Here you go DragonFire:

 

Written by : Michael Compton/ Bowling Green News:

 

Teams:

 

1. Glasgow

2. Bowling Green

3. Warren Central

4. Greenwood

5. Russell co

6. Clinton Co

7. Logan Co

8. Russellville

9. Warren east

10 Franklin-Simpson

Edited October 5, 201115 yr by gold sunrise

Can't wait to see what Dragonfire has to say.

 

DF-Bowling Green is still a contender? Central is still a contender? Greenwood?

 

Oh yeah, can't wait to see DF's thoughts. He's always dead on.

Most is pretty much as I expected, with the exception of Greenwood. I don't think they'll be anywhere near that level.

 

Glasgow is the clear frontrunner this year for the region. They lost only a two players and the Bradleys, while not bad players, are not their major guys. They have 8 seniors giving them one of the most veteran teams in the region. Several are football stars, including Parker Cash and Hunter Bowles. This is a team that took Bowling Green to the wire in the regional tournament last season, and forced Central to make a last second shot to beat them during the regular season. Even though Central was without Shanklin for that game, it was still an impressive performance. So it is an easy choice when guys like Behanan, Fant, and Shanklin are no longer on those teams that Glasgow would be heir apparent.

 

As to whether others are contenders, this Glasgow team while the clear favorite isn't the type of team that is a breakaway frontrunner in the mold of the 2000s Central or even these past two Central and Bowling Green teams that didn't lose to any other region teams. Last year's Glasgow team still lost games they shouldn't have and won closer than they should have against others. They are a team that has often played down to the level of others and therefore vulnerable to upset. And at a place that hasn't won a region title in 35 years you can't simply hand them the title. Weird things happen in the postseason to teams that aren't used to being in certain positions.

 

I would have probably flip flopped Bowling Green and Central in the rankings, but I assume Tim Riley moving on was a big part of that equation as some may take a wait and see approach. Bowling Green has more seniors in this class than Central, but the Dragons' Class of 2012 has played a larger role than their Purple counterparts. Scooter Hollis and Dareon Simmons saw a good amount of time (Hollis more than Simmons), but I can't remember ever seeing Clay Sowell or Spencer Austin, and Jalen Hunter only saw the floor sparingly. Hunter will be expected to do a lot, and with him playing football this year, he may take longer to grow into his role. One of Behanan's best traits is that he rarely came off the floor and almost never got into foul trouble. That equaled very little time for Hunter. Meanwhile Donavan Halsel was a starter (the only one on either team that returns) last year for Central, and Norman Johnson as well as Andre Bledsoe saw significant minutes. I think they'll be more ready when the season starts for that, in addition to the fact that a far lower percentage of that group plays football compared to the Purples.

 

I think East is a little undervalued on the rankings as they return a lot of players. Greenwood does as well, but I like East's returnees more than that of the Gators. I still don't understand how East lost to them last year in the district.

 

My sleeper is Franklin-Simpson. It was somewhat of an open secret that I didn't think a whole lot of their previous coach, but I think the world of Lex Lindsey. He was a former Warren Central assistant and did great things with the girl's basketball team at Warren Central.

 

If I were ranking it, I'd have it:

 

1) Glasgow

2) Warren Central

3) Bowling Green

4) Russell County

5) Clinton County

 

I'd have Franklin-Simpson, Russellville, Warren East, and Greenwood right on the fringe. I do not buy Logan County AT ALL.

DF I really value your imput. What about the writer of this preview? what can you tell us about him?

Does Necarious Fant(don't know if I spelled that right) the wide receiver for BG play basketball? I think he is a sophomore but that kid has some serious serious hops.

Nacarius was listed on the roster, but I never saw him in any game when he was a freshman.

DF I really value your imput. What about the writer of this preview? what can you tell us about him?

 

Michael Compton is a writer for the Daily News. He had been on the Lady Topper and BG Hot Rods beat with some coverage on the high school sports before this year. The WKU mens beat writer moved to Michigan, which bumped up Chad Bishop who had previously been the high school lead, so Compton is now the high school guy for the Daily News. He wrote the preview for the Cats' Pause the last few years.

My sleeper is Franklin-Simpson. It was somewhat of an open secret that I didn't think a whole lot of their previous coach, but I think the world of Lex Lindsey. He was a former Warren Central assistant and did great things with the girl's basketball team at Warren Central.

 

Was re-reading this, and I meant that to say "He was a former Warren Central assistant and did great things with the girl's basketball team at Franklin-Simpson". Got in a hurry trying to wrap up the post before leaving my office!

Most is pretty much as I expected, with the exception of Greenwood. I don't think they'll be anywhere near that level.

 

Glasgow is the clear frontrunner this year for the region. They lost only a two players and the Bradleys, while not bad players, are not their major guys. They have 8 seniors giving them one of the most veteran teams in the region. Several are football stars, including Parker Cash and Hunter Bowles. This is a team that took Bowling Green to the wire in the regional tournament last season, and forced Central to make a last second shot to beat them during the regular season. Even though Central was without Shanklin for that game, it was still an impressive performance. So it is an easy choice when guys like Behanan, Fant, and Shanklin are no longer on those teams that Glasgow would be heir apparent.

 

As to whether others are contenders, this Glasgow team while the clear favorite isn't the type of team that is a breakaway frontrunner in the mold of the 2000s Central or even these past two Central and Bowling Green teams that didn't lose to any other region teams. Last year's Glasgow team still lost games they shouldn't have and won closer than they should have against others. They are a team that has often played down to the level of others and therefore vulnerable to upset. And at a place that hasn't won a region title in 35 years you can't simply hand them the title. Weird things happen in the postseason to teams that aren't used to being in certain positions.

 

I would have probably flip flopped Bowling Green and Central in the rankings, but I assume Tim Riley moving on was a big part of that equation as some may take a wait and see approach. Bowling Green has more seniors in this class than Central, but the Dragons' Class of 2012 has played a larger role than their Purple counterparts. Scooter Hollis and Dareon Simmons saw a good amount of time (Hollis more than Simmons), but I can't remember ever seeing Clay Sowell or Spencer Austin, and Jalen Hunter only saw the floor sparingly. Hunter will be expected to do a lot, and with him playing football this year, he may take longer to grow into his role. One of Behanan's best traits is that he rarely came off the floor and almost never got into foul trouble. That equaled very little time for Hunter. Meanwhile Donavan Halsel was a starter (the only one on either team that returns) last year for Central, and Norman Johnson as well as Andre Bledsoe saw significant minutes. I think they'll be more ready when the season starts for that, in addition to the fact that a far lower percentage of that group plays football compared to the Purples.

 

I think East is a little undervalued on the rankings as they return a lot of players. Greenwood does as well, but I like East's returnees more than that of the Gators. I still don't understand how East lost to them last year in the district.

 

My sleeper is Franklin-Simpson. It was somewhat of an open secret that I didn't think a whole lot of their previous coach, but I think the world of Lex Lindsey. He was a former Warren Central assistant and did great things with the girl's basketball team at Warren Central.

 

If I were ranking it, I'd have it:

 

1) Glasgow

2) Warren Central

3) Bowling Green

4) Russell County

5) Clinton County

 

I'd have Franklin-Simpson, Russellville, Warren East, and Greenwood right on the fringe. I do not buy Logan County AT ALL.

Thanks for the nicer consideration of the 16th district, and you might want to include one of those two teams as mild sleepers.