article Inside the 4th Region (2/14/16)

Fourth Region Rankings

 

1) Bowling Green (23-2) - 2/9 86-58 W at Owensboro, 2/12 79-37 W #7 Warren East, 2/13 68-52 W at #7 Warren East

Previous Rank: 1

This Week: 2/16 at #2 Russellville, 2/18 vs. Hopkinsville

 

The beat goes on in a major way for the Purples, who are now up to 17 straight wins, their longest win streak in 17 years. They opened the week by crushing defending state champion Owensboro, then continued their dominance of Warren East on back to back nights, pushing that streak to 43 straight wins. That streak is now old enough to graduate high school.

 

2) Russellville (16-5) - 2/12 85-52 W #13 Todd County Central

Previous Rank: 4

This Week: 2/16 vs. #1 Bowling Green, 2/19 at Butler County

 

Russellville had a quiet week thanks to the weather, but capped off a 5-1 district slate to tie Franklin-Simpson for the top seed in the district. It does matter to them which they get, as they beat Todd Central by an average of 30 PPG while beating Logan by just 9.5 PPG, but they'll almost certainly move on to region in either scenario. They get another crack at Bowling Green this week, who they put a scare into in mid-January.

 

3) Franklin-Simpson (20-4) - 2/9 68-51 W at #10 Logan County, 2/11 67-73 L at #8 South Warren, 2/12 59-54 W #15 Allen County-Scottsville

Previous Rank: 2

This Week: 2/16 vs. #8 Warren East, 2/18 at #12 Glasgow

 

Franklin-Simpson held the record of most stunning upset of the year for about a day when they dropped a decision to South Warren. The Spartans played the Wildcats tough both times this year, but the loss was just the second Franklin has taken in this calendar year. Lovan was injured for part of the contest, but that wasn't until late, when most of the 13 point halftime lead Franklin had was gone. Lovan should be fine moving forward, but their 59-54 win against Allen County-Scottsville without him shows just how huge a hole his absence leaves.

 

4) Barren County (22-5) - 2/11 58-66 OT L #6 Russell County, 2/12 65-36 W at #17 Cumberland County

Previous Rank: 3

This Week: 2/16 vs. #16 Metcalfe County, 2/18 at #9 Clinton County

 

The Trojans saw a 9 game winning streak end when they dropped an overtime decision at home to Russell County, but have still been playing good ball for the last month. Barren County averages winning by over 12 PPG, and the loss was the only one in their last five they didn't win by more than 16. They remain a virtual lock for the region tournament.

 

5) Russell County (15-8) - 2/11 66-58 OT W at #3 Barren County, 2/12 56-57 L Adair County

Previous Rank: 6

This Week: 2/16 at Madison Southern, 2/19 vs. #15 Allen County-Scottsville

 

Russell County has had a bit of an up and down year, and has remained mostly out of the eye of the region for the last month, right up until they knocked off Barren County on the road. The Lakers are still just 4-5 in their last nine, but if they can beat the Trojans on the road, they are a team capable of doing damage in the postseason. No team in the region is more of a lock for the region tournament than the Lakers.

 

6) Warren Central (15-10) - 2/10 77-62 W at Owensboro Catholic, 2/12 67-68 L #14 Greenwood, 2/13 63-44 W at Elizabethtown

Previous Rank: 5

This Week: 2/15 at #13 Greenwood, 2/16 vs. #15 Allen County-Scottsville, 2/19 at John Hardin

 

The huge momentum that Central had following a big win over Owensboro Catholic on Wednesday met the unlikeliest of ends on Friday in what is easily the most stunning upset of the year. The Dragons led by as much as 15 and led by 11 with 2:30 left in the game, but failed to score another point as Greenwood knocked them off 68-67. It was the first loss at home against Greenwood for the Dragons in 16 years. There have been a lot of firsts in a while for Central this year - none of them have been good. With snow looming and just 15 wins, Warren Central's streak of seven straight 20 win seasons is in serious jeopardy.

 

7) South Warren (12-13) - 2/9 60-59 W at #7 Warren East, 2/11 73-67 W #2 Franklin-Simpson, 2/13 64-43 W Ohio County

Previous Rank: 8

This Week: 2/15 vs. #9 Clinton County, 2/18 vs. Daviess County

 

Bookended around four straight losses to the likes of Bowling Green, Russellville, and Warren Central are two South Warren four game winning streaks. This week included two unlikely wins. The first was their road win over Warren East, wherein the Spartans overcame a double digit fourth quarter deficit, capped by two Dayton Gumm free throws with less than two seconds left. The second was the aforementioned megaton upset of Franklin-Simpson, who had three straight wins over the Spartans. They're still stuck in the 4/5 game that will drive them through Bowling Green, but the season may otherwise end on an uptick.

