Cubster

The 16th Region continues to be Elliott County a cut above of the rest of the teams. The rankings from spots 2-14 continue to fluctuate from week to week. A prime example of the parity was Morgan County defeating previously undefeated Rowan County Friday but then losing to district rival West Carter on Saturday. Let's take a look at this week's rankings. 1. ELLIOTT COUNTY (11-2) The Lions roared to a 104-76 win over Lewis County on Thursday as Korbin Spencer poured in 43 points. A long road trip to Muhlenberg County resulted in a tough overtime loss to the highly regarded Muhlenberg County team. Gage Evans become the third Elliott County player on this team to notch his 1000th point. The Lions host East Carter and travel to Rowan County on Thursday this week. 2. ROWAN COUNTY (14-1) The Vikings fell from the unbeatens with a 49-46 loss to Morgan County last Friday night. The Vikings, led by Brady Madden and Mason Moore, are getting into the meat of their schedule in January. They take on district rival Fleming County Tuesday and then travel to region favorite Elliott County on Thursday night. 3. MORGAN COUNTY (11-4) The Cougars notched their biggest win of the season by knocking off unbeaten Rowan County Friday night. West Carter then surprised the Cougars with a 73-66 loss on Saturday night in Olive Hill. Jake Helton and Blake Evans along with Garrett Adkins continue to lead this veteran team as they try to be more consistent in their play. A busy week awaits with games versus Greenup County, East Carter, and a 2A sectional matchup with Lawrence County at Rowan County. 4. ASHLAND (7-6) Jason Mays seems to have the Tomcats hitting their stride with four straight wins over the past two weeks. Devaunte Robinson, Hunter Mays, and Ethan Hudson led the Tomcats to wins over Russell and Boyd County over the weekend. The Tomcats will host Fairview in a key district seed game this Tuesday. 5. LEWIS COUNTY (10-6) The Lions sandwiched two huge district seed wins over Raceland and Russell around a lopsided loss to Elliott County last week. Seth Wright has really turned up his game for the Lions to help complement leading scorer Sam O'Keefe. The Lions are now 3-0 in district play to put a stronghold on the #1 seed in the 63rd District. The Lions travel to Greenup County on Friday. 6. BOYD COUNTY (9-6) The Lions split district seed games this past week, Senior Talbott Taylor poured in a career-high 36 points in a win over Fairview. Ashland defeated the Lions for second time in eight days despite 27 points from Blake Stewart. The Lions hit the road this week with trips to Rose Hill and Johnson Central. 7. WEST CARTER (9-5) A huge week for the Jeremy Webb and the Comets with two district wins over East Carter and Morgan County. Webb also became the school's all time winningest coach with 198 career wins. Braden Leadingham and Rodney Evans were instrumental in both wins. The Comets open play in All A regional versus Menifee County Saturday. 8. RACELAND (7-6) The Rams split two district seed games with a home loss to Lewis County and a road win at Greenup County. Sophomore Austin Cumpton has steadily emerged as a viable scoring and rebounding presence for the Rams. The Rams have a huge seed game with Russell Thursday with both teams standing at 1-2 in the district. They take on host Fairview in the All A regional on Saturday. 9. BATH COUNTY (7-9) The Wildcats are on a roll as they have won four straight games over the past two weeks. The week included a district win over Menifee County and a lopsided win over Nicholas County. Spencer Pergrem, Chandler Otis, and Jake Porter provide three good scoring options for the Wildcats. A busy week awaits them this week with games versus Montgomery County, a district game with Fleming County, and their All A regional opener with Rose Hill on Saturday. 10. GREENUP COUNTY (6-8) The Musketeers lost their lone game of the week to district rival Raceland. Brady Nelson and Eli Raby continue to lead Greenup County with their scoring and play making abilities. The Musketeers host Morgan County and Lewis County at The Greenhouse this week. 11. FLEMING COUNTY (8-8) The Panthers got a win over Williamstown on a last second three by Cole Saunders. Earlier in the week the Panthers fell to a home school team from Lexington. This week features two seed games on the road at Rowan County and Bath County. 12. RUSSELL (4-11) The Red Devils dropped three competitive games last week to East Carter, Ashland, and Lewis County in overtime. Sophomore guard Charlie Jachimczuk has blossomed into one of the region's best combo guards. He had games of 23 and 29 points in the losses to Ashland and Lewis County. The Devils have a huge seed game Thursday at Raceland. 13. EAST CARTER (2-10) The Raiders are improving as they always do under Coach Brandon Baker. A solid road win over Lewis was followed by a tough loss to county rival West Carter last week. Jordan Brooks had a big game in the win over Russell and the return of Hunter Binion has been an added plus for the Raiders. This week serves up district seed games versus Elliott County and Morgan County. 14. FAIRVIEW (6-9) The Eagles split two games last week falling to Boyd County and bouncing back with a win over Symmes Valley (OH). Senior Garrett Greene had a big game in the win for the Eagles. Ashland will host the Eagles on Tuesday and then the Eagles host Raceland in the opening round of the All A region on Saturday. 15. MENIFEE COUNTY (6-11) The Wildcats were competitive in their two losses last week to Morgan County and Menifee County. Travis Trimble continues to be a bright spot for a team looking for that signature wins. A four-game week ends on Saturday with a first round All A matchup with West Carter. 16. ROSE HILL (2-15) The Royals lost two hard-fought games to Ironton St. Joe and Burgin last week. They will try to pull an upset this week as they take on Boyd County on Tuesday and take on Bath County in the All A regional on Saturday.

