Fourth Region Top 10

 

1) Russell County (12-2) - 1/4 74-49 W at Cumberland County

Previous Rank: 1

This Week: 1/11 at #5 Clinton County

 

2) Warren East (13-2) - 1/4 55-46 W at Warren Central

Previous Rank: 6

This Week: 1/8 at #6 Barren County, 1/11 at Greenwood

 

3) Warren Central (9-5) - 1/3 72-41 W Clinton County, 1/4 46-55 L Warren East

Previous Rank: 2

This Week: 1/8 vs. Glasgow, 1/11 vs. #7 Bowling Green

 

4) Russellville (8-7) - 1/4 94-85 OT W Logan County

Previous Rank: 8

This Week: 1/8 at Greenwood, 1/11 vs. Franklin-Simpson

 

5) Clinton County (10-5) - 1/3 41-72 L at Warren Central, 1/4 67-25 W at Metcalfe County

Previous Rank: 3

This Week: 1/8 at Cumberland County, 1/11 vs. #1 Russell County

 

6) Barren County (11-4) - 1/1 87-80 W at Bowling Green, 1/4 49-51 L Franklin-Simpson, 1/5 55-80 L Butler (at PRP)

Previous Rank: 5

This Week: 1/8 vs. #2 Warren East, 1/11 vs. #9 Monroe County

 

7) Bowling Green (6-8) - 1/1 80-87 L Barren County, 1/4 45-36 W at Greenwood

Previous Rank: 4

This Week: 1/7 at #9 Monroe County, 1/8 at #10 Allen County-Scottsville, 1/11 at #3 Warren Central

 

8) South Warren (9-6) - 1/4 66-45 W at Todd County Central, 1/5 54-43 W Glasgow

Previous Rank: 9

This Week: 1/8 vs. Edmonson County, 1/12 vs. Metcalfe County

 

9) Monroe County (8-6) - 1/4 62-48 W Allen County-Scottsville, 1/5 60-39 W at Franklin-Simpson

Previous Rank: NR

This Week: 1/7 vs. #7 Bowling Green, 1/11 at #6 Barren County

 

10) Allen County-Scottsville (8-7) - 1/1 73-69 W at Glasgow, 1/4 48-62 L at Monroe County

Previous Rank: 10

This Week: 1/8 vs. #7 Bowling Green, 1/11 vs. Glasgow

 

 

Last Week's Game Of The Week - This should perhaps be called "Most Significant Result Of The Week" though the game itself was great as well. No result last week made as many waves as Warren East's 55-46 win at Warren Central. Coming into the game Warren Central had not lost to the Raiders in 5 years and had won every region game to that point by an average of 31 points. But Warren East helped turn the region on its ear by going into Dragon gym and outworking the Dragons en route to a result that positions them well in the postseason seeding race. It also sent the message that the long dormant program (with 9 region titles to their name but no region tourney appearances since their last region title in 1997) may be finally ready to come back to the forefront.

 

A Region Turned On Its Ear - In our preseason preview this year was predicted to be a lot of the same ole same ole. The teams you knew were good in the past would be at the top again. And while that's not exactly totally out the window, the region has been completely flipped with results of late. If you say you've got it all figured out, you sir (or madam) are a filthy liar.

 

No one in the region is undefeated, so there's no team you can point to as untouchable. Bowling Green, the preseason #1, is 6-8 with a home loss to Barren County. Barren County for their part has a 32 point loss to Warren Central on their books, as well as a mind boggling loss to unranked Franklin-Simpson. Warren Central appeared to be cruising to a spot at the top of the region after knocking off another top region team by over 30 when Warren East laid them low in the aforementioned GOTW. Even East is not a safe choice with a double digit loss to Russellville. All of it sends the message that no one is safe and nothing is predictable. Russell County is #1 this week for the second straight week but look at that - they play Clinton County on the road Friday, with the Bulldogs being the only team to knock them off this year. Which was before Clinton County's 31 point loss to Warren Central. See how weird it is?

 

Upcoming Games of the Week

 

1/8 - #2 Warren East at #6 Barren County - The Raiders will be looking for an encore to keep their momentum rolling as they travel to take on a Barren County team that will be looking to stop the negative momentum that has suddenly kicked up following their big win over Bowling Green.

 

1/11 - #1 Russell County at #5 Clinton County - As mentioned above, Clinton County is the only region team to knock off Russell County this year, and one of only two losses the Lakers have taken to any team. The Bulldogs can basically lock up the #1 seed for the 16th District with a win here. That in itself is a virtual guarantee to advance to the region tournament.

 

1/11 - #7 Bowling Green at #3 Warren Central - Suddenly this game doesn't have quite the luster it has before, but it's always a big meeting when these two take the floor. With the loss to East, the game has new importance for the Dragons. A loss here would put them at 0-2 in the district with both losses coming at home, where they didn't lose a single district game during the regular season last year. A loss for the Purples would reinforce the negative momentum they have suffered much of the year and place more importance on their game against Warren East the following Friday.

RVK is too high at #4. I'd drop them to 6 and move Clinton and Barren up a notch. Anxious to see if Russell Co. can get revenge against Clinton this week.