Sports Weekly presented by Toyota of Hopkinsville airs at 5:08 this evening on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP. Todd Hamilton’s guests include Christian County Chamber of Commerce president Carter Hendricks with an update on the Hoptown Hoppers baseball team and previews of the 8^th district basketball championship games.

High School Basketball

8^th district girls:   For only the second time in school history, University Heights has advanced to the championship game following a 61-55 win over Christian County.

Dannika Prater led a trio of double figure scorers for the Lady Blazers with 28, Denayia Holmes added 13 and Cache Richardson pitched in 11. Christian County got 20 points from Martessia Williams and 13 from Jamesha Mosley. UHA improved to 22-5 with the win and Christian County closes the season 14-14.

Hopkinsville defeated Fort Campbell 65-36 in the other semifinal game. Christy Soldo led Hopkinsville with 20 points, Haley Cook added 19. Fort Campbell was led in scoring by Jenna Caracillo with 13. Hopkinsville improves to 27-4, while Fort Campbell finishes 4-18 on the season.

5^th district girls: Livingston Central defeated Crittenden County 61-32, Lyon County over Trigg County 55-40.

6^th district boys: Webster County defeated Union County 52-44.

7^th district: Girls—Caldwell County over Dawson Springs 63-48 Boys—Madisonville defeated Dawson Springs 81-24.

13^th district: Girls---Russellville defeated Logan County 47-39 Boys—Russellville over Franklin Simpson 55-50.

Tonight’s games

6^th district girls championship at Henderson County: Henderson County meets Webster County.

College Basketball

Top ranked Kentucky had one of its toughest tests of the season, but rallied from a 13 point halftime deficit with a 20-4 second half run to beat Mississippi State 73-64.

Michael Kidd-Gilchrist led five players in double figures with 18, Anthony Davis added 13, Darius Miller had 12 and Terrence Jones and Doron Lamb each had 11. Kentucky is now 27-1 on the season and 13-0 in the SEC and will host Vanderbilt Saturday, with pre game coverage at 9:30 on Lite 98.7.

A reminder, Coach John Calipari’s call in show and Big Blue Insider air beginning at 5 this evening on Lite 98.7.

Tonight’s games: SEC action has LSU at Georgia, Tennessee meets Ole Miss and Vanderbilt meets South Carolina.

Women’s action has Western Kentucky taking on Arkansas State.

College Football

Officials with the Franklin American Music City Bowl say last year’s game between Mississippi State and Wake Forest generated a 22 point two million dollar economic impact to Nashville. The Tennessean reports almost 37-thousand fans came to Nashville for the game, which generated over 25-thousand hotel room nights.

The close proximity of the schools also aided in boosting attendance and monetary impact. Last year’s game was the best showing since 2007, when the Kentucky-Florida State game produced a reported 27 point one million dollar impact.

NHL

Mike Fisher came up big for the Nashville Predators with a goal and two assists in aiding the Preds to a 3-1 win over Vancouver. The victory was the third for the Predators in four games. Nashville hosts St. Louis tomorrow night at seven, a game you can hear on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

A Henderson County High basketball player has been arrested in connection with a video made last month in the Henderson County locker room in which a minor is shown naked.

The Evansville Courier Press reports on its website 18-year-old Gavont Baker faces preliminary charges of video voyeurism and unlawful transaction with a minor. A Henderson police spokesperson says Baker was arrested Sunday and released on his own recognizance.

Charges indicate belief Baker showed the video to other students, but will not say if he was the one who shot the video. The video showed a fellow basketball player nude after getting out of a shower. Investigators say they believe 30 students have seen the video. Four players are under investigation in relation to the incident.

High School Basketball

8^th district boys:   Hopkinsville breezed to a 112-54 win over Fort Campbell. The Tigers had five players in double figures led by Tre Edwards with 15, Lawrence Smith had 14, DeMarius Henry and Jordan Majors with 13 each and Jaqualis Matlock added 11. Fort Campbell was led by Chase Hamilton with 12. Hopkinsville is now 28-2 on the season, while Fort Campbell finishes 5-21.

Christian County rallied from a seven point halftime deficit and defeated University Heights 66-60. The Colonels had four in double figures led by CJ Cotton with 18, Korey Mosley added 15, with Quan Poindexter and James White adding 11 each. Quadre White led University Heights and all scorers with 28. Christian County improved to 8-20 with the win, while University Heights finishes 14-12.

5^th district boys: Livingston Central over Crittenden County 56-49 and Lyon County edged Trigg County 84-81.

6^th district girls: Webster County defeated Union County 59-41.

7^th district:   Boys: Caldwell County defeated Hopkins Central 83-69 Girls:   Madisonville over Hopkins Central 55-41

13^th district:   Boys: Logan County defeated Todd Central 88-73 Girls: Todd Central over Franklin Simpson 55-35

Tonight’s games

8^th district girls at Christian County: Hopkinsville meets Fort Campbell at 6, followed by Christian County and University Heights. Coverage of both games with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 5:45 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

5^th district girls at Lyon County: Livingston Central meets Crittenden County and Lyon County goes against Trigg County.

6^th district boys at Henderson County: Union County meets Webster County.

7^th district at Caldwell County: Girls action has Dawson Springs meeting Caldwell County and boys action has Madisonville going against Dawson Springs.

13^th district at Russellville: Girls action has Russellville meeting Logan County, with Russellville meeting Franklin Simpson in boys action.

