1) Warren Central (14-1) - 1/6 73-27 W at #13 Greenwood, 1/7 89-61 W at Louisville Central    
Previous Rank: 1    
This Week: 1/10 at Hopkinsville, 1/13 at #2 Bowling Green, 1/14 vs. Lebanon (TN) (at Greenwood)    
    
2) Bowling Green (14-3) - 1/3 81-62 W at #11 Russellville, 1/6 55-50 W at #3 South Warren, 1/7 85-45 W Whites Creek (TN)    
Previous Rank: 2    
This Week: 1/10 vs. #4 Franklin-Simpson, 1/13 vs. #1 Warren Central, 1/14 vs. Pope John Paul II (TN) (at Greenwood)    
    
3) South Warren (12-2) - 1/3 67-66 W at #5 Barren County, 1/6 50-55 L vs. #2 Bowling Green    
Previous Rank: 3    
This Week: 1/9 vs. #17 Allen County-Scottsville, 1/13 vs. #13 Greenwood    
    
4) Franklin-Simpson (8-4) - 1/3 33-54 L Ohio County, 1/6 46-45 W #8 Todd County Central    
Previous Rank: 4    
This Week: 1/10 at #2 Bowling Green, 1/13 vs. #9 Russellville    
    
5) Monroe County (10-5) - 1/3 79-66 W at #12 Russell County, 1/5 46-36 W Campbellsville    
Previous Rank: 6    
This Week: 1/10 at #6 Barren County, 1/13 vs. #16 Cumberland County    
    
6) Barren County (9-7) - 1/3 66-67 L #3 South Warren, 1/6 49-60 L #7 Warren East, 1/7 50-41 OT W Muhlenberg County (at Bowling Green)    
Previous Rank: 5    
This Week: 1/10 vs. #5 Monroe County, 1/13 at #14 Glasgow, 1/14 at #12 Russell County    
    
7) Warren East (7-6) - 1/6 60-49 W at #5 Barren County    
Previous Rank: 7    
This Week: 1/13 vs. #17 Allen County-Scottsville    
    
8. Todd County Central (10-7) - 1/3 56-44 W at Grayson County, 1/6 45-46 L at #4 Franklin-Simpson    
Previous Rank: 8    
This Week: 1/13 vs. #15 Logan County    
    
9) Russellville (5-9) - 1/3 62-81 L #2 Bowling Green, 1/6 59-53 W #15 Logan County, 1/7 66-58 W at #9 Metcalfe County    
Previous Rank: 11    
This Week: 1/13 at #4 Franklin-Simpson    
    
10) Metcalfe County (6-9) - 1/3 66-74 L Green County, 1/6 65-64 W #10 Clinton County, 1/7 58-66 L #11 Russellville    
Previous Rank: 9    
This Week: 1/12 at Edmonson County    
    
11) Clinton County (7-8) - 1/3 67-69 L Pickett County (TN), 1/6 64-65 L at #9 Metcalfe County    
Previous Rank: 10    
This Week: 1/10 vs. #16 Cumberland County, 1/13 at #12 Russell County    
    
12) Russell County (6-8) - 1/3 66-79 L #6 Monroe County, 1/5 65-66 OT L at Marion County    
Previous Rank: 12    
This Week: 1/10 at #17 Allen County-Scottsville, 1/13 vs. #11 Clinton County, 1/14 vs. #6 Barren County    
    
13) Greenwood (4-12) - 1/3 68-40 W #17 Allen County-Scottsville, 1/6 27-73 L #1 Warren Central, 1/7 58-69 L Madisonville-North Hopkins (at Bowling Green)    
Previous Rank: 13    
This Week: 1/10 vs. Butler County, 1/13 at #3 South Warren, 1/14 vs. Christ Presbyterian Academy (TN)    
    
14) Glasgow (5-9) - 1/3 64-42 W at #15 Logan County, 1/6 67-57 W at #17 Allen County-Scottsville    
Previous Rank: 14    
This Week: 1/13 vs. #6 Barren County    
    