The Christmas break barrage of games is history. Elliott County took the week off but still remains atop the region rankings. Rowan County is still unbeaten and teams 3-12 continue to fluctuate from week to week. 1. ELLIOTT COUNTY (10-1) Greg Adkins may have this Christmas break hoop marathon figured out. He gave his Lions a week off to recharge their batteries and not play six games in 10 days. The Lions will jump back in action at home against Lewis County Thursday. 2. ROWAN COUNTY (14-0) The Vikings dominated an inferior field to win a tournament at Williamstown. Mason Moore and Brady Madden continue to lead this team on both ends of the floor. A huge matchup with Morgan County looms on Friday. 3. MORGAN COUNTY (9-3) The Cougars notched a couple victories at the Mountain Schoolboy Classic at Belfry. A 12 point loss to 15th region favorite Shelby Valley was the loss on the Cougars' record this week. Garrett Adkins has become a dependable scorer to complement Jake Helton and Blake Evans. Can they hand Rowan County its first loss? 4.LEWIS COUNTY (8-5) The Lions notched a third-place finish in the Dan Swartz Classic at Bath County last week. The loss to Anderson County was tough as Seth Wright went down with a quad injury. Tanner Willis picked up the slack in a win over improving East Carter. A tough week on the road awaits with the Lions with trips to Raceland, Elliott County, and Russell. A couple seed wins could go a long way to securing the top seed in the 63rd. 5. ASHLAND (5-6) This team continues to be a work in progress. The Tomcats got wins over Pendleton County and arch rival Boyd County after losing to DeSales in the first round of the AIT. Devaunte Robinson and Hunter Mays got help from the Tomcat bench in both wins. The Tomcats host rival Russell and get Boyd County again in a key seed game. The return of Cole Villers at some point will make the Tomcats a tough out come March. 6. BOYD COUNTY (8-5) The Lions notched one win in the AIT. The key for the Lions is to find a third scorer to help Blake Stewart and Talbott Taylor. The Lions have two big seed games with Fairview and Ashland this week. 7. WEST CARTER (7-5) The Comets notched a win over Powell County after losing to Mason County and Harrison County in the Gateway Classic at Montgomery County. The scrappy Comets have multiple players capable of scoring the ball. Braden Leadingham has been the most steady player for Jeremy Webb. East Carter and Morgan County are big seed games this week for the Comets. 8. RACELAND (6-5) The Rams had a nice week in winning the Stultz Classic at Greenup County. Raceland held off a stubborn Louisville Holy Cross team before notching an 18 point win over Greenup County. The strength of this team is its balance. They have four players who can put up double figures on any given night. A big week awaits with seed games against Lewis County and Greenup County. 9. GREENUP COUNTY (6-7) The Musketeers saw their three-game winning streak halted at the hands of Raceland in the finals of the Stultz Classic. Eli Raby has been providing scoring to complement Brady Nelson and Logan Robinson for the boys from Lloyd. The Musketeers can avenge their loss to Raceland in a seed game Saturday. 10. FLEMING COUNTY (7-7) The Panthers are on a five-game skid after three losses in Florida. Tougher competition has seemed to be a tough test to pass. lately. Kaleb Flannery continues to be a bright spot for the Panthers. A couple wins could be on the horizon this week. 11. BATH COUNTY (5-9) The Wildcats got a couple of much needed wins in their own Dan Swartz Classic. Coach Bart will aims had to be smiling as his son Brooks hit a school-record nine three pointers in a huge win over Russell. The Wildcats have a seed game with Menifee County this week and host Nicholas County on Saturday. 12. RUSSELL (4-8) The young Red Devils have lost five of their last six games. After notching a good win over Adair County they were destroyed by Bath County 90-51. Junior Tristan Miller has been steady on the offensive end for the Devils. The Devils hope to right the ship on Wednesday versus East Carter and then trade to rival Ashland Friday and host Lewis County Saturday in a key seed game. 13. EAST CARTER (1-8) The Raiders notched their first win over the year over Adair County at the Dan Swartz Classic. The return of Hunter Binion was a huge help to senior big man Jordan Brooks. The raiders travel to russell and travel to rival West Carter this week. 14. FAIRVIEW (5-8) The Eagles split games over the weekend. A win over St. Patrick was coupled with a loss to Tolsia Wva. Noah King is having a breakout senior season for the Eagles. The Eagles travel to Boyd county and host Symmes Valley (OH) this week. 15. MENIFEE COUNTY (6-9) The wildcats ended the week on a two-game winning streak as they notched wins over June Buchanan and Lee County. A key seed game is on tap this week versus Bath County. 16. ROSE HILL (2-13) The Royals suffered two losses in the Stultz Classic with leading scorer Kenny Wilburn out with an illness. The Royals host Ironton St Joe and travel to Burgin on Saturday.

