1) Warren Central (2-0) - 12/5 60-50 W Germantown (MS) (at Marshall County), 12/6 48-45 W Danville Christian (at Taylor County)    
Previous Rank: 1    
This Week: 12/13 vs. Taylor County (at Bardstown)    
    
2) Clinton County (1-1) - 12/1 66-49 W McCreary Central, 12/6 42-81 L at Marshall County    
Previous Rank: 2    
This Week: 12/9 vs. #7 Monroe County, 12/12 at #14 Metcalfe County, 12/13 vs. #9 Greenwood (at Barren County)    
    
3) Barren County (2-0) - 12/2 82-64 W Green County, 12/5 66-47 W at Elizabethtown    
Previous Rank: 5    
This Week: 12/8 vs. Caverna, 12/9 vs. #15 Russellville, 12/13 vs. Edmonson County    
    
4) South Warren (2-0) - 12/4 75-57 W Butler County, 12/5 90-74 W University Heights    
Previous Rank: 6    
This Week: 12/9 at #14 Metcalfe County, 12/13 vs. #7 Monroe County (at Barren County)    
    
5) Russell County (2-1) - 12/1 45-75 L Danville Christian, 12/2 108-58 W at #14 Warren East, 12/3 69-59 W at #11 Logan County    
Previous Rank: 7    
This Week: 12/9 at #12 Cumberland County, 12/11 vs. Pulaski County    
    
6) Glasgow (1-1) - 12/2 50-59 L at Somerset, 12/4 65-62 W #9 Greenwood    
Previous Rank: 10    
This Week: 12/12 vs. #10 Bowling Green, 12/13 vs. North Hardin (at Barren County)    
    
7) Monroe County (2-0) - 12/5 59-48 W #8 Franklin-Simpson, 12/6 68-22 W Red Boiling Springs (TN)    
Previous Rank: 13    
This Week: 12/9 at #2 Clinton County, 12/12 vs. #12 Cumberland County, 12/13 vs. #4 South Warren (at Barren County)    
    
? Franklin-Simpson (2-1) - 12/1 57-53 W #12 Allen County-Scottsville, 12/2 63-54 W at #3 Bowling Green, 12/5 48-59 L at #13 Monroe County    
Previous Rank: 8    
This Week: 12/8 vs. #16 Warren East, 12/11 at Ohio County    
    
9) Greenwood (2-1) - 12/1 83-67 W Breckinridge County, 12/4 62-65 L at #10 Glasgow, 12/6 71-57 W at Campbellsville    
Previous Rank: 9    
This Week: 12/12 at #13 Logan County, 12/13 vs. #2 Clinton County (at Barren County)    
    
10) Bowling Green (0-1) - 12/2 54-63 L #8 Franklin-Simpson    
Previous Rank: 3    
This Week: 12/9 vs. Elizabethtown, 12/12 at #6 Glasgow, 12/13 vs. Florida Coastal Prep Sports Academy (FL) (at Hopkinsville)    
    
11) Allen County-Scottsville (1-1) - 12/1 53-57 L at #8 Franklin-Simpson, 12/5 87-83 OT W #4 Metcalfe County    
Previous Rank: 12    
This Week: 12/8 at Hart County, 12/11 vs. #17 Todd County Central, 12/13 at Henderson County    
    
12) Cumberland County (0-3) - 12/2 66-71 L at Adair County, 12/5 60-68 L Evangel Christian, 12/6 60-88 L at Edmonson County    
Previous Rank: 15    
This Week: 12/9 vs. #5 Russell County, 12/12 at #7 Monroe County    
    
13) Logan County (0-2) - 12/5 59-69 L #7 Russell County, 12/6 46-56 L at Muhlenberg County    
Previous Rank: 11    
This Week: 12/9 at Butler County, 12/12 vs. #9 Greenwood    
    
