By Perry Swack
With many boys’ basketball programs traveling out of the area (or state) to compete in holiday tournaments, girls’ basketball programs will be hosting a number of events in the Greater Bowling Green Area during winter break. An event in Edmonson County highlights the slate before the Christmas holiday before South Warren, Warren Central, Allen County, and Logan County all host sizable tournaments in the week leading up to the new year.
Barren County and Bowling Green will face off with the state’s best at the Queen of the Commonwealth at Bullitt East. Greenwood and Franklin-Simpson will hop across the border into Tennessee, while Clinton County will head to Tampa for a warmer new year. With so many teams heading to so many locations, we keep you in the loop with our best tournaments before and after the Christmas holiday.
Queen of the Commonwealth – December 19-22 – Bullitt East
Area Teams Competing: Barren County & Bowling Green
After placing second in the event a season ago, the Bowling Green returns to the Queen of the Commonwealth looking to bring home the trophy. Coach Calvin Head’s squad will begin their quest against the defending 8th Region champion, Simon Kenton, at 8:30 PM (EST) Tuesday in what event organizers are referring to as the CCC Gym. The winner of BG-SK will face off with the winner of Bullitt East-Madisonville on Wednesday at 5:30 PM (EST) in the Main Gym. Should the Lady Purples lose their opening game, they will play the loser of BE-MNH at 5:30 PM (EST) on Wednesday in the CCC Gym.
Barren County will also take the hardwood at the Queen of the Commonwealth, opening the tournament against Meade County in the Main Gym at 4:00 PM (EST) on Tuesday. Should the Trojanetters win their first game, they will play the winner of Franklin County and Corbin on Wednesday at 7:00 PM (EST) in the Main Gym. If Barren falls to the Lady Green Wave, they will face the loser of Franklin County-Corbin in the CCC Gym at 7:00 PM (EST) also.
Rafferty’s/Double Dogs Caveland Classic – December 20-22 – Edmonson County
Area Teams Competing: Edmonson County, Glasgow, Todd County Central
For a third-consecutive winter, Edmonson County (7-1 on the season) will invite five schools to Brownsville for the Rafferty’s/Double Dogs Caveland Classic. The Lady Cats’ hot start to the season helped them catapult into the top 25 of MaxPreps’ latest state rankings. First-year head coach Jody Booth will lead her club against area rival Todd County Central on Wednesday (12/20) at 12:45 PM, Apollo on Thursday at 6:00 PM, and Glasgow on Friday at 6:00 PM.
The Lady Rebels will also play Glasgow at 2:30 PM on Thursday and Paducah-Tilghman on Friday at 11:00 AM, while the Lady Scotties will open with Green County on Wednesday at 7:45 PM before playing the aforementioned contests above.
First Bank Holiday Bash – December 28-30 – South Warren
Area Teams Competing: South Warren and Glasgow
South Warren is one of the few schools in the entire state to host both a girls’ and boys’ holiday event. Eight schools will descend upon Bowling Green for the First Bank Holiday Bash as South Warren and Glasgow headline the local contingent in a field littered with teams from across the state. The Lady Spartans open the event on Thursday the 28th with a game against Central Hardin. The schedule on KHSAA’s website reads that the Lady Spartans will host Tates Creek at 12:00 PM on Friday, before playing again at 4:30 against Ballard. As for Glasgow, the Lady Scotties will open play on the 28th against Muhlenberg County and then playing Crittenden County (12:30 PM) and South Oldham (6:00 PM) on the 29th. Teams will have a final game on the 30th, but the matchups and times will be determined after the playing of games over the first two days.
Vanous Lloyd Christmas Tournament – December 27-29 – Warren Central
Area Teams Competing: Warren Central, Russell County, Cumberland County
Honoring a legend of the program, the Warren Central Lady Dragons will host the Vanous Lloyd Christmas Tournament again just before the new year, inviting seven teams to Bowling Green for the event. Russell County and Cumberland County will also be competing in the tournament. The Lady Dragons open play at 6:00 PM on the 27th against Northeast High from Clarksville, Tennessee. The Lady Panthers face McLean County at 4:00 PM, while the Lady Lakers will face Harlan in the opening round at 2:00 PM. The semifinals will be played at 2:00 and 6:00 PM on the 28th of December, and the finals are scheduled for 6:00 PM on the 29th. All teams are guaranteed three games.
Lady Invitational of the South – December 27-30 – Allen County
Area Teams Competing: Allen County-Scottsville, Greenwood, Russellville, Metcalfe County
One of the largest holiday tournaments in the state, Allen County-Scottsville will host 15 other teams to Scottsville for the Lady Invitational of the South at the end of the month. It all tips off on Wednesday, December 27 with Russellville hosting Westmoreland from Tennessee at 9:30 AM.. At 12:45 PM, Greenwood will face off with Henderson County, before a 5:30 PM matchup pits Metcalfe and Franklin County. The hosts will take the floor at 7:15 PM as they host area rival, Adair County. Games will be played all day over the course of the four days, with each team guaranteed of playing at least three games.
Notable returnees from the 2022 edition include runner-up South Laurel and the aforementioned Westmoreland, which placed third last season. Greenwood will look to improve upon its seventh-place showing in ‘22.
H & H Holiday Hoopfest – December 27-29 – Logan County
Area Teams Competing: Logan County, Warren East, Butler County,
Logan County will host the H & H Holiday Hoopfest from December 27-29. The Cougars play their opening game on Wednesday the 27th at 6:30 PM against Northwest High in Clarksville, Tennessee. Warren East opens the tournament with a game against Ohio County at noon. Butler County will take on Calloway County at 2:45 PM, also on the 27th. The tournament will continue on through the 29th as each team is scheduled to play three total games.
Other schools traveling out of state for holiday tournaments
Clinton County – Tampa Bay Christmas Invitational (Wesley Chapel, FL) beginning on December 27
Franklin-Simpson – Smoky Mountain Christmas Classic beginning on December 20
Greenwood – Holiday Tournament in Hendersonville, Tennessee beginning on December 20