Merry Christmas hoop fans. The holiday tournament season is off and running in the Bluegrass State. Teams in the 16th Region continue to fluctuate with the exception of the top top dogs right now Elliott County and Rowan County. The rankings from 3 to 12 continue to be as confusing as the weather in the Commonwealth. 1. ELLIOTT COUNTY (10-1) The Lions suffered their first defeat the hands of highly regarded Christ Presbyterian Academy from Nashville. Korbin Spencer led the Lions to three victories following the defeat in the tournament at Clinton County. The Lions are off until 2019 when they resume play in the 16th Region. 2. ROWAN COUNTY (11-0) Shawn Thacker's Vikings remain the region's only unbeaten squad. The Vikings notched wins over Iroquois and Powell County in the Kentucky Bank Challenge over the weekend. Mason Moore and Brady Madden anchor this team's balanced attack. This week the Vikings travel to Williamstown for tournament play. 3. MORGAN COUNTY (7-2) The Cougars had a solid week at The Derby Classic. Matt Perry's team sandwiched wins over Greenup County and Raceland around a heartbreaking loss to eventual champion Paintsville. Blake Evans and Jake Helton are fast becoming a dynamic duo for the Cougars. Morgan County will travel Belfry for the Mountain Schoolboy Classic this week. 4. LEWIS COUNTY (6-4) The Lions finished 2-1 in their run through the 10th Region last week. Two big wins over Nicholas County and Mason County were followed by a 66-62 loss to Montgomery County. Junior Sam O'Keefe scored over 90 points in the three games and Seth Wright was over 20 a game. The Lions will take part in the Dan Swartz Classic at Bath County this week. 5. BOYD COUNTY (7-3) The Lions split games in the Kentucky Bank Challenge at Rowan County. A solid win over Louisville Eastern was followed by a 14 point loss to Montgomery County. Blake Stewart and Talbot Taylor continue to carry the load for defending region champions. Boyd County will be a part of a loaded AIT field this week. 6. ASHLAND (3-6) It was another rough week for the Tomcats with losses to GRC, Woodford County, and Ironton (OH). The loss of big man Ryan Bryant with shin splints didn't help the Tomcats cause. Devaunte Robinson and Hunter Mays had nice games last week. The road does not get any easier this week in the AIT. 7. WEST CARTER (6-3) The Comets are at #7 with a bullet. They played Elliott County well into the fourth quarter before falling to the Lions. The Comets defeated 14th region squads Estill County and Breathitt County at Rowan County. Seniors Ethan Adkins and Rodney Evans lead a balanced Comet attack. The Comets will play in Mt Sterling this week. 8.GREENUP COUNTY (5-6) The Musketeers rebounded from a five-game losing streak with two wins at the Derby Classic. After falling to Morgan County, the Musketeers won two nail-biters over Anderson County and Fairview. Eli Raby and Zane Carter provided some much needed offense for the Musketeers. The Musketeers host the Stultz Classic this week. 9. FLEMING COUNTY (7-4) The Panthers lost two of three last week. After a close win over Rose Hill, the Panthers fell to East Jessamine and Iroquois. Cole Saunders has provided string help to Kaleb Flannery in the past few games. The Panthers travel to Gulf Breeze, Fla this week for some fun in the sun and some hoops. 10. RUSSELL (3-6) The Devils are in the midst of a four-game losing streak. Playing tough competition the Devils faltered in the fourth quarter of three of the four games. Boyd County, North Oldham, Newport Catholic, and Dixie Heights provided the stiff tests for the Devils. Tristan Miller and Jared Goodman played well in the four-game stretch. The Dan Swartz Classic is up next for Russell. 11. RACELAND (4-5) The Rams lost two of three games in their own Derby Classic last week. The Rams defeated Rose Hill then lost to Allen County-Scottsville and Morgan County. Kyle Adkins was a bright spot for the Rams. The Stultz Classic at Greenup County is on tap for the Rams this week. 12. BATH COUNTY (3-6) Gatlinburg was not hospitable for the Wildcats last week as they lost three games to teams from three states. The Wildcats continue to struggle to find the right combination to win at this point in the season. They are hoping being home for the Dan Swartz Classic this week will provide the solution. 13. FAIRVIEW (4-7) The Eagles split four games last week with wins over Hannan (Wva) and Rose Hill and losses to Allen County-Scottsville and Greenup County. Noah King had a huge week including a 44-point outburst in the loss to Greenup County. The Eagles hit the road for games at Tolsia and St. Patrick this weekend. 14. EAST CARTER (0-7) The Raiders fell on the road at Lawrence County last week. Jordan Brooks and Josh Damron hope to help the Raiders get their first win of the season at the Dan Swartz Classic this week at Bath County. 15. MENIFEE COUNTY (4-8) The Wildcats notched a win over Owen County but lost games to Owsley County and Russellville at Berea. Tate Trimble continues to be a bright spot for the Wildcats. They will travel to Buckhorn this week for tournament play. 16. ROSE HILL (2-11) The Royals dropped a close game to Fleming County before taking three lopsided losses at the Derby Classic. Junior guard Stephen Barker has been a dependable option for the Royals all season. The Royals will be at Greenup County for the Stultz Classic this week.

