SPORTS HEADLINES 3.15.12

Boys Sweet 16

Poor shooting and turnovers sent the Hopkinsville Tigers out of the PNC/KHSAA Boys Sweet 16 Wednesday. The Tigers fell to Southwestern 51-42. Hoptown shot 28.3 percent for the game and turned the ball over 25 times.

Hopkinsville was led in scoring by Jordan Majors with 18 and Demarius Henry with 10 in finishing the season 32-3, while Southwestern moves to the quarterfinals with a 28-8 record and will face Rowan County in the first quarterfinal game Friday. The Vikings defeated North Laurel 64-46.

The evening session Wednesday saw Trinity defeat Bullitt East 52-32 and Clark County win over 3rd region representative Apollo 56-36. Trinity and Clark County will play the second quarterfinal game Friday afternoon.

Today’s games:   4th region winner Bowling Green meets Oldham County of the 8th region at 11 am Hopkinsville time, with Boone County and Knott County Central in the second afternoon game.

Tonight’s games have 1st region winner Marshall County meeting Scott County at 5:30, with John Hardin and Johnson Central in the nightcap. Coverage of both games begins at 5:15 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

High School Baseball:   University Heights hosts Russellville, Fort Campbell at Stewart County, TN, Trigg County welcomes Mayfield, Madisonville hosts Muhlenberg County, Caldwell County entertains Henderson County.

High School Softball:   University Heights hosts Paducah Tilghman,

College Basketball

The NCAA tournament begins today across the nation.

Louisville: Murray State meets Colorado State in opening round play in the West Region at 11:15 am. The Racers bring a 30-1 record into the contest, while Colorado State of the Mountain West Conference is 20-11.

Top seed Kentucky meets instate rival Western Kentucky in the opening game of the South Region at 5:50 pm. The Wildcats bring a 32-2 record into the game, while Western is 16-18. Pre game coverage begins at 4 on Lite 98.7.

Portland: The Louisville Cardinals meets Davidson in their first game of the West Regional. The Cards are 26-9, while Davidson is 25-7. Tip off is at 12:40 pm Hopkinsville time.

Albuquerque:   Vanderbilt meets Harvard in its first game of the East Regional. The Commodores are 24-10, while Harvard is 26-4. Tip off at 3:40 pm Hopkinsville time.

Last night in the First Four in Dayton: Vermont defeated Lamar 71-59 and South Florida defeated Cal 65-54.

The Courier Journal reports Western Kentucky is showing interest in Rowan County High senior guard DJ Townsend. Townsend is averaging 18 points per game and scored 11 for the Vikings in their win over North Laurel at the Sweet 16 Wednesday. Teammate Adam Wing has already signed with Evansville.

As the Tennessee Lady Vols get set to face UT Martin in the first round of the Women’s NCAA Tournament, coach Pat Summitt says she has made no decision about her coaching future.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports Summitt said following practice Wednesday her focus was on winning another national championship. Summitt announced last August she had early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

College Football

The Tennessean reports Vanderbilt has completed its investigation into tampering charges against former Maryland quarterback Danny O’ Brien. Coach James Franklin said Wednesday it would be inappropriate for him to say anything on the matter.

Vice Chancellor of Athletics David Williams says the report has been forwarded to the Southeastern Conference and the report was done internally because at worst it would be a secondary NCAA violation.

NFL

Free agent quarterback Peyton Manning spent eight hours Wednesday meeting with Tennessee Titans officials. Now the waiting begins to see if Manning will choose the Titans or Denver, Arizona or Miami as his next destination. Manning reportedly has no time table to make a decision, but could make it in the next few days.

NHL

The Nashville Predators return to action this evening at San Jose, with first puck to drop at 9:30.