The Bowling Green Purples took care of business in the 14th District Tournament last week, dispatching of South Warren 4-1. And while neither team held much stock in the game’s outcome, it was certainly a match Bowling Green did not want to lose and one South Warren would have certainly enjoyed winning. However, as we all know in the world of high school sports, a district championship is sweet but a region title is much, much sweeter. 
All previous meetings aside, the 2014 4th Region Tournament begins tonight at The Pit at Bowling Green Junior High School where six of the region’s best teams will do battle in an effort to come out as the champion. It all starts with the Purples who are led by Coach Craig Widener. The tenth-year manager will attempt to win his sixth region championship and lead BG back to the state tournament. The club has won two-consecutive region titles and appears primed and ready for one more. Ranked second in the commonwealth, the Purples have won thirteen games in a row entering the region event with their smallest margin of victory at two goals. At 16-1-1, it looks like the tournament is Bowling Green’s to lose.
However, don’t tell the other teams that. The South Warren Spartans, who face Franklin-Simpson tonight at 7:30 pm, have looked impressive in 2014 and are currently ranked 20th in the state. Coach Tom Alexander’s crew qualified for its second-ever 4th Region Tournament with a 6-2 victory over crosstown rival Warren Central in the district semifinals. Sophomore midfielder Israel Cano registered a hat-trick in the win and will play a major role in the Spartans’ attack throughout this event. Fellow sophomore Fahrudin Dervisevic is having an outstanding season from his forward position, scoring 22 goals in 20 games. He most recently scored off of a free kick in the district championship against Bowling Green. The Spartans are 13-6-1 entering the event. 
Franklin-Simpson appears to be the greatest threat at breaking up an all-14th District championship game as the Wildcats have compiled a 15-5 record through the district tournament. Coach James Byrum’s club dominated the 13th District, blasting Russellville 9-0 before cruising to an 8-0 win over Logan County. Senior Clark Feckter and Freshman Caleb Wilson both registered hat tricks in the victory over the Panthers before Feckter dropped four goals in the district finale over the Cougars. The Wildcats have four potent scorers; led by Wilson’s 27 goals and Feckter’s 20, seniors Cody Blake and Nick Ferguson have scored 17 and 16 respectively. If any of these players get hot, Franklin-Simpson might play the role of the tournament’s Cinderella. They face off with South Warren tonight, October 20 at 7:30 pm, after losing 4-1 to the Spartans in the regular season.
Glasgow hopes to pose a threat on the bottom side of the bracket, facing the winner of South Warren and Franklin-Simpson after winning the 15th District and earning a bye. The Scotties have two fantastic goal scorers in junior Kolby Greer and sophomore Franly Gabriel. The two have each scored 21 goals this season, a number equaling roughly 55% of the team’s total goals. Greer tallied one of the team’s two goals in the district championship victory over Barren County. Glasgow (13-5-2) will play the South-Franklin winner on Tuesday, October 21 at 7:30 pm. Coach Ken Mahung’s club did not face either team in the regular season.
The other two teams in the field are Barren County (10-9-1) and Logan County (9-11-1). The two schools did not meet in the regular season and both qualified for the region tournament as the 15th District Runner-Up (Barren County) and the 13th District Runner-Up (Logan County). Senior Dylan Mitchell has lit up the stat sheet this season, tallying 44 goals in only 20 matches. He scored five goals in victories over Butler County (8-0) and Clinton County (9-3) in the district tournament. Coach Bobby Nyekan’s team hopes to survive and advance behind the splendid foot of Mitchell. As for Coach Eric Evans and the Cougars, the 13th District squad spreads the wealth with five players scoring at least five goals. Led by senior Tanner Chapman’s 11 and senior Kelly Eicher’s 10, Logan County hopes its balanced attack can outduel the star power from Barren County. The two programs face off tonight, Monday, October 20 at 5:30 pm. The winner receivers the gift of playing Bowling Green tomorrow (10/21) at 5:30 pm. Neither team faced the Purples this season.
As for the favorites, the experienced crew has used a balanced attack to defeat its foes this season: one coupled with power and strength. Senior Exodus Bargblor leads the team with 19 goals but is followed close behind by sophomore Arif Smajlovic’s 17 goals and junior Donald Aviles’ 13. Aviles also leads the club with 13 assists. A defense led by goalkeeper Ryan Hughes has only allowed 11 goals in 18 matches and is sure to be ready to roll for the season’s biggest tournament yet. The Purples face the winner of Barren County-Logan County on Tuesday (10/21) at 5:30 pm.
Perry’s Picks
Who will win? Well, let’s break it down game by game. The Monday night victors will be Barren County and South Warren setting up Tuesday night semifinal matchups between Barren County and Bowling Green at 5:30 pm and South Warren and Glasgow at 7:30 pm. The Purples will cool senior Dylan Mitchell and his torrential goal-scoring streak, knocking out the Trojans to return to the region finale. On the bottom side, the Spartans and Scotties will face off but Alexander’s Spartans will prove to be too much, pitting the 14th District foes against each other for a fourth time this season.
A rematch of the 2012 region championship, the Spartans hope losses in 2014 of 4-1, 2-0, and 4-1 have built up enough experience to knock off the Purples. However, this BG squad has looked too talented this season and with its depth and experience, you have to roll with Purples. A third-straight region title for Bowling Green will propel them into the state tournament, where they hope to improve upon consecutive appearances in the quarterfinals.
So to answer the title’s question? Yes, expect a Bowling Green three-peat this Thursday, October 23rd at The Pit.
