CANNONSBURG Ashland and Boyd County have plenty of work in front of them if the two rivals want to meet for a fourth time this season.
Both navigated their paths to the 16th Region Tournament final last spring, but emerging opponents, teams seeking redemption and a slew of experienced players stand in their way.
kAm“xE’D E92E E:>6 @7 E96 J62C[” pD9=2?5 4@249 $4@EE x?8C2> D2:5] “%96C6’D ?@E 2? 62DJ 82>6 😕 E96 7:6=5] *@F ;FDE 92G6 E@ 36 C625J E@ 4@>6 @FE 2?5 A=2J]”k^Am
kAm%96 {:@?D C6EFC? 2D 5676?5:?8 492>A:@?D 2?5 4@249 {2?46 $62D@C 6IA64ED 2?@E96C 8C:?5[ ECJ:?8 E@ H:? E9C66 82>6D 😕 E9C66 52JD E@ 86E 324< E@ E96 DE2E6 E@FC?2>6?E]k^Am
kAmQx 2> C62==J E92?<7F= E92E H6 5@ 92G6 E92E 6IA6C:6?46[Q $62D@C D2:5] Q(6 42? 567:?:E6=J 72== 324< @? E92E 2?5 H6 C6EFC? 2=>@DE 6G6CJ@?6 7C@> E92E E62>] xE H2D 2 8C:?5 =2DE J62C 2?5 :E H:== 36 2 8C:?5 E9:D J62C] (6 567:?:E6=J 92G6 E96 E2=6?E E@ 36 C6A62E 492>A:@?D] xEVD 8@:?8 E@ 36 2== 23@FE 6I64FE:@?]Qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m#@H2? r@F?EJ GD] q@J5 r@F?EJ[ %@52J[ “ 2]>]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 a_ad 6G6?E H2DE6D ?@ E:>6 86EE:?8 EH@ @7 E96 E@A E62>D 😕 E96 7:6=5 E@86E96C] w@DE #@H2? r@F?EJ 6?E6CE2:?D q@J5 r@F?EJ 😕 E96 @A6?:?8 82>6 @7 E96 E@FC?2>6?E]k^Am
kAm%96 ‘:<:?8D 36DE65 E96 {:@?D 😕 vC2JD@?[ b\a[ @? pAC:= f] %96 EH@ E62>D 92G6?’E >6E 😕 E96 A@DED62D@? D:?46 a_`e]k^Am
kAmQx E9:?< :EVD 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 8C62E 82>6[Q $62D@C D2:5] QxEVD EH@ G6CJ E2=6?E65 E62>D] xE H:== 36 2 8C62E H2J E@ <:4< @77 E96 E@FC?2>6?E] ]]] *@F 92G6 E@ 362E 6G6CJ3@5J E@ H:? :E 2==] *@F >:89E 2D H6== DE2CE @77 H:E9 @?6 @7 E96 36DE E62>D 😕 E96 C68:@?]Qk^Am
kAm#@H2? r@F?EJ 92D E2==:65 ad H:?D E9:D D62D@? 2?5 92D 2=C625J H62E96C65 2 EC:A E@ 2 DE2E6 492>A:@?D9:A E9:D J62C[ 72==:?8 E@ (2CC6? t2DE[ a\`[ 😕 E96 z6?EF4@?E9]k^Am
kAms:2>@?5 (:==D =625D E96 ‘:<:?8D H:E9 2 ]dde 32EE:?8 2G6C286 2?5 {2FCJ? t2DE92> 92D 4@==64E65 6:89E 9@>6 CF?D] z2DD: !6C<:?D 92D >256 ag DE2CED[ H@? ab 2?5 A@DE65 2 `]bf t#p] #@H2? r@F?EJ 92D @?=J 8:G6? FA 2 C68:@?\36DE ed CF?D 2== D62D@? 2?5 E96 ‘:<:?8D 2C6 `a\` 282:?DE C68:@? @AA@?6?ED]k^Am
