High School Basketball

The Houchens Industries/KHSAA Girls Sweet 16 began Wednesday in Bowling Green.

4^th region representative Glasgow lost to Butler 54-49, 11^th region winner Dunbar had to go to overtime to defeat Boone County 72-70, 7^th region representative Manual—one of the pre tournament favorites--held off Perry County Central 50-41 and 3^rd region representative Muhlenberg County fell to Montgomery County 60-43.

Today’s games: 2^nd region representative Hopkinsville makes its first ever appearance in the Sweet 16 against 1^st region winner Marshall County. The Lady Tigers are 31-4, while Marshall County is 27-8. The teams played during the regular season with Hopkinsville winning 60-49.

Tip off at noon at EA Diddle Arena, with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 11:40 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

Other games have Marion County meeting Walton Verona this afternoon, with Magoffin County going against Ashland Blazer and Lincoln County meeting Clay County this evening.

The Kentucky High School Athletics Association announced Wednesday Houchens Industries has signed a five year extension to remain the sponsor of the Girls Sweet 16. The new deal runs out in 2015. Houchens has been the corporate sponsor of the Girls Sweet 16 since 2000.

College Basketball

The Louisville Cardinals got off to a flying start in the Big East tournament in New york defeating Seton Hall 61-55. Peyton Siva led the Cards with 14 points. Louisville meets second seed Marquette this evening at Madison Square Garden.

The Southeastern Conference tournament begins today at the New Orleans Arena.

LSU meets Arkansas at noon, with the winner to face top seed Kentucky at noon Friday.  Alabama meets South Carolina, Ole Miss plays Auburn this evening with the winner to face second seed Tennessee tomorrow, while Mississippi State meets Georgia in the nightcap, with the winner to meet Vanderbilt Friday night.

College Football

Former Tennessee assistant Eric Russell—who left the Vols in December to accept a coaching position at Washington State—says uncertainty contributed toward his decision to leave Knoxville. The Knoxville News Sentinel—citing a report from the Spokane Spokesman Review—says Russell claims being closer to his hometown in Idaho had nothing to do with leaving UT.

NHL

The Nashville Predators are back in action this evening, hosting the Colorado Avalanche at Bridgestone Arena. Coverage of the game begins at 7 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

PGA Tour

Nashville native Brandt Snedeker is in the field for the WGC-Cadillac Championship which begins today at TPC Blue Monster at Doral in Miami, Florida. New world number one Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods are also in the field.

Sports Weekly presented by Toyota of Hopkinsville comes your way at 5:08 this evening on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP. We’ll have a report on the first day of play from the Girls Sweet 16 and get a preview of Hopkinsville’s game with Marshall County Thursday from Lady Tiger coach Tonya Wells.

High School Basketball

2^nd region final:   For the first time since 2003, the Hopkinsville Tigers are headed to the Boys Sweet 16.

The Tigers led by as many as 17 in the 2^nd half and let Madisonville get as close as 2, before pulling out the game 65-54. Jordan Majors led the Tigers with 19 points, followed by Jaqualis Matlock added 16. Madisonville was led by Byron Dulin with 14. The Maroons finish the season 23-9, while the Tigers move to the state tournament with a 32-2 record.

Hopkinsville will face 12^th region winner Southwestern in their opening game next Wednesday at 12:30, with the broadcast on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

Hopkinsville’s Jordan Majors, Lawrence Smith and Jaqualis Matlock were named to the 2^nd region all tournament team, along with Christian County’s CJ Cotton and Jarvis Irby. Madisonville was represented by Daylyn Jones, Tray Carr, Josiah Powell and Jawan Combs, Henderson County as represented by Jermaine Langley, Webster County by Jacob Scott and Livingston Central by Lucas Croft.

4^th region final:   Bowling Green defeated Warren Central 60-47 and will face Oldham County next Thursday at 11 am local time in the Sweet 16.

1^st region final: Marshall County defeated Paducah Tilghman 58-52 and will face Scott County next Thursday at 5:30 local time in the Sweet 16.

Girls Sweet 16

Play begins today at noon as 4^th region winner Glasgow meets Louisville Butler, with Boone County and Dunbar playing the second game of the afternoon session. Manual meets Perry County Central at 6:30 this evening, with third region winner Muhlenberg County meeting Montgomery County in the nightcap.

