14th District Boys Basketball Tournament Preview
March 15-19 – Bowling Green High School
By Perry Swack
2020 Champion – Bowling Green
#1 seed Bowling Green defeated #2 seed Warren Central, 57-51, to win its seventh-straight district title. Conner Cooper led all scorers with 16 points, while Isaiah Mason and Jaxson Banks each chipped in 13. Dre Boyd led the Dragons with 17 points and a game-high 17 rebounds.
Last Five Championship Games
2020 – Bowling Green over Warren Central
2019 – Bowling Green over Warren Central
2018 – Bowling Green over Warren Central
2017 – Bowling Green over Greenwood
2016 – Bowling Green over Warren Central
Schedule
March 15 @ 7:00pm – #4 South Warren vs. #5 Warren East
March 16 @ 7:00pm – #1 Bowling Green vs. South Warren/Warren East
March 17 @ 7:00pm – #2 Warren Central vs. #3 Greenwood
March 18 @ 6:00pm – Championship Game
#1 – Bowling Green (18-2)
How They Can Win
A perusal of the state statistical leaders will find that Bowling Green is listed among the state’s best in scoring offense, scoring defense, win margin, field goal percentage, and three-point field goal percentage. The Purples have separated themselves as the team to beat in both the 4th Region and the 14th District. If coach D.G. Sherrill’s club is to win an eighth-consecutive 14th District championship, it will be because it is playing its game – strong team defense on the wings and in the paint, offense that can score in spurts, and timely shooting from some of the region’s best shooters. Even if BG does half of these things well, they have enough talent this season to cruise to the title.
Player to Keep an Eye on
After missing the first nine games of the season, senior Jacobi Huddleston has made a name for himself in the Purple lineup averaging 8.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. The forward has shown flashes of dominance, as seen in his 16-point, 16-rebound effort over Warren East in the team’s penultimate game of the regular season.
#2 – Warren Central (8-6)
How They Can Win
Warren Central is the three-time defending 4th Region champion, but the Dragons have not won a district title since 2013. If they are to win this season, it will likely behind their balanced attack. Six players average at least 6.5 points per game, led by Chappelle Whitney’s 12.1 points. Five players also average at least 4.1 rebounds per game, led by Whitney at 7.9. The Dragons are ranked sixth in the state at 36 rebounds per game.
Player to Keep an Eye on
I am keeping my eye on sophomore Izayiah Villafuerte. The point guard helps set the tempo for the Dragons and is a threat to score from deep, as well as set up his teammates. The scoring abilities of Whitney, Jaiden Lawrence (10.6), and Jace Carver (10.1) are all helped by the ball movement that the Dragons emphasize, led by Villafuerte in the backcourt.
#3 – Greenwood (14-11)
How They Can Win
The Gators’ last three 4th Region Tournament appearances were in 2009, 2013, and 2017. If you believe in math omens, 2021 would be the next time it reaches Diddle Arena. Coach Will McCoy’s club certainly has enough talent to reach the region tournament. It also closed the regular season winning three of four games and five of its final eight. If the Gators are to defeat Warren Central and move on to the district finale, it will need a big game from Cade Stinnett. The junior is averaging 20.8 points per game on 57% shooting. Senior teammate Marc Grant would also need to have a big day from downtown. Grant has made 72 three-pointers on the season, first in the 4th Region and tenth statewide.
Player to Keep an Eye on
Junior Aaron Brown returned to the lineup a few weeks ago and has given the team the interior depth it needs to contend in the 14th District. His 12.1 points per game are third on the team, while his 8.5 rebounds per contest leads Greenwood.
#4 – South Warren (16-5)
How They Can Win
You would be hard pressed to find another district in Kentucky that had a 4-seed with 16 wins. But that is where South Warren finds itself. It went 14-2 against non-district competition but is the 4-seed after going 1-3 in district seeding games. If the Spartans are to reach their first-ever 4th Region Tournament, it will be because of their ability to score points in the paint. Caden Veltkamp and Malachi Reynolds – both forwards – started to peak as the regular season ended. They will be called upon to slow down Warren East and then the likes of Jacobi Huddleston, Jordan Dingle, and Trace Flanary for Bowling Green on Tuesday. If they can do that, they will have a chance to reach Diddle Arena for the first time in school history.
Players to Keep an Eye on
Every team needs tough guards to win in March. The Spartans have a solid backcourt, led by Tayshaun Jones and Luke Burton. The guards are averaging a combined 16.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. Their ability to defend and score will be needed for the Spartans to succeed.
#5 – Warren East (4-9)
How They Can Win
Warren East played the least number of games in the entire 4th Region. Coach Charles Combs’ club missed nearly an entire month of action due to COVID-19 cancellations. If the Raiders are to advance in the 14th District Tournament, it will need big games from their leading scorers Kaleb Matlock (9.4), Devaughn Williams (10.1), and Isaiah Andrews (13.1). It all begins Monday night with South Warren. The Raiders have enough firepower to win and will look to do so behind these three players.
Player to Keep an Eye on
As the tournament’s lowest seed, the Raiders will be looking to spring an upset in every game they play. To pull an upset, you need timely scoring from an array of players. Watch out for junior Linkin Lockhart. The wing is the team’s leading three-point shooter with 15 makes at 35%. If Lockhart can get hot from downtown, anything can happen.
Prediction
The 2021 Bowling Green Purples may be the school’s best team in some time (yes, including the 2017 state champions). Because of their talent, depth, and coaching experience, I believe the Purples will breeze through the 14th District Tournament. Should they take on Warren Central in the district finale, it will be an exciting rivalry game. The Dragons gave the Purples trouble in their only meeting of the regular season. How those teams adjust will be fascinating.
Should Greenwood knock off Warren Central and reach the district title game, we will get an enticing individual matchup between Stinnett and Isaiah Mason. The two former middle school teammates at Drakes Creek going head-to-head would be can’t-miss. The two teams have not met since the first week of the regular season. I predict South Warren to dispatch of Warren East, though I think the Raiders will make the game tight. But in the end, Bowling Green will win its eighth-straight 14th District championship.
Champion — Bowling Green
