4th Region Top 10

1) Russell County (18-4) - 1/29 68-43 W Taylor County, 1/31 80-43 W Casey County, 2/1 68-23 W at Metcalfe County

Previous Rank: 1

This Week: 2/5 vs. #6 Barren County, 2/8 at Adair County, 2/9 vs. Madison Central

 

2) Warren Central (17-6) - 1/29 66-61 W at Christian County, 2/1 58-65 L at Warren East

Previous Rank: 2

This Week: 2/4 vs. #7 Russellville, 2/5 at Henderson County, 2/8 at Greenwood, 2/9 vs. Elizabethtown

 

3) Bowling Green (13-11) - 1/29 65-44 W vs. South Warren, 2/1 76-49 W at Glasgow, 2/2 68-60 W Greenwood

Previous Rank: 5

This Week: 2/4 at Logan County, 2/5 vs. Owensboro, 2/8 at #4 Warren East

 

4) Warren East (18-5) - 1/29 70-51 W Cumberland County, 2/1 65-58 W Warren Central

Previous Rank: 6

This Week: 2/4 vs. Caverna, 2/5 at #8 South Warren, 2/8 vs. #3 Bowling Green

 

5) Clinton County (14-8) - 1/29 66-73 L vs. Wayne County, 1/31 65-61 W at Caverna

Previous Rank: 3

This Week: 2/7 vs. #10 Allen County-Scottsville, 2/9 vs. South Laurel

 

6) Barren County (18-5) - 1/29 87-71 W at Greenwood, 2/1 62-50 W at Hart County

Previous Rank: 4

This Week: 2/5 at #1 Russell County, 2/8 vs. Cumberland County

 

7) Russellville (14-9) - 1/29 67-59 W Franklin-Simpson, 2/1 71-75 L at Logan County

Previous Rank: 7

This Week: 2/4 at #2 Warren Central, 2/5 at University Heights, 2/8 at Todd County Central

 

8) South Warren (13-10) - 1/29 44-65 L at Bowling Green, 2/1 70-52 W Greenwood

Previous Rank: 8

This Week: 2/5 vs. #4 Warren East, 2/7 at Franklin-Simpson, 2/9 at University Heights

 

9) Monroe County (12-9) - 1/29 61-45 W Glasgow, 2/1 63-55 W at Allen County-Scottsville

Previous Rank: 9

This Week: 2/5 at Cumberland County, 2/7 vs. Cumberland County, 2/9 at Metcalfe County

 

10) Allen County-Scottsville (12-9) - 1/29 72-62 W at Hart County, 55-63 L Monroe County

Previous Rank: NR

This Week: 2/5 vs. Greenwood, 2/7 at #5 Clinton County, 2/8 at Franklin-Simpson

 

A Rankings Defense - I usually don't include this but I feel like one of the rankings in particular this week calls for explanation. Essentially, I believe you could consider Warren Central, Bowling Green, and Warren East virtually a tie. There may just be matchup advantages and disadvantages that explain the round robin they have going. If you wanted to argue Warren East ahead of Warren Central based on the season sweep, I'm not certain I could tell you you're wrong. I believe arguments can be made for any of the three teams to be in any order. My rank is based on the eye test and what I've seen them do outside of the head to head games. If any of the three are standing as district champs in a few weeks, I won't be blown away.

 

Zero District Unbeatens - When Russellville fell 75-71 to Logan County on Friday, it left the region with zero teams unbeaten in their district. This marked the first time since the 2008/09 season that no one made it out of the regular season unbeaten in their district. As of this posting, five teams have 5-1 records in their district, with Warren Central and Bowling Green also checking in at 5-2. Parity reigns supreme for the region, though this may cap their upside as well.

 

Heading For Another Tie - The 14th District began seeding in 1999. From 1999-2008 there was never a single tie atop the standings, and usually one team was unbeaten in the district. If Warren East fails to beat Bowling Green on Friday, it will likely mean at least two teams tied atop the 14th District for the fifth straight year. It would likely be the second straight year that three teams tie at the top.

