1) Warren Central (3-0) - 12/13 63-62 W Taylor County (at Bardstown)    
Previous Rank: 1    
This Week: 12/18 vs. St. X (at Fairdale), 12/20 vs. TBA (at Fairdale)    
    
2) Barren County (4-1) - 12/8 36-46 L Caverna, 12/9 65-46 W #15 Russellville, 12/13 75-56 W Edmonson County    
Previous Rank: 3    
This Week: 12/16 at #6 South Warren, 12/18 vs. #12 Allen County-Scottsville    
    
3) Russell County (3-2) - 12/9 84-75 W at #12 Cumberland County, 12/11 64-67 L Pulaski County    
Previous Rank: 5    
This Week: 12/16 at #14 Metcalfe County, 12/18 vs. #4 Clinton County, 12/20 vs. Boyle County (at Berea)    
    
4) Clinton County (3-2) - 12/9 48-58 L #7 Monroe County, 12/12 55-38 W at #14 Metcalfe County, 12/13 71-45 W #9 Greenwood (at Barren County)    
Previous Rank: 2    
This Week: 12/16 vs. #11 Cumberland County, 12/18 at #3 Russell County, 12/19 vs. Atherton, 12/20 vs. Madisonville-North Hopkins    
    
5) Monroe County (4-1) - 12/9 58-48 W at #2 Clinton County, 12/12 59-70 L #12 Cumberland County, 12/13 58-53 W #4 South Warren (at Barren County)    
Previous Rank: 7    
This Week: 12/19 vs. #14 Metcalfe County, 12/20 vs. Green County (at Metcalfe County)   

6) South Warren (3-1) - 12/9 73-51 W at #14 Metcalfe County, 12/13 53-58 L #7 Monroe County (at Barren County)    
Previous Rank: 4    
This Week: 12/16 vs. #2 Barren County, 12/19 vs. Owensboro Catholic    
    
7) Franklin-Simpson (3-2) - 12/8 77-54 W #16 Warren East, 12/11 48-74 L at Ohio County    
Previous Rank: 8    
This Week: 12/16 at #9 Glasgow, 12/20 vs. Eastern (at Western Hills)    
    
8. Bowling Green (2-2) - 12/9 85-70 W Elizabethtown, 12/12 63-61 W at #6 Glasgow, 12/13 51-81 L Florida Coastal Prep Sports Academy (FL) (at Hopkinsville)    
Previous Rank: 10    
This Week: 12/16 at Christian County, 12/20 vs. TBA (at Marshall County)    
    
9) Glasgow (1-3) - 12/12 61-63 L #10 Bowling Green, 12/13 74-77 L North Hardin (at Barren County)    
Previous Rank: 6    
This Week: 12/16 vs. #7 Franklin-Simpson, 12/18 at #18 Warren East    
    
10) Greenwood (3-2) - 12/12 57-45 W at #13 Logan County, 12/13 45-71 L #2 Clinton County (at Barren County)    
Previous Rank: 9    
This Week: 12/16 vs. North Hardin, 12/19 vs. Owensboro (at Sportscenter)    
    
11) Cumberland County (1-4) - 12/9 75-84 L #5 Russell County, 12/12 70-59 W at #7 Monroe County    
Previous Rank: 12    
This Week: 12/16 at #4 Clinton County, 12/18 vs. Campbellsville    
    
12) Allen County-Scottsville (2-3) - 12/8 75-97 L at Hart County, 12/11 67-56 W #17 Todd County Central, 12/13 50-68 L at Henderson County    
Previous Rank: 11    
This Week: 12/15 at Fort Campbell, 12/18 at #2 Barren County    
    
13) Logan County (1-3) - 12/9 74-64 W at Butler County, 12/12 45-57 L #9 Greenwood    
Previous Rank: 13    
This Week: 12/15 vs. Hart County, 12/19 vs. Hopkins County Central (at St. Mary)    
    
14) Metcalfe County (0-4) - 12/9 51-73 L #4 South Warren, 12/12 38-55 L #2 Clinton County    
Previous Rank: 14    
This Week: 12/16 vs. #3 Russell County, 12/19 at #5 Monroe County, 12/20 vs. Bethlehem    
    
15) Russellville (3-2) - 12/9 46-65 L at #3 Barren County, 12/11 66-68 L Bluegrass Blazers, 12/13 73-29 W Crittenden County    
Previous Rank: 15    
This Week: 12/15 vs. Butler County, 12/16 at Trigg County, 12/19 vs. Ballard Memorial (at Apollo), 12/20 vs. Elizabethtown (at Apollo)    
    
16) Foundation Christian Academy (6-1) - 12/9 55-35 W Hendersonville Christian Academy, 12/11 63-26 W Crittenden County, 12/12 71-19 W at Metro Christian Academy (TN), 12/13 75-42 W at #16 Warren East    
Previous Rank: 18    
This Week: 12/16 vs. #17 Todd County Central, 12/20 vs. Fulton City    
    
17) Todd County Central (1-7) - 12/9 55-67 L Montgomery Central (TN), 12/11 56-67 L at #11 Allen County-Scottsville, 12/12 60-62 L at Fort Campbell, 12/13 59-92 L at Hopkinsville    
Previous Rank: 17    
This Week: 12/16 at #16 Foundation Christian Academy, 12/18 vs. Christian County    
    
