Girls Basketball
By Perry Swack
Bowling Green won its fourth-consecutive 4th Region Tournament this March. With the Lady Purples set to graduate their top three scorers, who might we see lift the trophy in 2024? Coach Calvin Head’s team will certainly retool and are expected to contend again, but who will challenge for the title of 4th Region champion? It’s never too early to project what the next season on the hardwood might look like!
*Team rosters may change over time but this is how they project at the end of the 2022-23 season. Players listed as their 2023-24 class.
School (2022-23 Record)
- Barren County 28-7
Returning: Abby Varney (Sr), Katie Murphy (Sr), Kaitlyn Elmore (Jr), Katie Geralds (Jr), Taylor Strange (Jr), Ann Ashley Atkinson (So), Mary Warren (So)
Departing: Macy Lockhart, Adison Smith
Nearly every player from Piper Lindsey’s rotation will be returning next winter for the Trojanettes including All-Region standout Abby Varney and her 16.8 points per game. Barren County will be among the favorites to win its first region title since 2019.
- Bowling Green 24-11
Returning: Katy Smiley (Jr), JaSiyah Franklin (Sr), Ryleigh Campbell (Sr), Chloe Potter (Sr), NaTaya Wardlow (Jr), Emma Macy (Fr)
Departing: Meadow Tisdale, Tanaya Bailey, Saniyah Shelton
Bowling Green will lose three players who won four-straight 14th District and 4th Region titles and were each named to the Sporting Times All-Hoops Team; however, the Lady Purples will not have a bare cupboard next winter. Expect Calvin Head and his program to continue contending in the 4th Region with the likes of JaSiyah Franklin (7.4 PPG), Ryleigh Campbell (7.7 PPG) back from a season-ending injury, and Katy Smiley (6.1 PPG).
- Metcalfe County 20-10
Returning: Kassady London (Jr), Anna Blythe (Sr), Aubree Jolly (So), Jozie Allen (Fr), Aubrey Glass (So), Lily Blythe (Fr), Aubrie Compton (So)
Departing: None
Everyone will be set to return for the three-time 16th District champions in 2023-24. Kassady London averaged 15.4 points per game this season, while Anna Blythe averaged 9.8 points and a team-best 7.0 rebounds per game. The Lady Hornets have reached the region semifinals in each of the last two seasons. Might a championship game appearance be in the cards for 2024?
- Cumberland County 21-10
Returning: Madi Cooksey (Fr), Abby Morgan (So), Kenzie Willen (Fr), Keagan Walden (So), Graci Craft (Sr), Jayleana Smith (Sr)
Departing: Carly Nettles, Kendra Coe, Emma Craft
Coming off of a 20-win season and returning six of its top seven scorers, expectations will be high in Cumberland County next winter. Madi Cooksey (11.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG) and Abby Morgan (10.6 PPG) will be go-to offensive threats for the Lady Panthers as they seek to reach the 4th Region Tournament for the first time since 2015.
- Greenwood 15-17
Returning: Leia Trinh (Sr), Jojo McCorkle (Sr), Ella Whittle (Sr), Avery Overmohle (Sr), Alex Doig (Sr), Gracyn Nealon (Jr)
Departing: Kayla Grant, Jessica Peterson
For the first time in eight seasons, the Lady Gators will take the floor with someone other than Zach Simpson on the sideline. Greenwood will return a majority of its rotation, including All-Region performer Leia Trinh who led the 4th Region with 19 points per game.
- South Warren 17-14
Returning: McLaine Hudson (So), Grace Maxwell (Sr), Kiah Mitchell (Sr), Ashley Overbay (Jr), Alexis Martin (Sr), Jenna Lindsey (Jr), Jooniper Strow (8th)
Departing: Gracie Hodges, Lydia Frank, Mila Munrath, TyKeidra Garrett
The Lady Spartans will lose three of their top four scorers from this season; however, they will return McLaine Hudson and her 11.3 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. In a much more wide-open 14th District, South will like its chances to reach the 4th Region Tournament for the second time in three seasons.
- Franklin-Simpson 17-10
Returning: Katelyn McAlister (Sr), Kloie Smith (So), Lyniah Brown (Jr), Jasmine Savage (Jr), Naja Nolan (Jr), Vanessa Ray (Jr), Jayden Spears (Sr)
Departing: Hadley Turner, Malyea Partinger, Ashanti Johnson, Jakaya Warfield
Franklin-Simpson will return three of its top four scorers from a team that went undefeated against district opponents in the regular season. Katelyn McAlister will be charged with leading Ashley Taylor’s squad after averaging 7.9 points per game this season and hitting 59 three-pointers.
- Russellville 16-15
Returning: Lareesha Cawthorn (Jr), Ja’eda Poindexter (So), M’Riyah Boyd (8th)
Departing: A’miyah Collier, Jaylah Kees, Kilby Long, Brinley Mason, Jordin Morris
In Orlando Hayden’s first season at the helm, the Lady Panthers won their first district championship since 1999 and first game in the region tournament since 1993. What can we expert for an encore? Russellville loses three of its top four scorers but will return 13th District Player of the Year Lareesha Cawthorn. The upcoming junior led the region in rebounding at 13.1 and was second in scoring at 17.5 points per game.
- Allen County-Scottsville 12-13
Returning: Avery Morris (Fr), Jayleigh Steenbergen (Sr), Aubrie Naiser (Jr), Clara Berry (Sr), Ally Anderson (Jr), Allison Ford (So), Sarah Wright (Sr)
Departing: Jaylee Covington
Allen County-Scottsville will return its entire rotation outside of Jaylee Covington next winter. Led by Avery Morris (14.6 PPG) and Jayleigh Steenbergen (12 PPG, 6 RPG), the Lady Patriots will be trying to get back to the 4th Region Tournament for the first time since the 2015-16 season.
- Logan County 18-14
Returning: Nora Epley (Sr), Emily Borders (Sr), TaKyiah Mason (Jr), Brenley Adler (8th), Emerson McKinnis (Sr), Kyla Bilyeu (Jr), Reese Wetton (Fr), Aubreanna Evans (Sr)
Departing: Gracie Borders
Logan County will be set to return its entire team aside from All-Region performer Gracie Borders. The Lady Cougars will turn to its senior trio of Nora Epley (9 PPG, 64 three-pointers), Emerson McKinnis (5.5 RPG) and Emily Borders (7 PPG) to help the program win its first district title since 2020.
