It doesn’t get much more stunning than this result.  Barren County never trailed in the game, and the tone was set early as they jumped out to a 14-2 lead, hitting four three pointers in the early going.  The team entered the night shooting just 29.8% from deep, but they found what they wanted tonight.  Central’s pressure did affect them at times, and the Dragons closed within three midway through the third before a decisive run.  The Trojans had back to back three point plays followed by a steal and basket to cap a rapid 8-0 run.  The lead never went below 8-9 again.

For Central, it is their first loss in the region tournament since 2016 - fittingly coming to Barren County - and their first loss in the quarterfinals since 2009. Their reign of three straight titles comes to an end much sooner than anticipated.

The result also means that a team from outside the 14th District will make the region finals for the first time since 2017 when Russellville advanced.  

Barren punched WC in the mouth right away and WC folded. 
 

Congrats to Barren! Those guys executed their game plan and pulled it off!

Nobody saw this coming, right?

4 minutes ago, mcpapa said:

Nobody saw this coming, right?

I think Central finished the year 6-6 in their last 12. They were not playing well. 

31 minutes ago, BIG BLACK JACK said:

I think Central finished the year 6-6 in their last 12. They were not playing well. 

Nobody... I mean, not one single person saw this coming. 

Stunned. 

As stunning as BG’s loss to Central was in the region final last year, this feels much bigger. Not even the most confident of Barren fans would have dreamt a score as lopsided as that. 

For all their winning, Central does not inspire fear in the teams they play the way Bowling Green does. Central is willing to use four quarters to beat you. It’s a formula that has served them well, but no one comes in seeming to think they’re going to get buried in the first quarter. And we saw it several times this year, that allowed some teams to come out, play their game, and settle in. Central nearly lost to South Warren earlier this year in that fashion. Tonight it was fatal. 
 

I cannot stress enough - Barren County does not shoot threes well. But they were able to get into a rhythm, get out to that 14-2 lead, and instead of thinking they could win, they KNEW they could. And the longer they were able to stay in front, confidence built, until they knew they WOULD win. 
 

Contrast that to what Bowling Green does to these teams. They are shock and awe right away. There’s a lot of games where the Purples have it won before the first quarter is over. It’s one big reason so many teams in this region have trouble beating them. They get swamped early and never even have the luxury of getting into a game they think they can win. 
 

I’m bitterly disappointed in the loss, but if you looked at how Central was playing from February on, it’s not quite as surprising as one would think. But at the same time, you would not have thought it would ever be a margin like that. 

Barren just seemed to want it a little more this evening, and by the time the Dragons realized they needed to lock in, it was far too late. Better team doesn’t always win but an inspiring effort from the Trojans made what seem impossible a reality. The Dragons losing in the first round of the region, just unbelievable.

10 minutes ago, TheBallCoach said:

Barren just seemed to want it a little more this evening, and by the time the Dragons realized they needed to lock in, it was far too late. Better team doesn’t always win but an inspiring effort from the Trojans made what seem impossible a reality. The Dragons losing in the first round of the region, just unbelievable.

Just the fourth time ever.  28-4 in the first round. 

I've been going to Warren Central basketball games for 25 years.  This is just the sixth time they've lost an elimination game before the region final in that time.

16 minutes ago, DragonFire said:

Just the fourth time ever.  28-4 in the first round. 

I've been going to Warren Central basketball games for 25 years.  This is just the sixth time they've lost an elimination game before the region final in that time.

I figured their reign has been impressive but putting the number on it really shows how dominant they have been. In my opinion they started a lot of different lineups throughout the year and just never seemed to gel the way most of these WC teams do. I’m not sure winning a State championship this year was on the radar but I know a first round exit in the region wasn’t on my bingo card. 

I’m really shocked. Sure upsets happen but Warren Central and Bowling Green don’t lose games before the Region Final often if ever. 
I think the young man who was injured didn’t help Central today. Not an excuse but he was a key cog when they were playing well. Injuries happen. But you have to think Central hasn’t been dialed in except for the BG game in a long stretch now. And they have still won a ton of games. This one will sting a good while. 

Shocked. Flabbergasted. 

9 hours ago, VF111 said:

Nobody... I mean, not one single person saw this coming. 

After it was 13-2, several around me realized what was about to happen. 

Ever wake up the day after a game like this and find yourself thinking “Wait, did that really happen?”