Nice win for the Lions. Sam O’Keefe with 31 and Seth Wright 28.

Great game to watch. Both teams played very hard.

West led after three quarters. Interesting.

Another week of winning for Elliott County and Rowan County at the top of the region. The 3-12 slots continue to fluctuate from week to week. A big two weeks of holiday hoops may start to identify the true threats to Elliott County and the region crown. Several teams are participating in the Derby Classic at Raceland and The Kentucky Bank Challenge at Rowan County this week. 1. ELLIOTT COUNTY (6-0) The Lions had a light work week with only a lopsided win over Raceland. The big three of Korbin Spencer, Tanner Dickerson, and Gage Evans all had big games in the win over the Rams. The Lions hung 96 points on the board. The Lions head to Clinton County for a tournament this week. 2. ROWAN COUNTY (9-0) The Vikings are off to what some would say is a surprising start. Devin Davidson has become a scoring complement to Mason Moore and Brady Madden. A statement win over defending champion Boyd County highlighted a three-win week for the Vikings. They take on Iroquois and Powell County this weekend. 3. MORGAN COUNTY (5-1) The Cougars have righted the ship after an early loss to Russell. Jake Helton and Garrett Adkins spearheaded wins over Lewis County and Phelps over the weekend. They will head to Raceland for The Derby Classic to take on Greenup County and potentially a matchup with Paintsville. 4. BOYD COUNTY (5-2) The Lions ended the week with a loss to Rowan County after posting an overtime win over West Carter and a win over Greenup County. Junior Blake Stewart notched his 1000th career point at Rowan County. A tough week begins tomorrow with Russell at home followed by weekend games with Eastern and Montgomery County. 5. LEWIS COUNTY (4-3) The Lions started the week well with a win over East Carter but dropped two close games to Lawrence and Morgan County to end the week. Junior Sam O'Keefe continues to a force for the Lions while senior Cameron Ruckel has increased his offensive production. The Lions host Nicholas County tonight then travel to border rival Mason County Thursday. 6. ASHLAND (3-3) Ashland has been the early season enigma of the region. A solid win over Greenup County was followed by a 22 point loss to Knox Central. Big man Ryan Bryant is becoming a force on the inside for the Tomcats. A brutal week awaits the Tomcats with matchups with GRC and Woodford County. 7. WEST CARTER (4-2) The Comets were a play away from beating Boyd County last week. A big home seed game with Elliott County Tuesday is followed by games versus Breathitt County and Estill County over the weekend. Braden Leadingham is leading a balanced Comet scoring attack. 8. RUSSELL (3-3) The young Red Devils got a huge 50-49 district win over Raceland last Friday night. Freshman Brady Bell scored 18 points and made key plays down the stretch to help secure the win. Guards Tristan Miller and Charlie Jachimczuk continue to play well for the Devils. A trip to Boyd County Tuesday is followed by a loaded Simon Kenton Invitational over the weekend. 9. FLEMING COUNTY (6-2) The Panthers continue to be a pleasant surprise for Coach Chris Stapleton. A big win over district foe Bath County solidifies them as a contender for a regional tournament spot. A loss to 12th region power South Laurel ended the week for the Panthers. Jumior Kaleb Flannery has been steady for the Panthers who will host Rose Hill Tuesday before taking on East Jessamine and Iroquois over the weekend. 10. RACELAND (3-3) The rams had a tough beginning with a lopsided loss to Elliott County and a heartbreaking district loss at Russell. sophomore Kirk Pence had a breakout game with 24 points in the loss to Russell. The Rams try to bounce back in their own Derby Classic at The Palace this week. 11. BATH COUNTY (3-5) The Wildcats have been up and down so far this season Another nice win over Fairview was followed up with a district loss at Fleming County. Jake Porter's play is improving to help Spencer Pergrem and Chandler Otis with the scoring load. A trip to Gatlinburg may get the Wildcats going this week. 12. GREENUP COUNTY (3-5) The Musketeers have been competitive while going through a gauntlet of upper tier teams in the region. Losses to Ashland and Boyd County put the GC losing streak to four games. Brady Nelson continues to be the lone offensive threat for the Musketeers. An opening round matchup with Morgan County awaits them in the Derby Classic at Raceland. 13. FAIRVIEW (2-5) The Eagles got a much-needed win over Menifee County over the weekend. Garrett Greene is rounding into form after missing the first week of the season. The Eagles will take on Allen County-Scottsville at the Derby Classic Thursday. 14. EAST CARTER (0-6) The Raiders schedule has been brutal to start the season. Lewis County and Mason County losses were competitive at times for the Raiders. The Raiders lone game this week comes against a much improved Lawrence County in Louisa. 15. MENIFEE COUNTY (3-6) The Wildcats dropped three in-region games last week. Trey Abner has been a hidden gem for the Wildcats this season. A matchup with Owsley County will start tournament play for Menifee at Berea. 16. ROSE HILL (2-7) Don't call me a prophet. The Royals, as predicted by yours truly, notched their first two victories of the season. Kenny Wilburn continues to be an adept scorer for the Royals. Host Raceland will be the first-round opponent for the Rose Hill squad at the Derby Classic this week.

