ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥

Before the LionsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ 88-52 triumph over Russell at Boyd County Middle School, Spurlock was honored for breaking the LionsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ career scoring record of 2,377 points, a mark owned by Frank Lee since 1995. Lee went on to play at Marshall University.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI donÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t know if people realize what an accomplishment that is,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Boyd County coach Randy Anderson said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œ(Spurlock) started eight or 10 games into his eighth-grade year and has always been able to shoot the ball. HeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s gotten a lot stronger and heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s a gym rat. He doesnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t do it because someone has his thumb on him, but because he loves the game and wants to play at the next level.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Some people near the program appreciate SpurlockÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s accomplishment.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI scored 1,400 points, and Jacob has 1,000 more than me with a year to go,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� said former Russell and Ohio University Southern star Derek Withrow, whose son Zeke is a freshman teammate of Spurlock. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s amazing.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Withrow knows about such records. HeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Ohio SouthernÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s all-time-leading scorer.

Spurlock described his scoring record, set Saturday against Lewis County, as ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œcrazyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� and an honor.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œItÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s really a pleasure to be in the same conversation as Frank Lee,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Spurlock said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve heard a lot of stories about how good he was.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Spurlock, listed at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, said his goal since starting in varsity basketball in eighth grade ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s permissible in Kentucky ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” was to become Boyd CountyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s scoring leader. He said he didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t necessarily think it would happen, let alone before his senior year.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI knew I was going to try to go for it and I could get it,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Spurlock said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI knew it would take a lot of work, though. A lot of late nights and early mornings in the gym. It feels like IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve been chasing after it about 10 years now. I finally got it.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Spurlock averages 25.3 points per game for a Lions team thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s 19-8. As a sophomore, he scored 21.9, as a freshman he chipped in 19.8, and as an eighth-grader, he produced 12.0.

HeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s not only a volume scorer, however, as proven Monday, when Jackson Childers led the Lions with 21 points. Spurlock netted 20, Cole Hicks dropped in 19 and Ethan Rardon netted 13.

ThereÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s one basketball to go around, and Spurlock is happy to pass it rather than shoot it. Hicks averages 15.5 points a game and Childers produces 12.8.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œYou have to open up people to get yourself open,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Spurlock said, adding he enjoys seeing his teammates score. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œSometimes you have to do the dirty work to get open. ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s what IÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ve learned. I get face-guarded; I see a box-and-one a lot.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m used to it. As long as we get the win, thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s all I care about.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

As did Lee, Spurlock has drawn considerable college attention. He owns scholarship offers from High Point, Portland State, South Florida, Youngstown State and Georgetown (Kentucky).

Spurlock said he plans to major in sports management.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI like being around sports,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� he said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI like talking about it, debating it, coaching it, training it. I like being around basketball, football or any sport.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

A 48.3% shooter from the floor and 42.9% from 3-point range, Spurlock is stellar from outside. HeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s an 80% shooter from the free-throw line and leads Boyd County in rebounding at 7.4 per game and said thatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s the area heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s improved most.

Spurlock said he still has plenty of room to improve, citing getting better off the bounce, adding more moves and finishing off two feet as areas heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s trying to fine-tune.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAs he advances, heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s going to have to put on some weight and get stronger,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Anderson said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s strong for a high school kid, but the next level is bang, bang, bang. His first step getting space, he has to get better. People ask if he can play defense at that level, but he anticipates well and once he gets stronger, that wonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t be a problem.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

Spurlock emphasized team again, praising Rhett Holbrook for setting the LionsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ career record for charges taken. That didnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t surprise Anderson, citing SpurlockÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s humility.

Spurlock said individual accomplishments are gratifying, but team goals are more important.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe can go as far as we want to go,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Spurlock said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe have all the pieces ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” size, length, speed, strength, shooting. We have it all. It all depends on us. We want to go to Rupp (Arena) for the state tournament.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

That means winning a rugged 16th Region. The Lions have split with Ashland (16-7), losing 85-57 Dec. 10 at home and winning 72-66 Jan. 31 on the road. Fleming County dropped to 16-10 after a loss to Boyd County on Tuesday.

Lewis County, Raceland and Elliott County also have winning records, and Rowan County is the lone team to beat the Lions since New YearÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Day.

Spurlock said basketball has consumed a hefty portion his life since he was 2, when his dad Jerry gave him a Nerf hoop and taught him shooting form. Even off the court, Spurlock enjoys putting a ball in a hole. He counts golf among his favorite non-basketball activities. He said pickleball and video games also are hobbies.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI owe it to him,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� Spurlock said of his dad. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œHe started me early.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