article Inside the 4th Region (1/7/18)

Fourth Region Rankings

 

1) Warren Central (13-2) - 1/5 59-48 W at #8 Warren East, 1/6 77-47 W at #3 Barren County

Previous Rank: 1

This Week: 1/9 vs. Hopkinsville, 1/12 at #3 Bowling Green

 

The Dragons still need a win this coming Friday to basically lock up the top spot for the remainder of the year, but the statement they made on Saturday was LOUD. The Dragons visited Barren County, the de facto #2 team in the region by that point, and put a running clock on the Trojans. It was their largest win in the series in six years, and their largest win at Barren County since the state title season in 2004. Central shot 50% from three and got 50 points combined out of Potter and Cousin. In short, it was their best game of the year, coming on the heels of a rather ugly win at Warren East. This Friday brings us the long-awaited Bowling Green/Warren Central tilt. It may be the first of four meetings.

 

2) Barren County (8-7) - 1/2 68-64 W at #2 Bowling Green, 1/5 65-78 L Adair County, 1/6 47-77 L #1 Warren Central

Previous Rank: 3

This Week: 1/9 at #8 Warren East, 1/12 at #4 Monroe County

 

You have to look past Barren County's loss to Warren Central, where they just simply ran into a freight train. Their win over Bowling Green was a significant psychological lift to a team that had come so close on several occasions to interrupting Bowling Green's region dominance, and broke through in a second half that saw them overcome a double digit lead behind 67% shooting from the field, where they hit 5/7 from three. It ended Bowling Green's region win streak at 50 in a row, and their 32 game home win streak. It pushed the Trojans up to #2 for the first time in two years. They face one of their most significant remaining games on Friday at Monroe County.

 

3) Bowling Green (10-6) - 1/2 64-68 L #3 Barren County, 1/5 73-61 W #12 Greenwood

Previous Rank: 2

This Week: 1/9 vs. #6 South Warren, 1/12 vs. #1 Warren Central

 

It's not time to bury the Purples, who are still quite dangerous, but their loss to Barren County was the latest sign that they are a more vulnerable team. This is their lowest rank since 2015. Ignoring the end of their long region and home streaks, it is quite rare to see the Purples give up a double digit lead, and especially at home. They rebounded nicely with a comfortable win over Greenwood and are still 5-1 after starting 5-5. They have a tricky game with South Warren on Tuesday that they can't overlook, but can wipe away everything with a win over Warren Central on Friday. They've won 8 straight and 10 of 11 against the Dragons, their best stretch in 16 years.

 

4) Monroe County (11-5) - 1/2 68-52 W #11 Logan County, 1/5 63-46 W at #14 Allen County-Scottsville

Previous Rank: 4

This Week: 1/8 vs. Taylor County, 1/12 vs #2 Barren County, 1/13 vs. #17 Metcalfe County

 

The Falcons had a steady week against the lower half of the region, maintaining their consistent play. They are 5-1 in their last six, with solid wins over Muhlenberg County and Owensboro Catholic in that stretch. They grabbed another district win over AC/S to move to 2-1 in district play. As mentioned with Barren County, their home game against the Trojans represents an incredibly significant game, especially with a road trip to Glasgow at the end of the month. It took overtime the first time for the Falcons to emerge victorious.

 

5) Glasgow (12-3) - 1/2 59-38 W at #14 Allen County-Scottsville, 1/5 75-65 W at #6 South Warren, 1/6 73-53 W Thomas Nelson

Previous Rank: 5

This Week: 1/8 vs. Green County, 1/12 vs. #14 Allen County-Scottsville, 1/13 at Boyle County

 

The Scotties grabbed a district win over AC/S before notching two more wins to reach .800 through 15 games. That already represents their most wins in a full season in four years. Just four more wins would push them to their best year since winning 23 in 2011/12. They should tune up Green County and AC/S before hitting the road to take on a solid Boyle County team.

 

6) South Warren (9-6) - 1/5 65-75 L #5 Glasgow

Previous Rank: 6

This Week: 1/9 at #3 Bowling Green, 1/11 at #16 Cumberland County, 1/13 at Caverna

 

It was an uneventful week for the Spartans, who dropped their only game to Glasgow. South Warren lost despite hitting 11 three pointers and shooting 44% from behind the arc. They were done in by their shooting inside the perimeter, hitting just 8 of 22 shots. They'll try to grab a big upset when they visit Bowling Green - a team they've never beaten - before they likely close out the week with two easy wins to move into double digit victories.

 

7) Clinton County (10-7) - 1/4 45-60 L at Pickett County (TN), 1/5 75-51 W #17 Metcalfe County

Previous Rank: 7

This Week: 1/9 at #16 Cumberland County, 1/12 vs. #15 Russell County, 1/13 vs. Montgomery County (at Southwestern)

 

Nothing out of the ordinary for the Bulldogs, who keep coasting along, for the most part beating teams they should, losing to teams they should. They'll continue to devastate 16th District competition this week, and other than the All "A" Classic, there is little to move the needle from Clinton County for the next month.

