Four teams do battle on Thursday night at Diddle Arena
By Perry Swack
Over the course of the last 25 years, various girls’ basketball programs have staked their claim on the 4th Region. Around the turn of the millennium, Allen County-Scottsville won three straight region championships from 1999-2001. Clinton County won three of the next four titles, including a run to the state finals in 2005. Enter Lex Lindsey and Franklin-Simpson. The Lady Wildcats won the region in 2006, 2008, and in 2009, with a state runner-up finish in 2008 behind freshman star Chastity Gooch.
Around the turn of the decade, LaVonda Johnson and Bowling Green began their run, winning four championships in seven seasons. This leads us to the present. In 2017, Calvin Head took over the Lady Purples’ program and won a region title in his first season. Five region finals later, and four more titles, BG is currently the class of the 4th Region.
With this history in context, it makes for an appetizing semifinal round at Diddle Arena on Thursday evening. Two of the most decorated programs will face off at 6:00pm, followed by two programs looking to stake their claim in the champion’s circle at 7:30.
Franklin-Simpson (30-1) vs. Bowling Green (21-10)
For the third time in four seasons, Franklin-Simpson and Bowling Green will meet in the 4th Region Tournament. In 2021, the Lady Purples won 52-19 before dispatching of the Lady Wildcats, 62-34, in the ‘22 final. More recently, Franklin defeated BG, 51-33, in January to end a ten-game losing streak dating back to 2009.
Coach Ashley Taylor’s crew have been ranked amidst the state’s top ten all season long and enter Thursday’s contest as the heavy favorites. A record of 30-1 (20-0 against the 4th Region) has the fans in Franklin thinking this might be their year for another deep run in March. Lareesha Cawthorn has been terrorizing 13th District and 4th Region defenses for years and the 2023-24 season has been no different. The senior is averaging 17.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. Kloie Smith is also averaging double figures in points at 10.4, and Lyniah Brown is scoring nine points per contest. Franklin has won 14 games in a row, all by at least nine points.
As for the four-time defending champions, the Lady Purples may not be favored, but don’t count them out quite yet. Coach Calvin Head’s team has won four-straight entering the semifinals, allowing 40 points or less in each of the victories. Five players average at least six points per game, led by junior Katy Smiley’s 11.3 points per night. The forward is also the team’s leading rebounder at 5.9. Smiley and Ryleigh Campbell have each made more than 50 three-pointers on the season to lead BG.
When the two teams met two months ago, the Lady Purples were held to 24% shooting, shot 1/10 from three, and outrebounded 26-19. For the Lady Wildcats, Cawthorn had 19 points and 10 rebounds, as the team shot nearly 50% from the field. If Franklin can control the game as it did in January, it will be playing for a region title on Saturday evening.
Todd County Central (18-12) vs. Metcalfe County (20-12)
Both Todd County Central and Metcalfe County picked up impressive victories in the quarterfinal round of the 4th Region Tournament on Monday. The 13th District runners-up eliminated Warren East, who had won 26 games and the 15th District championship. Both Abby Williams (24) and Alexis Taylor (23) eclipsed 20 points for the Lady Rebels, as Williams went 9-for-10 from the free-throw line. As a team, Todd was able to get to the line 31 times.
Metcalfe continued its late-season momentum with a 52-40 victory over South Warren. The Lady Hornets hit timely buckets to pull away from the Lady Spartans and reach a third-consecutive region semifinal. In ‘22 and ‘23, Metcalfe was a heavy underdog in the semifinal round. In ‘24, they are a slight favorite. All season long the Lady Hornets have relied on their incredible balance to move them along. It was evident again in their region quarterfinal victory as four players had at least seven points, with Kassady London (17) and Jozie Allen (16) leading the way. With only one senior on the roster, coach Heidi Coleman’s crew will likely be back to Diddle Arena in the near future. However, there’s never been a better time to make history.
