Jim Mashek

SHERRILL CRACKS WISE: ‘We’ve GOT ANOTHER MONTH UNTIL WE PLAY AGAIN’

Monday night brought some shock waves to WKU’s historic E.A. Diddle Arena.

Barren County, the skilled, seasoned boys basketball squad from one county to the northeast, arrived on a mission.

Take out the KHSAA 4th Region Tournament favorite.

And the Trojans did just that, leading from start to finish in an impressive 58-44 victory over the three-time defending 4th Region champion.

There were no such fireworks on Tuesday night.

Oh, there were explosive plays. Plenty of wide-open, high-flyin’ action. Bowling Green High School had to wait to take its turn on the court, while Mayes Gosser and the Russell County Lakers were putting the finishing touches on a 57-48 triumph over Franklin-Simpson.

Then the Purples took the floor against the most unlikely 4th Region participant, the Glasgow Scotties. Another representative from Barren County.

Suspense?

Nah.

Intrigue?

Depends on which side of the arena you’re on.

Bowling Green left nothing to chance Tuesday night, forcing the Scotties into a frenetic second-quarter pace that settled the issue pretty quickly.

Bowling Green 80, Glasgow 53.

And now?

The question was posed to the colorful D.G. Sherrill, the Purples’ veteran coach.

“We’ve got another month until we play again,” Sherrill said.

It certainly might seem that way.

Lexington’s Rupp Arena will be playing host to NCAA men’s basketball first- and second-round games next week, and the KHSAA Girls Sweet 16 started to unfold on Wednesday morning.

So the Purples, Russell County — and, for that matter, Barren County and Clinton County — will get back in the gym, watch some film, tend to some injuries, and even bask in the spotlight.

Springtime in the Commonwealth revolves around basketball.

“We have a job to finish,” BGHS senior swingman Kadyn Carpenter said.

Bowling Green, looking to earn its first Sweet 16 berth since 2021, understands there’s no time like the present. And D.G. Sherrill was on hiatus the last time the Purples made it to Rupp, as former BGHS coach Derrick Clubb guided Bowling Green to the quarterfinals before dropping a 61-53 decision to Louisville’s Ballard High School.

Sherrill may have the kind of team that could follow suit.

Bowling Green certainly drew a favorable 4th Region first-round matchup, as the Scotties arrived at Diddle Arena with just five victories for the entire season.

“We understand what’s in front of us,” Sherrill said. “Us and (Warren) Central have had a lot of success (in the 4th Region Tournament);… You look ahead, and all of a sudden, you’re buying tickets for the next game …

“The only statistic we’re looking at is the final score.”

The arena scoreboard said it all, but Russell County coach Brandon Cooper provided some historical perspective after his team’s hard-fought victory over Franklin-Simpson.

“This is the first time since 2007 that the (KHSAA) 16th District has had both of its teams in the semifinal,” Cooper said.

There’s just gonna be a little wait.

The semifinals will unfold on Monday night, with the championship game set for Wednesday, March 19.

So sit back and enjoy the ride.

BOWLING GREEN 80, GLASGOW 53

The Purples used the first quarter to dust off some rust, after time away from competition, but then they turned on their jets.

They’ve got some serious quicks.

“We’ve just got to keep playing fast,” BGHS coach D.G. Sherrill said.

That’s what the Purples did, after outscoring Glasgow 29-8 in an electric second quarter.

They pressed, they trapped, they hit the boards and they got the ball to the open man in their half-court sets.

“We know teams are going to zone us,” Sherrill said.

That’s hard to do when Bowling Green is off to the races with an effective fast break.

“It was a good team effort,” Sherrill said. “I’m really proud of our guys. Just got to keep it moving.”

No one illustrated that mission more than BGHS senior guard Deuce Bailey, who will be playing quarterback in the fall at Missouri State University, which is on its way to Conference USA.

Meaning the Bears’ basketball team will be playing in E.A. Diddle Arena.

Bailey seemed to understand as much.

The 6-foot, 175-pound Bailey has a unique skill set, in football AND basketball, and those skills were on display Tuesday night against Glasgow.

