CANNONSBURG One experienced his fifth straight region title.
The other had to navigate his backs-to-the-wall team through a four-game gauntlet to achieve the program’s second.
Ashland’s all-time leading scorer, Zander Carter, has held his share of trophies. He covets the team awards and closes a stellar career with another 16th Region championship and a fifth trip to the Sweet Sixteen at Rupp Arena.
“It’s a blessing to be where I am today,” Carter said. “It’s definitely not possible without my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I was actually talking to coach (Ryan) Bonner (before the team photo shoot), reflecting and reminiscing on everything and what happened in my five years at Ashland. I would not trade any of it.”
Lawrence County coach Chandler Thompson was hoping for a district crown, but a one-point defeat in the opening round provided the right motivation for the Bulldogs to bite back and achieve their own place in school history.
Lawrence County opened the season with a 9-1 record and eventually earned the top seed in the 58th District Tournament. A 70-69 setback to Prestonsburg in the opening round made the path to a region final more difficult, but the Bulldogs responded with four straight wins to advance to the state tournament.
Thompson was awarded The Daily Independent’s All-Area Coach of the Year.
“I think it boils down to the type of players and the quality kids that they are,” Thompson said. “I was blessed to coach them and they were a very resilient group. Instead of being down in the dumps when we were at a low point, I felt they used those low points to grow from them. We came out stronger than how we went in it.”
Carter earned All-Area Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season. It only added to his year of accolades. The senior was named the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches 16th Region Player of the Year and became a major Mr. Basketball candidate. Carter made the first team All-State from the Courier-Journal and was awarded the prestigious Larry Conley Ultimate Teammate Award and scholarship at the Sweet Sixteen last month.
He joined Kittens guard Kenleigh Woods as members of the Kentucky All-Stars team in the boys and girls annual home and home matchup against Indiana.
Carter, a Liberty University signee, never shies away from the spotlight. He uses it to continue his good work.
“Any time there is an opportunity for pressure,” Carter said, “there is an opportunity for praise. I will never look at that as a burden. I know there are a lot of people who would like to be in the situation I’m in, so I never want to take that for granted. I just take it one day at a time and always be super grateful.”
Bonner believes Carter’s influence is measured by more than numbers.
“I think he has brought more light to the talent that exists in this area,” Bonner said. “It’s brought a lot of attention, not only to our program, but the other teams around us. You don’t have to go far in this area to find really good basketball. Zander is proof of that. It always helps with the quality of character that he has. … It’s not just him or our program, that’s our area in general.”
Lawrence County defeated three teams in the region tournament that it lost to in the regular season, including a 68-67 overtime victory over Pikeville in the quarterfinals. The Bulldogs preserved their fortunes in late-game situations.
“In the first game we lost, rebounding was our biggest issue,” Thompson said. “The reason that we won the region tournament was how well we rebounded the ball. In the semifinals and finals, we had a combined 88 rebounds. It opened a lot of things for us in the postseason.
“The way we play; it’s our defense that generates a lot of our offense,” Thompson added. “When we can turn people over, we get easy buckets on the other end. It’s easier for a lot of guys to score. We didn’t rely on one guy at any point this season, particularly in the postseason. We had a lot of guys scoring the ball.”
Ashland teammates Tyson Lalonde and Caleb Clarke join Carter on the All-Area team. Lalonde averaged 9.2 points a game for the seven-time defending 16th Region champions. He also hit 40 triples.
Clarke was second on the team in scoring with an 11.9 average while pulling down six rebounds a night.
“Those are my brothers,” Carter said about his teammates. “They are relationships that will last a lifetime. I have grown close to those guys over my last year. We have been battle-tested together and fought through adversity together. Outside of the wins, the championships and the nets cut down, I know I have someone to depend on the rest of my life.”
Boyd County, Fleming County and 15th Region titleholders Lawrence County each placed three players on the team.
The Lions advanced to the region finals for the fourth straight year. Jacob Spurlock became the school’s all-time leading scorer this season. He led the way with 24 points a game. He made 146 3-pointers, shooting 42.2% from beyond the arc, and topped the team’s rebounding list with 7.3 a game. Cole Hicks (15.2 ppg) starred from long range, hitting 46.2%. Childers also averaged double figures at 13.6.
