Sasha Bush

The Ashland Beacon

 

   Members of the Greenup Beautification Project have been working tirelessly downtown getting Greenup decorated in preparation for its first ever Christmas on the Square. This event is sure to be one that the entire family can enjoy. Christmas on the Square takes place on December 10, 2022 beginning at noon and will run until 4 p.m. Amy Dowdy, one of the event’s coordinators shared with us, “This is a new thing to this area. What we are doing is an interactive Christmas tour of our little town of Greenup that provides a great opportunity for your families to visit a few our churches, our businesses, and various clubs.”  The day starts off with live music from some of your favorite local artists. Festive holiday music will be going on all from noon to 4 p.m. in the Fiscal Courtroom. Christmas carolers will be present singing some of your favorite holiday tunes and spreading that good ole’ Christmas cheer.  Vendors will be setup from all around, so you can not only listen to some great music but also shop for those last-minute Christmas gifts. You are sure to find something nice for everyone on your list. This is a great way to spend time with your family, support your community, and support small local businesses all at the same time. 

   The fun doesn’t stop there! Bring your kids for a fun-filled trip around the beautiful city of Greenup where they can experience the magic of Christmas… hometown style! Start your tour off at Holiday Central, which is where you will pick up your map and official goodie bag. “We will have different stops along the way that are highlighted with colorful holiday blowups outside to signify that it is one of the stops on your route. When you go into your stop, there will be a family activity that you will do. For example, the Christian church is going to have a hot chocolate bar where you will have the opportunity to make your own special hot chocolate. You will get the chance to make your own personalized frosted sugar cookies at the Methodist church, and the Lions Club will be furnishing hotdogs, as well as a candy cane reindeer craft for you to do,” noted Dowdy.  There are so many other stops along the way as you travel all over town visiting different merchants, churches, and civic groups.  Each provide you with a unique holiday experience while filling your bag up with tons of goodies. The best part about this experience is… IT’S FREE! 

   Live music, vendors, and a tour of the beautiful city of Greenup… what more could you ask for? How about a live nativity, free hotdogs, hot chocolate, apple cider, cookies, popcorn, and, of course, you can’t have all this Christmas merriment without having a parade! At 5p.m. the Greenup County Christmas parade kicks off, and it is sure to be a sight to behold. You don’t want to miss all the amazing vehicles, floats and performances planned for this parade that is sure to bring you joy with a lot of festive flair. Now you can’t have a parade without the jolly old man in a red suit. That’s right… SANTA will be making his appearance at the end of the parade and can’t wait to have his picture taken with you. This truly is a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas with your family, friends, and community. 

James Collier

The Ashland Beacon

 

   A berth in the State Championship was not a goal for Raceland Football this year. 

   It was the expectation. 

   After claiming a school record 13 wins this season which led the Rams back to the Class A title game for only the second time in the program’s 96-year history, the team felt like it was on the verge of getting over the one hurdle they have not been able to achieve, winning a state crown. 

   Although the Rams came up short in the bid for the title against Pikeville Friday at Kroger Field, the final outcome should not overshadow everything the team achieved. Raceland dominated its way through the season by outscoring its opponents by over 40 points a game while touting one of the top defenses in the state, regardless of classification. 

   Logan Lundy turned in a solid junior campaign after throwing for 2,372 yards and 35 touchdowns. Lundy surpassed 4,000 career yards early in the postseason and his mark this season is the first time a Rams quarterback has thrown for over 2,000 yards since Nathaniel Davidson tossed for 3,013 in 2016. His 35TDs are the most in team history which breaks Tyler Farley’s record set in 2010 of 29. Lundy accounted for seven additional touchdowns in the rushing game while running for 445 yards. 

   Raceland will return three of its four primary running backs led by Noah Wallace and Isaac Browning. Wallace once again led the team with 883 yards and 12 touchdowns. He racked up a career-high 146 yards in the Rams 49-6 win over Holy Cross in the State Semifinals. It was also the first time Wallace had rushed for over 100 yards in back-to-back games. Browning joined Wallace in the 100-yard club in the win over Holy Cross with a career-high 118 yards on 10 carries. It was his second 100-plus yard rushing game of his career, both coming this season. Browning finished with 666 yards and nine house calls. Jaxon Heighton added a pair of scores and 243 yards while working mostly in short yardage situations. 

   Raceland departs three of its four leading receivers led by Mason Lykins 737 yards and 12 TDs. Conner Hughes closes his career with the Rams at 49 total touchdowns after being limited by an ankle injury in the postseason. Hughes had eight receiving TDs this season and ran for four more. Landyn Newman hauled in 20 catches for 276 yards and three scores. Parker Fannin returns next season as the second leading receiver with 28 catches for 569 yards and nine scores. 