 

Sweet 16 Draw - In the drawing conducted 10 days ago, Region 4 drew Region 10 in the upcoming Sweet 16 tournament. This will be the 10th meeting of the regions since the 4th Region teams moved in from the 5th Region in 1966, and the 6th first round meeting. The 10th Region took the last meeting, a 2006 Mason County victory over Warren Central in the first round. That snapped a 6 game win streak that the 4th Region had over the 10th Region, and they hold an overall 7-2 advantage, including victories in the 1976, 1984, and 2004 state championship.

 

Games Of The Week

2/9 - Madison Central #1 Russell County - The 4th Region has done little to raise their profile statewide this season, a rarity in recent years for the region. This is most likely their last chance prior to the postseason to gain a high profile win. The Lakers have only lost two games since Christmas, but they were double digit losses to the best teams they've played in that time, Pulaski County and Southwestern.

 

2/8 - #3 Bowling Green at #4 Warren East - Warren East enters with an astounding 36 game losing streak to the Purples. They haven't won one since January 30th, 1998. Ernie Simpson was Bowling Green's head coach at the time - his son Casey Simpson coaches the Raiders now. The last time these two teams met it was a big game for Warren East. It was their chance to put themselves in dominant position for the #1 seed. They were blown out by 28. This time, it's a chance for them to clinch the #1 seed, something they've never done since seeding began. The Raiders have never made a region tournament since seeding began - this would more than likely put them there.

 

2/5 - #4 Warren East at #8 South Warren - The first time these two teams met in December, South Warren led the whole game, until literally the last second, when Aaron Strange tipped in a miss at the buzzer to give the Raiders their first district win - a win that has now proven crucial to their postseason positioning. The Spartans are in the midst of a late season swoon, but will try to play spoiler while picking up some postseason momentum. Though on the surface not as big as the Bowling Green/Warren East game, this still could have significant implications for the district seeding in the 14th District. For starters, it would guarantee there could not be a three way tie atop the district. It would also mean that Bowling Green would need a Warren Central loss to Greenwood to be able to get the #1 seed, as a two way tie with Central would place them at #2.

Great report!

4th Region Top 10

1) Russell County (18-4) - 1/29 68-43 W Taylor County, 1/31 80-43 W Casey County, 2/1 68-23 W at Metcalfe County

Previous Rank: 1

This Week: 2/5 vs. #6 Barren County, 2/8 at Adair County, 2/9 vs. Madison Central

 

2) Warren Central (17-6) - 1/29 66-61 W at Christian County, 2/1 58-65 L at Warren East

Previous Rank: 2

This Week: 2/4 vs. #7 Russellville, 2/5 at Henderson County, 2/8 at Greenwood, 2/9 vs. Elizabethtown

 

3) Bowling Green (13-11) - 1/29 65-44 W vs. South Warren, 2/1 76-49 W at Glasgow, 2/2 68-60 W Greenwood

Previous Rank: 5

This Week: 2/4 at Logan County, 2/5 vs. Owensboro, 2/8 at #4 Warren East

 

4) Warren East (18-5) - 1/29 70-51 W Cumberland County, 2/1 65-58 W Warren Central

Previous Rank: 6

This Week: 2/4 vs. Caverna, 2/5 at #8 South Warren, 2/8 vs. #3 Bowling Green

 

5) Clinton County (14-8) - 1/29 66-73 L vs. Wayne County, 1/31 65-61 W at Caverna

Previous Rank: 3

This Week: 2/7 vs. #10 Allen County-Scottsville, 2/9 vs. South Laurel

 

6) Barren County (18-5) - 1/29 87-71 W at Greenwood, 2/1 62-50 W at Hart County

Previous Rank: 4

This Week: 2/5 at #1 Russell County, 2/8 vs. Cumberland County

 

7) Russellville (14-9) - 1/29 67-59 W Franklin-Simpson, 2/1 71-75 L at Logan County

Previous Rank: 7

This Week: 2/4 at #2 Warren Central, 2/5 at University Heights, 2/8 at Todd County Central

 

8) South Warren (13-10) - 1/29 44-65 L at Bowling Green, 2/1 70-52 W Greenwood

Previous Rank: 8

This Week: 2/5 vs. #4 Warren East, 2/7 at Franklin-Simpson, 2/9 at University Heights

