4th Region: Week 11

1) Warren Central (22-4) - 2/10 53-47 W at #10 Warren East, 2/11 58-56 W at Adair County    
Previous Rank: 1    
This Week: 2/18 at LaRue County, 2/20 vs. Evangel Christian, 2/21 at North Hardin    
    
2) Bowling Green (21-5) - 2/13 77-55 W at Apollo    
Previous Rank: 2    
This Week: 2/17 at Henderson County, 2/18 vs. Evangel Christian, 2/21 vs. Muhlenberg County    
    
3) Clinton County (26-2) - 2/13 48-58 L at #8 Russell County, 2/14 50-48 W #5 Barren County    
Previous Rank: 3    
This Week: 2/20 at #15 Allen County-Scottsville    
    
4) Barren County (17-11) - 2/11 81-76 W #12 Metcalfe County, 2/14 48-50 L at #3 Clinton County    
Previous Rank: 5    
This Week: 2/18 at Taylor County, 2/20 at #7 Russell County    
    
5) Cumberland County (14-8) - 2/11 68-66 W at #4 South Warren, 2/15 70-54 W at Berea    
Previous Rank: 7    
This Week: 2/18 vs. #14 Glasgow, 2/20 vs. Green County    
    
6) South Warren (14-10) - 2/11 66-68 L #7 Cumberland County, 2/14 53-59 L at Grayson County    
Previous Rank: 4    
This Week: 2/18 vs. #15 Allen County-Scottsville, 2/20 at #17 Todd County Central    
    
7) Russell County (16-9) - 2/13 58-48 W #3 Clinton County, 2/14 57-78 L at Adair County    
Previous Rank: 8    
This Week: 2/18 vs. Danville, 2/20 vs. #4 Barren County, 2/21 at Pulaski County    
    
8. Greenwood (16-12) - 2/11 65-67 L at Grayson County, 2/14 73-41 W #15 Allen County-Scottsville, 2/16 65-66 L at #12 Metcalfe County    
Previous Rank: 6    
This Week: 2/18 vs. #10 Monroe County, 2/20 vs. #11 Warren East    
    
9) Logan County (16-10) - 2/10 92-70 W Owensboro Knights Christian, 2/11 72-40 W Bluegrass Blazers, 2/14 62-69 L at #13 Franklin-Simpson    
Previous Rank: 9    
This Week: 2/17 vs. Fort Campbell, 2/18 vs. Muhlenberg County, 2/20 at Dawson Springs    
    
10) Monroe County (14-14) - 2/10 76-32 W Red Boiling Springs (TN), 2/11 73-45 W at #14 Glasgow, 2/14 73-67 W #10 Warren East    
Previous Rank: 11    
This Week: 2/18 at #8 Greenwood    
    
11) Warren East (14-13) - 2/10 47-53 L #1 Warren Central, 2/11 47-66 L Caverna, 2/14 67-73 L at #11 Monroe County    
Previous Rank: 10    
This Week: 2/18 at #12 Franklin-Simpson, 2/20 at #8 Greenwood    
    
12) Franklin-Simpson (8-13) - 2/10 66-41 W at #17 Todd County Central, 2/14 69-62 W #9 Logan County    
Previous Rank: 13    
This Week: 2/18 vs. #11 Warren East, 2/20 at #14 Glasgow    
    
13) Metcalfe County (9-17) - 2/11 76-81 L at #5 Barren County, 2/13 74-80 L at Hart County, 2/16 66-65 W #6 Greenwood    
Previous Rank: 12    
This Week: 2/18 at Somerset, 2/20 at Caverna    
    
14) Glasgow (4-20) - 2/11 45-73 L #11 Monroe County, 2/14 40-80 L LaRue County    
Previous Rank: 14    
This Week: 2/18 at #5 Cumberland County, 2/20 vs. #12 Franklin-Simpson    
    