“Deuce has got a lot of distractions,” Sherrill said. “He’s gonna be (an NCAA) Division I quarterback in two or three months. He’s a big part of our success. He played on another level tonight, found another gear out there.”

Sherrill knew Bowling Green would have some limitations for the 2024-25 season, after the departure of 6-foot-8 Mason Ritter to Columbia University and the Ivy League.

It’s taken a little time, but the Purples have adjusted accordingly.

Bailey played like a big man against the Scotties, challenging inside shots and hitting the boards. He was one of four BGHS players to score in double figures, with 14 points, but his real value was on defense. In less than 21 minutes, Bailey accumulated those 14 points, four rebounds, four assists and two of the Purples’ eight blocked shots.

(And a goaltend or two, if you’re keeping score.)

Four of the Purples’ starters — Bailey, Braylon Banks, Luke Idlett and Kadyn Carpenter — have been teammates since grade school. Banks is the tallest of ’em, at about 6-foot-1, but in reality, they’re all about the same size.

“We’re not passing the hotel ‘lobby test,'” BGHS coach D.G. Sherrill said with a smile.

Hurt joined Sherrill and Carpenter at the postgame press conference on Monday night, after a spectacular performance of his own. Hurt hit six of 11 shots and all four of his free throws, finishing with a game-high 16 points and eight rebounds. He added three steals and three assists, for good measure.

Then there’s Banks, the smooth Purples guard who stunned Warren Central, 61-59, with a deadly 3-pointer from the right wing on February 28 in the KHSAA 14th District championship game at the BGHS Arena.

Banks had 14 points himself, along with three rebounds, three steals and a couple assists. Carpenter added 14 points and five rebounds, and the Purples were never challenged after their second-quarter blitzkreig.

“We have a lot of guys that can shoot,” BGHS coach D.G. Sherrill said.

Both Sherrill and Glasgow coach Brandon Stockton emptied their benches in the game’s final minutes, and 11 Purples players scored on the night. Josiah Driver led the Scotties with 10 points, as Stockton’s squad finishes its season 5-23 overall. Glasgow squeezed into the 4th Region Tournament with an overtime victory over Warren East in 15th District semifinal play.

“Tough night for us,” Stockton said. “It’s been a long season … I’m really proud of the guys that got us here again. This senior group, a bunch of guys that everybody said couldn’t win, they’ve got a district championship, a district runner-up and have been to the 4th Region twice.

“I’m very proud of them.”

Bowling Green takes a 26-6 record into the 4th semifinals against Russell County (18-11).

RUSSELL COUNTY 57, FRANKLIN-SIMPSON 48

The Wildcats trailed by just four points, at 37-33, heading into the fourth quarter.

Senior guard Jakai Partinger seemed to have found an offensive groove. The Lakers were more effective on the boards, but Franklin-Simpson stayed within striking distance for most of the second half.

Then Russell County’s Mayes Gosser took over.

The Lakers’ three-sport star — football, basketball and baseball — started grabbing about every rebound in sight, and he was driving the lane and either scoring or getting fouled in the process. The Wildcats scrambled to stay in the game, but Gosser carried his team past the finish line.

The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Gosser finished with a game-high 16 points and 13 rebounds, playing the entire game until both coaches emptied their benches in the final minute.

“Towards the end, I knew we were starting to not hit our shots,” Gosser said. “I knew we had to get to the basket. Crash the boards.”

Or, as Russell County coach Brandon Cooper put it:

“Those cleanup points were HUGE,” he said. “We wanted to get it inside.”

Russell County’s Owen Loy finished with 13 points and six rebounds, and Lakers teammate Maddox Shearer added 12 points and three steals. Jakai Partinger led the Wildcats with 15 points, and teammates Jahmire Brooks and Cole Shearer each finished with six.

Franklin-Simpson, the 13th District champion, finishes its season at 11-14.

“Offensive rebounding was probably the difference in the game,” Wildcats coach Dee Spencer said. “After the first quarter (when the ‘Cats were outscored 22-12), I thought we played pretty well. The guys fought. You just have to make shots, that’s what it comes down to.”