High School Basketball

Girls 2^nd region final: University Heights built up a 12 point first half lead, let the lead slip away and almost pulled out the game, losing to Henderson County 49-47. Denayia Holmes led the Lady Blazers with 14 points, followed by LeLe Grubbs and Cache Richardson each with 10 in finishing the season 24-8.

Henderson County was led by Macie Brown’s 19 second half points with Ellie Fruit adding 10. The Lady Colonels advance to next week’s Girls Sweet 16 to play the 8^th region winner with a record of 26-2.

University Heights had three players make the all tournament team. LeLe Grubbs, Denayia Holmes and Meg Starling were among the 12 players selected.

1^st region final: Marshall County edged Murray 41-39 and will face Letcher County Central of the 14^th region next Thursday night at 6:30 at the Girls Sweet 16.

4^th region final: Bowling Green rolled over Allen County Scottsville 81-34 and will open the tournament next Wednesday at noon against 5^th region winner and the number one team in the state Marion County.

Boys Sweet 16:   The Hopkinsville Tigers are in action this evening at Rupp Arena meeting 8^th region winner South Oldham. The Tigers are in the Sweet 16 for the second consecutive year, while it’s the first appearance ever for South Oldham.

The game tips off around 7 Hopkinsville time following the first game of the evening session which features 1^st region winner Graves County going against 3^rd region winner Ohio County. Coverage of both games begins at 5:15 this afternoon on Newstalk WHOP.

Today’s opening game at 11 am Hopkinsville time has Madison Central meeting Wayne County, with Pleasure Ridge Park meeting Holmes in the second game.

Former Christian County coach Kerry Stovall has been selected to the KABC Court of Honor representing the 1^st and 2^nd regions. Stovall led Christian County to the 2011 state championship. He along with current Muhlenberg County coach Tony Hopper who will represent regions 3 and 4 will be honored during this week’s Boys Sweet 16.

Three members of the state champion Heritage Christian Academy boys basketball team have been selected to play for the West All Star team in the Kentucky Christian Athletic Association All Star game. Nathan Workman, Arron Workman and Alex Walker will play and HCA coaches Ricky P'Pool and Mickey Allen will coach in the game at North Hardin Christian School March 9^th at 10 am Hopkinsville time.

Nikita Platero and Jessica Newton of HCA have been selected to play on the West All Star team in the KCAA Girls All Star game also to be played March 9^th at 2 pm Hopkinsville time at North Hardin Christian School.

High School Baseball: One area team is scheduled to see action today as Christian County opens its season hosting Trigg County.

College Basketball

SEC action this evening includes LSU playing Texas A&M, Vanderbilt meets 11^th ranked Florida and Tennessee goes against Auburn.

Top 25 action includes 13^th ranked Oklahoma State meeting Iowa State.

The Ohio Valley Conference women’s tournament begins today in Nashville as Murray State meets Eastern Kentucky at Municipal Auditorium.

The Ohio Valley Conference announced its men’s post season awards Tuesday. Murray State’s Isaiah Cannan and Belmont’s Ian Clark were named co-players of the year. Clark was also named the league’s defensive player of the year.

Austin Peay’s Chris Horton was named freshman of the year, with Belmont’s Rick Byrd named coach of year.

Members of the All OVC first team included Isaiah Cannan and Ed Daniel of Murray State, with Austin Peay’s Travis Betran and Chris Horton named to the All Newcomer team.

Kentucky’s basketball program will be featured in an upcoming documentary. The Courier Journal reports TruTV will show an hour long program “Bluegrass Kingdom-The Gospel of Kentucky Basketball”, March 17^th after the NCAA tournament field is announced.

The show will feature interviews with coach John Calipari, former players Michael Kidd-Gilchrist and Pat Riley. The program will look at notable periods and figures in the history of Kentucky basketball.

College Football

It was announced Tuesday Kentucky’s football game at Mississippi State this season will be played on a Thursday evening. The game is scheduled for 6:30 Hopkinsville time on October 24^th and will be televised on ESPN.

The Tennessean reports that Vanderbilt’s season opening football game with Ole Miss has been moved to Thursday August 29^th to accommodate ESPN. The game at Vanderbilt Stadium will kick off at 7:15 pm.

Austin Peay is beginning the interviewing process to find a new football coach. A news release from the school Tuesday said interviews would begin today. The candidates being considered are current interim coach Granville Eastman, Kirby Cannon, Andy McCollum, Mike Markuson, Ashley Ingram and Lance Leopold.

Only one of the candidates has head coaching experience, as Andy McCollum was head coach at Middle Tennessee from 1999-2005. Austin Peay is searching for a replacement for Rick Christophel, who resigned in January to become the tight ends coach for the Arizona Cardinals of the NFL.

NHL: Forward Zach Boychuk is heading to the Nashville Predators.  The Preds have claimed the 23-year-old off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Boychuk is scoreless in eight NHL games with the Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes this season.  The 14th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft has seven goals and 11 assists in 80 career games.