1) Warren Central (4-0) - 12/5 80-41 W at Owensboro, 12/10 64-57 W Western (at Bardstown)    
Previous Rank: 1    
This Week: 12/13 vs. #4 Franklin-Simpson, 12/16 vs. DeSales (at Fairdale), 12/18 vs. TBA (at Fairdale)    
    
2) Bowling Green (5-0) - 12/6 59-58 W at Elizabethtown, 12/9 66-46 W at Hopkinsville, 12/10 70-69 W North Laurel (at Barren County)    
Previous Rank: 2    
This Week: 12/13 vs. Christian County, 12/16 at #13 Greenwood    
    
3) South Warren (5-1) - 12/5 70-48 W at #14 Allen County-Scottsville, 12/6 54-42 W #5 Franklin-Simpson, 12/10 60-50 W West Creek (TN)    
Previous Rank: 4    
This Week: 12/13 vs. #9 Monroe County, 12/17 at Hancock County    
    
4) Franklin-Simpson (3-1) - 12/6 42-54 L at #4 South Warren, 12/9 76-49 W at #14 Allen County-Scottsville    
Previous Rank: 5    
This Week: 12/13 at #1 Warren Central    
    
5) Barren County (3-2) - 12/6 72-43 W #17 Logan County, 12/9 72-63 W at #3 Warren East, 12/10 78-68 W North Hardin    
Previous Rank: 9    
This Week: 12/13 at Caverna, 12/16 at #16 Allen County-Scottsville    
    
6) Warren East (3-1) - 12/9 63-72 L #9 Barren County, 12/10 79-69 W Daviess County (at South Warren)    
Previous Rank: 3    
This Week: 12/13 vs. #8 Todd County Central, 12/16 at #15 Glasgow    
    
7) Metcalfe County (3-2) - 12/6 60-58 W #15 Cumberland County, 12/9 53-49 W at #8 Clinton County    
Previous Rank: 6    
This Week: 12/13 at #14 Russell County, 12/16 vs. #9 Monroe County    
    
8. Todd County Central (3-3) - 12/6 54-57 L at Whitesville Trinity, 12/8 68-39 W at Caldwell County, 12/10 12/9 49-45 W #10 Monroe County    
Previous Rank: 7    
This Week: 12/12 at Montgomery Central (TN), 12/13 at #6 Warren East, 12/16 at Edmonson County, 12/17 vs. Trigg County    
    
9) Monroe County (4-2) - 12/6 51-48 W #8 Clinton County, 12/9 63-54 W at #15 Cumberland County, 12/10 45-49 L at #7 Todd County Central    
Previous Rank: 10    
This Week: 12/13 at #3 South Warren, 12/16 at #7 Metcalfe County, 12/17 at Red Boiling Springs (TN)    
    
10) Clinton County (1-3) - 12/6 48-51 L at #10 Monroe County, 12/9 49-53 L #6 Metcalfe County    
Previous Rank: 8    
This Week: 12/13 at #11 Cumberland County, 12/16 vs. #14 Russell County    
    
11) Cumberland County (0-5) - 12/6 58-60 L at #6 Metcalfe County, 12/9 54-63 L #10 Monroe County    
Previous Rank: 15    
This Week: 12/13 vs. #10 Clinton County, 12/16 at #17 Logan County    
    
12) Russellville (1-3) - 12/9 71-56 W #11 Greenwood, 12/10 47-61 L at Madisonville-North Hopkins    
Previous Rank: 16    
This Week: 12/13 at Hart County, 12/16 at Hopkins County Central    
    
13) Greenwood (1-5) - 12/6 44-65 L Evangel Christian, 12/9 56-71 L at #16 Russellville, 12/10 58-70 L Fairdale (at Barren County)    
Previous Rank: 11    
This Week: 12/13 vs. Ohio County, 12/16 vs. #2 Bowling Green    
    
14) Russell County (2-1) - 12/9 71-46 W Pickett County (TN)    
Previous Rank: 12    
This Week: 12/13 vs. #7 Metcalfe County, 12/16 at #10 Clinton County, 12/17 vs. Butler County    
    
15) Glasgow (0-3) - 12/6 47-55 L Caverna, 12/10 50-78 L Sayre (at Barren County)    
Previous Rank: 13    
This Week: 12/15 at Adair County, 12/16 vs. #6 Warren East    
    
16) Allen County-Scottsville (0-4) - 12/5 48-70 L #4 South Warren, 12/9 49-76 L #5 Franklin-Simpson    
Previous Rank: 14    
This Week: 12/16 vs. #5 Barren County    
    
