Unfamiliar Foes

Russell County is looking for its first appearance in the title game since 2013, while Bowling Green has featured in eleven-straight. Interestingly enough, the 2013 region championship was the last time the Purples failed to reach the finale. Although coach DG Sherrill’s program has won five titles in the last eleven seasons, the 2025 group is seeking to ensure that every graduating class since 2009 has won at least one 4th Region championship while at Bowling Green.

Former Indiana Pacer and Chicago Bull Terry Taylor led the way with 18 points and 10 rebounds as the Purples advanced to the 4th Region championship game with a 61-55 victory over Russell County. Thomas Booker added 14 points for BG, and Kyran Jones grabbed ten rebounds. The Purples would go on to defeat Barren County in the region finale and reach the state quarterfinals.

Anyone trying to slow down the Purples this spring will have to play elite defense for 32 minutes. Coach Sherrill’s club ranks second in the state in field goal percentage (54.7%) and is first in three-point field goal percentage (46.7%). Senior Joseph Hurt has made the most of his first season at BG and is having a dominating postseason, including a team-high 17 points in the district title game over Warren Central and 16 points over Glasgow in the region quarterfinals. With six players averaging at least eight points per game, the Purples can attack defenses in ways that other teams cannot. The best example may have been in the win over the Scotties, as BG poured in 29 points in the second quarter alone to put the game away before halftime. Braylon Banks (14 points) and Kadyn Carpenter (14 points) helped ensure the Purples advanced to the semifinals.

On the Lakers’ side, the 16th District runners-up are led by longtime stalwarts, Mayes Gosser and Owen Loy. The senior duo came on to the scene as eighth-graders during the 2020-21 campaign, earning a spot on the Sporting Times’ All-Freshman Team. Now in their final season together, Gosser and Loy have brought Russell County back to the region tournament (first time since 2017) and within a breath of the championship game. Gosser, a forward, poured in 19 points and 16 rebounds in the region quarterfinals. Both Gosser and Loy are averaging around 17 points per game and will need to hit their averages (and maybe more) to give the Lakers a chance at advancing.

As noted at the top of this article, Bowling Green has played in the last eleven region championship games – dating back to 2014. Also mentioned was the fact that every graduating class since 2009 has played in the state tournament. Will the 2025 class be the next to etch their name in the record books at BG? While we won’t know if this record is extended on Monday night, we will know whether or not another streak is set. Will the Purples be in their twelfth-straight finale on Wednesday evening or will the Lakers be in their first since 2013?

The way Bowling Green is clicking right now makes this an easy pick. Russell County will hang around for much longer than the Scotties were able to, but I foresee the Purples pulling away with a big third-quarter run and winning this game.

Bowling Green’s average win margin of 16.5 points per game ranks among the state’s elite (tied for eighth at the time of publication)

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