14) Metcalfe County (0-2) - 12/2 53-82 L at Southwestern, 12/5 83-87 OT L at #12 Allen County-Scottsville    
Previous Rank: 4    
This Week: 12/9 vs. #4 South Warren, 12/12 vs. #2 Clinton County    
    
15) Russellville (2-0) - 12/4 69-66 W Owensboro Knights Christian, 12/5 78-57 W at #14 Warren East    
Previous Rank: 16    
This Week: 12/9 at #3 Barren County, 12/11 vs. Western Kentucky Trailblazers, 12/13 vs. Crittenden County    
    
16) Warren East (0-2) - 12/2 58-108 L #7 Russell County, 12/5 57-78 L #16 Russellville    
Previous Rank: 14    
This Week: 12/8 at #8 Franklin-Simpson, 12/9 vs. Muhlenberg County, 12/12 at White House (TN), 12/13 at #18 Foundation Christian Academy    
    
17) Todd County Central (1-3) - 12/2 50-66 L at Clarksville Northwest (TN), 12/4 60-59 W Dawson Springs, 12/5 38-66 L at Muhlenberg County, 12/6 50-78 L Hancock County    
Previous Rank: 17    
This Week: 12/9 vs. Montgomery Central (TN), 12/11 at #11 Allen County-Scottsville, 12/12 at Fort Campbell, 12/13 at Hopkinsville    
    
18) Foundation Christian Academy (2-1) - 12/5 73-31 W June Buchanan (at Frankfort Christian Academy), 12/6 61-21 W Hopkinsville Heritage (at Cornerstone Christian Academy), 12/6 46-59 L Christian Fellowship (at Cornerstone Christian Academy)    
Previous Rank: 18    
This Week: 12/9 vs. Hendersonville Christian Academy, 12/11 vs. Crittenden County, 12/12 at Metro Christian Academy (TN), 12/13 at #16 Warren East    

Notes:

-The most noteworthy event of the week did not take place on the court.  Preseason #4 Metcalfe County opened at Southwestern on Tuesday.  It did not go well, with the Hornets falling to the tune of 82-53.  Cade Button had 19 points to lead Metcalfe County.  By Friday the report was out – Cade Button had transferred to #2 Clinton County.  This was confirmed by his absence from the lineup and bench on Friday night when Metcalfe County fell to Allen County-Scottsville in overtime, and Button was on the bench for Clinton County while they were plastered by Marshall County.  Button is a huge boost in every way for the Bulldogs, as he gives them another bona fide scorer and should slot right in the starting lineup.  That will help increase the depth of a team that played only six typically last year.  Clinton County was already a strong selection for #2 in the region, and this solidifies it.  The blowout loss to Marshall County pours cold water on their ability to challenge Warren Central, but Button could help change that.  It is crippling to Metcalfe County to lose Button.  They put on a solid showing in the loss to Allen County-Scottsville, but Metcalfe will not be able to make a serious run without Button.  Most tantalizing of all? Clinton County has to go to Metcalfe County this Friday.  That ought to be a fun atmosphere for an already heated rivalry.

-Probably the most notable on-court result was on Tuesday when Bowling Green hosted Franklin-Simpson.  The Purples were last year’s state runners-up, but lost almost every significant player from that team, and the two most notable returnees – Ethan Kirkwood and Arlando Davis – both were members of the football team that fell in the region finals less than two weeks prior.  In short, an inexperienced and not fully up to speed Purples team took the floor.  So perhaps it should be less jarring that Bowling Green fell by a 63-54 score to Franklin, but we are so very used to Bowling Green being elite and they just simply have not lost in this type of game in a long time.  It was their first loss to Franklin-Simpson since 2009.  It was their first loss to a team from the 13^th District since that same loss to Franklin in 2009.  They hadn’t lost to a region team other than Warren Central since losing to Greenwood in 2022.  They hadn’t lost to a region team outside the 14^th District since 2018 when they lost to Barren County.  And they were 50-2 in their previous 52 home games against region opponents other than Warren Central.  At the moment, I would expect quite a few firsts and/or streaks broken against Bowling Green.  They’re going to have to grow up really quickly.  Franklin-Simpson wasn’t overwhelming in the contest, but did not trail in any of the final three quarters.  Jakai Partinger led the team with 18 points on 7/18 shooting, with Cole Sharer (15) and Brody McAlister (11) also in double digits.  Franklin won the game in the second game of a back to back, having knocked off Allen County-Scottsville the night before.  The 13^th District favorite has a good week, but not a flawless one – they dropped a 59-48 decision to Monroe County on Friday night on the road. 