15) Logan County (5-10) - 1/3 42-64 L #14 Glasgow, 1/6 53-59 L at #11 Russellville, 1/7 64-77 L Trigg County    
Previous Rank: 15    
This Week: 1/10 vs. #18 Foundation Christian Academy, 1/13 at #8 Todd County Central    
    
16) Cumberland County (5-9) - 1/3 84-63 W Bluegrass Blazers, 1/7 77-44 W at Burgin    
Previous Rank: 16    
This Week: 1/10 at #11 Clinton County, 1/13 at #5 Monroe County    
    
17) Allen County-Scottsville (1-11) - 1/3 40-68 L at #13 Greenwood, 1/6 57-67 L #14 Glasgow    
Previous Rank: 17    
This Week: 1/9 at #3 South Warren, 1/10 vs. #12 Russell County, 1/13 at #7 Warren East    
    
18) Foundation Christian Academy (3-6) - 1/6 33-42 L at Fort Campbell    
Previous Rank: 18    
This Week: 1/10 at #15 Logan County, 1/13 vs. Metro Christian Academy (TN)    

Notes:

-Welcome back from the break!

-Warren Central continues their standout season, as they have equaled their best record through 15 games in the team's history.  En route to that honor, they took home the prestigious King of the Bluegrass title in emphatic fashion, scoring an 89-56 victory in the finals over Great Crossing, the largest margin of victory in the history of the tournament.  One week later they reminded everyone that even dominant teams are fallible and that you have to come prepared each week as they were drubbed 60-43 by Madison Central.  They've won five in a row since then, including a 73-27 victory over Greenwood where they held the Gators to the last points ever in matchups between the two.  This week ends with the first of two big matchups with Bowling Green, coming up this Friday.  Warren Central has not won at Bowling Green since 2018, and is seeking their first three game win streak over the Purples since winning five in a row from 2013-2014.

-Speaking of Bowling Green, the Purples have continued to acquit themselves well and remain a top 15 team in the BGP statewide rankings.  The Purples finished third in Madisonville's First United Bank Holiday Classic and then took home sixth in the White, Greer & Maggard Holiday Classic, beating Madison Central along the way to deal a loss to the team that dealt Warren Central their only loss.  MJ Wardlow has continued his stellar play, averaging 19.6 PPG and shooting 44% from the perimeter.  Mason Ritter has continued to provide consistent play, averaging a double double with 12.9 PPG and 10.7 RPG.  The Purples raised their all-time record to 30-0 over South Warren with a 55-50 win on the road this past Friday.  The Spartans had taken the lead with a three with just over a minute left, but Gavin Lightning answered with a bucket on the other end, and the Purples closed the game on an 8-2 run.  That is by far the most games played against an opponent that Bowling Green has never lost to - the next highest is their 12-0 record against Muhlenberg County.  They'll tune up for the Warren Central game by meeting Franklin-Simpson at home for the first time since 2019.  They've won 15 in a row against the Wildcats, and haven't lost to them at home since 2008.

-South Warren may not have gotten their first win over Bowling Green ever, but it's one of the few things that hasn't gone their way this year.  Their 12-2 mark is the best through 14 games in team history, and the 11 game win streak that just ended is likewise the best in the team's history.  They are just two wins shy of their total for all of last season, and it seems extremely likely this will be the first season in the team's history where they reach the 20+ win mark.  It's a fantastic opening for new head coach Carlos Quarles, whose Spartan squad took home top honors at the Owensboro Health Holiday Classic over the break.  They also had one of the most thrilling wins of the season when Justin Posey knocked down a buzzer beater three to take down Barren County this past Tuesday, lifting his team to a 67-66 victory.  The Spartans had taken possession with less than four seconds on the clock, but worked it up the floor rapidly for Posey's corner three.  The Spartans will meet district rival Greenwood on Friday, looking for their second victory out of the last ten games against Greenwood, and what would be their first home victory over the Gators since 2017. 

