Bowling Green, Warren Central advance to 4th Region championship
Every day is one day closer to the Sweet 16. The highly anticipated “Road to Rupp” that teams across 120 counties strive to reach is right around the corner.
The 4th Region semifinals have reached its end, with the favorites in Bowling Green and Warren Central winning their respective games on Monday night.
Tonight’s championship at WKU will decide who advances from the 4th Region and embarks on their journey to Lexington, but for now, let’s break down the action from the semifinals to see how we got to this point.
No. 7 Bowling Green 68, Cumberland County 34
The No. 7 Bowling Green Purples (29-5) bested Cumberland County (18-14) 68-34 in blowout fashion. Deuce Bailey led the Purples in scoring with 13 points, also tallying three steals and two boards. MJ and Jace Wardlow followed with 10 points and two boards a piece.
The Purples have set the pace in almost every game they’ve played this season, and this game was no different. After a tight first couple of minutes, Bowling Green settled into its rhythm and flowed through the rest of the game. They’re the type of team that can double your score, and do it subtly, because it’s just another game for the Purples.
The first quarter was slower for the Purples, but they closed it at 12-4 with an eight-point gap. They found their groove in the second quarter, scoring 21 points alone and getting guys like Bailey and Braylon Banks in the mix. With their offense on display, the Purples closed the second half ahead 33-10.
The third quarter featured more of the same, including multiple fast break points like this one from MJ Wardlow.
After ending the third with a big 49-26 lead, Bowling Green was able to give their bench some minutes in the fourth and get their starters off of their feet. It worked out for the Purples, and they eventually ended with a score doubling that of their opponent, 68-34.
Cumberland County was not short on effort, but they just weren’t able to stop Bowling Green offensively. The Purples had 16 points off turnovers and 18 points from fast breaks compared to the Panthers’ two points in either category. They seized their opportunities to score, which is what landed them in the championship game.
Warren Central 71, Glasgow 36
Defending state champion Warren Central (16-11) soared past Glasgow (11-17) 71-36 to secure their spot in the 4th Region Championship game.
It was a slow start for the Dragons. Glasgow stepped onto the court with a mission and kept up with the Dragons through the first quarter thanks to players such as senior guard JC Walbert and sophomore forward Landon Minton.
The Dragons relied on seniors Drevin Bratton and Elijah Starks to get momentum on their side. Bratton totaled 18 points, five boards, and two steals while Starks tallied 17 points, 14 boards and three steals. The pair were huge contributors to the Dragons’ win.
After gaining a comfortable lead at 38-19 to close the first half, the Dragons came out of the locker room looser and more comfortable taking shots.
Nearly halfway through the fourth, both Warren Central and Glasgow looked to their bench to finish out the game. Glasgow’s hustle was evident, but the Dragons were determined to make it to the championship game by all means. The final score landed at 71-36.
4th Region Championship Game
The 4th Region Championship will feature a rematch between Bowling Green and Warren Central for the third consecutive year. The Dragons have advanced to the Sweet 16 for the past two years, but Bowling Green might be able to snap that streak and head back to Lexington for the first time since 2021.
It’s all happening on Tuesday, March 12 at 6:00 p.m. EST in Western Kentucky University’s Diddle Arena.
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