15th District Boys Basketball Tournament Preview
March 15-17 – Barren County High School
By Perry Swack
2020 Champion – Barren County
#1 seed Barren County defeated 3-seed Allen County-Scottsville, 71-65, to win the 2020 15th District title. Aden Nyekan scored 24 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, while Will Bandy chipped in 15 points. The Patriots’ Mason Shirley scored 30 points in defeat.
Last Five Championship Games
2020 – Barren County over Allen County-Scottsville
2019 – Glasgow over Allen County-Scottsville
2018 – Glasgow over Monroe County
2017 – Monroe County over Barren County
2016 – Barren County over Glasgow
Schedule
Monday, March 15 @ 5:30pm – #1 Allen County-Scottsville vs. #4 Monroe County
Monday, March 15 @ 7:45pm – #2 Barren County vs. #3 Glasgow
Wednesday, March 17 @ 6:00pm – Championship Game
#1 – Allen County-Scottsville (13-7)
How They Can Win
Allen County-Scottsville last won the 15th District title in 2010. Yes. 2010. The Patriots have regularly reached the 4th Region Tournament as the district runners-up, but the championship has eluded them. The program is the district’s #1 seed for the first time since 2007. In his final season on the sidelines, coach Brad Bonds will have the ability the bring ACS their long-awaited title.
Look for Mason Shirley to have a big-time tournament. The senior is averaging 18.7 points per game. He and teammate Jax Cooper (14.1 PPG) have finished second in each of the last two district tournaments. If they can will the team to victory, they will.
Player to Keep an Eye on
There are six seniors on this Patriot roster, none play a larger role in the paint than forward Michael Smith. Smith is averaging 9.7 points and a team-leading 6.5 rebounds per game.
#2 – Barren County (19-7)
How They Can Win
Barren County split its season series with Allen County-Scottsville but also went 5-1 in district play. The Trojans will be the 2-seed per the tiebreaker. Coach Warren Cunningham’s club has been ranked in the top 5 of our ST Power Rankings nearly all season. They believe they are good enough to challenge Bowling Green and Clinton County for a 4th Region title. Of course, the Trojans lost all-region talent Aden Nyekan to a season-ending injury in the opening weeks of the season; however, the club has come together and looks dangerous for a deep March run. Mason Griggs (15 PPG) and Taye Poynter (12.5 PPG) are the team’s go-to scorers and will play major roles for Barren in the postseason.
Player to Keep an Eye on
Senior Gavin Withrow will be a player to keep an eye on in the tournament this week. The sharpshooter is the team’s third-leading scorer at 9.2 points per game, has made 35 three-pointers on the season, and is Barren’s leader in 3FG% at 40%.
#3 – Glasgow (9-14)
How They Can Win
Glasgow went 0-4 against the top two seeds in the 15th District Tournament; however, the Scotties enter the event looking to win their third title in four seasons. How can James Willet’s crew play spoiler? It will need big-time performances from its top two scorers, Sam Bowling (20.1 PPG) and Jackson Poland (13.4 PPG). The Scotties have been without two starters – Ashton Cerwinske and John Carter Myers for about a month now. The team has gone 2-6 in that stretch.
Player to Keep an Eye on
Opposing defenses will look to stop Bowling and Poland from having big nights, but they will also need to know where Brennan Short is on the court at all times. The junior has made 42 three-pointers on the year, best on the roster. Short is also a 38% shooter from downtown, second on the team.
#4 – Monroe County (3-19)
How They Can Win
The Falcons enter the 15th District Tournament on a nine-game losing streak, picking up their last win over Cumberland County on February 8. However, as we all know, anything can happen in March. Monroe lost six of those nine games by ten points or less. Their first-round opponent, Allen County-Scottsville, beat Monroe on opening night by a score of 73-30. Three weeks later, the Falcons lost by only nine, 61-52. Monroe held ACS to 7.7% from beyond the arc that night and also outrebounded the Patriots, 28-25. Defense and rebounding will be the keys for Monroe County to advance on Monday evening.
Player to Keep an Eye on
Tucker Glass is the team’s leading scorer at 10.7 points per game and the team’s leading rebounder at 6.2 per contest. The Falcons will need the senior forward to set the tone if they are to spring the upset.
Prediction
Glasgow lost twice to Barren County in the regular season by a combined nine points. They had both Cerwinske and Myers in the lineup for the second meeting, a 54-52 Trojan win. Cerwinske has been out with a hand injury. If those two players are still out, it is hard to see them overcoming Barren in the semifinals. However, if they play, it makes the game incredibly interesting.
In the end, I will take Allen County and Barren County to advance to the championship round for their third meeting of the season. ACS won the first meeting, 52-46; Barren won the second, 65-62. In what will be a de facto home game for the Trojans, it is hard not to take Cunningham’s crew. However, I am going to go against the grain and predict that the Patriots get their first district title in eleven years.
Champions — Allen County-Scottsville