Final

Miller has a solid asst in Kelly Carwile.

Royals got a win last night. :ylsuper:

The Elliott County continue to show why they were the consensus pick to win the 16th Region. The rest of the region continues to beat up on each other which makes for a very parity filled region that changes the rankings weekly. Let's take a look at our Week 2 ratings. 1. ELLIOTT COUNTY (5-0) The Lions notched two impressive wins over Greenup County and previously unbeaten Boyd County. Korbin Spencer and Tanner Dickerson continue to put up big numbers for the high octane Elliott offense. The Raceland Rams make a visit to Sandy Hook tonight in the Lions' only game this week. 2. ROWAN COUNTY (6-0) The Vikings had a week to remember as they captured the EKC Tournament and cruised to an easy win over Estill County. The dynamic duo of Mason Moore and Brady Madden have been as good as advertised. The Vikings have a busy upcoming week with Menifee County, Buckhorn, and Boyd County on the slate. 3. LEWIS COUNTY (3-1) The Lions fell to Rowan County in the EKC semifinals but bounced back with a nice district win over Greenup County. Sam O'Keefe has become the Lions' most reliable scorer and rebounder while Cameron Ruckel has emerged as a strong offensive threat for Lions. The Lions will play a trio games against East Carter, Lawrence County, and Morgan County this week. 4. ASHLAND (2-2) This team will continue to improve as the season wears on. The Tomcats split their games with a win over Rose Hill and a loss to a talented Wesley Christian squad. The emergence of Ethan Sellars at the point guard spot will enable more scoring opportunities for Devaunte Robinson. Greenup County and Knox central are the next two challenges for the Tomcats. 5. BOYD COUNTY (4-1) Talbot Taylor and Blake Stewart are carrying this inexperienced squad with their scoring and leadership. The Lions fell to Elliott County and notched a nice win over an improving Bath County team. A busy week awaits the Lions with game against West Carter, Greenup County, and Rowan County. 6. MORGAN COUNTY (3-1) The Cougars got a nice bounce back win over East Carter. Poor shooting has been an issue so far for the Cougars. Look for Blake Evans and Garrett Adkins to start heating up to help Jake Helton with the scoring load. The Cougars will take on Lewis County and Phelps this weekend. 7. WEST CARTER (3-1) The Comets are off to a nice start to the season. A balanced scoring attack has been the catalyst for the resurgent Comets. A loss to Rowan County in the EKC tournament finals is the only blemish on the record. The Comets hit the road this week to take on Boyd County and Menifee County. 8. RACELAND (3-1) The Rams are off to a 3-1 start behind the three-point shooting of Andrew Floyd and Co. A tough home loss to Coal Grove coupled with wins over Augusta and Portsmouth Notre Dame give the Rams a nice start to the season. The Rams face a couple big road games at Elliott County and at district rival Russell this week. 9. RUSSELL (2-2) The Red Devils could very well be 4-0 at this point of the season. A couple very close losses along with a couple nice wins have Russell at the .500 mark. Guards Tristan Miller and Charlie Jachimczuk are playing well for the young squad. A huge district matchup Friday vs Raceland at home awaits the devils this week. 10. FLEMING COUNTY (4-1) The Panthers are on a four-game winning streak. Kaleb Flannery and Cole Saunders have been impressive during the streak. This week provides some stiffer challenges including a district matchup with Bath County and 13th region power South Laurel. 11. BATH COUNTY (2-4) The Wildcats are showing improvement while playing arguably the toughest schedule in the region so far. Spencer Pergrem and Chandler Otis have provided a potent outside-inside punch early in the season. Another matchup with Fairview in Westwood and a key district tilt with Fleming County Friday await the Wildcats this week. 12. GREENUP COUNTY (3-3) The Musketeers are in the gauntlet part of their December schedule. Losses to Elliott County and Lewis County last week put the brakes on a quick 3-1 start. Now Ashland and Boyd County are up next for GC. Brady Nelson continues to score at a nice clip for the Musketeers. 13. FAIRVIEW (1-4) The Eagles are struggling on the defensive end of the floor giving up 77 or more points in four of their first five games. Noah King and Tarrick Smith are scoring well for the Eagles. A rematch with Bath County and a matchup with Menifee County give the Eagles a chance to get back on track this week. 14. EAST CARTER (0-4) The Raiders are definitely in an unfamiliar spot in the region rankings. Three losses to district foes plus a lopsided loss to Capital (WV) have led to the slow start. Jordan Brooks and Josh Damron look to lead the Raiders to a victory this week as they visit Lewis County and winless Mason County. 15. MENIFEE COUNTY (3-3) The Wildcats have notched three early season wins. Travis Trimble is off to a good start averaging 20.5 points an outing. A three-game homestand this week against Rowan County, West Carter, and Fairview. 16. ROSE HILL (0-7) The Royals are a much improved squad this season. A beefed-up schedule has not yielded the wins yet. My bold prediction of the week is the Royals get a couple much-needed wins this week.

