article Inside the 4th Region (12/5/16)

Fourth Region Rankings

 

1) Bowling Green (1-0) - 12/3 99-67 W McCracken County (at Marshall County)

Previous Rank: 1

This Week: 12/6 vs. Elizabethtown, 12/9 at Hopkinsville, 12/10 vs. North Hardin (at Henderson County)

 

The three-time defending region champions and state frontrunners had a thunderous opening in the Marshall County Hoopsfest, racing out to 99 points against McCracken County in a 32 point victory. The total was the highest scoring output in 13 years for the Purples, and came without the benefit of players such as Kyran Jones and DeAngelo Wilson, among others. Austin Peay signee Terry Taylor led BG with 29 points, while 8th grade phenom Zion Harmon had 22 points. These guys are good.

 

2) Franklin-Simpson (3-0) - 11/29 73-70 OT W at #8 Monroe County, 12/1 58-50 W at #11 Greenwood, 12/2 68-48 W #5 Clinton County

Previous Rank: 2

This Week: 12/6 at #12 South Warren, 12/9 at #9 Logan County

 

The Wildcats opened with a couple of perhaps concerning results, but they still lack several football players in their lineup. After gutting out wins over Monroe County and Greenwood, their most impressive result was dominating Clinton County on short rest. Tavin Lovan is off to a rapid start, averaging 28 PPG and scoring about 25 points in every game.

 

3) Warren Central (2-0) - 11/29 62-57 W Bullitt East, 12/2 68-53 W Henderson County

Previous Rank: 4

This Week: 12/6 at Owensboro, 12/9 vs. University Heights (at Hopkinsville)

 

Warren Central overcame a 13 point deficit in their season opener against Bullitt East before leading coast to coast against 2nd Region dark horse Henderson County. A bit of a surprise to be 2-0, Warren Central had not won their opening two games since the 2012/13 season. Skyelar Potter is averaging 24 PPG through the first two games.

 

4) Russellville (0-0) - Did Not Play

Previous Rank: 3

This Week: 12/6 vs. #11 Warren East, 12/9 vs. #15 Todd County Central, 12/10 vs. University Heights (at Hopkinsville)

 

The Panthers drop only because of the strong start by Warren Central. Russellville should coast in their two season opening games, but the real litmus test will be against UHA a night after the Blazers tangle with Warren Central.

 

5) Monroe County (1-2) - 11/29 70-73 OT L #2 Franklin-Simpson, 12/2 80-41 W #17 Metcalfe County, 12/3 60-89 L Butler (at Campbellsville)

Previous Rank: 8

This Week: 12/6 at #7 Clinton County, 12/9 vs. #6 Barren County

 

The Falcons almost pulled off a huge upset over the shorthanded Franklin-Simpson Wildcats in their season opener, but could not hold a late 61-53 lead. Billy Michael Dyer almost carried Monroe to the win, dropping 33 points, including 7/14 shooting from behind the arc. They'll have two prove it games this week, including a crucial district contest against Barren County.

 

6) Barren County (2-0) - 11/29 55-40 W at Green County, 12/2 44-34 W at #12 South Warren

Previous Rank: 7

This Week: 12/6 vs. #14 Allen County-Scottsville, 12/9 at #5 Monroe County

 

The Trojans are showing off a more measured attack through their first two games after taking heavy graduation losses from last year's region runner-up. They were 2-5 last season when scoring 55 points or below, and have already equaled that win total in their first two games. Jared Coomer led Barren with 11 of their 19 first half points against South Warren, finishing with a game-high 19.

 

7) Clinton County (1-2) - 11/29 70-56 W Casey County, 12/2 48-68 L at #2 Franklin-Simpson, 12/3 43-63 L at Male

Previous Rank: 5

This Week: 12/6 vs. #5 Monroe County, 12/9 vs. #x Metcalfe County, 12/10 at #8 Greenwood

 

The Bulldogs suffered through a brutal back-to-back to end the week, taking one on the chin from both Franklin-Simpson and Louisville Male. It's not the type of start Clinton County wanted, reminiscent of last season's 0-3 start. Last year they ended the year poorly, and are now just 2-8 in their last ten games spanning the seasons.

 

8) Greenwood (2-1) - 11/29 75-57 W at #9 Logan County, 12/1 50-58 L #2 Franklin-Simpson, 12/2 61-60 W #10 Glasgow

Previous Rank: 11

This Week: 12/6 at #13 Russell County, 12/9 at Edmonson County, 12/10 vs. #7 Clinton County

 

The Bob Pels era opened in style for the Gators, notching a win over Logan County a night after the Cougars had knocked off district rival Warren East, and overcoming a 12-0 deficit to put a scare into Franklin-Simpson before faltering late. They ended the week with a solid win over Glasgow, overcoming a third quarter 10 point deficit, and surviving a last second shot. Chris Agro is averaging more than 10 PPG as a solid compliment to star Dawson Crump.