-Warren Central was unable to get their home opener in on Tuesday thanks to weather, but picked up a strong pair of wins in showcases at Marshall County and Taylor County.  On Friday, they knocked off Germantown (MS), a team ranked nationally in the top 100 by MaxPreps, and featuring Sam Funches, a 6’10” monster that is committed to Gonzaga.  The Dragons never trailed in the contest, using a fierce press and trapping defense to help create turnovers, and limit the damage Funches could do.  He had 20+, but Central got the important stat on the scoreboard in a 60-50 win.  Less than 24 hours later they matched up with Danville Christian in Taylor County, and their own 6’10” center Geu Leek Ateny.  DCA features a zone defense, which gave Central significant trouble early.  DCA jumped out to a 10-0 lead, and Central’s first four baskets were all three pointers.  They slowly began to get more inside the arc, and their pressure forced turnovers to help them climb back in, eventually taking the lead with a 12-0 run at 15-12.  They would be tied a few times, but never trailed again.  They did have to survive a game tying three attempt, blocking it just shy of the buzzer to preserve a 48-45 win.  It’s a strong start for the region favorites, who will be well tested before they play their first game against a region opponent in January.

-Russellville snapped a five game losing streak to Warren East with their win.  In doing so, they are off to their first 2-0 start since 2019.  They had not even won their opening game since the 2020/21 season.  It was also their first road win against a region opponent since 2023.

- Monroe County knocked off Franklin-Simpson, just their second win over the Wildcats in their last six matchups.  The Falcons also joined the 2-0 ranks.

-There was a lot of shuffling in the ranks this week, and it underscores just how crazy this region could be, beyond the top two.  Just one week in, the only unbeaten teams in the region are Warren Central, Barren County, South Warren, Monroe County, and Russellville.  This week Barren County hosts Russellville and Monroe County meets South Warren at Barren County, so that guarantees at least two more off the board. 

Games to Follow:

 

-#6 Glasgow will host #10 Bowling Green on December 12^th, and they’ll be the next region team to try to break a long losing streak to the Purples.  Glasgow has dropped 13 in a row to Bowling Green, and has not defeated them since 2008. 

 

-#7 Monroe County visits #2 Clinton County on December 9^th, which will give us a chance to see just how real they are – the Falcons that is.  If Monroe manages to get by that and another district contest against Cumberland County, they may have a battle of the unbeatens against #4 South Warren at Barren County.

District Matchups:

--13th District – None
--14th District – None
--15th District – None
--16th District – 12/9 #7 Monroe County at #2 Clinton County, 12/9 #5 Russell County at #12 Cumberland County, 12/12 #2 Clinton County at #14 Metcalfe County, 12/12 #12 Cumberland County at #7 Monroe County

DragonFire, what do you think Bowling Green's record will be after this weeks 3 games.

I really have no idea.  Ethan Kirkwood isn't on the KHSAA roster.  So I don't know about that.  Going to be interesting.  I really think everyone else is playing for second as Warren Central is on another level.  But this Region will have wild swings this year I think.

I predict they'll be 1-3.  I think they'll lose to the team from Florida, and split the other two.  I think Martin might give them some real trouble with Glasgow.  He's very physical, and they don't really have anyone who can match his height.  In general, Glasgow is going to have the height and length advantage over the Purples.