(by Don Meador)
The Allen County-Scottsville Lady Patriots (21-) ---the District 15 runner-up---will open the 2026 Region 4 basketball tournament against District 16 winner Cumberland County (24-6) at 8 p.m. on Monday, March 2 at E.A. Diddle Arena on the campus of Western Kentucky University.
The Lady Patriots and Lady Panthers met on Tuesday, February 3 in Scottsville with Cumberland County prevailing, 66-46. In the game, Avery Morris led the way for the Lady Patriots, scoring 22 points before leaving the game early in the second half with an ankle injury. Cumberland County was led in scoring by Abby Morgan’s 18 with Madi Cooksey adding 14. Keagan Walden and Kenzie Willen also scored in double figures.
AC-S enters the regional as winners in six of their last seven games. Their lone setback was to Barren County, 63-58, on Thursday in the District 15 championship tilt. Down 21 points to the Trojanettes at one point, the Lady Patriots rallied to close to within three in the fourth quarter before Barren County pulled away for the five-point win. This is AC-S’s second regional appearance in three years. The Lady Patriots are seeking their first region championship since 2015 and their ninth regional crown in program history.
Cumberland County has won nine of their last 10 since dropping a 63-49 contest at Barren County on February 2. Their only loss was a one-point game at Green County. The Lady Panthers won the District 16 title with a 49-48 win over Monroe County this week. This is the Lady Panthers second consecutive region berth. Cumberland County---which lost to Barren County in the opening round in 2025---is seeking their first-ever regional championship.
The regional tournament starts Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. when District 14 champion Bowling Green (17-13) faces District 16 runner-up Monroe County (20-9). The game will be followed by District 15 champion Barren County (29-2) pitted against District 13 runner-up Logan County (17-15). Monday evening’s first game at 6:30 has District 13 winner and defending regional champion Franklin-Simpson (21-7) battling District 14 runner-up Greenwood (15-16).
The Region 4 semifinals are scheduled for Friday, March 6 at 6:30 and 8:30. The championship game will be at 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 7. The region 4 winner plays the champion of Region 6 in the first round of this year’s Clark’s Pump-N-Shop state tournament. The game will be at 11:00 a.m. (EDT) on March 12 at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
Admission will be $10.00 per person with children five and under admitted free. There will be no presale tickets sold; all tickets must be purchased at WKU’s ticket offices at Diddle Arena on game day. Cash is preferred but credit cards will be accepted at Gate 1 only. Parking is $5.00 per car at Western’s parking structures adjacent to Diddle Arena. Free parking is available at Western’s Creason Lot (near the softball field) or the Adams Street Lot off of University Blvd. on the northwest side of the campus.