High School Basketball

Boys: 8^th district action saw Christian County entertain Hopkinsville Friday night. Todd Hamilton was on hand and has more in this report:

In other action: University Heights won over Fort Campbell in 8^th district play 81-58, Russellville edged Franklin Simpson 57-54, Trigg County beat Livingston Central 67-63, Lyon County over Crittenden County 69-57, Calloway County defeated Murray 77-57, Paducah Tilghman over Ballard Memorial 62-49.

Girls: Logan County edged Todd Central 39-36, Livingston Central over Trigg County 39-22, Caldwell County over Hopkins Central 67-51, Murray defeated Calloway County 57-40, Marshall County over Graves County 51-33.

Today’s games: It’s a triple header on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM. Heritage Christian Academy has a double header with the Lady Warriors hosting Community Christian at 3:30, followed by the Warriors meeting Belmont Christian around 5, with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 3:20. Then at 7:15 this evening, its 8^th district girls basketball as Christian County hosts University Heights.

College Basketball: Fresh from its Thursday night win over Vanderbilt, Kentucky returns to action this afternoon hosting Texas A&M, with pre game coverage at 1:30 on Lite 98.7.

Elsewhere in the SEC:   Vanderbilt goes to Arkansas, Tennessee is at Alabama and LSU takes on Florida.

Western Kentucky entertains Florida Atlantic in a men’s-women’s doubleheader and Austin Peay hosts Murray State in a men’s-women’s doubleheader.

Louisville welcomes Big East rival South Florida to the KFC/Yum Center. Chane Behanan could be available for the Cardinals today, after sitting out Wednesday night’s game at Seton Hall with a high ankle sprain.

College Football: Kentucky coach Mark Stoops announced Friday the hiring of Tommy Mainord as wide receivers coach. Mainord spent the last three seasons at Texas Tech, working with new UK offensive coordinator Neal Brown.

The Wildcats also received good news on the recruiting front Friday, receiving a commitment from offensive-defensive lineman Lovell Peterson. Peterson will likely play offense on the collegiate level and is the 6^th best center in the nation according to Rivals.com.

UCLA coach Jim Mora has agreed to a one-year contract extension through the 2017 season, the university announced Friday, ending speculation Mora would leave for another job.

Mora, hired before last season, originally signed a five-year, $12 million deal. Terms of the additional year were not released, but the extension sends a clear message that Mora is committed to rebuilding the UCLA football program despite reports that he was being sought by other schools and NFL teams.

According to multiple reports, the San Diego Chargers recently inquired about Mora as a possible replacement for their vacant head coaching position.

NFL: There’s two games on the playoff schedule today, the AFC game has Baltimore at Denver at 3:30 this afternoon, with the NFC game featuring San Francisco against Green Bay this evening.

Tomorrow’s action has Seattle at Atlanta in the NFC, with Houston at New England in the AFC, with coverage of both games beginning at 11:30 am on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

PGA Tour: Paducah’s Russ Cochran fired another 68 Friday at the Sony Open of Hawaii. Cochran stands at four under par and tied for 35th, with rookie Russell Henley the leader at 14 under after a second straight 63. Henley’s two strokes ahead of first round leader and fellow rookie Scott Langley and Scott Piercy. Matt Kuchar is in fourth place at 11 under par.