15) Allen County-Scottsville (11-15) - 2/11 54-52 W #16 Russellville, 2/14 41-73 L at #6 Greenwood    
Previous Rank: 15    
This Week: 2/18 at #6 South Warren, 2/20 vs. #3 Clinton County    
    
16) Russellville (5-19) - 2/11 52-54 L at #15 Allen County-Scottsville, 2/14 57-68 L at #17 Todd County Central    
Previous Rank: 16    
This Week: 2/17 vs. Hopkinsville, 2/20 at Ohio County    
    
17) Todd County Central (2-24) - 2/10 41-66 L #13 Franklin-Simpson, 2/14 68-57 W #16 Russellville    
Previous Rank: 17    
This Week: 2/17 at University Heights, 2/18 at Trigg County, 2/20 vs. #6 South Warren, 2/21 vs. Hopkinsville    
    
18) Foundation Christian Academy (19-4) - 2/13 79-17 W River Christian Academy (TN), 2/15 61-83 L Christian Fellowship    
Previous Rank: 18    
This Week: 2/18 vs. Fort Campbell    

Notes:

-The events of the previous 1-2 weeks had taken all the drama out of the Clinton County at Russell County matchup as far as seeding goes, but there was still a great deal of interest in the contest.  Clinton County entered the game having defeated Russell County in 17 of the previous 20 contests.  The Bulldogs were seeking to complete a perfect run through the 16th District - a feat no team has accomplished since the 2018-19 season - as well as continue as one of only two teams unbeaten in the region (along with Warren Central).  For the Lakers, there wasn't much on the line aside from pride, and seeking to continue the strong momentum they've picked up in the new year - entering the game, Russell County were winners of seven of their previous nine.  Scoring was slow going early, with each team scoring two apiece in the first 2:20 of the game.  That continued through the quarter, neither team leading by more than three and the quarter was a 10 all deadlock by the end.  Clinton County would take a 16-12 lead three minutes into the second, a margin that would ultimately prove to be their largest of the game.  It was 20-18 with just more than three minutes left in the quarter when Russell County would make a run, scoring 8 straight in just over a minute, including back to back threes by Logan Walters and Maddox Shearer, the latter of which came on one of my new favorite plays, the fast break three.  Shearer elected to pull up from three just left of the top of the key rather than challenge the defender one on one, and was rewarded with a momentum fueling three that prompted a timeout from Clinton County.  The rest of the quarter would be purely free throws, and Russell County held a 27-24 advantage at the break.  Clinton County got two baskets to Russell County's one to open the quarter drawing within one, and it was 32-30 Russell County midway through the third.  The decisive stretch would come over a 1:30 span towards the end of the quarter.  With the score 38-34, Stanelle hit a pair of free throws for the Lakers, followed by a Bulldog turnover.  Max Davis would draw a foul to go to the line, hitting two more free throws.  Clinton County turned it over on the ensuing inbounds, and in trying to regain possession, McCutchen fouled Stanelle to send him back to the line.  The foul was McCutchen's fifth, with more than a quarter left to go in the game.  Clinton County features a very short rotation - very bad for a comeback to be down a player.  Stanelle split the pair of free throws, with five free throws in a row pushing the lead to 43-34.  Clinton County hit a pair of free throws to stop the immediate bleeding, but the Lakers got a corner three from Walters, followed by a forced turnover, and a Stanelle layup, and the score was 48-36 Russell County with 52 seconds left in the third.  Five free throws, a three, a layup, three turnovers forced, and one Clinton County player fouled out in that span - the game was essentially over.  If Clinton County could have put together cohesive basketball after that point, they may have had a chance - Russell County would not score again for over six minutes of gametime.  But Clinton County only got three points themselves in that span, and seven points was as close as they got any point in the final quarter.  The Lakers got 16 points from Mayes Gosser in the contest, and went 6/15 from three.  The modest 58 point total was still just the fourth highest allowed by Clinton County this year, but it was enough - the 48 the Bulldogs posted was their lowest the entire season.  The result dropped Clinton County to 7-1 in official district play, denying them the unbeaten run on the season.  They're still the #1 seed, still a strong favorite to advance to the region tournament.  Russell County still has the daunting task of overcoming a Cumberland County team that has beaten them twice when they meet in the district tournament next week.  But for a single night, Russell County showed what they're capable of. They'll hope that momentum carries over as they look for their first trip to the region tournament in seven years - astounding for a team that made the first 13 when they moved over the 4th Region for the 05/06 season.