Hopkinsville’s Lady Tigers play their first game Thursday at noon against Marshall County from the 1^st region, with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 11:40 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

There are tickets available for Hopkinsville’s game in the Girls Sweet 16 at Hopkinsville High School. Student tickets will be on sale at 8 am this morning, with general public tickets going on sale at 9 am. Tickets are eight dollars at the school or 11 dollars at the door.

The Madisonville Messenger reports Madisonville girls basketball coach John Cummings has resigned from his position. Cummings says his resignation is immediate and is stepping down to spend more time with his family. Cummings was 61-58 in his four seasons as coach, including an 11-22 record this season in making the 2^nd region tournament.

High School Football

Christian County football coach Steve Lovelace has released the Colonels 2012 schedule and all games but one will be played within 10 miles of Hopkinsville.

Home dates include: Madisonville August 17^th, Clarksville August 25^th, Henderson County August 31^st, Lone Oak September 7^th, Ohio County September 28^th, Apollo October 5^th and Graves County October 12^th.

Away dates: Fort Campbell September 14^th, Hopkinsville September 21^st and Pulaski County in the Don Franklin Bowl in Somerset October 26^th.

The Kentucky High School Athletics Association has announced Ebonite International has agreed to be the sponsor for the KHSAA State Bowling Championships for the next three years. The first state championship will be held March 22-23 at the Executive Strike and Spare Lanes in Louisville, with regional competition beginning March 17^th.

College Basketball

Four wins in four nights, and that’s just what the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers did in taking the Sun Belt Conference tournament title and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

The Hilltoppers defeated North Texas 74-70 last night to advance to its 22^nd appearance in the NCAA tournament. Teeng Akol scored 22 points and George Fant added 17 as the Hilltoppers rallied from a 13 point second half deficit. The Hilltoppers head to the NCAA tournament with a 15-18 record.

Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari is not a fan of conference tournaments, and says playing three games in three days does not prepare you for anything. The 30-1 Wildcats open play in the SEC tournament Friday in New Orleans against Arkansas or LSU. Pre game coverage at 10:30 Friday morning on Lite 98.7.

The Southeastern Conference announced its post season awards Tuesday and several Kentucky players were honored. Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd Gilchrist were named first team All SEC and to the All Freshman Team along with LSU’s Anthony Hickey and Tennessee’s Jarnell Stokes.

Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones were named to the second team All SEC. Anthony Davis was also named the Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year, All Defensive Player of the Year, with Darius Miller the 6^th man of the year and John Calipari was named the Coach of the Year.

Former University of Kentucky basketball coach Joe B. Hall will be among the inductees into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame later this year in Kansas City. Hall led Kentucky to the 1978 NCAA national championship.

Hall, along with such notables as Patrick Ewing, Phil Ford and Willis Reed, along with former LSU athletics director and SEC television analyst Joe Dean along with Lexington businessman Jim Host will be inducted November 18^th.

NHL

The Nashville Predators lost to the Los Angeles Kings 5-4. The Predators return to action tomorrow night hosting Colorado in a game you can hear at 7 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

The Sporting News has announced its All American teams along with the national player and coach of the year for college basketball.

Kentucky’s Anthony Davis was named as first team All America along with being named as a Freshman All America, Freshman of the year and national player of the year.

Davis’s teammate Michael Kidd Gilchrist was named 2^nd team All America along with Freshman All America honors.

Also on the first team All America was Murray State’s Isaiah Cannan.

Kansas coach Bill Self was named as Coach of the Year.

High School Basketball

Boys 2^nd region semifinals:   Hopkinsville advanced to the championship game with a 66-54 win over Henderson County. The Tigers had a quartet of players score in double digits, led by Jordan Majors with 16, Robert Bell added 14 and Tre Edwards and Jaqualis Matlock had 12 each. Henderson County was led by Rick Armstead’s 15 points. Hopkinsville is 31-2 on the season, while Henderson County finishes 18-15.