   However, as explosive as the Rams offense was this season, the defense was even better. The Rams held their opponents to under 11 yards a game much of the season and finished with an average score of 12.6 per game. The Rams rushing defense suffocated their opposition to the tune of 77.9 yards a game, which rose from 63 after a tough outing against a potential Mr. Football candidate, Blake Birchfield who ran for 231 yards in the championship game. Raceland returns a large nucleus of its defense including three of the four starting linebackers. The Rams’ secondary was stellar as well as they led the state in interceptions with 23. 

   No matter the case, the 2022 version of Raceland football is going to be one for the ages. Record books have been rewritten across the board and more trophies added to the cases that line the walls inside Raceland-Worthington High School. Coach Mike Salmons often jokes that Raceland has a stop sign, a red light, a railroad track and a football team and not necessarily in that order. But the community that pours out to support the orange and black every Friday night, rain or shine, certainly have something to be proud of. The boys of Ramland represented their tiny town with pride and the color of metal on the final trophy is not going to change that. 

   The Rams are built to last and although 2023 will feature several new names to the mix, fans should expect much of the same, another Rams winning season and hopes of a state title.

James Collier

The Ashland Beacon

 

BOYS 64th DISTRICT

 

ASHLAND 1-1

   Ashland started its season on a positive note with a 67-37 win over Ironton St. Joe paced by 21 points from Zander Carter behind three triples. Ashland led wire to wire and touted a 34-20 lead at the half. Tristin Davis and Rheyce Deboard added 13 in the win. 

   Ashland fell to Great Crossing, 78-73 in the Jersey Mike’s Classic in Georgetown. Carter paced the Tomcats with 28 points. Tucker Conway tossed in 19 behind five 3s. Deboard added 11. 

   Ashland has its first 64th District tilt on Tuesday with a visit from Fairview followed by a matchup with the defending state champion, George Rogers Clark Saturday in the Boyd County Roundball Classic.

 

BOYD 2-0

   Boyd County rolled off a pair of wins to open the season while lighting up the scoreboard in both affairs. 

   Boyd County defeated Rowan County, 81-53 in its season opener. Cole Hicks led the Lions with 21 points while tossing in five triples. Jacob Spurlock added 18 points and was 4 of 6 from downtown. Jason Ellis had 13 points and 11 rebounds. Boyd County shot 48.1% (13-27) from beyond the arc. 

   Spurlock’s 25 points led the Lions to a 93-55 win over East Ridge. The freshman was 8 of 8 inside the arc and grabbed 10 rebounds in the win. Hicks added 23 points in the win and Ellis turned in his second double-double in as many games with 12 and 12. 

   Boyd County opens 64th District play with a visit from Fairview on Thursday followed by visits from Lewis County and Pikeville on Friday and Saturday, respectively in the Boyd County Roundball Classic.  

 

FAIRVIEW 2-1

   Fairview collected a pair of wins to open the season before taking its first loss of the year at Fleming County. 

   Fairview outlasted Greenup County, 66-63 in the Eagles season opener. Tanner Johnson led the Eagles with 22 points. Tamel Smith netted 19 while going 4 for 8 from downtown and Mitchell Cox added 13. Steven Day scored six points and grabbed 11 rebounds. 

   Day led the Eagles with 27 points in their 78-66 win over West Carter. Tanner Johnson added 24 points and was 4 of 6 from beyond the arc. Izaac Johnson dropped in 12 and grabbed 12 rebounds. 

   Fairview suffered its first setback of the season with an 84-59 loss at Fleming County. Tanner Johnson led the Eagles with 18 points. Izaac Johnson and Smith each added 11. 

   Fairview hits the road for three games this week with a pair of 64th District tilts at Ashland on Tuesday and Boyd County on Thursday before closing the week at Elliott County on Friday. 

 

ROSE HILL 1-1

   Rose Hill took a spilt in the Royals two games this week, falling to East Carter, 73-33 while defeating Robertson County. 

   Christian Blevins dropped in 16 in the loss to East Carter. 

   Rose Hill won 73-66 over Robertson County. Blevins led the Royals with 29 points and hit four trifectas. John Vanhoose kicked in 12. 

   Rose Hill visits Raceland Thursday and welcomes Russell on Friday. 

 

BOYS 63rd DISTRICT

 

RUSSELL 1-1

   After falling in the Devils season opener against Martin County at home, Russell bounced back with a win over Rowan County in the opening round of the EKC Tournament Saturday night. 

   Damon Charles dropped 23 points and 10 rebounds in the Devils 73-59 loss to Martin County. Gavin Carter kicked in 17. Tatum Fleming had 12. 

   Russell overcame a 22-9 first quarter deficit against Rowan County by holding the Vikings scoreless in the second stanza that led to a 51-47 win. Carson Blum led the Devils with 12 points. Charles had 10.

