SUMMITT — Ashland claimed its first district title since 1997 Thursday night, hanging on to defeat host Boyd County 47-35 in the 64th District championship.

“We talked all week about putting a number on the wall in the gym and we got it done,” Ashland coach Bill Bradley said.

The Kittens (22-4) beat Boyd County twice in the regular season, winning by 12 and 27 points. However, the Lady Lions (14-13) didn’t go down without a strong fight for the title.

“When you play a team that’s beaten you as bad as Ashland’s beat us this year, and then you hang in there with them, that says a lot about the kids,” Boyd County coach Pete Fraley said.

The teams struggled to make baskets early on in the game but Ashland jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first.

“We came out tight and missed some easy shots,” Bradley said. “Luckily Boyd County missed some free throws in the first and we kept our heads above water.”

Fraley felt his defense had something to do with Ashland’s struggles from the field.

“We came out and got after them,” he said. “We didn’t let them get their feet set and get uncontested shots.”

Boyd County battled back and took a 12-11 lead off Hannah Cooksey’s drive to the basket to open the second quarter. After five straight turnovers (two for Boyd County, three for Ashland), Katie Hunter sank a layup off a turnover for the Lady Lions, increasing the lead to three.

Ashland responded with Ali Wilcox’s three from the corner on the following possession, knotting the game at 14. The shot sparked a 12-1 Kitten run and Ashland led 23-15 at halftime.

“Our halfcourt defense has been our mainstay all year,” Bradley said. “Our shooting was a little off but we were able to keep them in check with our defense.”

The Lady Lions battled back in the second half. Rainey Mosely hit a three from the wing and then scored consecutive post shots to bring Boyd County within two, 26-24.

Ashland hit 3-of-4 free-throw attempts to cushion the lead, but Boyd County came right back with a shot in the paint from Cooksey. Hunter hit a pair of free throws to come within one, 29-28, with less than a minute remaining the period.

Wilcox answered with a pair of free throws in the bonus to end the quarter on top 31-28.

In the fourth quarter, Ashland went on a 9-2 run to stretch the lead to double figures. The Kittens went 6-of-8 from the stripe in the final minute to ice the game.

“Our kids fought and scraped but we just couldn’t get the ball to go in the basket at crucial times,” Fraley said. “It was the 3-point game at one time and on two straight possessions we couldn’t do anything. If we could’ve gotten a bucket there it might have been different.”

Hunter and Mosely led Boyd County with 11 points apiece. Laisha Ward and Wilcox led Ashland with 10 each. Ward also grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

Both teams advance to the 16th Region tournament next week at Morehead State University.

All-Tournament Team

Kayla Day (Rose Hill), Ali Wilcox (Ashland), Brandy Mills (Fairview), Hannah Cooksey (Boyd Co.), Laisha Ward (Ashland), Katie Hunter (Boyd Co.), Kaylyn Gambill (Rose Hill), Rainey Mosely (Boyd Co.), Kim Strait (Ashland), Brittany Mills (Fairview), Nikisha Farrow (Ashland).