18) Warren East (0-6) - 12/8 54-77 L at #8 Franklin-Simpson, 12/9 58-89 L Muhlenberg County, 12/12 35-76 L at White House (TN), 12/13 42-75 L at #18 Foundation Christian Academy    
Previous Rank: 16    
This Week: 12/16 vs. Fort Campbell, 12/18 vs. #9 Glasgow, 12/19 vs. Edmonson County    

Notes:

-It's not a game we'd normally take notice of, but we have to start with something truly historic.  Entering this week, Foundation Christian Academy was 0-19 in games against teams from the 4th Region, and therefore has never been above #18 in the ranks since joining the KHSAA.  That changed this week in a big, big way, as they absolutely destroyed a struggling Warren East team by a 75-42 score.  Those two had met three times previously, with Warren East winning by margins of 39, 44, and 30.  So a 33 point win by FCA is seismic.  FCA gets a chance to follow that up as they host Todd County Central on Tuesday.  It is suddenly not totally implausible that FCA might even make a bit of a run in the All A Classic next month.  For Warren East, the outlook is extremely bleak.  They are winless this year, and have yet to be within even 20 points of an opponent.  They haven't topped 60 points, haven't held anyone below 75.  There are not many realistic opportunities for a win moving forward for Warren East.  We might have a winless watch on our hands.

-#1 Warren Central is now the only unbeaten team left in the region, overcoming a 16 point deficit against Taylor County to pull out a 63-62 win at Bardstown.  Central did not lead at any point until Armani Byrd hit a free throw with 5.9 seconds left to put them ahead at 63-62.  They'll likely exit the unbeaten ranks this week when they play St. X in the KOB, but their top ranked status remains unchallenged.

-Below Warren Central is utter chaos.  If there was one thing we thought we knew it's that Clinton County would be #2.  Monroe County went into Albany and knocked off the Bulldogs via a 58-48 score to dispel that notion.  Brison Nuckols dropped 20 in that game on 6 of 8 shooting from the field along with 6 of 8 from the foul line, as Monroe County shot 54.5% from the field as a team.  That included a 46.2% clip from three.  Clinton County for their part could not throw it in the ocean, going 2/17 from three (11.8%) and shooting just 41.9% from the field.  Even the foul line abandoned them, going just 10/17.  Clinton County did rebound with two wins, including a 71-45 beatdown of Greenwood, but it is clear that they are not yet the team we expected.  If/when Cade Button gets eligible, that will be a big boost.  

-The win over Clinton County meant that Monroe County had a chance to move up to #2 themselves - particularly given they knocked off South Warren to close the week, knocking South from the list of unbeatens. But no, one good upset deserved another and Monroe County, at home no less, dropped a 70-59 decision to Cumberland County.  It was the first win of the year for Cumberland County, and it is the only game yet where Monroe County has allowed more than 53 points.  Some of the final margin was due to fouling at the end, but still, it was a very unexpected result.  We could be in for a very entertaining 16th District season, as most of them are.

-Bowling Green got a needed road win, taking down Glasgow by a 63-61 score in what was a back and forth affair.  Junior Braylon Anderson broke a 60 all tie with a bank shot in the lane to put the Purples ahead for good.  Glasgow's Jeremiah Moore was fouled on the ensuing possession, but missed the second, potential game-tying free throw, and a last second game-winning attempt was bocked by Arlando Davis to secure the victory.  

-Looking forward to this week, the #2 Barren County at #6 South Warren is a game to keep an eye on, as the newly ascendent Trojans look to defend their rank.  But the best game of the week will be #3 Russell County hosting #4 Clinton County.  We'll see just how real the Clinton County dip is, and see if Russell County can continue some strong early momentum.  I mentioned it earlier, but I am suddenly very interested in that #17 Todd County Central at #16 Foundation Christian Academy game, to see how much is FCA and how much is Warren East from that result.

District Matchups:
--13th District - None
--14th District - None
--15th District - 12/18 #12 Allen County-Scottsville at #2 Barren County, 12/18 #9 Glasgow at #18 Warren East
--16th District - 12/16 #3 Russell County at #14 Metcalfe County, 12/16 #11 Cumberland County at #4 Clinton County, 12/18 #4 Clinton County at #3 Russell County, 12/19 #14 Metcalfe County at #5 Monroe County

I think there is going to be a lot of “upsets” this year in Region 4. 

Warren East may not win a game all season long, losing by 30 to FCA is inexcusable. They’re allowing 80+ a game this year, understand the talent may not be the best but that’s just no effort from the coaches or players.

Another team I’ve been disappointed in is Russellville, not from an expectation standpoint from the preseason or anything but how do you drop a game to the Bluegrass Blazers, just unbelievable. 

Warren Central has been steady, didn’t expect much from the offense early got a new group in there and they’ll need time to gel but the defense as usual is amongst the best around. 

Greenwood seems to have a scrappy bunch. The Bowling Green win was impressive considering their first few outings.
 

Looking forward to that South Warren and Barren County game Tuesday evening.

 

 

Bump.