 

8) Warren East (13-13) - 2/9 59-60 L #8 South Warren, 2/12 37-79 L at #1 Bowling Green, 2/13 52-68 L #1 Bowling Green

Previous Rank: 7

This Week: 2/16 at #3 Franklin-Simpson, 2/18 vs. #11 Monroe County

 

The Raiders had a terrible week, but at least the latter two losses came against a team they literally can't figure out. The loss to South Warren was disappointing, though ultimately irrelevant in the standings. Still, Warren East has faded badly since an 8-1 start, losing 12 of their last 17 games. They've now lost five in a row, and have a very challenging game against Franklin-Simpson coming up. The Raiders are 3-10 in the month of February the last two seasons.

 

9) Clinton County (14-10) - No Games

Previous Rank: 9

This Week: 2/15 at #7 South Warren, 2/18 vs. #4 Barren County

 

The Bulldogs got a weather week off. They've played just nine games in the new year, and are 4-5 in those games. They'll have a challenging tune-up week prior to playing Cumberland County in the district tournament.

 

10) Logan County (9-12) - 2/9 51-68 L #2 Franklin-Simpson

Previous Rank: 10

This Week: 2/16 vs. Rossview (TN), 2/18 vs. #13 Greenwood

 

Logan County dropped their fourth game in the last five in their loss to Franklin-Simpson. Leading scorer Whittinghill was held to just nine points in that one, seven points below his season average. They await a coin flip to determine their district tournament opponent. They fared far better in their two games against Russellville.

 

11) Monroe County (8-15) - 2/11 74-49 W at #12 Glasgow

Previous Rank: 11

This Week: 2/15 vs. #17 Cumberland County, 2/16 at #13 Greenwood, 2/18 at #8 Warren East

 

The Falcons already knew they'd be playing Glasgow in the postseason, but their confidence in a return trip to region must be high after their second blowout win of the Scotties. In two matchups, Monroe County has won by 38 and 25 points.

 

12) Glasgow (9-16) - 2/10 71-57 W at #16 Metcalfe County, 2/11 49-74 L #11 Monroe County, 2/12 69-71 L at Caverna

Previous Rank: 12

This Week: 2/16 vs. #17 Cumberland County, 2/18 vs. #3 Franklin-Simpson

 

Glasgow continues their cool streak after a strong January, falling for the fifth time in six games. Their effort against a solid Caverna team showed that they are capable, if inconsistent.

 

13) Greenwood (10-15) - 2/9 65-52 W #15 Allen County-Scottsville, 2/12 68-67 W at #5 Warren Central

Previous Rank: 14

This Week: 2/15 vs. #6 Warren Central, 2/16 vs. #11 Monroe County, 2/18 at #10 Logan County, 2/19 at Edmonson County

 

It was mentioned above, but what a monkey off the back for Greenwood to take down Central on the road. The Gators hit 11/24 from the perimeter in the upset win, and will get the chance to back it up again as part of a busy week - if only the weather would cooperate.

 

14) Todd County Central (8-18) - 2/12 52-85 L at #4 Russellville, 2/13 70-46 W Hopkins County Central

Previous Rank: 13

This Week: 2/16 at Trigg County, 2/17 vs. Fort Campbell

 

Whatever happens from here out, at 8 wins, the season is still a success for Todd County Central.

 

15) Allen County-Scottsville (6-20) - 2/9 52-65 L at #14 Greenwood, 2/11 57-52 OT W #16 Metcalfe County, 2/12 54-59 L at #2 Franklin-Simpson

Previous Rank: 15

This Week: 2/16 at #6 Warren Central, 2/19 at #5 Russell County

 

The Patriots continue to struggle, just barely eking out a win over Metcalfe County. If they get to play both games this week, they'll have their work cut out for them on the road against region powers Warren Central and Russell County.

 

16) Metcalfe County (2-20) - 2/10 57-71 L #12 Glasgow, 2/11 52-57 OT L at #15 Allen County-Scottsville, 2/12 41-56 L Green County

Previous Rank: 16

This Week: 2/16 at #4 Barren County, 2/18 at Caverna, 2/19 vs. Washington County

 

Another week full of losses for the Hornets.

 

17) Cumberland County (1-22) - 2/12 36-65 L #3 Barren County

Previous Rank: 17

This Week: 2/15 at #11 Monroe County, 2/16 at #12 Glasgow, 2/19 vs. Green County

 

The Panthers did win one thing this week - the coin toss with Metcalfe County. That puts Cumberland County in as the 3 seed in the postseason. They're still extremely unlikely to beat Clinton County, but it was a sight better than their chances against Russell County.