article Inside the 4th Region (12/16/17)

1) Warren Central (7-0) - 12/11 72-49 W #5 Glasgow, 12/12 85-57 W #9 Logan County, 12/14 73-50 W at #11 Franklin-Simpson

Previous Rank: 1

This Week: 12/21 vs. Jeffersontown (at Oldham County), 12/22 vs. TBA (at Oldham County), 12/23 vs. TBA (at Oldham County)

 

The Dragons are out to their first 7-0 start in 16 years, completing a stretch that saw them win four games in six days, including their first three region games of the year. Skyelar Potter has stayed hot, scoring above 20 points in every game this year and posting a double-double in every game. Micale Mee averaged almost 15 PPG this week, including 23 against Franklin-Simpson. The Dragons will play in Oldham County's Christmas Tournament, where they are certain to face their toughest tests thus far.

 

2) Bowling Green (5-3) - 12/12 86-73 W at #6 Greenwood, 12/15 78-71 W at Hopkinsville, 12/16 45-66 L DeSales (at Barren County)

Previous Rank: 2

This Week: 12/19 at Fairdale, 12/21 vs. TBA (at Fairdale)

 

The Purples ran their 4th Region win streak to 50 in a row and their 14th District streak to 29 in a row with their win over Greenwood. Both streaks date to January 2015. They followed that with another win over Hopkinsville - twice in 12 days - before having a horrid game against DeSales less than 24 hours later that saw the Purples outscored 14-0 to start the game. Jarius Key continues to be the man for the Purples, with 19 against Greenwood and 17 against DeSales. The Purples head to the King of the Bluegrass this week, where they'll open against host Fairdale.

 

3) Glasgow (6-1) - 12/11 49-72 L at #1 Warren Central, 12/12 71-70 W Southwestern, 12/15 80-79 W at #3 Monroe County, 12/16 81-63 W at Shawnee

Previous Rank: 5

This Week: 12/19 vs. Bethlehem, 12/21 vs. Caldwell County (at Butler County), 12/21 vs. Murray (at Butler County), 12/22 vs. #16 Cumberland County (at Butler County)

 

The Scotties move up despite the blowout to Warren Central, mostly because all evidence suggests any team other than Bowling Green is facing the same fate. The rest of their week and season has been perfect, with a solid win over Southwestern followed by a megaton win over Monroe County. Dalvin Smith won that game with a buzzer beater off a Nik Sorrell assist, grabbing the District 15 lead in the process. Glasgow is up to six wins after winning only four last season.

 

4) Monroe County (6-2) - 12/12 84-57 W #14 Russell County, 12/15 79-80 L #5 Glasgow, 12/16 66-54 W Shelby County (at Barren County)

Previous Rank: 3

This Week: 12/21 vs. Apollo, 12/22 vs. TBA, 12/23 vs. TBA

 

Monroe was on the other side of that buzzer beater, losing the chance to stay unbeaten in region and district play and gain a 2-0 start in district play. Still, the Falcons are off to a solid start to the year at 6-2, and Billy Michael Dyer has remained one of the top players in the region, averaging 21.5 per game. They play in the Owensboro Invitational this week.

 

5) Barren County (5-3) - 12/12 88-61 W Caverna, 12/14 44-38 W at Edmonson County, 12/16 43-53 L St. Xavier

Previous Rank: 4

This Week: 12/21 vs. TBA (at Gatlinburg-Pittman), 12/22 vs. TBA (at Gatlinburg-Pittman), 12/23 vs. TBA (at Gatlinburg-Pittman)

 

The Trojans continue to be pretty much all over the place. They struggled mightily with an Edmonson County team that has just two wins on the year and who count an 18 point loss to Cumberland County among their games. They then flipped around and battled gamely with a St. X team that has been in the BGP Top 20 at one point. The Trojans appear to be a team destined to be capable of spoiling someone's year but also being dangerously close to going out early. Unpredictability is a theme for the entire region below the top.

 

6) Clinton County (5-4) - 12/12 82-39 W #16 Cumberland County, 12/15 74-65 W at #14 Russell County, 12/16 57-70 L North Laurel (at Clay County)

Previous Rank: 7

This Week: 12/20 vs. Marion County, 12/21 vs. South Oldham, 12/22 vs. #11 South Warren

 

The Bulldogs did what they needed to do this week, notching district wins over Cumberland County and Russell County, which puts them out to a 3-0 district start before we're even out of December. Jackson Harlan has carries most of the load, averaging an eye-popping 30.3 PPG through their first seven games.

 

7) Logan County (4-4) - 12/12 57-85 L at #1 Warren Central, 12/15 77-63 W #8 Todd County Central, 12/16 63-64 L #13 South Warren

Previous Rank: 9

This Week: 12/19 vs. Butler (at Warren East), 12/20 vs. TBA (at Warren East), 12/21 vs. TBA (at Warren East)

 

The Cougars are one of those teams that embody the unpredictability of the region. After a 3-0 start, they've gone 1-4 in their last five games. Losses to Warren Central and Daviess County are to be expected. A 14 point win over Todd County Central wasn't considering what the Rebels had done to Russellville. A buzzer beater loss to South Warren surely wasn't either, a year after beating the Spartans by 30. Logan County will try to get right in Warren East's holiday tournament this week.

