4th Region Week 11 Review and Rankings

1) Warren Central (24-1) - 2/10 63-50 W at Taylor County, 2/11 68-59 W Paducah Tilghman    
Previous Rank: 1    
This Week: 2/14 at North Hardin, 2/16 at #12 Russellville, 2/17 vs. Christian County    
    
2) Bowling Green (23-5) - 2/6 72-63 W at #6 Barren County, 2/7 82-70 W Owensboro    
Previous Rank: 2    
This Week: 2/13 vs. Evangel Christian, 2/17 at Louisville Trinity    
    
3) South Warren (19-6) - 2/7 54-40 W #11 Russellville, 2/10 84-66 W #10 Metcalfe County, 2/11 53-52 W at #4 Franklin-Simpson    
Previous Rank: 3    
This Week: 2/14 at #7 Clinton County, 2/16 at Ohio County    
    
4) Franklin-Simpson (15-8) - 2/7 55-51 W at #6 Barren County, 2/10 64-37 W #17 Logan County, 2/11 52-53 L #3 South Warren    
Previous Rank: 4    
This Week: 2/14 at #5 Warren East, 2/16 vs. #13 Glasgow    
    
5) Warren East (16-8) - 2/7 65-56 W at #9 Todd County Central, 2/10 61-60 W at #12 Greenwood, 2/11 69-72 L Owensboro Catholic    
Previous Rank: 5    
This Week: 2/13 at Green County, 2/14 vs. #4 Franklin-Simpson, 2/16 at #11 Monroe County    
    
6) Barren County (18-10) - 2/6 63-72 L #2 Bowling Green, 2/7 51-55 L #4 Franklin-Simpson, 2/10 56-51 W at #8 Monroe County    
Previous Rank: 6    
This Week: 2/14 vs. #9 Metcalfe County, 2/16 at #7 Clinton County    
    
7) Clinton County (14-12) - 2/7 64-44 W Adair County, 2/10 50-57 L at McCreary Central    
Previous Rank: 7    
This Week: 2/14 vs. #3 South Warren, 2/16 vs. #6 Barren County    
    
8. Todd County Central (16-11) - 2/6 64-61 OT W at #11 Russellville, 2/7 56-65 L #5 Warren East, 2/10 58-46 W #11 Russellville    
Previous Rank: 9    
This Week: 2/17 vs. Whitesville Trinity    
    
9) Metcalfe County (11-16) - 2/6 77-65 OT W at #13 Cumberland County, 2/7 66-72 L at Hart County, 2/10 66-84 L at #3 South Warren, 2/11 53-55 L Campbellsville    
Previous Rank: 10    
This Week: 2/14 at #6 Barren County, 2/16 at Caverna    
    
10) Greenwood (8-21) - 2/7 76-40 W WEB DuBois, 2/10 60-61 L #5 Warren East, 2/11 79-63 W #8 Monroe County    
Previous Rank: 12    
This Week: 2/16 at Hopkinsville    
    
11) Monroe County (16-12) - 2/7 51-55 L at #14 Glasgow, 2/10 51-56 L #6 Barren County, 2/11 63-79 L at #12 Greenwood    
Previous Rank: 8    
This Week: 2/14 at Hart County, 2/16 vs. #5 Warren East    
    
12) Russellville (7-17) - 2/6 61-64 OT L #9 Todd County Central, 2/7 40-54 L at #3 South Warren, 2/10 46-58 L at #9 Todd County Central    
Previous Rank: 11    
This Week: 2/13 at #16 Allen County-Scottsville, 2/14 vs. Edmonson County, 2/16 vs. #1 Warren Central    
    
13) Glasgow (9-16) - 2/7 55-51 W #8 Monroe County, 2/10 71-36 W #16 Allen County-Scottsville, 2/11 56-62 L at Hart County    
Previous Rank: 14    
This Week: 2/14 at #14 Cumberland County, 2/16 at #4 Franklin-Simpson    
    