-Those results were not the only unexpected ones from the week.  In the 13th District, as described in previous weeks, the seeding was pretty well official though it wasn't OFFICIAL.  Franklin-Simpson hosted Logan County on Valentine's Day, needing to win by 31 to grab the top seed. That was unlikely to happen, and spoiler alert, it didn't.  Still, Logan County entered the game having put together a very solid stretch of basketball, while Franklin-Simpson's only four wins in the 2025 calendar year had come over Russellville and Todd County Central, two teams that are frankly not worth crowing about beating.  Franklin-Simpson jumped out to a 21-17 advantage after one, and led by as many as 10 in the second quarter, settling in for a 40-36 lead at halftime.  The Wildcats scored only 53 the first time the teams met - they passed that with 45 seconds remaining in the third. The game didn't really get interesting until the 4th Quarter.  Franklin held a seven point lead at 57-50, but allowed an and-1,  answered with a layup, but then the Cougars sandwiched a layup and corner three around a Franklin-Simpson miss, and it was 59-58 with just less than 6 minutes left in the game.  A few empty possessions followed, and a pair of free throws put Logan County put the Cougars ahead 60-59 with 4:30 left.  Brody McAlister had one of the most important plays of the game, getting a steal as the Cougars brought the ball up, going for an uncontested layup to stop the 10-2 Logan County run, and giving Franklin a lead they'd never relinquish.  The Wildcats would ultimately score eight points in a row, and Logan County did not score for over four minutes.  They scored on a pair of free throws in the final minute, but ultimately had just those four free throws for the final nearly six minutes of the game - no made field goals.  The Cougars retain the #1 seed as they allowed fewer points in contests between the two teams, but it was still an encouraging win for Franklin.  I have far less detail from the other 13th District result, but I was significantly more surprised by the result.  Russellville is not a good team.  In fact, they're a bad team this year.  But Todd County Central is having one of the worst seasons you can have.  They entered Friday's contest with Russellville at 1-24, with the lone win coming over Fort Campbell, who is just 3-23.  The Rebels needed to beat Russellville by 19 to move up to the #3 seed.  More possible than what Logan County/Franklin-Simpson had, but still, quite unlikely.  Astoundingly, the Rebels took advantage of homecourt to knock off the Panthers 68-57.  That was a season high in points for Todd Central, one of only three games they've topped 60.  It snapped an 18 game losing streak, and was their first district win in just over a year.  The margin was not enough to move them into the #3 seed, not enough to move them out of our #17 ranking, but it was good to see the Rebels get off the schneid.  Connor Holder led the Rebels with 18, with Antavion Shemwell (15) and John Ross Cardwell (12) also in double figures.  Despite winning, Todd Central still shot just 32.8% from the floor, but were aided by 21 made free throws.  

-Warren Central had an eventful week, winning two games by a comibined eight points. The Dragons have made an alarming

