article BluegrassPreps.com 4th Region Weekly Rankings (2/4/18)

Fourth Region Rankings

 

1) Warren Central (21-3) - 1/30 87-56 W Taylor County, 2/2 68-42 W #7 Warren East, 2/3 72-71 W at Elizabethtown

Previous Rank: 1

This Week: 2/6 vs. #12 Russellville, 2/9 vs. #8 Greenwood, 2/10 vs. Mercer County

 

The Dragons rebounded from their loss to Bowling Green with two blowout wins and a solid road win in a tough spot to close the week. Their 87 points against Taylor County matched a season high, and they pushed away from Warren East with a dominant third quarter after leading only 28-20 at the half and going 0/7 from three. Their focus on going inside against East in that second half should be something they look to as what to do typically. They finished the week at Elizabethtown in an early morning game (11 CST) that had all the looks of a trap game, but were carried by Jordan Cousin's career high 32 points, surviving a missed front end of a 1 and 1 and a Panther shot for the win. They'll look to wrap up no worse than a tie for #1 in the district on Friday, before a big matchup with one of the top teams in the state and a potential Sweet 16 preview when they meet Mercer County.

 

2) Bowling Green (17-8) - 1/30 64-49 W at #11 South Warren, 2/2 75-83 L University Heights, 2/3 95-71 W Adair County

Previous Rank: 2

This Week: 2/6 at Owensboro, 2/9 vs. #7 Warren East

 

The Purples were a little lackluster at times in knocking off South Warren, but closed the week with five strong quarters. Just five because UHA was pounding them by 25 before a furious fourth quarter comeback fell just short. Bowling Green managed to cut it all the way to six points before running out of steam. That's been a bit of a recurring theme for BG, as they seem to play very well when throwing caution to the wind and playing with abandon. Saturday's win over Adair County was a symbolic one. Not only were the 95 points their season high, they came against Zion Harmon, who won a state title with them the year before. The Purples were clearly focused and up for that one, scorching Adair with 58% shooting from the field. After a tough road game against Owensboro, they, like Warren Central, will try to wrap up no worse than a tie for #1 when hosting Warren East on Friday.

 

3) Clinton County (16-9) - 1/30 55-56 L Campbellsville, 2/2 80-65 W Madison Southern, 2/3 52-60 L Somerset

Previous Rank: 4

This Week: 2/5 at McCreary Central, 2/9 vs. #4 Monroe County

 

The Bulldogs have risen this high a bit by default. Not to knock them as they are winners of 7 of 10, with two losses coming against good competition, but they would not be here if not for the Falcons stumbling. Clinton County did post one of their highest point totals of the year in an 80-65 win against Madison Southern, and followed that with a strong effort against a Somerset team fresh off a win over Pulaski County, one of the best teams in the state. Jackson Harlan is up to a ridiculous 687 points on the year. Perhaps his most impressive stat is his 84.7% free throw shooting. There aren't too many young men shooting that well from the charity stripe.

 

4) Monroe County (16-7) - 1/30 61-48 W at #6 Glasgow, 2/2 60-63 L #15 Allen County-Scottsville, 2/3 71-50 W North Hardin (at Clinton County)

Previous Rank: 3

This Week: 2/6 vs. #16 Cumberland County, 2/9 at #3 Clinton County

 

Even in an unpredictable year, there may not be a more "what the?" game than Monroe County losing to Allen County-Scottsville. AT HOME. This is a team that the Falcons burned by 17 on the road just a few weeks ago. There was nothing on the line for either team and perhaps Monroe could have been playing coy given that they are guaranteed to play the Patriots in the first round of district, but it was an incredibly odd result. Monroe County is now 2-2 in their last four, and will close the season with three straight road games, including traveling to Clinton County on Friday.

