Bowling Green looks to continue run on Wednesday against Adair County
By Perry Swack
Adair County Indians (30-5) vs. Bowling Green Purples (28-6)
March 26, 2025 – 11:00 AM (EST) – KHSAA First Round
Storylines abound for the Bowling Green Purples’ basketball program as they make their first trip to the UK HealthCare Boys’ Sweet 16 since 2021. The Purples’ 66-59 victory over Clinton County in the 4th Region championship game ensured that every graduating class since 2009 has won at least one region title with the program. With one streak in the rearview mirror, coach D.G. Sherrill’s crew can focus on a new one. Dating back to 2014, Bowling Green has won at least one game in its five appearances in the state tournament . Of course, the last time that Coach Sherrill was on the Rupp Arena floor, the longtime BG headman was cutting down the nets with the 2017 Purples.
FIRST TIME OUT
Bowling Green defeated Clinton County, 66-59, in the 4th Region Championship Game
Adair County defeated North Hardin 62-48, in the 5th Region Championship Game
LAST MEETING | December 14, 2024
Adair County handed Bowling Green one of its six losses back in December, a 61-57 victory over the Purples at Barren County High School. Senior Connor Loy led the way with 20 points and 9 rebounds, while Isaiah Cochran chipped in 16 points. BG’s Joe Hurt led all scorers with 32 points (on 10-of-13 shooting), and Braylon Banks added 20. Bowling Green was without Deuce Bailey and Jace Wardlow in this meeting.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
Adair County enters the state tournament on a ten-game winning streak, winning 22 of 23 games to end the season. Coach Deron Breeze and his club are very familiar with the 4th Region. The Indians went 6-3 against the 4th this season, including the aforementioned victory over BG, a two-point loss to Warren Central, a split with Russell County, and a 26-point win over region semifinalist Barren County. Many area fans may remember Breeze from 2014-15, his lone season at South Warren. He is now finishing up his 10th year in Columbia and has the Indians in the state tournament for consecutive seasons for the first time since 1955.
Four players average better than 9.4 points per game, led by Loy’s 20.4 points per game. Cochran is the team’s second-leading scorer at 16.6 points per contest and leading rebounder at 7.8. Breeze utilizes an eight-man rotation, with seven seniors in the lineup.
On paper, the Purples and Indians are eerily similar. The two clubs are ranked in the state’s top 3 in field goal percentage (BG 54.7%, AC 54%) and are tied for eighth in win margin at 16.5 points per victory. Adair is averaging 74 points per game, while Bowling Green is a shade below at 71.4 points per contest. Both teams make their free throws at an equal rate of 71.3%.
The game plan for Adair County may be to keep the Purples off the three-point line, where they shoot better than every team in the Commonwealth at 46.7%. BG never hit more than seven three-pointers in a 4th Region Tournament game; however, the Purples ability to find the open shot led to the club shooting 50% in all three victories. Coach D.G. Sherrill’s club also found their way to the charity stripe 67 times, converting 56 of those tries at a clip of 83%. If Bowling Green is able to continue its hot shooting at all three levels, it will be a hard out in Lexington.
Utilizing a seven-man rotation (with six seniors), the Purples have an array of options on the offensive end. In the region tournament, the team had a different leading scorer in every game. Hurt led the way in the region quarterfinal with 16 points before Banks scored 21 in the semifinal, and sharpshooter Luke Idlett tallied 21 in the finals.
PREDICTION
After another week of practice for both teams following their region titles, the Purples and Indians will be ecstatic to finally take the court for some meaningful basketball. The extended basketball postseason means there has been more than a month since district tournaments began in late February. Although both of these teams have the ability to score at will, I foresee a tight game in the mid-to-low 60s being played. The Indians are 10-5 in single-digit games this season, while the Purples are 6-4. Both teams have proven they can win close games, most notably in each club’s district championship games (BG 61-59 over Warren Central, Adair 70-67 over Taylor County).
After combining for 52 of the Purples’ 57 points in the December meeting, I expect Joe Hurt and Braylon Banks to again have monster games. The addition of versatile wings Jace Wardlow and Deuce Bailey will be enough to push the Purples into the quarterfinals on Friday morning.
Bowling Green 64, Adair County 60
STATs TO KNOW | 24-0
Bowling Green is 24-0 this season when they score at least 64 points in a contest
Photo Credit: BGHS-Athletics