 

9) Monroe County (12-9) - 1/29 61-45 W Glasgow, 2/1 63-55 W at Allen County-Scottsville

Previous Rank: 9

This Week: 2/5 at Cumberland County, 2/7 vs. Cumberland County, 2/9 at Metcalfe County

 

10) Allen County-Scottsville (12-9) - 1/29 72-62 W at Hart County, 55-63 L Monroe County

Previous Rank: NR

This Week: 2/5 vs. Greenwood, 2/7 at #5 Clinton County, 2/8 at Franklin-Simpson

 

A Rankings Defense - I usually don't include this but I feel like one of the rankings in particular this week calls for explanation. Essentially, I believe you could consider Warren Central, Bowling Green, and Warren East virtually a tie. There may just be matchup advantages and disadvantages that explain the round robin they have going. If you wanted to argue Warren East ahead of Warren Central based on the season sweep, I'm not certain I could tell you you're wrong. I believe arguments can be made for any of the three teams to be in any order. My rank is based on the eye test and what I've seen them do outside of the head to head games. If any of the three are standing as district champs in a few weeks, I won't be blown away.

 

Zero District Unbeatens - When Russellville fell 75-71 to Logan County on Friday, it left the region with zero teams unbeaten in their district. This marked the first time since the 2008/09 season that no one made it out of the regular season unbeaten in their district. As of this posting, five teams have 5-1 records in their district, with Warren Central and Bowling Green also checking in at 5-2. Parity reigns supreme for the region, though this may cap their upside as well.

 

Heading For Another Tie - The 14th District began seeding in 1999. From 1999-2008 there was never a single tie atop the standings, and usually one team was unbeaten in the district. If Warren East fails to beat Bowling Green on Friday, it will likely mean at least two teams tied atop the 14th District for the fifth straight year. It would likely be the second straight year that three teams tie at the top.

 

Sweet 16 Draw - In the drawing conducted 10 days ago, Region 4 drew Region 10 in the upcoming Sweet 16 tournament. This will be the 10th meeting of the regions since the 4th Region teams moved in from the 5th Region in 1966, and the 6th first round meeting. The 10th Region took the last meeting, a 2006 Mason County victory over Warren Central in the first round. That snapped a 6 game win streak that the 4th Region had over the 10th Region, and they hold an overall 7-2 advantage, including victories in the 1976, 1984, and 2004 state championship.

 

Games Of The Week

2/9 - Madison Central #1 Russell County - The 4th Region has done little to raise their profile statewide this season, a rarity in recent years for the region. This is most likely their last chance prior to the postseason to gain a high profile win. The Lakers have only lost two games since Christmas, but they were double digit losses to the best teams they've played in that time, Pulaski County and Southwestern.

 

2/8 - #3 Bowling Green at #4 Warren East - Warren East enters with an astounding 36 game losing streak to the Purples. They haven't won one since January 30th, 1998. Ernie Simpson was Bowling Green's head coach at the time - his son Casey Simpson coaches the Raiders now. The last time these two teams met it was a big game for Warren East. It was their chance to put themselves in dominant position for the #1 seed. They were blown out by 28. This time, it's a chance for them to clinch the #1 seed, something they've never done since seeding began. The Raiders have never made a region tournament since seeding began - this would more than likely put them there.

 

2/5 - #4 Warren East at #8 South Warren - The first time these two teams met in December, South Warren led the whole game, until literally the last second, when Aaron Strange tipped in a miss at the buzzer to give the Raiders their first district win - a win that has now proven crucial to their postseason positioning. The Spartans are in the midst of a late season swoon, but will try to play spoiler while picking up some postseason momentum. Though on the surface not as big as the Bowling Green/Warren East game, this still could have significant implications for the district seeding in the 14th District. For starters, it would guarantee there could not be a three way tie atop the district. It would also mean that Bowling Green would need a Warren Central loss to Greenwood to be able to get the #1 seed, as a two way tie with Central would place them at #2.

 

Love the bolded info. Great stuff!!!!!!!