Boyd County Lions Claim 16th Region Championship

After years of falling short, the Lions finally reach the state tournament

Mar. 11, 2026 at 9:34pm

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The Boyd County Lions basketball team won the 16th Region championship on Tuesday, defeating rival Ashland 59-49. This marks the first regional title for the Lions since 2011, ending a seven-year drought where their rival Ashland had won seven straight regional crowns. The victory is the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance by the Lions program, with current seniors Jacob Spurlock and Ethan Rardon leading the way after falling short in previous seasons.

Why it matters

The Boyd County Lions' regional championship win ends a long drought and represents a major milestone for the program. After watching their rivals Ashland dominate the region in recent years, the Lions' triumph is a testament to their dedication and resilience. This victory will be celebrated by the entire Boyd County community and provides hope that the team can make some noise at the upcoming state tournament.

The details

In Tuesday's 16th Region final, the Boyd County Lions defeated the Ashland Tomcats 59-49. The Lions were led by seniors Jacob Spurlock and Ethan Rardon, who have been part of the program for the past four years and experienced the disappointment of falling short in previous regional tournament runs. This year, the Lions focused on defensive intensity and valuing each possession, a shift in approach that paid off with the championship victory.

  • The Boyd County Lions won the 16th Region championship on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.
  • The Lions' last regional title came in 2011, ending a seven-year drought where their rivals Ashland had won seven straight regional crowns.

The players

Jacob Spurlock

A senior leader for the Boyd County Lions who has been part of the program for the past four years, including previous unsuccessful regional tournament runs.

Ethan Rardon

A fellow senior for the Boyd County Lions who, like Spurlock, has experienced the ups and downs of the program over the past four seasons.

Randy Anderson

The head coach of the Boyd County Lions, who has led the program for 16 years and guided them to their first regional title since 2011.

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What they’re saying

“It's a collective deal, for sure. We have a great group of young kids who work hard every day and push these starters in practice. I think it starts with leadership. J-Spur and E (Jacob Spurlock and Ethan Rardon), they let their guard down, welcomed in new guys and young guys, and said, 'Hey, we're your buddy, let's go battle together.'”

— Randy Anderson, Head Coach, Boyd County Lions

“As soon as the buzzer went off, all I thought about was the past four years. Especially last year, I got taken out early and just sat on the side and watched our guys lose. That lit a fire in me to really work hard over the year, to make sure we got to this game and made sure we won it.”

— Jacob Spurlock, Senior, Boyd County Lions

“Our coaches say this is an experience we'll never forget and something you'll never feel again. I can't even put into words how awesome it is because to experience this with all my best friends is just incredible. It's no secret we went through some adversity. Ashland had our number here for a little bit. That makes it all much better and all much sweeter to know that with all the hard work we put in, we made it. We made it. It's awesome.”

— Ethan Rardon, Senior, Boyd County Lions

What’s next

The Boyd County Lions will now advance to the KHSAA Sweet Sixteen state tournament, where they hope to make some noise and continue their successful season.

The takeaway

The Boyd County Lions' regional championship victory is a testament to the perseverance and dedication of the program, which has endured years of disappointment and adversity to finally reach the state tournament. This win will be celebrated by the entire community and provides hope that the Lions can continue their Cinderella run at Rupp Arena.