College Basketball

Top ranked Kentucky is back in action tonight at Mississippi State, with pre game coverage at 6:30 on Lite 98.7.  The Wildcats remain number one in both major college basketball polls, with Murray State 12^th in the ESPN/USA Today poll and 14th in the Associated Press poll. Louisville is 17^th in both polls.

Western Kentucky introduced Ray Harper as its new basketball coach during a pep rally Monday night at Diddle Arena. Harper had been serving as interim coach following the firing of Ken McDonald January 6^th.

Harper is 4-7 since taking over the Hilltopper program. Harper won four Division Two national championships while coaching at Kentucky Wesleyan and three NAIA Division One titles while head coach at Oklahoma City College. Harper will receive a four year contract with a base salary of 375-thousand dollars a year.

Women’s action last night had 8^th ranked Kentucky win over 24^th ranked Vanderbilt 70-61. Fourth ranked Notre Dame defeated Louisville 68-52.

NFL

The Tennessee Titans and the agent for cornerback Cortland Finnegan have finally broken their silence on contract talks, but the Tennessean reports neither have really said anything other than they are a wide ways apart on a new deal.

Finnegan has his Nashville residence on the real estate market, stating he feels like he will not be with the Titans for the 2012 season. Finnegan is scheduled to become a free agent March 13^th. The Titans have the option of placing a 10 point six million dollar franchise tag on Finnegan by March 5^th, but that is not expected to happen.

NHL

The Nashville Predators are back on the ice this evening, hosting the Vancouver Canucks. First puck drops at 7 in Bridgestone Arena.

The Tennessean reports the Predators have extended the contract of general manager David Poile through the 2014-15 season. Poile is the only general manager the franchise has had since beginning in the NHL in 1998.

High School Basketball

Post season play begins with district tournaments all across the Commonwealth this evening.

8^th district boys at Christian County:   Hopkinsville meets Fort Campbell at 6, followed by Christian County and University Heights. Coverage of both games with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 5:45 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

5^th district boys at Lyon County: Livingston Central meets Crittenden County at 6, with Trigg County and Lyon County to follow.

6th district girls at Henderson County:  Union County meets Webster County.

7^th district at Caldwell County: Madisonville meets Hopkins Central in girls action at 6 and Hopkins Central meets Caldwell County in boys action at 8.

13^th district at Russellville:   Todd Central meets Franklin Simpson in girls action at 6, with Todd Central meeting Logan County in boys action at 8.

High School Wrestling

Campbell County won the state championship this weekend at the Alltech Arena at Kentucky Horse Park. Union County finished second, Christian County finished 14^th, University Heights 32^nd, Fort Campbell 33^rd, Trigg County 40^th, Caldwell County 44^th and Hopkinsville 68^th.

Christian County had three medalists with JJ Killebrew second in the 113 division, Kory Polley third in the 145 division and Caleb Austin sixth in the 106 division. University Heights Wade Willen finished 4^th in the 126 division.

College Basketball

ESPN’s Dick Vitale was at Murray State Saturday for the Bracketbuster game against St. Mary’s, which the 14^th ranked Racers won 65-51. Vitale said he appreciated the outpouring from Racer Nation and added the Racers were having a special season and praised coach Steve Prohm on the job he has done. Vitale also said top ranked Kentucky would be one of his choices to win the national championship.

Speaking of Kentucky, Coach John Calipari’s call in show and Big Blue Insider move to Wednesday night this week beginning at 5 on Lite 98.7.   Kentucky plays at Mississippi State tomorrow night, with pre game coverage at 6:30 on Lite 98.7.

Ray Harper is no longer the interim basketball coach at Western Kentucky University. Harper—who replaced Ken McDonald January 6^th—will be officially introduced during a pep rally in Diddle Arena this evening. Harper is 4-7 since taking over the Hilltoppers. Harper was also head coach at Kentucky Wesleyan and Oklahoma City College.

Tonight’s action has 8^th ranked Kentucky meeting 24^th ranked Vanderbilt and number four Notre Dame at number 19 Louisville in women’s games.

College Football

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports CBS may not carry the Tennessee-Florida matchup this fall. It would be the first time in the 16 year history of the SEC on CBS the game would not be carried. The teams are scheduled to play September 15^th, the same day Alabama meets Arkansas, which the network may carry.

PGA Tour

Former UK golfer JB Holmes finished three shots off the lead at the Northern Trust Open, finishing the four day event at four under par, while Nashville’s Brandt Snedeker finished at one under par. Bill Haas won a two hole playoff over Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley. The three finished regulation at seven under.

After setting the Champions Tour scoring record in the first two rounds, Kenny Perry breezed to a five shot win over Bernhard Langer at the ACE Group Classic. Perry finished the three day event at 20 under par. Paducah’s Russ Cochran finished at 10 under par.

NHL

The Nashville Predators picked up a 3-2 over the Dallas Stars Sunday night. Colin Wilson had what proved to be the game winner late in the 2^nd period.

Western Kentucky University has removed the interim tag from basketball coach Ray Harper. Harper will be officially introduced in a pep rally Monday evening at 6 pm in Diddle Arena. Harper had been serving as interim coach since Ken McDonald was fired January 6th. Harper was previously an assistant for the Hilltoppers and before that was head coach at Kentucky Wesleyan and Oklahoma City. Todd Hamilton will have more on sports Monday morning, along with some comments from ESPN's Dick Vitale who worked the Murray State-St. Mary's game Saturday.