Christian County saw its season come to an end as the Colonels lost to Madisonville 70-56. CJ Cotton led Christian County and all scorers with 25 points, followed by Korey Mosley with 12. Madisonville had three players in double figures led by Jawan Combs with 19, Daylyn Jones added 16 and Cameron Tandy pitched in 13. Christian County finishes the season 9-22, while Madisonville improves to 23-8.

4^th region semifinals: Bowling Green defeated Russell County 66-56 and Warren Central defeated Glasgow 72-66 in overtime.

1^st region semifinals: Marshall County defeated Fulton City 49-30 and Paducah Tilghman drilled St. Mary 70-56.

3^rd region final: Apollo punched its ticket to Rupp Arena with a 64-62 win over Muhlenberg County.

Tonight’s games

2^nd region final: Hopkinsville meets Madisonville at 7 in Maroon Gym, with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 6:45 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

4^th region final: Bowling Green meets Warren Central in EA Diddle Arena.

1^st region final: Marshall County goes against Paducah Tilghman at the CFSB Center.

College Basketball

Western Kentucky has played its way into the championship game of the Sun Belt Conference tournament with a 67-63 win over Denver. Freshman George Fant led the Hilltoppers with 19 points, followed by Khalil McDonald off the bench with 14. The Hilltoppers—who have won five games in a row face North Texas at 6 this evening.

Kentucky stays number one in both the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll and the Associated Press poll, while Louisville drops out of both polls this week. Murray State is ranked 10^th in the ESPN poll and 11^th in the AP poll.

Kentucky’s Anthony Davis was named the SEC freshman of the week Monday. Davis averaged 15 and a half points, ten rebounds and four blocks in wins last week over Georgia and Florida. It’s the sixth time Davis has won the award this season.

Meanwhile, Tennessee freshman Jarnell Stokes was named the SEC player of the week. Stokes shot 76 percent from the field and averaged 14 and a half points, 10 and a half rebounds and three blocks in wins last week over LSU and Vanderbilt.

College Softball

University of Kentucky freshman and former Christian County standout Griffin Joiner has been named the SEC freshman of the week. Joiner hit .571 enroute to All Tournament team honors in the Ragin Cajun Invitational hosted by Louisiana Lafayette. Joiner went 8-14 in the tournament and had three hits in one game. Joiner is the first Wildcat to receive SEC freshman of the week honors since 2009.

NFL

The Tennessean reports the Tennessee Titans have used the franchise tag on safety Michael Griffin. This means the team and cornerback Courtland Finnegan will part ways. Finnegan says he was told by the Titans there would be no contract before March 13^th, the day he becomes a free agent. Finnegan spent six seasons with the Titans and was one of the team’s most popular players.

NHL

The Nashville Predators look to extend a streak started in early January, having not lost a game in regulation on home ice. The Predators open a three game home stand with the Los Angeles Kings tonight at 7 in Bridgestone Arena.

High School Basketball

Girls 2^nd region final: For the first time in school history, the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers are headed to the Girls Sweet 16 following a 51-35 win over Livingston Central. The Lady Tigers got 25 points from senior Christy Soldo and 12 from sophomore Haley Cook in leading Hopkinsville to its 31^st win of the season to go with four losses. Livingston Central was led in scoring by Aneta Sloma who had 15 for the Lady Cardinals who finish the season 25-6.

Those making the 2^nd region all tournament team included: Christy Soldo, Ashlee Cole and Haley Cook of Hopkinsville, Aneta Sloma and Hailee Lampley of Livingston Central, Ellie Fruit, Brooke Tapp and Breyn Cooper of Henderson County, Mariah Herrera of Webster County, Dannika Prater and Denayia Holmes of University Heights, and LeLe Rodgers of Caldwell County.

Hopkinsville will face region one winner Marshall County at noon Thursday in EA Diddle Arena at Western Kentucky University, with coverage of the game at 11:40 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

Girls 1^st region: Marshall County defeated Murray High 60-50 to improve to 27-8 on the season.

Girls 4^th region: Glasgow defeated Monroe County 51-41 and will open the Girls Sweet 16 against Louisville Butler, the 6^th region winner at noon Wednesday.

Girls 3^rd region: Muhlenberg County defeated Grayson County 56-46 and will face 10^th region winner Montgomery County at 8 pm Wednesday.

