High School Basketball

Thursday night’s scores

5^th district boys: Livingston Central edged Lyon County 58-55

6^th district boys: Webster County defeated Henderson County 56-44

7^th district boys:   Madisonville over Caldwell County 78-49

7^th district girls:   Caldwell County nipped Madisonville 43-42

13^th district girls: Todd Central over Russellville 38-20

Heritage Christian Academy’s boys team will play in the finals of the KCAA regional tournament in Owensboro following a 102-36 win over Victory Christian of Bowling Green. The Warriors improved to 27-3 with the win and meet Majesty for the regional championship at 5:30 pm Saturday.

HCA's girls will play in the regional final at 4 pm Saturday against the winner of the Victory vs. Bethel semi final game.

Tonight’s games

The 8^th district championships take place at Christian County High School. Girls action has 27-4 Hopkinsville meeting 22-5 University Heights. Hopkinsville won both regular season meetings. Tip off is at 6 pm.

The boys game has host Christian County 8-20 on the season meeting Hopkinsville 28-2 in the nightcap. Hopkinsville won both meetings during the regular season. Tip off is scheduled around 8 pm, with 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.

Elsewhere tonight: The 5^th district girls final between Livingston Central and Lyon County tips at 7 at Lyon County High School and the 13^th district boys final between Logan County and Russellville also tips off at 7 pm.

College Basketball

Thursday’s scores: 12^th ranked Murray State avenged its only loss of the season to Tennessee State in defeating the Tigers 80-62. Racer Isaiah Cannan had 16 of his 24 points in the second half as the Racers improved to 27-1 on the season and 14-1 in the OVC. The Racers close out the regular season Saturday at Tennessee Tech.

Austin Peay got 16 points and seven rebounds from former Heritage Christian Academy standout John Fraley in defeating UT Martin 85-67. The Governors are now 11-19 and 7-8 in the OVC and will host Southeast Missouri in its regular season finale Saturday night at the Dunn Center.

Ray Harper’s first game with out the interim tag as Western Kentucky’s coach saw the Hilltoppers defeat Arkansas State 79-76, and 17^th ranked Louisville lost to Cincinnati 60-56.

Women’s scores: UT Martin defeated Austin Peay 86-62 and Murray State won over Tennessee State 87-83 in Ohio Valley Conference action. In the SEC: 10^th ranked Kentucky edged South Carolina 53-50, Arkansas defeated 9^th ranked Tennessee 72-71 in overtime and LSU defeated 24^th ranked Vanderbilt 69-66.

Tonight’s game: Former Christian County standout Donovan Kates and Manhattan meet Canisius.

Top ranked Kentucky is back in action tomorrow hosting Vanderbilt, with pre game coverage at 9:30 am on Lite 98.7.   Louisville returns to action Sunday hosting Pittsburgh, with the game airing at 12:45 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

NFL

Tennessee Titans general manager Ruston Webster says he is looking for a pass rusher. Speaking to the Tennessean at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis Thursday, Webster said following a season where the Titans finished next to last in the NFL in sacks in the 2011 season, they are searching for a special player at defensive end.

NHL

The Nashville Predators lost to the St. Louis Blues in a shootout 3-2 Thursday night at Bridgestone Arena.  The Predators are back in action tomorrow night hosting San Jose at 7.  You can hear the game on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

High School Basketball

6^th district Girls Final: Henderson County defeated Webster County 62-40

10^th district Girls Final: Ohio County over Muhlenberg County 66-47

4^th district Boys: Calloway County edged Murray High 59-56

14^th district Boys: Bowling Green rolled over Warren East 62-33

Tonight’s games

7^th district Girls Final: Madisonville at Caldwell County

13^th district Girls Final: Todd Central at Russellville

5^th district Boys Final: Livingston Central at Lyon County

6^th district Boys Final: Webster County at Henderson County

7^th district Boys Final: Madisonville at Caldwell County

10^th district Boys Final: Muhlenberg County at Ohio County

The 8^th district finals take place tomorrow night with Hopkinsville meeting University Heights in girls action at 6, followed by host Christian County and Hopkinsville in the boys championship. Coverage of both games at 5:45 with the Heritage Bank pre game show on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association announced Wednesday bass fishing will be a new varsity spring sport beginning next year. Commissioner Julian Tackett says bass fishing’s regular season will begin in late February and run through mid April with the post season and state competition to take place in late April. The first bass fishing state championship will be held at the Land Between the Lakes Recreational Area.

College Basketball

Last night in the SEC:   LSU defeated Georgia 61-53, with Anthony Hickey scoring two points, grabbing three rebounds and two assists in the win for the Tigers. Vanderbilt defeated South Carolina 59-48 and Tennessee defeated Ole Miss 73-60.

Women’s action saw Arkansas State edge Western Kentucky 56-53.

Tonight’s games: 12^th ranked Murray State looks to avenge its only loss of the season at Tennessee State, while Austin Peay plays at UT Martin. Western Kentucky entertains Arkansas State and 17^th ranked Louisville plays at Cincinnati.

Women’s action: Murray State meets Tennessee State, Austin Peay goes against UT Martin, 10^th ranked Kentucky meets South Carolina and 9^th ranked Tennessee plays Arkansas.

College Football

Published reports indicate the Atlantic Coast Conference has filed a formal complaint for the University of Maryland to the Southeastern Conference involving Vanderbilt football.

Vanderbilt officials say they will look into tampering accusations made by Maryland that Vanderbilt coach James Franklin and his staff spoke with Maryland players planning to transfer, including quarterback Danny O’ Brien. Coach Franklin was Maryland’s offensive coordinator during the 2010 season when O’ Brien was a freshman.

NHL

The Nashville Predators are back on the ice tonight hosting the St. Louis Blues. Coverage of the game begins at 7 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

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.