kAmq@J5 r@F?EJ 4@F?E6CD H:E9 2 E9C66\A=2J6C C@E2E:@? 😕 E96 4:C4=6] t=J? $:>A<:?D[ qC@@<6 y24@3D[ 2?5 {24J? q=24< 2=D@ 92G6 >F=E:A=6 :??:?8D 😕 E96 A@DED62D@? 2?5 8:G6 $62D@C G6CD2E:=:EJ 2E E96 >@DE :>A@CE2?E A@D:E:@?]k^Am
kAmQxEVD 366? C62==J D@>6E9:?8 E@ D66 E96D6 8:C=D 6G@=G6[Q $62D@C D2:5] Qx 92G6 4@24965 E96> 😕 >:55=6 D49@@=[ D:IE9 8C256] %@ D66 E96> :>AC@G6 6G6CJ J62C[ :EVD C62==J AC6EEJ DA64:2=] x 2> 4@?7:56?E E@ E9C@H 2?J @?6 @7 E96> @FE E96C6 2?5 H6 H@F=5 4@>A6E6 2?5 H:? 2 32== 82>6] xEVD ?:46 E@ 92G6 J@F?8 A:E496CD H9@ E9C@H :E H6== 2?5 92G6 6IA6C:6?46]Qk^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mvC66?FA r@F?EJ GD] (6DE r2CE6C[ %@52J[ ` A]>]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmvC66?FA r@F?EJ 46=63C2E65 :ED 7:CDE 5:DEC:4E E:E=6 😕 ad J62CD[ 56762E:?8 #246=2?5 @? :ED 9@>6 EFC7 @? (65?6D52J]k^Am
kAm%96 |FD<6E66CD H2?E E@ <66A C6G6=:?8 2?5 H:? 2 C68:@? E:E=6] %96 AC@8C2> 92D?VE 96=5 E92E 92C5H2C6 D:?46 a___]k^Am
kAmr@249 s6G:? ‘2?3:336C D2:5[ C682C5=6DD @7 H9@ 9:D E62> 5C6H @? $2EFC52J >@C?:?8[ :EVD :>A@CE2?E E@ D6E E96 E@?6 7@C E96 C6DE @7 E96 H66< 😕 E96 @A6?:?8 82>6]k^Am
kAm“xE 😀 E96 >2:? 7@4FD[” ‘2?3:336C D2:5] “xE 5:5?’E >2EE6C H9@ H6 5C6H] *@F 92G6 E@ 4@>6 @FE C625J E@ A=2J] xE’D E96 C68:@? E@FC?2>6?E 2?5 6G6CJ E62> 😀 8@@5] (6 92G6 E@ A=2J @FC 36DE 32== 6G6CJ 492?46 H6 86E]”k^Am
kAmvC66?FA r@F?EJ’D ab H:?D 2?5 @?=J 2==@H:?8 E9C66 CF?D 2 82>6 2C6 2 AC@5F4E @7 E96:C AC6A2C2E:@?[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96:C 4@249] ‘2?q:336C D2:5 9:D E62> 😀 C625J E@ E2<6 E96 ?6IE DE6A]k^Am
kAm“xE’D E96 H@C< E96J 92G6 AFE 😕 5FC:?8 E96 @77D62D@?[” ‘2?q:336C D2:5] “xE’D A=2J:?8 E@86E96C 2D 2 E62> 2== J62C] }@C>2==J[ 2 J62C 😀 7F== @7 FAD 2?5 5@H?D[ 3FE E96J 92G6 DE2J65 AC6EEJ 6G6? 2== J62C] %96J DE2J 7@4FD65 2?5 A=2J 7@C @?6 2?@E96C]”k^Am
kAm|255J $E66=6 92D ?:?6 9@>6CD 2?5 2 ]cfb 2G6C286 E@ =625 E96 |FD<6E66CD 2E E96 A=2E6] y@D6J z68=6J 3C:?8D 2 DE6C=:?8 `h\_ C64@C5 E@ |@C69625 2?5 2 _]g_ t#p]k^Am
kAm“y@D6J 😀 A:E49:?8 8C62E[” ‘2?3:336C D2:5] “$96’D E9C@H:?8 =:89ED @FE[ H@C<:?8 29625 😕 E96 4@F?E 2 =@E] $96 >:I6D A:E496D FA C62==J H6==] %96 5676?D6 😀 A=2J:?8 H6== 369:?5 96C] (6’G6 925 D6G6C2= =@H\CF? 82>6D 2?5 E92E >2<6D 2 3:8 5:776C6?46]”k^Am