14) Cumberland County (11-17) - 2/6 65-77 OT L #10 Metcalfe County, 2/7 67-77 L at Casey County, 2/9 53-64 L Green County    
Previous Rank: 13    
This Week: 2/14 vs. #13 Glasgow, 2/16 vs. Campbellsville    
    
15) Russell County (9-19) - 2/7 50-67 L Southwestern, 2/9 64-58 W Hart County, 2/10 54-75 L at Adair County, 2/11 77-86 L at Whitley County    
Previous Rank: 15    
This Week: 2/14 vs. Danville, 2/17 vs. Rockcastle County    
    
16) Allen County-Scottsville (4-19) - 2/6 54-67 L Edmonson County, 2/10 36-71 L at #14 Glasgow    
Previous Rank: 16    
This Week: 2/13 vs. #12 Russellville, 2/14 at #18 Foundation Christian Academy, 2/16 vs. #17 Logan County    
    
17) Logan County (8-20) - 2/6 50-52 OT L at Dawson Springs, 2/7 65-75 L Christian County, 2/10 37-64 L at #4 Franklin-Simpson, 2/11 53-67 L McLean County    
Previous Rank: 17    
This Week: 2/13 vs. Heritage Christian, 2/16 at #16 Allen County-Scottsville    
    
18) Foundation Christian Academy (5-16) - 2/7 46-62 L Heritage Christian, 2/10 44-47 L at Stem Preparatory Academy (TN)    
Previous Rank: 18    
This Week: 2/14 vs. #16 Allen County-Scottsville, 2/16 at Owensboro Knights Christian, 2/17 vs. Cloverport    

Notes

-South Warren finds themselves on the cusp of a historic achievement for the program.  13 seasons in, the program has never won 20 games in a single season.  In fact, they have topped 17 only twice - their first season when they went 19-9, and now this season, where they sit at 19-6.  When they started 12-1 it appeared extremely likely they'd reach that mark, but then the schedule toughened and they unexpectedly dropped a road game to Warren East, and suddenly found thmeselves 14-6 with seven games left to go in the regular season.  They've won five in a row now, and while it hasn't always been pretty, it gives them three cracks to reach that 20-win achievement.  Most recently, they knocked down a pair of free throws with less than 1 second left to defeat rival Franklin-Simpson, their third straight win over the Wildcats and second of the year.  South has now won 7 of 9 meetings against Franklin-Simpson.  The Spartans don't have easy games ahead in their pursuit of their goals, as they travel to a Clinton County team that has shown improvement in the last month, and who they haven't beaten since 2019.  They'll also visit Ohio County, currently #2 in the third region rankings on BGP.  If they falter in both of those road tests, they'll then try to do it at the same time as they pursue one of their real goals - trying to knock off Bowling Green for the first time and in so doing, advance to the region tournament.  That game takes place a week from Tuesday.

-The 13th District ended up shaking out nicely and in an uncomplicated manner.  Todd County Central, ranked ahead of Russellville coming into the week but behind them in the district standings, picked up the sweep this week, winning an overtime thriller on Monday in Russellville before completing the sweep of the Panthers at home in a 58-46 win on Friday.  Those results meant it didn't even matter that Franklin-Simpson demolished Logan County by a 64-37 margin on Friday - Franklin-Simpson had already clinched the top seed.  They take the #1 seed with a 5-1 district record, with Todd County Central settling in at #2 at 4-2, Russellville #3 at 3-3, and Logan County in 4th at 0-6.  It also meant those Friday night matchups will be repeated in the district tournament.  Franklin-Simpson/Logan County and Todd County Central/Russellville.  The higher seeded team will be going for a three game season sweep in each matchup.