   Russell moves into the semifinals of the EKC Tournament Tuesday night against host West Carter. Should the Devils win in that contest, they would play in the championship Thursday night at West Carter. Russell visits Rose Hill on Friday and plays Augusta in the Mike Murphy Classic at Mason County on Saturday. 

 

RACELAND 1-0

   Raceland started the season with a win at home, sort of. 

   The Rams had to open the season in its middle school due to the production of the Nutcracker Bash at the high school. Regardless of the venue, the Rams turned an 11-10 lead after one into a 68-53 win over Pendleton County.

   Christian Large led the Rams with 21 points. Holden Topping added 13 and Jacob Gauze had 12. 

   Raceland visits Lawrence County Monday, Spring Valley on Wednesday, welcomes Rose Hill on Thursday and plays Johnson Central Saturday in the Boyd County Roundball Classic. 

 

GREENUP COUNTY 0-2

   Greenup County fell in both contests this week, losing 66-63 against Fairview and 55-42 to Rock Hill. 

   Cohen Underwood paced the Musketeers with 26 points in the loss to Fairview. Underwood was a perfect 11 of 11 from the field hitting nine shots inside the arc and draining a pair of triples. 

   Greenup County welcomes Fleming County on Monday, Elliott County on Thursday and Minford on Saturday.

James Collier

The Ashland Beacon

 

GIRLS 64th DISTRICT

 

ASHLAND 1-1

   Ashland opened the season with an 80-45 blowout of Spring Valley and a 55-49 loss to Pikeville. 

   Jaidyn Gulley paced the Kittens with 22 points in the win over the Timberwolves. Ella Sellars added 17 points in the win. 

   Gabby Karle led the Kittens with 15 points and four triples in their loss to Pikeville. Gulley tossed in 13 and Sellars added 12. Ashland led 18-7 after one quarter but a 22-6 second stanza by the Panthers gave the hosts a five-point edge at the half. Ashland regained the lead after three but was outscored 18-8 in the final eight minutes. 

   Ashland visits George Washington Monday, Hurricane on Thursday and welcomes Greenup County Friday. 

Ladies Basketball, C4

BOYD COUNTY 1-0

   Jasmine Jordan opened the 2022-23 season with a double-double to lead Boyd County to a 67-31 over Huntington St. Joe. Jordan had 23 points and 11 rebounds in the win. Nine of the 11 Lions who saw action scored. 

   Boyd County welcomes Fairview for 64th District Play on Monday and plays Dixie Heights and St. Albans on Friday and Saturday, respectively in the Boyd County Roundball Classic. 

 

FAIRVIEW 2-0

   Fairview started the season with a pair of wins by knocking off Calvary Baptist Academy and Hannan, WV. 

   Kiera Loving dropped 28 points and grabbed 26 rebounds in Fairview’s 59-46 over Calvary Baptist. Mia Newton added 13 and Ashton Stidham had 11. 

   Loving added her second double-double in as many games with a 20 and 17 performance in the win over Hannan. Newton kicked in 15. 

   Fairview welcomes Adams County Christian, OH on Tuesday, visits Boyd County on Thursday in a 64th District tilt and welcomes Villa Madonna on Saturday. 

 

GIRLS 63rd DISTRICT 

 

RUSSELL 1-1

   Russell opened the season with a 1-1 start which included a district win. 

   Russell hammered Raceland, 60-13 while holding the Rams without a field goal until three seconds to play in the first half. Russell rolled to a 40-3 lead at the half led by Shaelyn Steele’s 13 points. Gabby Oborne added 10. 

   Steele dropped 23 points, but the Devils could not withstand Rowan County in the opening round of the EKC Tournament as they fell, 54-42. Steele grabbed 10 rebounds in the loss. 

   Russell meets East Carter on Monday and plays Pikeville Saturday in the Boyd County Roundball Classic. 

 

RACELAND 1-2

   Raceland opened the season with a road win at Elliott County but fell to Russell and Rock Hill. 

   Raceland knocked off Elliott County, 57-49. Nim Maynard paced the Rams with 23 points. 

   Raceland struggled to score the ball in its district opener against Russell as they fell 60-13. Raceland shot 13.3% from the field and netted only one field goal in the first half. Maynard’s four points bested the Rams. 

   Raceland fell to Rock Hill, 71-34. No stats were reported in the loss. 

   Raceland welcomes Lucasville Valley on Monday and visits East Carter Friday. 

 

GREENUP COUNTY 1-1

   Greenup County went 1-1 this week with a loss against Portsmouth West and a win over Pike County Central. 

   Rachel Bush had 24 and Emily Maynard tossed in 13 in the Musketeers 54-47 loss to Portsmouth West. 

   Bush netted 27 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the win over Pike County Central. 

   Greenup County visits Fleming County Monday and Ashland Friday.