The Panthers are represented by Seth Hickerson, Lucas Jolly and Bradley Robinson. Hickerson wrapped up a stellar career after rising to the top of the program’s scoring list. The senior averaged 21.4 points a game. Robinson (20.7 ppg) prospered at multiple spots on the floor. Jolly ran the offense and led the team in rebounding at 6.5 a game.
The Bulldogs remained undeterred in reaching their ultimate goal. Lawrence County had a different leading scorer every night in the postseason. Kaiden Harris (18.8 ppg), Gunnar Woods (18.7) and Hayden Perry (15.7) led their team in offensive production this season. Woods hit 82 3s and Perry topped Lawrence County on the glass at 5.7 a game.
Lewis County, Raceland and Rowan County put two players on the All-Area roster. Drew Noble and Julian Puente provided the Lions from Vanceburg a one-two punch on the court. Puente averaged 17.1 points a game and connected on 58 3-balls from the perimeter. Noble scored 15.9 ppg and grabbed 7.7 rebounds in the post.
Connor Thacker (14.6 ppg) and Jonah Arnett (15.1) both came through in clutch moments for the Rams, who claimed the 63rd District title this season.
The Vikings, Kentucky 2A, Section 6 champs earlier this year, had solid backcourt play from Jayson Ingles and Gavin Mirus. Both averaged nearly 10 points a game. Ingles splashed 72 triples this season.
Elliott County’s Lake Adkins (15.4 ppg), Bath County’s Montana Brashear (19.9), Greenup County’s Bryson Chandley (13.9), Paintsville’s Ethan Cole (19.7), Menifee County’s Brevon Ricker (21.7), Russell’s Caleb Rimmer (14.8) and Johnson Central’s Austin Slone (25.0) round out the All-Area team.
The team was selected by coaches’ votes. The Daily Independent sports staff chose the Player and Coach of the Year.
2024-25 The Daily Independent Boys All-Area Basketball Team
Lake Adkins (Elliott County)
Jonah Arnett (Raceland)
Montana Brashear (Bath County)
Zander Carter (Ashland)
Bryson Chandley (Greenup County)
Jackson Childers (Boyd County)
Caleb Clarke (Ashland)
Ethan Cole (Paintsville)
Kaiden Harris (Lawrence County)
Seth Hickerson (Fleming County)
Cole Hicks (Boyd County)
Jayson Ingles (Rowan County)
Lucas Jolly (Fleming County)
Tyson Lalonde (Ashland)
Gavin Mirus (Rowan County)
Drew Noble (Lewis County)
Hayden Perry (Lawrence County)
Julian Puente (Lewis County)
Brevon Ricker (Menifee County)
Caleb Rimmer (Russell)
Bradley Robinson (Fleming County)
Austin Slone (Johnson Central)
Jacob Spurlock (Boyd County)
Connor Thacker (Raceland)
Gunnar Woods (Lawrence County)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Zander Carter (Ashland)
COACH OF THE YEAR: Chandler Thompson (Lawrence County)
HONORABLE MENTION
Aiden Barker (Elliott County), Brody Boggs (West Carter), Ryder Burgess (Russell), William Burton (East Carter), Jace Coats (Rowan County), Tysen Crabtree (Elliott County), Aiden Dailey (Fairview), Asher Gamble (Morgan County), Kasey Gammon (Greenup County), Brayden Gerike (Lewis County), Grayson Hampton (Morgan County), Rhett Holbrook (Boyd County), Preston Hoskins (Ashland), Kaden Johnson (Lawrence County), Aiden Manley (Menifee County), Gabe Pridemore (Russell), Preston Rousses (Bath County), Brayden Shepherd (Johnson Central), Eli Shope (Fairview), Drew Smith (Ashland), Caden Tussey (East Carter), Jacob Waddell (West Carter), Jacob Waller (Raceland), Charles Welch (Raceland), Brock Woods (Paintsville).
