperienced as the Vikings are, you take what you can get. Some big wins are out there this week in the 2A against Boyd or at home on Friday against Floyd Central. 

12. Fleming County (3-5)

L vs. Boyd Co. 99-55

• Coach Biggs lost all 5 starters and is rebuilding his Panthers and it is showing. They are a completely different team than years past. Last year they could out shoot anyone, this year they are only shooting 27% from 3. A winnable game this week at home against East Carter. 

13. Bath County (4-8)

L vs. Harrison Co. 62-46

L vs. Powell Co. 91-33

• In mid December, the Cats won 4 of 5. Since then, they have dropped 5 straight and haven’t been competitive in any of those losses. Only one game this week against Russell.  

14. Menifee County (1-11)

L vs. Russellville 62-27

L vs. John Hardin 82-42

W vs. Heritage Hopkinsville 75-64

L vs. West Carter 96-40

• The Wildcats finally got win #1 against Heritage Academy out of Hopkinsville in double overtime. They drew West Carter in the first round of the All-A and lost pretty handily. Freshman Brodey Parks is a bright spot leading the team in scoring at 13 PPG.  

15. Fairview (0-10)

L vs. Elliott Co. 80-39

• The Eagles are still searching for that first win. They drew Elliott County in the first round of the All-A and fell. They take the rest of the week off before playing Boyd on January 13th. 

 

A look at the week ahead:

Monday 1/5:

Raceland vs. West Carter (All-A)

Elliott Co. vs. Morgan Co. (All-A at Raceland)

Tuesday 1/6:

Greenup Co. vs. Ashland

Boyd Co. vs. Rowan County at Estill Co. (2A) 

Russell vs. Bath Co. 

Fleming Co. vs. East Carter 

Thursday 1/8:

Ashland at George Rogers Clark

2A Championship at Estill County 

All-A Region Championship at Raceland 

Friday 1/9:

Russell vs. Greenup Co. 

Lewis Co. at Mason Co. 

Rowan Co. vs. Floyd Central

Menifee Co. vs. Model

Saturday 1/10:

Ashland vs. Henry Clay at Berea College

Morgan Co. vs. Russell

Menifee Co. at Dayton

Bump.