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MOREHEAD When the buzzer sounded Tuesday and Boyd County hoisted the trophy, declaring it 16th Region champions, it was clear that hard work pays off.
Every player in a Lions uniform helped build a season that will culminate at Rupp Arena in the state tournament following the 59-49 win over Ashland.
“It’s a collective deal, for sure,” Boyd County coach Randy Anderson said. “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.’”
But much like Rome wasn’t built in a day, the Boyd County program wasn’t built this season.
Eight years separated the likes of Jacob Spurlock and Ethan Rardon from previous Lions Gunner Short, Reese Robinson, and Blake Stewart celebrating on the court at Ellis T. Johnson Arena.
During that time, Boyd County watched its heated rival rack up seven straight region crowns, with the last four coming at the expense of the Lions in the finals.
But every player that passed through the program during that time contributed to the foundation that these Lions now stand on. It's the culmination of work from a whole pride of Lions.
“Everything those former players did, they should feel like they are going to Rupp Arena as well, because it started back in 2011,” Anderson said. “It’s hard to believe I've been blessed to be at Boyd County for 16 years. Of all the kids who came through with this goal in mind, only two groups have made it. Winning a region is hard.
“I really feel for our last two groups, because they were great kids and a great team,” Anderson added. “No excuses, but we got hit by the injury bug. I know those former players feel a sense of pride in this because they are always in these guys' ears.”
Seniors Spurlock and Rardon have been there for all the ups and downs over the past several years.
“As soon as the buzzer went off, all I thought about was the past four years,” Spurlock said. “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.”
The last time the Lions wore the crown, it was also against Ashland, a game in which Boyd County held the Tomcats to just 49 points.
Rardon said that after the stumbling points over the last few years, getting the win is an incredible feeling, but getting some payback on a district foe makes it even better.
“Our coaches say this is an experience we’ll never forget and something you’ll never feel again,” Rardon said. “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.”
For Spurlock, this win was as much for his former teammates as it was for his current ones.
“I saw Griff (Taylor), Cole (Hicks), Rhett (Holbrook) all in the stands tonight,” Spurlock said. “I came up short with them; they saw all of the bad side. I wanted to win this one for them. They worked hard with me ever since I was a kid. Those are my childhood best friends. They came up after and were just as excited as I was to win this.”
Both seniors view the moments when they came up short as lessons learned.
For Spurlock, the key to success this season was to change the approach to the game in Morehead, in turn changing their outcome.
“We knew we had to value possessions,” Spurlock said. “Usually, we come in here and play our normal offense, but we’re not going to score in the 80s in this type of game. We had to value possessions and really work on the defensive end. We valued that a lot during game prep. We knew we had to get stops on that end and rebound to let our offense work. I feel like we didn't have that focus in the past couple of years, but our guys were really focused on the defensive end this year.”
The lesson for Rardon was to keep grinding after shortcomings.
“You learn to work harder and get back into the gym,” Rardon said. “That’s the main thing. But second, I think tournament-time basketball is all about the little things. It’s rebounding, it’s rotating to the next guy. It’s those little intangibles you pick up that win games during March, and that’s what we did today.”
And the work for Boyd County isn’t done yet. The team hopes to make some noise at the Sweet Sixteen.
But even after that, Spurlock knows the program will continue to work toward future success, and he hopes he can affect those who will follow.
“When I was in eighth grade, a senior told me it flies by,” Spurlock said. “I tell these young guys the same thing. It flies by before you even realize it. I just tell them to keep working hard. Don't listen to the outside noise. It doesn’t matter what everyone else is saying; it’s you versus you. I’m just trying to mentor them in the right direction and show them what it takes to get to that next level.”
Reach WILLIAM ADAMS at [email protected] or (606) 326-2671.
Continue reading...
Every player in a Lions uniform helped build a season that will culminate at Rupp Arena in the state tournament following the 59-49 win over Ashland.
“It’s a collective deal, for sure,” Boyd County coach Randy Anderson said. “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.’”
But much like Rome wasn’t built in a day, the Boyd County program wasn’t built this season.
Eight years separated the likes of Jacob Spurlock and Ethan Rardon from previous Lions Gunner Short, Reese Robinson, and Blake Stewart celebrating on the court at Ellis T. Johnson Arena.
During that time, Boyd County watched its heated rival rack up seven straight region crowns, with the last four coming at the expense of the Lions in the finals.
But every player that passed through the program during that time contributed to the foundation that these Lions now stand on. It's the culmination of work from a whole pride of Lions.
“Everything those former players did, they should feel like they are going to Rupp Arena as well, because it started back in 2011,” Anderson said. “It’s hard to believe I've been blessed to be at Boyd County for 16 years. Of all the kids who came through with this goal in mind, only two groups have made it. Winning a region is hard.
“I really feel for our last two groups, because they were great kids and a great team,” Anderson added. “No excuses, but we got hit by the injury bug. I know those former players feel a sense of pride in this because they are always in these guys' ears.”
Seniors Spurlock and Rardon have been there for all the ups and downs over the past several years.
“As soon as the buzzer went off, all I thought about was the past four years,” Spurlock said. “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.”
The last time the Lions wore the crown, it was also against Ashland, a game in which Boyd County held the Tomcats to just 49 points.
Rardon said that after the stumbling points over the last few years, getting the win is an incredible feeling, but getting some payback on a district foe makes it even better.
“Our coaches say this is an experience we’ll never forget and something you’ll never feel again,” Rardon said. “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.”
For Spurlock, this win was as much for his former teammates as it was for his current ones.
“I saw Griff (Taylor), Cole (Hicks), Rhett (Holbrook) all in the stands tonight,” Spurlock said. “I came up short with them; they saw all of the bad side. I wanted to win this one for them. They worked hard with me ever since I was a kid. Those are my childhood best friends. They came up after and were just as excited as I was to win this.”
Both seniors view the moments when they came up short as lessons learned.
For Spurlock, the key to success this season was to change the approach to the game in Morehead, in turn changing their outcome.
“We knew we had to value possessions,” Spurlock said. “Usually, we come in here and play our normal offense, but we’re not going to score in the 80s in this type of game. We had to value possessions and really work on the defensive end. We valued that a lot during game prep. We knew we had to get stops on that end and rebound to let our offense work. I feel like we didn't have that focus in the past couple of years, but our guys were really focused on the defensive end this year.”
The lesson for Rardon was to keep grinding after shortcomings.
“You learn to work harder and get back into the gym,” Rardon said. “That’s the main thing. But second, I think tournament-time basketball is all about the little things. It’s rebounding, it’s rotating to the next guy. It’s those little intangibles you pick up that win games during March, and that’s what we did today.”
And the work for Boyd County isn’t done yet. The team hopes to make some noise at the Sweet Sixteen.
But even after that, Spurlock knows the program will continue to work toward future success, and he hopes he can affect those who will follow.
“When I was in eighth grade, a senior told me it flies by,” Spurlock said. “I tell these young guys the same thing. It flies by before you even realize it. I just tell them to keep working hard. Don't listen to the outside noise. It doesn’t matter what everyone else is saying; it’s you versus you. I’m just trying to mentor them in the right direction and show them what it takes to get to that next level.”
Reach WILLIAM ADAMS at [email protected] or (606) 326-2671.
Continue reading...