Tonight’s games

Boys 2^nd region at Madisonville: Christian County meets Madisonville in the first semi final at 6, followed by Hopkinsville and Henderson County. 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.

4^th region semi finals at WKU: Bowling Green meets Russell County and Glasgow goes against Warren Central.

1^st region semi finals at Murray State: Fulton City meets Marshall County, followed by Paducah Tilghman against St. Mary.

3^rd region final at Owensboro Sportscenter: Muhlenberg County meets Apollo.

Hopkinsville High forward Christy Soldo has made a verbal commitment on where she will play her college basketball. Coach Tonya Wells told WHOP Sports during a post game interview following Sunday’s win over Livingston Central that Soldo has committed to Murray State.

Soldo was named the 2^nd Region Coaches Association player of the year, along with making that regional team and was named to the 2^nd region all tournament team on Sunday.

Heritage Christian Academy’s basketball teams both lost in the KCAA State Tournament over the weekend in Georgetown. The Lady Warriors were knocked out in the semifinals by Lakeside Christian 51-24 to finish the season 11-13. HCA’s Amanda Shemwell was named to the all tournament team.

Meanwhile, the Warriors were dispatched in the quarterfinals by Community Christian 72-46. HCA finished the season 27-5 under first year coach Darryl Hallmark.

Hopkinsville High’s power lifting team won the state title Saturday in Bowling Green. Three Tigers broke individual state records and won three classes in winning the school’s first championship. Quay Coleman won at the 125 pound class, Markail Bennett won at 175 and Donovan Bussell won at the 250 pouns class. The Tigers also won the National Guard Sportsmanship and Character Award.

Hopkinsville High senior golfer Dayton Jones finished tied for 12th at the Golfweek Junior Tour event held over the weekend at Greystone Golf Club in Dickson, Tennessee.  Jones fired a 159 score for the two day event.  Christian County High golfer TJ Ferry finished 18th in the event with a 162 total.  The Golfweek Junior Tour plays this weekend at Cherry Blossom Golf Course in Georgetown.

College Basketball

Top ranked Kentucky got 22 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks from freshman Anthony Davis and 19 points from Terrence Jones in downing Florida 74-59 Sunday. The Wildcats picked up their 30^th win of the season Sunday to go with one loss and finished 16-0 in Southeastern Conference play.

Kentucky is the top seed in this week’s SEC tournament in New Orleans and will face the winner of Thursday’s LSU-Arkansas game at noon Friday, with pre game coverage at 10:30 am on Lite 98.7.

Tennessee is the two seed and will face the Ole Miss-Auburn winner at 6:30 Friday night, while third seed Vanderbilt gets the winner of Mississippi State-Georgia at 9:30 Friday night. The semi finals are Saturday, with the championship game on Sunday at New Orleans Arena.

A reminder Kentucky coach John Calipari will have his weekly call in show at 5 this evening, followed by Big Blue Insider at 6 on Lite 98.7.

SEC Women’s final: Tennessee defeated LSU 70-58 to win its third straight conference championship and 16^th in school history. The Lady Vols received the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Sun Belt Tournament: Western Kentucky’s Lady Toppers saw their season end Sunday at the hands of top seed Middle Tennessee 65-57. The Lady Toppers finished 9-21 on the season.

Meanwhile, the Hilltoppers defeated Arkansas Little Rock 68-63 last night and will play Denver in a semi final game this evening. Western trailed by as many as 13 before scoring 17 unanswered points to get the win, which was the 350^th in the career of new Hilltoppers coach Ray Harper.

NFL

The Tennessean reports members of the Tennessee Titans and Houston Oilers say there were bounties for taking out players on opposing teams. Current and former Titans and Oilers say the practice went on while Gregg Williams was defensive coordinator and says it’s a common practice.

Williams has come under heavy scrutiny by the NFL after it was learned late last week that the program was administered while Williams was defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints.

PGA Tour

Franklin’s Kenny Perry finished the four day Honda Classic event at five over par, while fellow Kentuckian JB Holmes was six over par. Rory McIlroy was the winner at 12 under par, two shots better than former world number one Tiger Woods who shot a blistering 62 Sunday. McIlroy is the new top golfer in the world rankings due to Sunday’s win.