Sporting Times Top Ten
Boys Basketball
Week 10
School Record Last Week
- Bowling Green 16-2 1
Outlook: Bowling Green got back to its winning ways in Week 9, winning four games in four tries, all by double digits. An 11-point road victory in Scottsville was followed by a three home wins over Owensboro (76-56), North Oldham (56-39), and Paducah Tilghman (57-47). Turner Buttry missed the first two contests but returned for the games with North Oldham and Paducah Tilghman – scoring in double figures both nights. Jacobi Huddleston has had a great second half to the season: the senior scored 17 points and grabbed 12 rebounds in the win over ACS, had 15 and 8 against Owensboro, and a team-high 18 and 8 over North Oldham. His presence inside makes the Purples that much bigger than nearly every opponent it faces. Bowling Green wraps up its regular season on Monday with a district game against Warren East. The team will then travel to Franklin on Tuesday as they close the regular season playing one of the top teams in the 4th Region.
2. Clinton County 18-3 2
Outlook: Clinton County had an exhilarating week as it reached the finals of the All A Classic where it lost to St. Henry. The trio of Nick Delk, Blake Melton, and Nick Brown scored in double figures against both Evangel Christian in the semifinals and against St. Henry in the title game. Although the Bulldogs came up one game short of a tournament championship, coach Todd Messer’s crew earned some valuable experience that will prepare them for the upcoming postseason. Clinton is scheduled to host Somerset Christian on Tuesday before ending its regular season at Pulaski County on Thursday evening. The Bulldogs begin their 16th District title defense on Sunday against 4-seed Cumberland County.
3. Franklin-Simpson 12-2 3
Outlook: Franklin-Simpson went 3-0 in Week 9 (after achieving the same thing in Week 8) with wins over Logan County, Todd County Central, and Monroe County. None of those teams are currently in the ST Power Rankings; however, the Wildcats have now won seven-straight games and twelve out of their last thirteen. Coach Dee Spencer’s club will host Bowling Green on Tuesday for what will be the final game of the regular season.
4. Warren Central 7-5 5
Outlook: Warren Central seems to be hitting its stride at just the right time. The Dragons have now won three-straight games by a combined 101 points. Against a tough LaRue County squad, WC was led by Jace Carver’s 20 points as they breezed by the. Hawks, 64-42. The Dragons will play two final warmup games before the 14th District Tournament – an away contest at Adair County on Tuesday and a home game with Muhlenberg County on Thursday. The Mustangs sit atop the 3rd Region at 14-1.
5. South Warren 13-5 7
Outlook: Winners of three straight and six out of their last seven, the South Warren Spartans are also peaking at just the right time with the calendar changing to March. In Week 9, coach Jason Holland’s club went 3-0, defeating Daviess County, Logan County, and Warren East by 10+ points. The Spartans do not have to rely heavily on any one player. In what may seem like a redundant storyline, South is led in scoring by a different player nearly every night. In the Daviess County and Logan County victories, Luke Burton and Tayshaun Jones paced the club; however, against Warren East, Caden Veltkamp and Brandon Rowe were the top scorers. Not a single player averages more than 9.2 points per game, and five players average at least 5.8 points per contest.
6. Metcalfe County 15-7 9
Outlook: Metcalfe County has responded convincingly after a 72-48 loss at the hands of Franklin-Simpson on February 22. The Hornets crushed Campbellsville before coming back to beat Greenwood by five at home, blowing by Allen County-Scottsville by 38 points, and Glasgow by eight. Metcalfe is rolling. The Hornets’ big 4 are killing it on the hardwood. In Week 9, Boston Devore scored 21 against Greenwood, Jax Allen scored 22 and Wyatt Blythe scored 21 against ACS, and Peyton Dial scored 21 in the team’s win over Glasgow. Teams with four lethal scoring options are always a tough out in March.
7. Barren County 17-7 6
Outlook: Barren County went 2-1 in Week 9 but took a 26-point loss at Madison Central in Richmond on Saturday. Mason Griggs led the way for the Trojans in a 67-24 win over Caverna last week. The junior went 9-for-10 from the field (9-for-9 on two-pointers, 5-for-5 from the line) and scored 23 points. The Trojans travel to Grayson County on Tuesday before hosting Glasgow next Monday in the opening round of the 15th District Tournament.
8. Allen County-Scottsville 12-6 4
Outlook: Allen County-Scottsville played Bowling Green well on Tuesday night but was blown out by Metcalfe County on Thursday to drop to 12-6. In the 65-54 defeat to the Purples, Jax Cooper hit three three-pointers and led the Patriots with 17 points and seven rebounds. ACS will close its regular season schedule with road games at Greenwood (Tuesday) and Cumberland County (Thursday). The Gators and Patriots played a triple overtime thriller (96-93 GHS) on January 9.
9. Greenwood 13-10 8
Outlook: Had Greenwood finished off its road game at Metcalfe County with a victory (although they were without coach Will McCoy), a strong case could be made for Greenwood to be ranked in the top five this week. The Gators knocked off 3rd Region favorite, Owensboro Catholic, and a strong Ohio County club in Week 9. Cade Stinnett came ready to play in another big game, as the junior scored 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting in Greenwood’s 75-62 win over Owensboro Catholic. Stinnett scored at least 20 points in all three games and is making a strong case to be named first team All-Region. Aaron Brown went 8-for-10 from the field to score 20 points and grab 11 rebounds in the loss at Metcalfe County.
10. Russell County 12-12 10
Outlook: Russell County has won three of its last four games to climb back to .500 just in time for the 16th District Tournament. The dynamic duo of Jay Milburn and Scott Hamm continue to be too much for opponents to handle. Hamm has a slight edge in points per game (13.9-13.8), while Milburn edges Hamm in rebounds with 8.8 (to 8.4). The Lakers close the regular season with tough tests against South Warren and Glasgow. Next Monday they will play Metcalfe County in the opening round of the district tournament.
Next Team Up: Russellville, Glasgow
