Bowling Green Boys’ Basketball finishes season as state runner-up
By Perry Swack
The magical ride began just over a month ago. With less than five seconds remaining in the 14th District championship game, senior Braylon Banks dribbled the ball on the right wing. Trailing their archrival Warren Central by one point, it seemed as if the Dragons were going to best the Bowling Green Purples for a third time in 2025. Coach D.G. Sherrill’s club had held its own against the state’s elite throughout the season, but the problem it hadn’t been able to solve was the Dragons. In fact, over the course of the last three postseasons, Central had gotten the best of the Purples.
With a drive to his right, Banks pulled up from behind the three-point line. A member of those three, region runner-up teams, Banks shot the ball as if he didn’t care about any of the past history. He shot it as if he wanted to change history. And change it he did. As the three-pointer found the back of the net, the Purples were district champions – beginning a ride that lasted until the final day of the Kentucky high school basketball season.
During the 4th Region Tournament, Sherrill noted in jest that his Bowling Green Purples’ basketball team would not pass “the hotel lobby test”. Throughout the 2025 postseason, the Purples were regularly outsized by opponents with taller players. In fact, Sherrill technically started five “guards” in every game this postseason. However, the lack of size didn’t slow down the 4th Region champions in the slightest.
To commemorate the Purples magical ride, we’re giving you a game-by-game recap of their romp through Rupp. It’s only fitting that their first trip to the state tournament came exactly 100 years ago in 1925.
Deuce Saves the Day – Bowling Green 52, Adair County 51 (OT)
As quickly as they arrived, they nearly departed. The Purples led throughout the opening game of the UK HealthCare Boys’ Sweet 16; however, Adair County erased a ten-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime. Down one with less than ten seconds to play in the extra period, senior Deuce Bailey scored arguably the biggest bucket of his high school career – a contested layup at the rim to help the Purples escape with a one-point victory.
Braylon Banks led all scorers with 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting and hit all four of his free throws to ensure Bowling Green advanced to Friday’s quarterfinal. The Purples were outrebounded (33-25) and shot only 20% from beyond the arc but still survived to the next round.
Idlett Catches Fire – Bowling Green 80, Ashland Blazer 74 (OT)
After being held to only six points in Wednesday’s opening round game, Luke Idlett was a perfect 7-for-7 from the field, including 3-for-3 from distance, to lead the Purples with 26 points in another overtime victory. The Tomcats of Ashland Blazer led after the first, second, and third quarter; however, a fourth-quarter comeback was capped off with a Banks-to-Bailey bucket that sent the game into overtime. BG controlled the extra period and advanced to Saturday’s semifinal.
Time for Hurt – Bowling Green 73, South Oldham 51
After managing just two points in each of the team’s first two tournament games, senior Joe Hurt was due for a big game. In the Purples’ quarterfinal win over Ashland Blazer, BG led for only 1 minutes and 58 seconds. In the semifinals, the script was flipped. With Hurt going 10-for-13 from the field (and 5-for-5 from the free throw line) en route to 26 points, the Purples cruised to a 73-51 victory over the 8th Region champions. In this game, Bowling Green led for more than 29 of the 32 minutes. The victory propelled the Purples into the state championship game for the first time since 2017.
One Game Short – Great Crossing 71, Bowling Green 61
The beauty of March Madness is that it only takes one night for the improbable to happen. Although immensely talented, the Purples were not always the favorite in each of their games throughout the 2025 postseason. Despite a strong performance from senior KaDyn Carpenter (19 points, 3-for-5 from deep), BG fell one game short of the state championship. Four players were in double figure for Sherrill’s club, but the 4th Region champs just dug themselves into a third-quarter hole they were unable to climb out of.
For the six seniors who made up the bulk of the Purples’ rotation, their legacy is cemented. Bailey, Banks, Idlett, Carpenter, and Jace Wardlow had played together since middle school. Ending their careers on the final Saturday in March at Rupp Arena is something very few high school basketball players in the state can say. For this team, its school and its fans, it’s been one magical ride.
SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS
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Links
2025 UK Healthcare’s KHSAA Boy’s Basketball Sweet 16 Program | Here
Learn more about the KHSAA Boy’s Basketball Sweet 16 main sponsor UK Healthcare | Here