Mason County struggling out of the gate.

In our preseason preview we predicted this region would see teams beating each other from top to bottom in the rankings. Week 1 did nothing to disprove that theory. As upsets and surprises occurred across the region. Look for these rankings to be volatile all season long. 1. ELLIOTT COUNTY (3-0) The Lions proved they are worthy of their region favorite status. They won their season opener over 15th region contender Paintsville in a double overtime affair. Korbin Spencer and Tanner Dickerson led the Lions to two more easy victories over East Carter and Lyon County, the latter in the Marshall County HoopFest. The Lions will travel to Lloyd to take on upstart Greenup County on Tuesday. 2. LEWIS COUNTY (2-0) The Lions pulled the upset of the week by toppling Ashland 73-71 in their opener. Sam O'Keefe and Seth Wright are leading a balanced Lions attack that also posted a win over Fairview. This week the Lions try to defend their EKC tournament crown as they take on Rowan County Tuesday night in the semifinals. 3. ASHLAND (1-1) The Tomcats dropped their opener to Lewis County but bounced back to defeat Cordia in their home opener. Senior Devaunte Robinson registered two impressive games in Week 1. The Tomcats employed a deep bench in their win over Cordia which will bode well for them as the season wears on. 4. ROWAN COUNTY (3-0) An impressive initial week for the Vikings as they posted wins over Montgomery County, Greenup County, and Bath County. The duo of Mason Moore and Brady Madden have been the catalysts for the fast start. An good early season battle with Lewis County looms Tuesday in the semifinals of the EKC tourney. 5. BOYD COUNTY (2-0) The Lions are showing they won't relinquish the region crown without a fight. Blake Stewart and Talbott Taylor, two returning starters, have carried the load as expected in wins over Menifee County and Sheldon Clark. The Lions will see where they stand this weekend with home games vs Elliott County and Bath County. 6. WEST CARTER (2-0) The Comets are a year older and it is showing on the floor. Two easy wins over Fairview and East Carter featured an uptempo style of play with a deep bench. Trace Tackett has been very effective off the Comet bench. Russell is up next in the EKC tournament semifinals. 7. MORGAN COUNTY (2-1) The Cougars suffered a surprising home court loss to Russell in the EKC tournament Saturday. Jake Helton led the way for two wins over Lawrence County and Bath County earlier in the week. They hope to find their shooting touch in a consolation matchup with East Carter on Tuesday. 8. RACELAND (1-0) The Rams opened their season with a 30 point win over Rose Hill Saturday. This week gives them an opportunity to notch three wins as they play three winnable games against Coal Grove, Augusta, and Notre Dame. Two of those games will be at The Palace. 9. GREENUP COUNTY (3-1) New coach Robert Amis is making an early bid for Coach of the Year honors with three wins in the opening week. The Musketeers stunned rival Russell in overtime and came from behind to defeat Augusta on the road. Brady Nelson and Brady Burchett have been instrumental in the fast start. The road gets tougher this week with games vs Elliott County and Lewis County. 10. RUSSELL (1-1) Jekyll and Hyde week for the Red Devils. A tough loss to Greenup County was followed by an upset of Morgan County on the road Saturday. Tristan Miller is scoring the ball well and freshman Brady Bell had an impressive opening two games. The Devils take on West Carter Tuesday in the EKC semifinals. 11. BATH COUNTY (0-3) The Wildcats have played a brutal schedule to start the season. They absorbed lopsided losses to GRC and Morgan County. A tough loss to Rowan County on Saturday ended a tough week. A change to get their initial win comes Tuesday night at Fairview in the consolation bracket of the EKC tournament. 12. FLEMING COUNTY (1-1) The Panthers notched a solid out of region win over Floyd Central.In their opener they took a 21 point loss to a solid Robertson County squad. The Panthers can get on a roll with trio of winnable games this week including a district tilt with Menifee County. 13. FAIRVIEW (0-2) A rough first week for the Eagles with losses to West Carter and Lewis County. The Eales played short-handed without the services of Garrett Greene and Preston Ledford. Sharp shooter Tarrick Smith has been scoring at a high rate for the Eagles. Bath County visits Westwood Tuesday night. 14. EAST CARTER (0-2) The Raiders are getting a taste oi their own district so far this season. Elliott County and West Cater hung big losses on their district rival in those games. Now the Raiders will take on Morgan County Tuesday in EKC consolation bracket. One bright spot was Hunter Binion but he suffered a foot injury that will sideline him two weeks. 15. MENIFEE COUNTY (2-1) This Wildcat team could move up the rankings soon. With wins over Jackson City and Powell County the Wildcats are a mild surprise. A couple seed games this week with Fleming County and Bath County will be telling for the boys from Frenchburg. 16. ROSE HILL (0-3) The Royals absorbed three losses in Week 1 of the campaign. Kenny Wilburn has been a bright spot for the Royals with his scoring and athleticism.