 

5) Barren County (16-9) - 1/29 79-69 W at #12 Russellville, 1/30 61-48 W at #8 Greenwood, 2/2 81-48 W Hart County

Previous Rank: 5

This Week: 2/6 vs. #13 Russell County, 2/9 at #16 Cumberland County

 

I was tempted to push Barren County above Monroe County this week, but I still can't quite forget that 25 point beating the Trojans received against Monroe back on January 11th. That is at current time their last loss, as they have ripped off 8 wins in a row to get back into their preseason form. Their road win against Greenwood is one of their more impressive results, given that the Gators tend to be very potent at home. The Trojans are almost certainly going to win their next three before ending the season at Clinton County. This very well could be a team that enters the postseason with 20 wins and on a 12 game win streak. Jared Coomer dropped 21 points and didn't miss a shot inside the arc against Hart County on Friday.

 

6) Glasgow (17-7) - 1/30 48-61 L #3 Monroe County, 2/3 65-67 L at #9 Logan County

Previous Rank: 6

This Week: 2/6 at #17 Metcalfe County, 2/9 at Caverna

 

Glasgow couldn't repeat their success from early in the year in falling at home to Monroe County, and suddenly the Scotties have lost four of five after starting 16-3. Perhaps the fatigue of an overachieving team is starting to set in. Fortunately, their schedule is extremely soft for the next two weeks, which should give them ample opportunity to build momentum ahead of a district semifinal matchup with Barren County. They can't afford losses like the one they took at Logan County.

 

7) Warren East (13-10) - 1/30 83-73 W #16 Cumberland County, 2/2 42-68 L at #1 Warren Central

Previous Rank: 7

This Week: 2/6 vs. #11 South Warren, 2/9 at #2 Bowling Green, 2/10 at #10 Todd County Central

 

It's a bit unfair to note Warren East's troubles after January 1st given that is when they get into the heart of district play against the toughest district in the region. Still, this is another season where the Raiders have stubbed their toe after a strong December. They're just 4-5 since January 1st, and face a must-win at home on Tuesday against South Warren. Lose there, and the potential becomes high that they will finish in a tie for third with Greenwood and South Warren. And at that point, it's anyone's guess who ends up in the 4/5 game. If they beat South Warren, they'll have yet another shot at their tormentors Bowling Green with the potential to drag the Purples into a district semifinal rematch.

 

8) Greenwood (13-12) - 1/30 48-61 L at #5 Barren County, 2/2 69-60 W #11 South Warren, 2/3 57-54 W #14 Franklin-Simpson

Previous Rank: 8

This Week: 2/6 at #14 Allen County-Scottsville, 2/9 at #1 Warren Central

 

The Gators have been another difficult team to figure out. Within the season and within games they are very streaky. After a mid-January slump with five losses in six games, they've flipped it with five wins in six games. You'll find a similar pattern within their games. Against South Warren they were out to a 20-0 lead before having to hold on late as South got within single digits with plenty of time. Greenwood got 26 points from Ben Carroll in the win, adding to the resurgent Jack Roberts' 23 points. The Gators are extremely dangerous at home, which is where the district tourney is, but you don't know which team will show up. They will have a last chance at getting out of the 4/5 game on their own when they visit Warren Central on Friday. The Gators have won three in a row at Central.

 

9) Logan County (12-13) - 1/29 59-80 L at Hopkinsville, 2/2 56-63 L Clarksville Northeast (TN), 2/3 67-65 W #6 Glasgow

Previous Rank: 9

This Week: 2/9 at McLean County

 

The Cougars were unfortunate in their timing in playing a Hopkinsville team that is now full-strength. That game might have gone down very differently in December. They closed the week with a nice win against Glasgow, and will be taking it easy with only two games between now and the postseason. That's where Logan County's focus should be - they'll be the top seed and looking to return to region.

 

10) Todd County Central (13-10) - 1/30 52-81 L Hopkinsville, 2/2 68-50 W at Crittenden County

Previous Rank: 10

This Week: 2/5 at Clarksville Rossview (TN), 2/6 at Trigg County, 2/9 at #12 Russellville, 2/10 vs. #7 Warren East

 

Speaking of looking to return to region, Todd County Central will be in that same boat, looking to return for the first time in 15 years. They, like Logan County, were unfortunate to play Hopkinsville now, allowing 39 points to Johnson and Cager. The Rebels will have a full week including their return matchup with Russellville. It'll be interesting to see how that game plays out. The two met way back on December 8th where the Rebels throttled the Panthers 82-46. After two months of waiting for a rematch, the two will now play twice in two weeks, as they'll also meet in the 13th district tourney.