kAmp=JDD2 (:==:D W]cch[ b]ce t#pX =625D E96 r@>6ED 😕 D6G6C2= 42E68@C:6D E9:D J62C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mpD9=2?5 GD] q2E9 r@F?EJ[ %@52J[ b A]>]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm%96 z:EE6?D 2?5 (:=542ED >6E 2 C@F?5 =2E6C 😕 E96 C68:@? E@FC?2>6?E 😕 a_ac] pD9=2?5’D @776?D:G6 6IA=@D:@? 2==@H65 :E E@ >@G6 @? 27E6C E96 EH@ 4@==:565 😕 E96 D6>:7:?2=D]k^Am
kAm%96J 92G6 ?@E A=2J65 D:?46 |2C49[ 2?5 x?8C2> @HD q2E9 r@F?EJ 😀 2=H2JD 2 E@F89 @FE 2E A@DED62D@? E:>6]k^Am
kAm“%96J 2C6 2=H2JD H6==\4@24965[” x?8C2> D2:5] “z6??J W(:==:2>DX 5@6D 2 8C62E ;@3 H:E9 E96>] w6 92D 3C@F89E E96 AC@8C2> 2 =@?8 H2J]”k^Am
kAm%96 z:EE6?D 6?E6C @? 2 9:89 ?@E6 27E6C 92=E:?8 q@J5 r@F?EJ’D DEC62< @7 E9C66 DEC2:89E ecE9 s:DEC:4E 4C@H?D] %96J 92G6 6?;@J65 E92E >@>6?E 2?5 H2?E E@ 62C? 2 76H >@C6 E9:D H66<]k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 C6>:?565 E96> E92E[ J6D[ H6 6?;@J65 :E[ 3FE E9:D H66< 😀 H92E H6 92G6 366? A=2J:?8 7@C 2== J62C[” x?8C2> D2:5] “%96J 92G6 366? C625J 😕 AC24E:46] x 5@?’E E9:?< :E H:== 36 2? :DDF6] (6 2C6 AC6EEJ 9F?8CJ]”k^Am
kAmp55: {2:?6 92D D66? 96C D92C6 @7 A@DED62D@? :??:?8D[ 3FE #:=6J w2C>@? 2=D@ 8:G6D E96 E62> 2?@E96C ECFDE65 2C> 😕 E96 4:C4=6]k^Am
kAm“x 92G6 2 =@E @7 4@?7:56?46 😕 3@E9 @7 E96>[” x?8C2> D2:5] “%9:D E:>6 @7 J62C[ :E ;FDE 4@>6D 5@H? E@ E96 >2E49FA] … q@E9 42? 4@>6 😕 2?5 E96J 36=:6G6] p E9C66\52J DEC6E49 😀 E@F89 7@C 2?J3@5J] xEVD ?:46 E@ 92G6 @AE:@?D]”k^Am
kAmqC@@<6=J? sF4:E9 2?5 y6??2 s6=2?6J AC@G:56 A@H6C 😕 E96 pD9=2?5 =:?6FA] %96 EC:@ 92D 4@>3:?65 7@C ba =@?8 32==D 2?5 `_f #qxD]k^Am
kAmq2E9 r@F?EJ 4@F?E6CD H:E9 ac H:?D 2?5 EH@ A=2J6CD H9@ 2C6 32EE:?8 @G6C ]c__[ p==:6 s:==:@? 2?5 xD236==2 wF896D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mt2DE r2CE6C GD] #246=2?5[ %@52J[ d A]>]k^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmt2DE r2CE6C D9FE @FE #246=2?5[ f\_[ @? :ED 9@>6 7:6=5 EH@ H66 E96 82>6[ 3FE E96 7:?2= C6DF=E 92D ?@ 362C:?8 @? E96:C 7:CDE\C@F?5 >2E49FA]k^Am
kAm!@DED62D@? 3C:?8D @FE E96 36DE 2>@?8 E96 C6>2:?:?8 E62>D]k^Am