Helton had 30 points.

This game looks to be a tossup. Greenup has won the last 10 meetings.

Boyd County was filled.

Lewis played well. They shot a lot of layups off backdoor cuts. Fun game to watch.

The Jags offensive play calling their last series was atrocious.

Low scoring.

Nov 17 at Greenup County Russell vs Sciotoville East (OH) 2 PM Greenup vs Green (OH) 4 PM

Per CKNJ Twitter Maze Stallworth has resigned. Anyone else confirm?

Paintsville rolls in this one.

BluegrassPreps.com 16th Region Boys Basketball Preview Boyd County ended an 18 year drought and claimed the region crown in 2018. The Lions defeated arch rival Ashland in the regional finals to return to Rupp Arena. This season appears to have a clear favorite in Elliott County followed closely by Morgan County and Ashland. A group of eight to ten squads will be closely bunched behind the top three teams. All are capable of pulling an upset in the postseason. Let's take a look at the 2018-19 16th Region teams: 1. ELLIOTT COUNTY Coach Greg Adkins certainly knows the way to Rupp Arena. His Lions claimed the region title for three consecutive years from 2015-17. The return of senior guard Korbin Spencer will make the path back to Rupp much easier. Prior to spending his junior season at Hargrave Academy, the versatile guard scored 1,396 points during the Lions' three-year championship run. The Lions also boast three returning starters in sharpshooter Gage Evans, Tanner Dickerson, and crafty point guard Kole Whitley. Throw in talented 8th grader Collin Porter and you have a Warriors type high school lineup that can spread a defense out and score in bunches. It should be a fun year in Sandy Hook. 2. MORGAN COUNTY The Cougars, under veteran coach Matthew Perry, are coming off an impressive 25-6 season a year ago. A heart-wrenching loss to Ashland in the first round of the regional tournament should fuel this year's squad. Blake Evans, the region's best three-point shooter, leads the Cougar returnees. Scoring point guard Garrett Adkins and athletic big man Jake Helton round out the Cougars' Big Three. If the Cougars can find some complimentary players by the postseason, this team could cut nets in Morehead. 3. ASHLAND The Tomcats came close to ending their region championship drought but fell to Boyd County in the region finals. Jason Mays, who has been an assistant in the college ranks, will lead the Tomcats in his first season coaching high school hoops. Devaunte Robinson, the region's most athletic player, leads a talented group of returning Tomcats. The silky left-hander, has made a living at scoring at the rim the past two seasons. Senior Hunter Mays showed some offensive firepower last season. A talented junior class led by Ethan Hudson and Justin Bradley will be relied upon heavily this season. The key to the Tomcats season may lie with the health of freshman Cole Villers. Villers, who started as an eighth-grader, suffered a knee injury over ths summer and will hopefully return by mid-January. Is this the year the region title returns to Blazer Blvd? 4. ROWAN COUNTY The Vikings were the most improved team in the region in 2018. Coach Shawn Thacker thought it would be a rebuilding year but the Vikings had different ideas as they advanced to the 16th Region semifinals. Brady Madden became Mr.Double-Double over the latter of the season. The Vikings also got an unexpected addition to the team in Paintsville transfer Mason Moore. Moore, a talented sophomore, averaged 17.4 points a game as a frosh for the Tigers. This dynamic duo could make Rowan County a tough out in March. 5. BOYD COUNTY The Randy Anderson rebuilding project at Boyd County reached its pinnacle with a regional championship in 2018. Now he has the task of replacing a senior class that featured region MVP Gunner Short and other key contributors. Blake Stewart, a heady point guard, will have to shoulder more of the scoring load this season. Senior Talbott Taylor can score inside and on the perimeter. These two will need help from an inexperienced core of players that will need seasoning if the Lions can make another postseason run. 6. LEWIS COUNTY Coach Joe Hampton, known as Mr. March in these parts, pulled off another district upset last year to advance to the regional tournament. He will have to replace All-Region player Tay Offutt, who did a myriad of things for the Lions. Junior Sam O'Keefe, who has grown to 6'4'', returns after a breakout sophomore season. Seniors Seth Wright and Cameron Ruckel will provide scoring and leadership for the Lions. Inside play may be the key to another run to the region. An added plus for the Lions is hosting the district tournament in Vanceburg at the Lions' Den. 7. RACELAND Coach Bob Trimble and his Rams had quite the year in 2018. The boys from Worthington won the All A region along with the 63rd District Tournament. They lost a tough region semifinal game to Ashland. The loss of Travis Weaver, Rylie Potter, and Octavious Hall will be tough to overcome but the cupboard isn't bare. Kirk Pence is poised for breakout season from his guard position. Greg Mershon is a versatile perimeter player that can be relied on this season. The Rams will also be bolstered by Ironton transfer Kyle Adkins. This team could be a sleeper this winter. 