-The events of the previous 1-2 weeks had taken all the drama out of the Clinton County at Russell County matchup as far as seeding goes, but there was still a great deal of interest in the contest.  Clinton County entered the game having defeated Russell County in 17 of the previous 20 contests.  The Bulldogs were seeking to complete a perfect run through the 16th District - a feat no team has accomplished since the 2018-19 season - as well as continue as one of only two teams unbeaten in the region (along with Warren Central).  For the Lakers, there wasn't much on the line aside from pride, and seeking to continue the strong momentum they've picked up in the new year - entering the game, Russell County were winners of seven of their previous nine.  Scoring was slow going early, with each team scoring two apiece in the first 2:20 of the game.  That continued through the quarter, neither team leading by more than three and the quarter was a 10 all deadlock by the end.  Clinton County would take a 16-12 lead three minutes into the second, a margin that would ultimately prove to be their largest of the game.  It was 20-18 with just more than three minutes left in the quarter when Russell County would make a run, scoring 8 straight in just over a minute, including back to back threes by Logan Walters and Maddox Shearer, the latter of which came on one of my new favorite plays, the fast break three.  Shearer elected to pull up from three just left of the top of the key rather than challenge the defender one on one, and was rewarded with a momentum fueling three that prompted a timeout from Clinton County.  The rest of the quarter would be purely free throws, and Russell County held a 27-24 advantage at the break.  Clinton County got two baskets to Russell County's one to open the quarter drawing within one, and it was 32-30 Russell County midway through the third.  The decisive stretch would come over a 1:30 span towards the end of the quarter.  With the score 38-34, Stanelle hit a pair of free throws for the Lakers, followed by a Bulldog turnover.  Max Davis would draw a foul to go to the line, hitting two more free throws.  Clinton County turned it over on the ensuing inbounds, and in trying to regain possession, McCutchen fouled Stanelle to send him back to the line.  The foul was McCutchen's fifth, with more than a quarter left to go in the game.  Clinton County features a very short rotation - very bad for a comeback to be down a player.  Stanelle split the pair of free throws, with five free throws in a row pushing the lead to 43-34.  Clinton County hit a pair of free throws to stop the immediate bleeding, but the Lakers got a corner three from Walters, followed by a forced turnover, and a Stanelle layup, and the score was 48-36 Russell County with 52 seconds left in the third.  Five free throws, a three, a layup, three turnovers forced, and one Clinton County player fouled out in that span - the game was essentially over.  If Clinton County could have put together cohesive basketball after that point, they may have had a chance - Russell County would not score again for over six minutes of gametime.  But Clinton County only got three points themselves in that span, and seven points was as close as they got any point in the final quarter.  The Lakers got 16 points from Mayes Gosser in the contest, and went 6/15 from three.  The modest 58 point total was still just the fourth highest allowed by Clinton County this year, but it was enough - the 48 the Bulldogs posted was their lowest the entire season.  The result dropped Clinton County to 7-1 in official district play, denying them the unbeaten run on the season.  They're still the #1 seed, still a strong favorite to advance to the region tournament.  Russell County still has the daunting task of overcoming a Cumberland County team that has beaten them twice when they meet in the district tournament next week.  But for a single night, Russell County showed what they're capable of. They'll hope that momentum carries over as they look for their first trip to the region tournament in seven years - astounding for a team that made the first 13 when they moved over the 4th Region for the 05/06 season.