17) Logan County (1-4) - 12/6 43-72 L at #9 Barren County, 12/10 64-29 W #18 Foundation Christian Academy (at South Warren)    
Previous Rank: 17    
This Week: 12/13 at Portland (TN), 12/16 vs. #11 Cumberland County    
    
18) Foundation Christian Academy (3-3) - 12/6 41-71 L Fort Campbell, 12/9 36-52 L at Cloverport, 12/10 29-64 L #17 Logan County (at South Warren)    
Previous Rank: 18    
This Week: 12/13 vs. Christian Educational Consortium, 12/16 at Heritage Christian    

Notes:

-Two huge marquee wins from the top of the region this week.  Bowling Green took on BGP #4 North Laurel in a showcase at Barren County.  After falling behind after the first quarter, Bowling Green won each of the last three quarters, and broke a 67-all tie with three free throws by MJ Wardlow with 5.8 seconds remaining, after being fouled on a go-ahead three point attempt.  Reed Sheppard was fouled before attempting a shot, hitting two free throws to make it 70-69, but Wardlow evaded foul attempts after inbounding to seal the win.  Wardlow dropped in 22 during the contest, followed by Ritter with 16.  This week was the first week Bowling Green had their whole team, and clearly the ceiling is very high.  Meanwhile, Warren Central took on BGP #7 Western in Bardstown.  The Dragons led the whole game, but had to sweat out some close moments as their lead dwindled to four several times in the fourth quarter, before settling in for a 64-57 win.  Chappelle Whitney took home player of the game honors, scoring 26 in the victory.  The Dragons are still without star Kade Unseld, so there's room for them to improve as well.

-Barren County visited Warren East in the inaugural 15th District contest for the Raiders, and gave them a rude welcome to the district.  The Trojans jumped out to a 29-5 lead, firing on all cylinders.  The Raiders fought back, trailing by just five midway through the 4th Quarter, but could not climb all the way back, falling by nine.  Isaiah Andrews was great in the loss for the Raiders, scoring almost half their points, notching 30 on 11 of 21 shooting.  Eli Brooks posted a double double for Barren County, with 26 points and 13 boards, while Aiden Miller contributed 25 points.  The victory puts Barren County in very good position for the district's #1 seed, having won on the road at their primary competition for that spot.  The two teams will meet again in the first week of January. 

-The 16th District has gotten very interesting already.  Clinton County has been the #1 seed for the last six district tournaments, virtually without peer in the district during that time.  There was some expectation that Monroe County being reintroduced to the district that some things might change, and that has proven correct.  Monroe County is out to a 2-0 start in district play, knocking off Clinton County 51-48 prior to defeating Cumberland County 63-54 three days later.  The win over Clinton County was the first for Monroe County in five years.  The Falcons overcame 2/15 shooting from three and they were also below 50% from the free throw line, but persevered.  Metcalfe County started 2-0 as well, defeating the same two teams by a combined six points.  They grabbed a 60-58 win over Cumberland County before taking down Clinton County by a 53-49 score.  It was just the fourth victory for Metcalfe County over Clinton County since 2015, and their first that wasn't at a neutral site in that time frame.  That has put Clinton County in an extremely unfamiliar position - they have an uphill climb to try to play themselves into contention for the top seed, and do not control their own destiny.  They have two more district games this week, meeting Cumberland County and Russell County.

-One of the more stunning results of the week was Russellville taking down Greenwood.  It was the first victory over a 14th District opponent for Russellville since 2018, and don't be fooled by the 15 point margin - Russellville led by almost 30 points at one point.  Greenwood was missing Lofton Howard for the game, which explains some of it, but it was still a big win for a Russellville program that is still trying to regain its footing after struggles in recent years, and snapped a ten game losing streak.  Jayden Russell was on fire from deep for the Panthers, hitting 6/7 from three on his way to 25 points.  Greenwood is experiencing some serious growing pains after losing so many seniors from last year's team, and it doesn't get any easier as they play Ohio County, Bowling Green, and Mason County in their next three games.

-The games to watch this week: #8 Todd County Central visits #6 Warren East in one of four top ten matchups this week.  #1 Warren Central opens their meager home slate for the season when they host #4 Franklin-Simpson, their first meeting in three seasons and a tune-up for the Dragons' appearance in the King of the Bluegrass.  #9 Monroe County has the biggest week and most potential movement - they visit #3 South Warren on December 13th before visiting #7 Metcalfe County in what will be for the outright lead of the district race at this time, with both entering at 2-0.

 

BIG Week for Region 4!  Lot's of action!  Thanks @DragonFire