 

8) Greenwood (4-3) - 12/12 73-86 L #2 Bowling Green, 12/15 60-61 L at #13 South Warren, 12/16 60-53 W Hart County

Previous Rank: 6

This Week: 12/19 vs. Christ Presbyterian Academy (TN) (at Warren East), 12/20 vs. TBA (at Warren East), 12/21 vs. TBA (at Warren East)

 

Greenwood's rank, and Logan County's as well, are mostly leaps of faith based on some potential and past results. The Gators boast wins over Franklin-Simpson and Clinton County, and a close loss at Glasgow. Their loss to Bowling Green saw them hang in after a rough start. But after jumping out 10-0 on South Warren and leading all the way until the 4th Quarter, they dropped a crucial district game that they were most definitely favored in. Bright spot of the week - Luke Littrell scored a school record 42 points against Bowling Green on Tuesday.

 

9) Todd County Central (5-2) - 12/12 58-54 W #13 South Warren, 12/15 63-77 L at #9 Logan County, 12/16 58-64 L at Murray

Previous Rank: 8

This Week: 12/21 at Webster County, 12/22 vs. Western (at Webster County), 12/23 vs. Christian County (at Webster County)

 

The loss to Logan County was a real disappointment for the Rebels who were seeking to extend their win streak and get a big leg up in the district race. The game was tied at 36 all at halftime, and per the recap at yoursportsedge.com, John Calvery was hit with a personal foul then a technical foul int he fourth quarter, right after the Rebels had cut it to two points. That Logan County lost to South Warren the following day made it all the more strange, given the Rebels knocked off South Warren earlier this week. Nolan Barrow had 19 points in that game.

 

10) Warren East (4-3) - 12/12 45-40 W #15 Allen County-Scottsville, 12/14 70-42 W at #16 Cumberland County

Previous Rank: 12

This Week: 12/18 vs. Trinity (Whitesville), 12/19 vs. #13 Franklin-Simpson, 12/20 vs. TBA (at Warren East), 12/21 vs. TBA (at Warren East)

 

The Raiders have rebounded from an 0-3 start with four straight wins to get back over .500. Treante Patterson carried East to their win over Allen County with 24 of the Raiders' 45 points before a very balanced win over Cumberland County saw four players score between 11 and 13 points. East enters a four game home stand, which includes their Christmas tournament. They'll tangle with Franklin-Simpson to open that one.

 

11) South Warren (4-4) - 12/12 54-58 L at #8 Todd County Central, 12/15 61-60 W #6 Greenwood, 12/16 64-63 W at #9 Logan County

Previous Rank: 13

This Week: 12/20 vs. South Oldham (at Clinton County), 12/21 vs. Marion County (at Clinton County), 12/22 at #6 Clinton County

 

The Spartans had an extremely clutch end of the week, getting a district win over Greenwood via a Daniel Moore free throw with 1.8 seconds remaining, and followed that with a buzzer-beating three pointer by Tyler Martin to take down Logan County. It's the first time South Warren has been .500 or better this late in the year since 2014/15. They'll try to climb over .500 for the first time since 2015/16 this week.

 

12) Russellville (2-4) - 12/15 81-111 L Christian County (at Hopkinsville), 12/16 62-74 L at Hopkinsville

Previous Rank: 10

This Week: 12/20 at Hancock County, 12/21 vs. TBA (at Hancock County), 12/22 vs. TBA (at Hancock County)

 

The Panthers can be forgiven these losses against competition that are pretty far over their head. They've lost four in a row.

 

13) Franklin-Simpson (2-6) - 12/14 50-73 L #1 Warren Central, 12/15 44-36 W at #15 Allen County-Scottsville

Previous Rank: 11

This Week: 12/19 at #10 Warren East, 12/20 vs. TBA (at Warren East), 12/21 vs. TBA (at Warren East)

 

The Wildcats led after one quarter against Warren Central before the roof crashed in on them. Points are at a premium for Franklin, who haven't topped 61 points this year. They averaged over 67 last season.

 

14) Russell County (2-6) - 12/11 86-57 W at #17 Metcalfe County, 12/12 57-84 L at #3 Monroe County, 12/15 65-74 L vs. #7 Clinton County

Previous Rank: 14

This Week: 12/20 at McCreary Central, 12/22 vs. Lincoln County (at McCreary Central), 12/23 vs. Wayne County (at McCreary Central)

 

The Lakers managed to grab a district win over Metcalfe County, and remained competitive with Clinton County to close the week. Tate Richardson and Brayton Scales are averaging over 14 PPG apiece for Russell County.

 

15) Allen County-Scottsville (2-5) - 12/12 40-45 L at #12 Warren East, 12/15 36-44 L #11 Franklin-Simpson

Previous Rank: 15

This Week: 12/20 at Heritage (TN), 12/21 vs. TBA (at Heritage (TN)), 12/22 vs. TBA (at Heritage (TN))

 

The Patriots have stayed close at times, but are just 1-5 after a suddenly-solid win over South Warren to open the year.

 

16) Cumberland County (3-6) - 12/12 39-82 L at #7 Clinton County, 12/14 42-70 L #12 Warren East, 12/15 48-90 L Marion County

Previous Rank: 16

This Week: 12/21 at Butler County, 12/22 vs. #3 Glasgow (at Butler County)

 

The Panthers are going the wrong direction, losing five in a row, none by less than 20 points. The gap between them and the teams above them appears to be significant.

 

17) Metcalfe County (2-7) - 12/11 57-86 L #14 Russell County, 12/12 51-87 L Hart County, 12/15 73-59 W at Christian Fellowship, 12/16 72-34 W at Community Christian (Paducah)

Previous Rank: 17

This Week: No Games

 

It was a great week for the Hornets, who not only ended their 38 game losing streak, but won back to back games. It's their first two game win streak since winning three in a row in 2010/11, which was their last winning season and last region tournament appearance. They've only won 16 games since that streak.