article Inside the 4th Region (1/23/17)

Fourth Region Rankings

 

1) Bowling Green (18-2) - 1/17 74-59 W at Christian County, 1/20 88-66 W #6 Warren East, 1/23 62-59 W at #2 Franklin-Simpson

Previous Rank: 1

This Week: 1/24 vs. Muhlenberg County, 1/27 vs. #5 Warren Central

 

You wouldn't know it from the first two scores, but two of the three games Bowling Green played were complete dogfights. Christian County had the Purples down by double digits for much of the third quarter, but Bowling Green chipped away and then blew past them like they were standing still in the fourth. Zion Harmon led the team with 29 points to carry them on a night they needed it. After a district win against Warren East, they faced their toughest test in region play thus far (and probably for the remainder of the year), and Franklin-Simpson couldn't get the job done despite leading by 13 with 4:09 left. Bowling Green turned up the pressure, got to the rim, and the 'Cats couldn't hang on.

 

2) Franklin-Simpson (16-5) - 1/17 60-51 W #3 Greenwood, 1/20 63-50 W #14 Logan County, 1/21 48-42 W at #8 Barren County, 1/23 59-62 L #1 Bowling Green

Previous Rank: 2

This Week: 1/27 at #10 Todd County Central

 

Speaking of the Wildcats, they'll rue their missed chance to end Bowling Green's now 37 game region winning streak. Despite trailing 9-0 early, the Wildcats dominated most of the game, but were outscored 20-4 in the final 4 minutes, and missed three crucial free throws late. But the week prior was still solid, especially a tight home win over surging Greenwood. Looking forward, the Wildcats may face some tough tests from Christian County and University Heights, but otherwise their district game against Russellville is the only game left circled on their schedule.

 

3) Greenwood (13-9) - 1/17 51-60 L at #2 Franklin-Simpson, 1/20 58-45 W at #5 Warren Central, 1/21 71-57 W at #15 Glasgow

Previous Rank: 3

This Week: 1/27 at #6 Warren East, 1/28 at #13 Cumberland County

 

Greenwood may have been disappointed to not get the win against Franklin, but "settled" for a crucial - and dominating - district win over rival Warren Central. Prior to last season, Greenwood had not won at Warren Central in 16 years, but has now won there two straight years. There's a good chance they'll have to win their again later in the postseason, but for now, they'll be satisfied with a win that saw them dominate the second half. The team continues to get standout play offensively from Dawson Crump and Chris Agro, as well as an intimidating inside presence in Alex Fee.

 

4) Russellville (13-6) - 1/19 69-55 W at #9 Monroe County, 1/20 79-62 W #10 Todd County Central (at Monroe County)

Previous Rank: 4

This Week: 1/24 at Christian County, 1/26 vs. East Ridge (at Frankfort)

 

The Panthers added a trophy to their trophy case when they mowed through the All A field en route to the region title. It marks their first trip to the All A state tournament since 2006. Pedro Bradshaw continues to score at will, averaging nearly 22 points per game, and leads the state in rebounds with 14 per game.

 

5) Warren Central (11-8) - 1/17 72-46 W at #16 South Warren, 1/20 45-58 L #3 Greenwood, 1/21 50-69 L at Hopkinsville

Previous Rank: 5

This Week: 1/24 vs. #14 South Warren, 1/27 at #1 Bowling Green

 

Hard times continue for the Dragons, who have found great difficulty scoring without Milliken in the 2017 calendar year. Warren Central has topped 60 points only once in the last seven games, and are 2-5 in that stretch. They are playing a brutal schedule that has seen them lose to Bowling Green, Franklin-Simpson, Hopkinsville (twice), and now Greenwood, but they simply haven't been able to get needed wins. The loss to Greenwood makes them vulnerable when they meet Warren East later this month. A loss in either of those games will put them at risk of falling into the 4/5 game.

 

6) Warren East (10-8) - 1/17 59-85 L at Daviess County, 1/20 66-88 L at #1 Bowling Green, 1/21 80-86 L at Edmonson County

Previous Rank: 6

This Week: 1/27 vs. #3 Greenwood, 1/28 vs. #16 Glasgow

 

Meanwhile, the Raiders are struggling themselves. They've now lost five in a row after starting the year 10-3, which has been an all too common sight for Warren East once the page turns to January. Since the start of January 2014, Warren East is 15-35 in the months of January, February, and March, with six losing streaks of four games or more. Like Warren Central, the schedule has been difficult this month, but they also blew a sizable lead against Edmonson County on Monday to exacerbate the issue. Friday they will have a must-win game against Greenwood to try to get a leg up in the chase for the 2/3 game.