 

8) Warren East (9-6) - 1/5 48-59 L #1 Warren Central

Previous Rank: 8

This Week: 1/9 vs. #2 Barren County, 1/12 vs. #11 Greenwood

 

The Raiders did a lot of what they had to in their game against Central, uglying the game up, holding the Dragons to low scoring. It's just the third time they've lost at home to Central when holding them below 60 points, and both of their last two wins in the series (in 2013), came when holding the Dragons that low. Like the Spartans, their shooting inside the arc was to blame for their woes. East shot 7/9 from three - they were an atrocious 12/39 inside the arc and were 3/9 from the foul line. They missed a lot at the rim, and were also missing one of their leading scorers in Treante Patterson. There's room for improvement which could give hope for their next matchup.

 

9) Logan County (6-8) - 1/2 52-68 L at #4 Monroe County, 1/5 68-64 W #10 Russellville, 1/6 59-60 L at #12 Greenwood

Previous Rank: 11

This Week: 1/9 vs. #14 Allen County-Scottsville, 1/12 at #12 Todd County Central, 1/13 vs. North Hardin (at Central Hardin)

 

The Cougars won the one that was most important, winning the first Clash of the Cats, raising them to 2-1 in district play. They battled Greenwood to the wire, but were done in by two free throws with less than five seconds left less than 24 hours after the rivalry win. Much like the 15th, the 13th is like musical chairs. They're all beating up on each other. Another opportunity arises on Friday.

 

10) Russellville (5-9) - 1/2 63-70 L at Ohio County, 1/5 64-68 L at #11 Logan County

Previous Rank: 10

This Week: 1/12 at #13 Franklin-Simpson

 

The Panthers had solid momentum coming out of the holidays with two wins over District 14 opponents, but a loss to Logan County halted that. They're still 3-3 in their last six, but it's officially must-win time when they visit Franklin on Friday. The Panthers are 0-2 in district play, and another loss will put them in serious jeopardy of being the #4 seed come the postseason.

 

11) Greenwood (8-7) - 1/5 61-73 at #2 Bowling Green, 1/6 60-59 W #11 Logan County

Previous Rank: 12

This Week: 1/9 vs. Adair County, 1/12 at #8 Warren East

 

Greenwood stuck with Bowling Green for a quarter, but it's no surprise that they fell for the 14th straight time to the Purples. The loss dropped them to 0-3 in district play with two games against Central still ahead of them. They got a needed win over the Cougars to stay above .500. If they fall to Warren East on Friday, it becomes statistically likely that they will be in the 4/5 game in February.

 

12) Todd County Central (9-6) - 1/5 67-48 W #9 Franklin-Simpson, 1/6 59-55 W at Calloway County

Previous Rank: 13

This Week: 1/12 vs. #9 Logan County

 

The Rebels were on the verge of being left for dead when they followed their 5-0 start with a 2-6 stretch, but notched a thunderous 19 point win over Franklin-Simpson to climb to 2-1 in the district. Todd had not defeated Franklin since 2014. A win over Logan County would put them in the driver's seat for the #1 seed, which they'll want in their pursuit of their first region appearance in 15 years.

 

13) Franklin-Simpson (5-10) - 1/5 48-67 L at #13 Todd County Central

Previous Rank: 9

This Week: 1/12 vs. #10 Russellville

 

Franklin has proven they can stay close to teams and that they can beat Logan County, but that was a hideous loss to Todd Central. The Wildcats are just not scoring, with their sixth game of 50 points or less. They're still 1-1 in district play, but they could really use a win over Russellville.

 

14) Allen County-Scottsville (6-10) - 1/2 38-59 L #5 Glasgow, 1/5 46-63 L #4 Monroe County, 1/6 49-42 W Edmonson County

Previous Rank: 14

This Week: 1/9 at #9 Logan County, 1/12 at #5 Glasgow, 1/13 vs. Nelson County (at Southwestern)

 

The Patriots have four straight games scoring 50 points or less, and have been at that level in 11 of their 16 games.

 

15) Russell County (5-11) - 1/5 67-54 W #16 Cumberland County

Previous Rank: 15

This Week: 1/9 vs. McCreary Central, 1/12 at #7 Clinton County, 1/13 vs. Madison Southern

 

The win over Cumberland was a needed win, but the two teams are likely to see each other three times anyway.

 

16) Cumberland County (4-12) - 1/2 76-59 W at #17 Metcalfe County, 1/5 54-67 L at #15 Russell County

Previous Rank: 16

This Week: 1/9 vs. #7 Clinton County, 1/11 vs. #6 South Warren, 1/13 at Clay County (TN)

 

On the flip side of Russell County, the Panthers could use the confidence boost to beat the Lakers, but after completing the season sweep over Metcalfe, it'll be the third meeting with Russell County that will actually matter.

 

17) Metcalfe County (3-11) - 1/2 59-76 L #16 Cumberland County, 1/5 51-75 L at #7 Clinton County

Previous Rank: 17

This Week: 1/12 vs. Adair County, 1/13 at #4 Monroe County

 

There aren't many win possibilities left on the schedule.