 

11) South Warren (12-12) - 1/30 49-64 L #2 Bowling Green, 2/2 60-69 L at #8 Greenwood

Previous Rank: 11

This Week: 2/6 at #7 Warren East, 2/8 vs. #15 Franklin-Simpson

 

The Spartans have won just three of their last 10 games, and will be fighting to stay at or above .500 this week in addition to hoping for a chance to escape the 4/5 game in the district tournament. They don't control their destiny at all as they need to beat Warren East to match the two wins the Raiders and Greenwood already have, and then need each to lose their games on Friday. And still it would come down to a three way tiebreaker. Tyler Martin added a pair of double digit efforts during the week, while the Spartans got a similar effort unexpectedly from freshman Jace Carver.

 

12) Russellville (7-14) - 1/29 69-79 L #5 Barren County, 2/2 71-68 W #14 Franklin-Simpson, 2/3 56-58 L at Marshall County

Previous Rank: 12

This Week: 2/6 at #1 Warren Central, 2/9 vs. #10 Todd County Central

 

The Panthers have only won two games since the start of the new year, but they were crucially both over Franklin-Simpson, setting the 13th District tournament in stone and clinching a matchup with Todd County Central in the semifinals. Their matchup on Friday is the only one not against a 14th District member in their last four games. It's a tough closing stretch for the Panthers.

 

13) Russell County (9-16) - 1/30 81-50 W at #17 Metcalfe County, 2/2 55-86 L at Southwestern, 2/3 66-71 L Marion County

Previous Rank: 13

This Week: 2/6 at #5 Barren County, 2/9 vs. Adair County, 2/10 at Williamsburg

 

The Lakers keep puttering along, winning over the teams they should and losing to the teams you'd think they would. Not too high, not to low. Tate Richardson and Brayton Scales average over 30 PPG combined out of the 66 PPG the entire team averages.

 

14) Allen County-Scottsville (8-15) - 1/30 42-46 L Hart County, 2/2 63-60 W at #3 Monroe County

Previous Rank: 15

This Week: 2/6 vs. #8 Greenwood, 2/8 vs. #17 Metcalfe County, 2/9 at #15 Franklin-Simpson

 

I suppose ACS should have some anxiety that perhaps they wasted their shot so to speak in a stunning road upset of Monroe County, the team they'll face in the district tournament. Still, even if they go on to lose that rematch, their win over the Falcons is undoubtedly their season highlight so far.

 

15) Franklin-Simpson (5-18) - 1/30 57-74 L Christian County, 2/2 68-71 L at #12 Russellville, 2/3 54-57 L at #8 Greenwood

Previous Rank: 14

This Week: 2/8 at #11 South Warren, 2/9 vs. #14 Allen County-Scottsville

 

That's 9 straight losses for the Wildcats, who have still not earned a victory in 2018. On the plus side, they have scored 54 points or more in four straight games, after failing to top 50 in five straight. That has to count as progress.

 

16) Cumberland County (4-20) - 1/30 73-83 L at #7 Warren East, 2/1 58-70 L Caverna, 2/2 53-64 L Washington County

Previous Rank: 16

This Week: 2/6 at #4 Monroe County, 2/9 vs. #5 Barren County

 

Cumberland County is the mirror image of Franklin with 9 straight losses, though they barely scraped a win in 2018 with a victory on January 2nd. Judging from their schedule, they are not likely to win a game before their postseason matchup with Russell County.

 

17) Metcalfe County (4-18) - 1/30 50-81 L at #13 Russell County, 2/2 63-82 L Caverna, 2/3 57-60 L Campbellsville

Previous Rank: 17

This Week: 2/5 at Marion County, 2/6 vs. #6 Glasgow, 2/8 at #14 Allen County-Scottsville, 2/10 at Dawson Springs

 

The Hornets have been competitive, falling by just three to a Campbellsville team that was fresh off a victory over Clinton County.