8.WEST CARTER Coach Jeremy Webb and his Comets experienced the normal growing pains that come with a young, inexperienced basketball team. This year could be different as double figure scorers Ethan Adkins and Rodney Evans lead a large group of returnees. Junior Trace Tackett can also provide some offensive firepower to bolster this squad. The toughest obstacle for the Comets is the region's top two teams reside in their district. 9. BATH COUNTY Bath County got just what it wanted when they hired Bart Williams. In year 2, he led the Wildcats back to the regional tournament after a nine-year absence. Spencer Pergram brings his 14.4 points a game back to the Wildcats. 6'5' Jake Porter can play all five positions on the floor. Austin Reed and Chandler Otis are two seniors who can provide experience and leadership. Look for the Wildcats to be back in Morehead this season. 10. EAST CARTER One thing you can always count on in Grayson is a tough, disciplined team coached by Brandon Baker. Jordan Brooks, a talented post player, returns this year to lead the Raiders. Point guard Josh Damron can score and distribute the ball well on the perimeter. Micah Adams and Hunter Binion will need to have bigger roles this year for East to have success. The Raiders are always dangerous to pull off an upset in the talent-laden 62nd District. 11. FAIRVIEW The Eagles were a pleasant surprise under Derek Cooksey last season.They were competitive and recorded some nice wins throughout the 2018 campaign. They also have their version of the Big Three in forward Garrett Greene, sharp shooting Terrick Smith, and athletic wing Noah King. The addition of 6'5" sophomore Jack Roy will give the Eagles much-needed help on the inside. This team could move up the rankings by season's end. 12. GREENUP COUNTY Who will replace the scoring of Gage Hughes is the question in Lloyd. New head coach Robert Amis inherits four of the Musketeers top seven players from a year ago, but very little points and rebounds return. Junior Brady Nelson and senior Brecken Thomas will be leaned on heavily for scoring and rebounding. Logan Robinson could provide perimeter shooting and Eli Raby is a strong defender. Look for 7th grader Zander Carter to have an impact this season. 13. RUSSELL Coach Bryan Groves has the daunting task of replacing a talented senior class from last season. Tristan Miller will look to shoulder much of the scoring load from his shooting guard position. Sophomore point guard Charlie Jachimczuk got valuable experience last year as a frosh. An athletic junior class will help the Devil cause. Look for 6'3" freshman Brady Bell to emerge as an impact player. 14. FLEMING COUNTY Coach Chris Stapleton hopes to sing a healthier song after an injury-plagued first season at Fleming County. Caleb Flannery, a crafty guard, returns with his 10.9 points per game. Cole Saunders will provide some offensive punch for the Panthers as well. Stapleton will rely on an aggressive defense to notch some wins in 2018. 15. MENIFEE COUNTY The Wildcats will have to replace KABC POY Dalton Barnett. He did tit all for the Wildcats a year ago. Coach Tim Swartz will have a strong backcourt of Travis Trimble, a 12.7 points per game scorer a year ago, and Drake Jenkins. The Wildcats hope to improve as the season wears on. 16. ROSE HILL The Royals of Rose Hill made strides last year by winning nine games. A trio of juniors will lead the way. Kenny Wilburn, Trey Phelps, and Stephen Barker are all coming off fine sophomore campaigns. Coach Johnny Bush is hoping for continued improvement from his team this season. TOP 10 PLAYERS 1. Korbin Spencer Elliott County This silky smooth guard hopes to make a triumphant return to the region and collect his fourth region title. 2. Devaunte Robinson Ashland DRob can score at will at the rim and hopes to end the Tomcats region title drought. 3. Blake Stewart Boyd County A natural leader turned some heads at Rupp last season. 4. Jake Helton Morgan County An athletic beast on the glass that could be the region's most underrated player. 5. Mason Moore Rowan County Paintsville transfer can flat fill it up. 6. Kirk Pence Raceland This year could be a coming out party for the talented sophomore. 7. Kole Whitley Elliott County He has the best handles in the region. 8. Blake Evans Morgan County The region's best three-point shooter commands respect from any defense. 9. Brady Madden Rowan County Just call him Mr Double Double. 10. Sam O'Keefe Lewis County Smooth lefty that can go inside or out.

Hoping for a venue change with a warm press box.

4 classes is plenty.