 

9) Logan County (1-2) - 11/28 62-59 W #6 Warren East, 11/29 57-75 L #11 Greenwood, 12/3 70-74 L at Muhlenberg County

Previous Rank: 9

This Week: 12/6 at Ohio County, 12/9 vs. #2 Franklin-Simpson, 12/10 vs. Hopkins County Central (at Webster County)

 

The Cougars started with a surprising win over Warren East, but came crashing down to Earth on tired legs the following night against Greenwood. Logan County has shown great balance to start the year, with Third Bell, Kelby Epley, Lorenzo Garcia, and Austin Rayno all averaging between 9 and 10.5 PPG.

 

10) Glasgow (0-2) - 11/28 50-84 L at Marion County, 12/2 60-61 L at #11 Greenwood

Previous Rank: 10

This Week: 12/6 vs. Somerset, 12/9 vs. #13 Russell County

 

The Scotties were pasted by Marion County but showed resilience in battling back from an early 10 point deficit against Greenwood before a late Ben Hughes shot failed to find the mark to give the Gators the win. Hughes had just two points against Marion County, but exploded for 32 points against the Gators.

 

11) Warren East (1-1) - 11/28 59-62 L at #9 Logan County, 11/29 80-35 W #17 Metcalfe County

Previous Rank: 6

This Week: 12/6 at #4 Russellville, 12/9 vs. #12 South Warren

 

This is probably too low for Warren East, who simply found themselves shuffled to the back after their surprising defeat at Logan County. Patrick Satterfield picked up where he left off last year, averaging 19 PPG in the first two games of the season. The Raiders will host South Warren in a crucial district game on Friday.

 

12) South Warren (1-2) - 11/28 47-83 L at Owensboro, 11/29 54-46 W at #14 Allen County-Scottsville, 12/2 34-44 L #7 Barren County

Previous Rank: 12

This Week: 12/6 vs. #2 Franklin-Simpson, 12/9 at #11 Warren East

 

Spartan efforts for their first winning season since 2012/13 got off to an inauspicious start with a blowout loss to Owensboro and home opener loss to Barren County sandwiched around gutting out a victory at Allen County-Scottsville. Dylan Beckham leads the Spartans in scoring with 15 PPG through three contests. They'll likely take a loss to Franklin-Simpson before visiting Warren East. South has not won two straight over the Raiders since their inaugural season, and won the last meeting between the two in 2015/16.

 

13) Russell County (0-1) - 12/3 47-85 L John Hardin (at LaRue County)

Previous Rank: 13

This Week: 12/6 vs. #8 Greenwood, 12/9 at #10 Glasgow, 12/10 at Jackson County

 

After being tied at 14 all with 3 minutes left in the first quarter, the Lakers were outscored 61-19 through the end of the third quarter of their running clock loss to the Bulldogs. There's a lot of unknowns around Russell County thanks to the departure of their head coach and best player. The Lakers turned it over 23 times and shot 45% from the field. Brayton Scales had 19 while Devin Clark chipped in 12, and Ben Walters added 10. The three players accounted for 87% of the scoring.

 

14) Allen County-Scottsville (1-1) - 11/29 46-54 L #12 South Warren, 12/2 56-54 W at Edmonson County

Previous Rank: 14

This Week: 12/6 at #6 Barren County, 12/9 at #16 Cumberland County

 

The Lex Lindsey era is under way at Allen County. After an opening loss to South Warren, the Patriots overcame a 53-46 deficit with under four minutes left, winning on a Brett Rippy baseline reverse layup with five seconds left. The possession was set up by an Edmonson County offensive foul with 16.5 seconds left. (Not AC/S related, but Edmonson County didn't sub a single time. Crazy.)

 

15) Todd County Central (1-2) - 11/29 48-64 L Webster County, 12/1 50-52 OT L Kenwood (TN), 12/3 71-34 W Fulton City

Previous Rank: 15

This Week: 12/9 at #4 Russellville, 12/10 at Henderson County

 

Last year the Rebels didn't win a single game until January, going winless for the 2015 calendar year. So in that regard, they're already off to a rousing success.

 

16) Cumberland County (1-2) - 11/28 31-71 L at Taylor County, 11/29 37-67 L Adair County, 12/2 59-53 W Campbellsville

Previous Rank: 16

This Week: 12/6 at #17 Metcalfe County, 12/9 vs. #14 Allen County-Scottsville

 

Also a rousing success, new HC Kurtis Claywell gained his first victory in a 59-53 win over Campbellsville. It's the first non-region win for the Panthers since 2014, and their first win in the season's opening three games since 2012.

 

17) Metcalfe County (0-2) - 11/29 35-80 L at #6 Warren East, 12/2 41-80 L at #8 Monroe County

Previous Rank: 17

This Week: 12/6 vs. #16 Cumberland County, 12/9 at #7 Clinton County, 12/10 vs. Green County

 

The Hornets have not defeated a 4th Region team outside the 16th District since knocking off Glasgow in February of 2015.