-Those results were not the only unexpected ones from the week.  In the 13th District, as described in previous weeks, the seeding was pretty well official though it wasn't OFFICIAL.  Franklin-Simpson hosted Logan County on Valentine's Day, needing to win by 31 to grab the top seed. That was unlikely to happen, and spoiler alert, it didn't.  Still, Logan County entered the game having put together a very solid stretch of basketball, while Franklin-Simpson's only four wins in the 2025 calendar year had come over Russellville and Todd County Central, two teams that are frankly not worth crowing about beating.  Franklin-Simpson jumped out to a 21-17 advantage after one, and led by as many as 10 in the second quarter, settling in for a 40-36 lead at halftime.  The Wildcats scored only 53 the first time the teams met - they passed that with 45 seconds remaining in the third. The game didn't really get interesting until the 4th Quarter.  Franklin held a seven point lead at 57-50, but allowed an and-1,  answered with a layup, but then the Cougars sandwiched a layup and corner three around a Franklin-Simpson miss, and it was 59-58 with just less than 6 minutes left in the game.  A few empty possessions followed, and a pair of free throws put Logan County put the Cougars ahead 60-59 with 4:30 left.  Brody McAlister had one of the most important plays of the game, getting a steal as the Cougars brought the ball up, going for an uncontested layup to stop the 10-2 Logan County run, and giving Franklin a lead they'd never relinquish.  The Wildcats would ultimately score eight points in a row, and Logan County did not score for over four minutes.  They scored on a pair of free throws in the final minute, but ultimately had just those four free throws for the final nearly six minutes of the game - no made field goals.  The Cougars retain the #1 seed as they allowed fewer points in contests between the two teams, but it was still an encouraging win for Franklin.  I have far less detail from the other 13th District result, but I was significantly more surprised by the result.  Russellville is not a good team.  In fact, they're a bad team this year.  But Todd County Central is having one of the worst seasons you can have.  They entered Friday's contest with Russellville at 1-24, with the lone win coming over Fort Campbell, who is just 3-23.  The Rebels needed to beat Russellville by 19 to move up to the #3 seed.  More possible than what Logan County/Franklin-Simpson had, but still, quite unlikely.  Astoundingly, the Rebels took advantage of homecourt to knock off the Panthers 68-57.  That was a season high in points for Todd Central, one of only three games they've topped 60.  It snapped an 18 game losing streak, and was their first district win in just over a year.  The margin was not enough to move them into the #3 seed, not enough to move them out of our #17 ranking, but it was good to see the Rebels get off the schneid.  Connor Holder led the Rebels with 18, with Antavion Shemwell (15) and John Ross Cardwell (12) also in double figures.  Despite winning, Todd Central still shot just 32.8% from the floor, but were aided by 21 made free throws.  

-Warren Central had an eventful week, winning two games by a comibined eight points. Against East, we saw a bit of a continuing trend.  The Dragons have made an alarming habit out of starting slow, and allowing opponents to jump out on them.  Central will come out, win the tip, miss a three, and then fall behind.  The Raiders jumped out to a 13-4 lead, with Central scoring only on a pair of Kirk layups for the first 4:45 of the game.  It was Warren East 15-10 after one, and I couldn't help but contrast that with the pasting Bowling Green put on East when they met a month prior. The early success seemed to allow the Raiders to find their confidence, and they took full advantage.  The lead was still nine at 21-12 at the four minute mark of the second, but much as they did against Bowling Green days before, the Dragons found that one key run could be the differentce in the game.  It started with McAfee rebounding his own miss to get a layup.  Central forced a five second call, got fouled, Anthony made a free throw, missed the second, rebounded by Kirk.  McAfee was fouled on the next possession, made a free throw, missed the second, rebounded by Anthony, who layed it in.  The four point trip made it six in a row - East missed a three on the other end, Kirk followed with a very long two.  Another two Raider turnovers followed, then Ian Daniel made Central's first three of the game , and the run had reached 11 in a row.  Anthony would get another basket two trips later to finish what was ultimately a 13-0 run that exceeded in three minutes the total score Central had posted in the 12 prior.  It was 25-23 Central at the half, but while East would pull ahead a few times in the third, they never again led by multiple possessions, with three their maximum advantage.  The game was tied as late as the 6:08 mark of the 4th (at 42 all), but Central would ultimately pull away for the 53-47 win, their 23rd consecutive over Warren East.  While Central was not fully healthy (still missing starter Armani Byrd) and it was in the midst of a stretch of eight games in 12 days and four in five, it remains a reminder that Central has been much more vulnerable lately, suffering three losses in their previous 11 games, and winning by single digit margins multiple times against region teams after winning their first six region contests by an average of 25 PPG.  The next night, they faced an Adair County squad that had won 12 games in a row and hadn't lost a home contest during the season.  The Dragons did not fall behind early in this one, though they were rarely comfortable.  Boosted by the arrival of Jeremiah McCombs, playing in his first game of the year, Central never trailed, though never led by more than 9.  It was a tie game with less than a minute left in the game, but Ryan Hulbert beat a triple team to find KJ Johnson streaking through the lane for a go-ahead layup, and McCombs' defense on Connor Loy on the final possession forced a shot that drew back iron, and then came off the front of the rim as time expired.  Central won 58-56 for one of their marquee wins of the year.  