-The end result of that first Todd County Central/Russellville game spoiled what was truly a remarkable comeback for Russellville.  The Panthers trailed most of the game, but it was tight until the third quarter, when the Rebels made a real run to seize control.  Todd Central led 55-41 with 6:01 left in the game, and appeared on their way to an easy victory.  They would not score again in regulation.  Russellville scored 8 in a row over the next 4 minutes, as Todd Central repeatedly turned the ball over.  Despite being in the double bonus, they also failed to hit any free throws in the final two minutes, going 0 for 2. Russellville closed it to 55-51 with 1:45 left, followed by a Rebel turnover.  Nick Woodard closed it to 55-53 on a driving layup, also drawing a foul, but missing the free throw.  Todd Central called timeout with 1:15 left, inadvertently ruining a 2 on 1 opportunity that may well have put them in position to win in regulation.  A drive to the rim was blocked - frankly inexplicable given that again, they were in the double bonus and didn't really need to shoot.  McKeage got a jumper in the lane to crawl in with 14 seconds left to tie the game.  Todd Central could only get off a spinning shot from 16 feet to go off the right side of the rim and it was off to OT.  Russellville's momentum appeared to be enough to carry the day, as after giving up a free throw 15 seconds in to overtime, they scored four in a row to take the lead, concluding what was ultimately an 18-1 run spanning over 8 minutes of game time.  But like the Rebels, Russellville was unable to bleed the clock with the ball and a lead, with a blocked shot leading to a transition bucket, and a turnover followed by foul giving Todd the lead on a pair of free throws.  Russellville gained the lead back at 61-60 on a second-chance opportunity, but lost Trayvon Foster in transition on the ensuing possession - he buried a three from the left wing to give Todd Central the lead for good at 63-61.  The Panthers missed a shot on the next possession, the Rebels split a pair of free throws, and Woodard missed a contested three at the buzzer, losing their last chance for the tie, and falling 64-61.  (I say contested because really, I mean fouled.  Whistle was swallowed on that one.  He'd have still had to hit the free throws though.)  A classic game and again, these two teams will see each other again in a week. 

-The 16th District had drama as well, but the results did not lead to an easy shake out of the seeds.  Metcalfe County went on the road to Cumberland County needing a win to achieve a tie for #1 in the district.  Things appeared to be going to plan early, holding a nine point lead after one and a six point lead at the half.  But the Panthers have shown grit all year long despite their losing record, and they battled back to a 52-50 lead after three, and failing in an opportunity for the regulation win, settling in to a 65 all tie and an extra session.  But in overtime, Metcalfe County asserted their dominance, outscoring Cumberland County 12-0 in the four minute period and winning 77-65.  Wyatt Blythe, minted as third team all-region by the coaches last week, scored 36 points in the victory, going 13/26 from the field to lift the Hornets.  Jax Allen, also a third team member, scored 15 as well.  That set up the all-important coin toss for Metcalfe County, and they prevailed, getting the coveted #1 seed and the luxury of watching as Cumberland County and Russell County battle for the honor of playing Metcalfe County AT Metcalfe County in the district tournament.  That's no slam dunk for the Hornets, who beat Cumberland County by two and then this overtime game this season, and split with Russell County as well.  But it beats the alternative presented to Monroe County.  The Falcons, who started the year so strongly, are now 3-6 in their last nine games, stumbling into the postseason.  They still have Warren East in the week ahead of them, which doesn't bode well either.  They'll now face a Clinton County team which has improved very well recently, and hasn't missed the region tournament since 2011.  Monroe County hasn't made the tournament since 2018. 

-Looking at the week ahead, no one has a more interesting week than Bowling Green.  The Purples, rated in the top ten of BGP, face a pair of top twenty teams.  They'll host Evangel Christian in their final game on their home floor, and then on Friday will travel to a Trinity team that finally looks whole.  Bowling Green has only lost to Warren Central in the 2023 calendar year, winning all 12 of their other games.  The week presents an opportunity for the Purples to continue that strong momentum, riding into the postseason strong against strong competition.  Or, it could wrong-foot them, and send them in on a two game losing streak against a South Warren team hungry for an upset.  No one has a schedule this week as strong as them.  The South Warren games will be intriguing as they search for their 20th win as previously mentioned, and they too will want to have momentum built going into that matchup.  Two games that may have the most chance of impacting the rankings - #4 Franklin-Simpson visits #5 Warren East on Valentine's Day, while #6 Barren County visits #7 Clinton County two days later.  Each of those games has the potential to be a region tournament matchup as well.  Last week everyone!!!