 

7) Clinton County (14-6) - 1/23 54-53 W at Campbellsville

Previous Rank: 7

This Week: 1/24 at #17 Metcalfe County, 1/27 vs. #11 Allen County-Scottsville, 1/28 at Jackson County

 

The Bulldogs would probably be higher if not for the softness of their schedule. They clawed out a one point win over 4-16 Campbellsville, and the wins over 16th District opponents are not going to turn the tide of some early season face plants. They may well be better than this, but we haven't seen much hard evidence. This is likely the last truly dangerous team on the list because of so much unknown.

 

8) Barren County (9-12) - 1/17 61-43 W Ohio County, 1/20 48-41 W at #13 Allen County-Scottsville, 1/21 42-48 L #2 Franklin-Simpson

Previous Rank: 8

This Week: 1/24 vs. #15 Logan County, 1/27 at #16 Glasgow

 

The Trojans are quietly playing decent ball in the last few weeks, notching three wins while remaining competitive in losses to Warren Central, Warren East, and Franklin-Simpson. They have now clinched the top seed in the 15th District tournament, which should pit them against a team like Glasgow, which has been in complete freefall since the start of the year. Jared Coomer continues to be one of the standout juniors in the region, posting over 16 PPG.

 

9) Monroe County (10-9) - 1/19 55-69 L #4 Russellville

Previous Rank: 9

This Week: 1/27 vs. #13 Cumberland County

 

Another opportunity by the wayside for the Falcons, which are capable of more but find themselves winners of only 1 of their last 4 games. After an almost incomprehensible season sweep by Barren County, Monroe will likely find themselves pitted against Allen County-Scottsville in the postseason, who they defeated by 17 the first time they met. Billy Michael Dyer's 22 PPG continues to lead Monroe.

 

10) Todd County Central (6-11) - 1/19 73-44 W #17 Metcalfe County (at Monroe County), 1/20 62-79 L #4 Russellville (at Monroe County)

Previous Rank: 10

This Week: 1/24 at Webster County, 1/27 vs. #2 Franklin-Simpson

 

There's not much shame in the loss to Russellville, and Todd Central has still shown great progress in their attempts to get back to respectability.

 

11) Allen County-Scottsville (7-11) - 1/17 60-53 W Butler County, 1/20 41-48 L #8 Barren County

Previous Rank: 13

This Week: 1/27 at #7 Clinton County, 1/28 at Caverna

 

12) Russell County (4-16) - 1/17 57-91 L Southwestern, 1/19 60-64 L at Whitley County, 1/20 49-53 L at #16 South Warren, 1/23 56-47 W #12 Cumberland County

Previous Rank: 11

This Week: 1/24 vs. Pulaski County, 1/27 vs. Casey County

 

13) Cumberland County (5-10) - 1/23 47-56 L at #11 Russell County

Previous Rank: 12

This Week: 1/26 at Clay County (TN), 1/27 at #9 Monroe County

 

14) South Warren (5-15) - 1/17 46-72 L #5 Warren Central, 1/20 53-49 W #11 Russell County

Previous Rank: 16

This Week: 1/24 at #5 Warren Central, 1/27 at Ohio County

 

15) Logan County (4-15) - 1/20 50-63 L at #2 Franklin-Simpson, 1/21 43-52 L Northeast Clarksville (TN)

Previous Rank: 14

This Week: 1/24 at #8 Barren County, 1/27 vs. McLean County

 

16) Glasgow (2-14) - 1/19 61-81 L at Adair County, 1/21 57-71 L #3 Greenwood

Previous Rank: 15

This Week: 1/24 at LaRue County, 1/27 vs. #8 Barren County, 1/28 at #6 Warren East

 

17) Metcalfe County (0-18) - 1/19 44-73 L #10 Todd County Central (at Monroe County), 1/23 47-65 L Thomas Nelson

Previous Rank: 17

This Week: 1/24 vs. #7 Clinton County, 1/28 at Green County