Warren Central enters the boys Fourth Region Tournament as the clear favorite and will take on the biggest underdog Thursday.

Central (22-7), the two-time defending region champions, will face 9-21 Clinton County at 8 p.m. on Thursday. The tournament opens at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at E.A. Diddle Arena when Bowling Green (17-10) meets Monroe County (19-8) and Barren County (23-5) faces Franklin-Simpson (13-15) at 8 p.m.

Russellville (16-11) battles Allen County-Scottsville (20-8) in Thursdays opener at 6 p.m. and is arguably the best first-round game of the tournament.

The semifinals are set for Friday at 6:30, with the championship scheduled for 8 p.m. Saturday.

Warren Central has not faced Clinton County, the District 16 runner-up and loser of nine of its last 10 games. But Central coach Tim Riley only needs to talk to his family for a Clinton County scouting report. Clinton County lost its regular-season finale 67-65 at Barren County, coached by Rileys brother, Steve.

Well make some calls and Ill talk to (Steve) about them, Riley said. We know (the region tournament) is hard to win and I fully expect this one will be too.

Bowling Green has experience with its first-round opponent, Monroe County. The Purples defeated the District 16 champions 69-54 in Tompkinsville earlier this season. The win helped jumpstart a streak that saw BGHS win nine of 10 games.

I was excited we get to play on the first day, BGHS coach Aaron Beth. Because the region is so balanced behind Warren Central, theres no preference who to play. I just wanted to play the first night, so you dont have to wait till Thursday and then play three days in a row if youre fortunate enough to get to the final.

The girls Fourth Region Tournament pairings were also drawn Sunday, with a new format. All four first-round games will be Saturday beginning at 10:30 a.m. when Warren Central (14-12) meets Glasgow (6-19). Other first-round matchups include Logan County (17-11) vs. Clinton County (23-8) at noon, Barren County (22-5) vs. Bowling Green (17-12) at 2:30 p.m. and Monroe County (24-5) vs. Franklin-Simpson (22-7) at 4 p.m.

The move to play all four first-round games Saturday was done in order to play both tournaments at Diddle Arena.

Court time was limited because the Sun Belt Conference Tournaments doesnt end until Tuesday and the girls tournament must be over by March 16.

I havent made my mind up yet if I like it, Central coach Todd Steward said. Its really hard to find a good fit when youre in a town thats going to host the Sun Belt.

BGHS coach Jason Kupchella added, It takes away the advantage if the first round was on two days and you play on the first day, which is good. And you can make a day out of the whole thing, camp out there and scout.

The girls semifinals will be March 15 at 6:30 and 8 p.m. with the championship game March 16 at 7 p.m.

Both Warren Central and Bowling Green have faced their first-round opponents. Central beat Glasgow 72-54, while Bowling Green lost 61-56 at Barren County earlier this year. BGHS did beat Barren County 48-46 in the 2002 Fourth Region Tournament opener.

We seem to get Barren a lot, Kupchella said. Its going to be a battle as it always is with them.

Barren County and Bowling Green are in the bottom half of the bracket that includes three of the regions four 20-win teams. The winner would face either Monroe County or Franklin-Simpson, who will meet in what could be the most intriguing opener. Franklin-Simpson fell 59-58 at Monroe County earlier this year.