By Perry Swack – ST Reporter
Bowling Green Purples
Record last season: 26-8
Postseason finish: Lost in Region 4 title game
The Bowling Green Purples return their top five scorers from a season ago and will look to return to the state tournament for the first time since 2017. The coach in charge in 2017? D.G. Sherrill. After winning the state championship in 2017, Sherrill retired from coaching basketball. However, he has decided to return to the sidelines for the 2020-21 campaign and he will have a talented roster in tow.
Players to Watch
It all begins with senior guard/wing Isaiah Mason. The Northern Kentucky signee led the Purples in scoring at 16.1 points per game last season and was named to the All-Region First Team. He also led Bowling Green with 9.4 rebounds per game and shot 56.2% from the field and 32.9% from the three-point line. All-Region Third Team Selection Turner Buttry also returns for the Purples after shooting 48.2% from behind the arc on a team-high 55 makes and 114 attempts. The Eastern Kentucky commit averaged 10.9 points per game and shot 78% from the free throw line. Senior Conner Cooper will join Buttry in the backcourt, but he will begin the season sidelined with an injury. Cooper averaged 10.8 points per game and averaged 38% from the three-point line with 41 made three-pointers.
X-Factors
A major X-Factor for the Purples this season will be their depth. Returning virtually every major contributor from last season, Coach Sherrill will have a plethora of options to throw at opponents. Seniors Jaxson Banks and Cobi Huddleston will provide both shooting touch and rebounding muscle for BG. Banks was second on the team in nearly every three-point shooting statistic (behind Buttry) and led the team at 82% from the free-throw line. Huddleston was the team’s second-leading rebounder at 5.2 rebounds per game.
Dates to Circle
January 23 vs. DeSales (@ Central Hardin) – Purples take one of the 6th Region favorites in the Will Harris Homes Winter Classic
February 20 vs. Fern Creek (@ Marshall County) – Bowling Green participates in the Marshall County Hoopfest and take on the 6th Region favorite and defending champion
February 26 vs. Ballard – 7th Region favorite visits Bowling Green
Consider This
Bowling Green is hungry to get back to Rupp Arena for the state tournament. The Purples finished as 4th Region runner-up to Warren Central in each of the last three seasons. BG tore off 15 straight wins midway through the 2019-20 campaign and also won its seventh-straight 14th District Tournament championship. The region title has eluded the Purples. However, the team looks poised to get back into the winner’s circle in 2021.