-Some quick fires on other results of note: #3 Clinton County got right back on the horse, notching what might be their best win of the year, taking down #5 Barren County at home 50-48.  #7 Cumberland County went on the road and picked up a win over a 14th District team, taking down #4 South Warren 68-66.  The Panthers have won six of seven.  #11 Monroe County picked up a home win over #10 Warren East by a 73-67 margin, allowing them to take the Raiders' spot in the top ten this week.  Monroe has clawed their way back to .500 - East has lost four in a row.  #12 Metcalfe County got the win over #6 Greenwood in dramatic fashion, as Maddux Garrett knocked down a jumper at the buzzer for the win.  That being said, that followed a frankly egregious no-call.  Greenwood forced a steal and the Gator defender was fully wrapped up around his right arm in an attempt to foul, causing him to throw it away.  It was clear Metcalfe was trying to foul - stripes flat swallowed the whistle.

-Entering the final week of the regular season, the 4th Region has quite a few players who are standing out in the statewide statistics.  Metcalfe County's Cade Button (#20, 23.7 PPG) and Warren Central's Ant McAfee (#47, 21.1 PPG) are in the top 50 for the state in scoring.  Bowling Green's Joseph Hurt (62.6%) is #34 in field goal percentage.  Monroe County's Brison Nuckols (#13, 85.8%) and Allen County-Scottsville's Kyler Pedigo (#30, 82.9%) are in the top 50 for free throw percentage among qualifiers.  In made threes per game, McAfee (#4, 4.1 per game), South Warren's Griffin Rardin (#14, 3.2 per game), Warren East's Brenden Bratcher (#48, 2.7 per game), and Bowling Green's Luke Idlett (#49, 2.7 per game) are among the state's leaders - special shoutout to Luke Idlett who leads those 50 players with a scorching 60.2% made. Monroe County's Branson Williams (#18, 10.8 RPG), Clinton County's Nick Poore (#43, 9.5 RPG), and Foundation Christian Academy's Logan Nix (#48, 9.5 RPG) are among the top 50 for rebounds per game.  It's also worth noting that while I consider it a stretch to include FCA in these stats, the are currently #1 in team defense with 33.6 points allowed per game, and #1 in scoring margin with an average victory of 31 points.  They've played nine members of the KHSAA this season - they're 4-5 in those games. 

-Finally, the state tournament draw was this week, and while not necessarily what one would call extremely favorable, there appears to be a winnable path for a region representative to advance to the Final Four.  The region will start with the 5th Region on Wednesday, March 26th.  The 5th frontrunners right now appear to be Green County (19-3, 10-0 in 5th Region play) and Adair County (22-5, 8-0 in 5th Region play).  Three of Adair County's five losses have come at the hands of fourth region teams, losing 82-77 at Cumberland County in December, 66-64 to Russell County at LaRue County on January 2nd, and falling this past week at home to Warren Central by 58-56 score.  Green County defeated all four region teams they've played, knocking off Barren County (69-38) and Logan County (69-52) in the first two games of the year, as well as defeating Franklin-Simpson (79-49) and Metcalfe County (87-49).  Should the 4th Region representative advance past that game, they'd face the winner of the 16th (Boyd County, Ashland) and the 1st (Marshall County, Calloway County).  All of those teams are pretty strong, but not overwhelmingly so.  It is very possible to see the 4th playing on Saturday.  The #1 team in the state, St. X may await in the semis.

Games to Watch:

-Regrettably, I'm not sure how many games we'll actually see this week. There seems to be a high confidence in a snow storm impacting the majority of the state, and this is also the time of year where almost all games being played are longer trips, with district all wrapped up.  #2 Bowling Green gets another chance to visit Henderson County after the previous matchup was bumped - that should be safely played as it comes on Monday.  Among scheduled games, #1 Warren Central at North Hardin on Friday, #4 Barren County at #7 Russell County on Thursday, and Warren East's week of visiting Franklin-Simpson and Greenwood have potential to be interesting.