-Franklin-Simpson got a big district win over Todd County Central last week, defending their homecourt in a 46-45 decision.  Franklin-Simpson took possession in a tie game at 45 all with 90 seconds left, and successfully held the ball - with some allowance by Todd County Central - until taking a three point shot with 3 seconds left.  Hogan missed that shot, but Rager committed a foul on the rebound, pushing Jalen Briscoe in the back with 1.1 seconds remaining. Todd County Central called their final timeout to try to ice the shooter, but Briscoe calmly sank the front end of the 1 and 1, then missed the second on purpose - but airballed it, allowing Todd Central the opportunity to inbound and get a shot off, but a 3/4 court shot failed.  Franklin had trailed much of the game, but led when it counted most, claiming their 12th consecutive victory over the Rebels, and grabbing the inside track for the district's top seed.  The two teams will meet again on January 27th in Elkton. 

-Barren County somewhat shocked the region earlier in the year when they won at favored Warren East in the first 15th District matchup ever between the two, and Warren East returned the favor by invading Barren County's home gym and coming away with a big 60-49 victory on Friday.  Barren County had led for a good portion of the game, and trailed just 51-49 with 3:15 left after hitting a pair of free throws.  Those would be their last points of the night as Barren County forced turnover after turnover and scored the final nine points of the game.  The Raiders demonstrated something they haven't had a lot of this year - balance.  Ka Jarius Barber led the Raiders with 22 points on 9/10 shooting, with Kaleb Prince adding in 16 points on perfect 7/7 shooting from the field.  Isaiah Andrews was well off his 24.7 PPG pace in scoring just 12, stark contrast to the 30 he scored in the first matchup.  The difference between the two is that they got the win with him scoring less.  Barren County still has the edge in pursuing the district's top seed, as Warren East also lost at Glasgow back in December.  Barren County's first matchup with their rival Glasgow comes this Friday.

-Checking in on the wild 16th District, it continues to go swimmingly for Monroe County, who returned to the district after a 17 year absence.  The Falcons raised their district record to 4-0 with a 79-66 win at Russell County on Tuesday, and three of their four district wins have now come on the road.  Their January 31st visit to Clinton County will be the only district game they have to go back on the road for, and they may well have the district sewn up by then.  Five Falcons scored in double figures on Tuesday, led by Branson Williams' 19.  Their 79 points was a season high for the team.  The next three teams behind them are jumbled.  Metcalfe County raised their district record to 3-2, and have now earned the season sweep over Clinton County with a thrilling 65-64 win at home on Friday.  The Hornets trailed by seven points midway through the final frame, but took the lead with a 10-0 run over the next three minutes.  They led 65-62 with just under 6 seconds left when Stockton got a clean look at a game-tying three, but it was short.  The lay-in did not help them, as just .8 remained.  Clinton County tried to run Metcalfe County into a charge prior to inbounding, but the effort failed.  It's the first season sweep over Clinton County for Metcalfe County since 2007/2008.  They'll round out their district slate at the end of the month, visiting Monroe County and Cumberland County before finishing up with Russell County.  Clinton County now sits at 2-3, virtually eliminated from pursuit of the district's top seed.  They can make it extremely unlikely they'd be knocked from the 2/3 game in the postseason if they can win at Russell County on Friday, having defeated the Lakers by a 60-55 score last month.  That follows a home matchup with Cumberland County on Tuesday - less than two weeks into January, we should know where Clinton County is going to likely be seeded.  Russell County has the most wide open possibilities, sitting at just 1-2 in district play, and having yet to play the presumptive 5 seed Cumberland County, who is 0-3 in the district.  The Lakers are 1-6 in their last seven games overall, and badly in need of some momentum. 

-Russellville's record doesn't exactly scream success, but the Panthers have been quietly having a very competitive season under returning coach Phil Todd.  They extended their win streak over Logan County in the Clash of the Cats with a 59-53 win on Friday, and then grabbed a strong road win at Metcalfe County in a 66-58 result.  The Panthers are 3-2 in play against Region 4 teams this year, and held a lead at the end of the first quarter against Bowling Green on Tuesday, before things got away from them in the fourth quarter.  Their have a big matchup at Franklin-Simpson on Friday, as the Wildcats have won ten in a row in the series.  A win there could put them in position to seriously challenge for the district's top seed. 

Great stuff as always!

looking forward to the BG - Warren Central game. Think this is likely BGs best chance to beat the Dragons this year at BG.