kAm“xE 5@6D?’E C62==J >2EE6C H92E J@F 5:5 😕 E92E C68F=2C\D62D@? 82>6[” r2=9@F? D2:5] “(96? J@F 86E 96C6[ 6G6CJ3@5J 😀 _\_ 2?5 @?=J @?6 82>6 >2EE6CD] %96C6 H:== 36 2 E:>6 H96? J@F 92G6 E@ DE6A FA 2?5 H:? 32== 82>6D] (6 92G6 E@ >2<6 DFC6 ?@E E@ @G6C=@@< E96>] %96J 92G6 2 8@@5 32== E62>] (6 5:5?’E 86E E@ D66 Ws2G2??2X vCF33 =2DE E:>6] w@A67F==J[ H6 H:== 4@>6 @FE C625J E@ 8@]”k^Am
kAm#246=2?5 4@249 $4@EE p5<:?D 3C:?8D 2?@E96C 6IA6C:6?465 2?5 E2=6?E65 C@DE6C E@ E96 C68:@? E@FC?2>6?E] xE 42? 86E J@F E9C@F89 H96? 25G6CD:EJ 2C:D6D]k^Am
kAm“xE A=2JD 2 3:8 A2CE[” p5<:?D D2:5] “(6 92G6 366? 96C6 367@C6[ 2?5 9@A67F==J H6 42? 5@ :E 282:?] (6 @H H92E H6 2C6 😕 7@C 2?5 H6 @H H9@ H6’G6 8@E E@ A=2J]Qk^Am
kAm%96 #2>D 82:?65 E96 @H=6586 @7 A=2J:?8 >F=E:A=6 82>6D 😕 2 D9@CE E:>6 5FC:?8 E96:C >2?J EC:AD E@ E96 p== “p” r=2DD:4 DE2E6 E@FC?2>6?E] p5<:?D D6ED FA 9:D D4965F=6 E@ D66 >F=E:A=6 A:E496CD 2?5 A=2J:?8 DEJ=6D]k^Am
kAm“(6 5:5 =62C? 2 =@E[” p5<:?D D2:5 @7 E96 7:CDE 6?4@F?E6C H:E9 E96 #2:56CD] “(6 =:<6 E@ A=2J E9@D6 @FE\@7\5:DEC:4E 82>6D E@ D66 H92E @E96C E62>D 92G6] (6 5@?’E H2?E E@ D9@H 2== @FC 42C5D[ 3FE H6 E@@< 2 =@E @7 E9:?8D 😕 W7@C ?6IE E:>6X]”k^Am
kAmt2DE r2CE6C D4@C65 bb` CF?D E9:D D62D@? H:E9 2 D@=:5 @C56C 7C@> ` E9C@F89 h] %96 #2:56CD 92G6 D:I A=2J6CD 32EE:?8 @G6C ]c__] !2JE@? #:46 W]dhbX 2?5 {2<6? z?:AA W]ch_X =625 E96 492C86] $E6A92?J %FDD6J 2?5 #:46 4@>>2?5 E96 4:C4=6 H:E9 2 4@>3:?65 a_ G:4E@C:6D]k^Am
kAmt2DE r2CE6C 92D H2:E65 `a >@?E9D E@ C6EFC? E@ E96 C68:@? DE286 27E6C 2? 62C=J 6I:E =2DE J62C]k^Am
kAm“xEVD D@>6E9:?8 E92E H6 92G6 DEC6DD65 2== J62C[” r2=9@F? D2:5] “%92E H2D?’E 9@H @FC E62> A=2JD] %96 H2J H6 7:?:D965 =2DE J62C 92D 366? 2 >@E:G2E:?8 724E@C] sFC:?8 @FC @77D62D@? H@C<@FED[ H6 6H E92E H6 5:5?’E H2?E E@ 86E E@ E92E A@:?E[ 2?5 :E 92AA6? 282:?] %96 8:C=D 92G6 E2<6? E92E F?56C E96:C H:?8 2?5 H6 92G6 A=2J65 D@>6 8@@5 4@>A6E:E:@? E9:D J62C]”k^Am
kAmz2=: ‘2?46 W]cc_X 2?5 qCJ?2 (6==>2? W]cchX 2C6 D@=:5 2E E96 A=2E6 7@C E96 #2>D] vCF33 3@2DED 2 a_\c C64@C5]k^Am
kAm%96 C68:@? D6>:7:?2=D 2C6 D=2E65 7@C %F6D52J 2E e 2?5 g A]>] %96 492>A:@?D9:A 82>6 4@>>6?46D @? (65?6D52J 2E f]k^Am
kAmk6>mWe_eX bae\aef` Mk^6>mk^Am
kAmk6>mk2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i>DA2CQm>DA2Ck^2mk^6>mk^Am