First week of 2026 started the 16th Region off with a bang. First thing, we’re starting with a change at the top. I have held Ashland there due to their head to head win over Boyd but a month is long enough. The Lions are playing some great basketball. Some congratulations are in order. The Boyd County Lions are the 2A Section 6 Champions and the Raceland Rams are the 16th Region All-A Classic Champions. A wild week in the 16th and some changes in our ranking show it. 

 

1 Boyd County (11-4)

W vs. Rowan Co. 99-47

W vs. Powell Co. 77-73

• A 2-0 week, a championship, and the top spot in our ranking makes for a big week for the Lions. They will head to Owensboro and the 2A State Tournament next weekend. Mr. Basketball candidate Jacob Spurlock poured in 32 in the win over Powell and surpassed 3000 points for his career. They will tune up for Owensboro Tuesday against Fairview. 

 

2 Ashland (9-4)

W at Greenup Co. 69-53

L at GRC 79-59

W vs. Henry Clay 71-54

• The Cats have been on top of our rankings all season and for good reason but their rivals are just playing better basketball at this moment. Ashland took care of business on the road at Greenup County on Tuesday with Caleb Clarke and Alijah Owens combining for 54 points between them. Thursday they fell on the road against GRC in a game they were never really in. Saturday night they avenged their loss in the AIT to Henry Clay. 

 

3 Russell (11-3)

W vs. Bath Co. 88-39

W vs. Greenup Co. 96-65

L at Morgan Co. 64-60

• The Devils looked to be rolling before an upset loss at Morgan County on Saturday. Thy did pick up a district win over Greenup on Friday night. Coach Cooksey has a balanced group with four players averaging double figures and three averaging over 5 boards a game. I still believe this is a team that on the right night, can find themselves cutting the nets down at Morehead State. 

 

4 Raceland (10-4)

W vs. West Carter 64-58

W vs. Elliott Co. 66-58

• For the 3rd time in 4 years, the Rams cut down the nets as the 16th Region All-A Champions. They avenged their loss in last year’s finals to Elliott County. Jonah Arnett is averaging 20 PPG while shooting 44% from behind the arc. 

 

5 Elliott County (8-5)

W vs. Morgan Co. 67-48

L vs. Raceland 66-59

• The Lions jump a spot this week after going 1-1. They defeated Morgan County easily in the semi-finals of the All-A before falling to Raceland in the finals failing to repeat as champions. Lake Adkins and Tyssen Crabtree pace the Lions attack averaging double figures with Crabtree averaging a double-double. Three huge regional games this week will see if the bump is rankings is justified. 

 

6 East Carter (9-4)

W vs. Prestonsburg 76-61

W at Fleming Co. 79-60

W vs. West Carter 55-40

• The Raiders make a big jump after a 3-0 week and winning 6 of their last 7. The biggest win of course comes defeating rival West Carter. They will play the two teams that bookend them this week with a chance to stake their claim in the district and region. 

 

7 Morgan County (6-7)

L vs. Elliott Co. 67-48

W vs. Russell 64-60

• Coach Griffith’s Cougars had the biggest non-championship win of the week with their victory over Russell. Are they finally hitting their stride after an up and down season so far? If they are hitting 3’s, they can hang with anyone. 

 

8 West Carter (10-4)

L at Raceland 64-58

L at East Carter 55-40

• An 0-2 week drops the Comets down to #8. A tough loss in the All-A semi-final to Raceland carried over into a loss at rival East Carter. After a hot start, they might be coming down a little bit. Three big region games this week to get back on track or show they have some work to do. 

 

9 Greenup County (6-7)

L vs. Ashland 69-53

L at Russell 96-65

• Another team that struggled this week. 0-2 against two of the top teams in the region. Coach Sutton has a team with a bright future and some senior leadership that will continue to be up and down as they grow. Two teams ahead of them on the schedule with a chance to climb up the rankings. 

 

10 Lewis County (5-7)

W at Mason Co. 92-64

• The Lions had a 1-0 week with a win at the historic Fieldhouse. 37 points from Daylen Bivens paced them. He and Julian Puente are carrying the Lions who will continue to get better as Coach Tackett’s teams always do. 

 

11 Rowan County (6-8)

L vs. Boyd Co. 99-47

• An 0-1 week for the Vikes and it was a big 0-1 falling to Boyd by 52 in the 2A Sectionals. The Vikings were champions of that last season. They will continue to grow and get better and appear to be the best team in one of the weakest regions in the state. 

 

12 Fleming County (3-6)

L vs. East Carter 79-60

• The Panthers haven’t played many games but they will make up for that in 2026. They are continuing to replace almost every contributor from their team last season. Two district games this week to see if they can rise up in the very weak 61st district. 

 

13 Bath County (4-9)

L at Russell 88-39

• The Wildcats have lost 6 in a row and their 4 wins are still against teams with a combined 5 wins (St. Pat has 4 of them). They haven’t been competitive in any of their 9 losses. Two district games to see if they can turn it around. 

 

14 Menifee County (1-13

L vs. Model 82-24

L at Dayton 63-48

• The Wildcats are very young and very inexperienced. They have some young talent coming up but they’re taking some big lumps this season. They were never in the game with Model and were down as many as 22 to Dayton. Two winnable games this week against Bath and Fairview. 

 

15 Fairview (0-10)

Idle week

• The Eagles took the week off after falling in the All-A. They come back on Tuesday against Boyd County and will battle Menifee on Saturday for the 15th spot in our rankings next week. 

 

A look at the week ahead:

 

Monday 1/12

 

Tuesday 1/13

Boyd Co. vs. Fairview

West Carter vs. Russell

Greenup Co. vs. Raceland

East Carter vs. Elliott Co. 

Rowan Co. vs. Lewis Co. 

Bath Co. vs. Fleming Co. 

 

Wednesday 1/14

Lewis Co. vs. Elliott Co. 

Greenup Co. vs. West Carter 

 

Thursday 1/15

 

Friday 1/16

Boyd Co. vs. Henry Co. (2A State)

Russell vs. Raceland

West Carter vs. Morgan Co.  

Fleming Co. vs. Rowan Co. 

Bath Co. vs. Menifee Co. 

 

Saturday 1/17

Ashland at Champmanville (WV)

Elliott Co. vs. Russell

Morgan Co. vs. East Carter 

Lewis Co. at Portsmouth (OH)

Fleming Co. at Mason Co. 

Bath Co. vs. Casey Co. 

Menifee Co. vs. Fairview 

As the season advances I get more and more confused on who is the #1 and #2 teams.  I started out preseason thinking Ashland would be #1.  Then after a few games I'm thinking Boyd is #1 even after Ashland beat Boyd, now after seeing Ashland for the second time I'm back on Ashland.  I have also saw Boyd 2/3 times.  Just maybe Boyd has the best player and Ashland the best team.  I'm sure it will play out in time.

16 hours ago, 4 Quarters said:

As the season advances I get more and more confused on who is the #1 and #2 teams.  I started out preseason thinking Ashland would be #1.  Then after a few games I'm thinking Boyd is #1 even after Ashland beat Boyd, now after seeing Ashland for the second time I'm back on Ashland.  I have also saw Boyd 2/3 times.  Just maybe Boyd has the best player and Ashland the best team.  I'm sure it will play out in time.

I wonder who would win if they played only with kids who grew up in Boyd Co.