SPORTS HEADLINES 12.26.11

High School Basketball

No area teams are in action today, but a number of tournaments involving area teams begin tomorrow. Our next high school broadcast will be Thursday night when University Heights hosts Clarksville Northwest at 7:30, with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 7:15 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

College Basketball

Kentucky coach John Calipari has his weekly call in show at 5 this evening, followed by Sports Nightly at six on Lite 98.7. Kentucky returns to action Wednesday night meeting Lamar University at Rupp Arena, with pre game coverage at 6 on Lite 98.7.

It’s a quiet evening around the nation in college hoops, with action resuming across the nation tomorrow.

College Football

The Independence Bowl takes place today in Shreveport, LA as Missouri goes against North Carolina. Coverage this afternoon at 4 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

The Louisville Cardinals are making final preparations for their appearance Tuesday evening in the Belk Bowl against North Carolina State in Charlotte, NC.

Vanderbilt is also making preparations for its appearance in the Liberty Bowl against Cincinnati December 31^st in Memphis, while the Music City Bowl Friday will feature Mississippi State and Wake Forest at 5:30 at LP Field in Nashville.

NFL

The Tennessee Titans still have a chance to make the NFL playoffs with a little help in the final week of the regular season. The Titans close out the regular season Sunday at Houston, but need for Cincinnati to lose against Baltimore Sunday and several other factors to make the field.

Monday Night Football has the New Orleans Saints hosting the Atlanta Falcons, with coverage beginning at 7 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

NHL

The Nashville Predators are back on the ice this evening hosting the Detroit Red Wings. First puck drops at 7 in Bridgestone Arena.

SPORTS HEADLINES 12.23.11

High School Basketball results from Thursday

Boys: Hopkinsville trailed Paducah Tilghman by six at halftime, then went on a 20-0 run to defeat the Blue Tornado 78-66 at the Paducah Tilghman Christmas Classic. Jordan Majors led the Tigers with 20 points. In all, five Tigers were in double figure scoring. Hopkinsville is now 9-1 on the season.

Elsewhere: University Heights lost to Oakland, TN 47-38 at the Apollo-Kentucky 811 Holiday Classic, Trigg County won two games at the Kentucky Machine and Engineering Christmas Classic—defeating Todd Central 74-58 and Crittenden County 62-42. Murray High edged Stewart County, TN 52-51.

Marshall County defeated Madisonville 75-56 and Warren Central beat Union County 93-55 at the Hancock Bank/Brand 40 Classic, Graves County over Russellville 59-43 at the Hardee’s Classic, Franklin Simpson defeated Webster County 56-51 at the Rafferty’s Holiday Classic.

Girls: Christian County lost to Monroe County 74-37 at the Republic Bank Holiday Classic, Trigg County defeated Dawson Springs 62-55 and Hickman County 57-52 at the Kentucky Machine and Engineering Classic, where Caldwell County lost to Heath 48-43. Dawson Springs lost to Heath 50-43.

Madisonville lost to Bourbon County 34-33 and defeated Warren Central 42-38 at the Hancock Bank/Brand 40 Classic, Calloway County over Lexington, TN 53-49 at the Heritage Bank Hardwood Classic, Todd Central defeated Wayne County 58-39 and lost to Henderson County 60-41 at the Mustang Christmas Classic, where Muhlenberg County edged Ohio County 53-51 and Henderson County won over Harlan 42-39.

Today’s games:

Boys: At the Kentucky Machine and Engineering Classic—Trigg County meets Stewart County, TN, Todd Central plays two games against Stewart County, TN and Crittenden County, Murray faces Crittenden County.

Warren Central meets Marshall County and Madisonville plays Union County at the Hancock Bank/Brand 40 Classic, Russellville plays Warren East at the Hardee’s Classic.

Girls: Christian County meets Meade County at the Republic Bank Holiday Classic, at the Kentucky Machine and Engineering Classic—Trigg County meets Heath, Caldwell County plays Hickman County and Dawson Springs faces Hickman County.

College Basketball

3^rd ranked Kentucky improved to 11-1 on the season with an 87-63 win over Loyola-MD Thursday at Rupp Arena. Freshman Kyle Wiltjer led Kentucky with 24 points off the bench on 7-11 shooting. Fellow freshman Anthony Davis had his fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds. A third rookie—Michael Kidd-Gilchrist added 15 and senior Darius Miller pitched in 13. Kentucky returns to action next Wednesday hosting Lamar, with pre game coverage at 6 on Lite 98.7.

LSU defeated North Texas 67-58. Anthony Hickey, Jr. did not score, but had four steals in 22 minutes of play.

Tonight’s games:   In state rivals Louisville and Western Kentucky meet at the KFC Yum Center. It will be the ninth time in five years that former high school stars George Fant—now of Western and formerly of Warren Central and Chane Behanan—now of Louisville, formerly of Bowling Green High will meet on the hardwood.

Former Christian County standout Donovan Kates and the Manhattan Jespers meet George Mason, Tennessee takes on East Tennessee.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal reports Jarnell Stokes from Southwind High School has completed his course work for his senior year and is planning to enroll at the University of Tennessee next month. Stokes chose Tennessee over SEC schools Arkansas, Kentucky, Florida and Memphis. If he is declared eligible by the NCAA, he will be able to play for the Vols immediately. Stokes was the 11^th ranked prospect in the nation.

College Football

University of Kentucky coach Joker Phillips announced Thursday the signing of junior college free safety Kory Brown. Brown comes to Lexington from East Central Community College in Mississippi. Brown was a two year player for East Central and was redshirted this year because of a knee injury. He will enroll in classes at UK in January and participate in spring practice.

Members of the Louisville Cardinals say their game against North Carolina in the Belk Bowl next Tuesday in Charlotte is a trip all about business. Coach Charlie Strong says the players focus has been bolstered by those who played on the team which won the Beef O Brady’s bowl last year.

NFL

The Tennessee Titans play the Jacksonville Jaguars at noon tomorrow at LP Field. It’s a must win for the Titans who are fighting for a playoff spot.

Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP will have a doubleheader of games tomorrow, with Miami and New England airing at 11:30, with San Francisco and Seattle on the air at 3 pm.

NHL

The Nashville Predators rallied from a 4-1 deficit at the end of the first period and defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-5 at Bridgestone Arena. Martin Erat had the late game heroics for the Preds, who are in action this evening against the Dallas Stars, with coverage at 7:30 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

Wiltjer leads UK to win over Loyola MD

Kentucky improved to 11-1 with a 87-63 win over Loyola-MD this afternoon at Rupp Arena.  Freshman Kyle Wiltjer led Kentucky with 24 points off the bench on 7-11 field goal shooting.  Fellow freshman Anthony Davis had his fifth double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds.  Michael Kidd-Gilchrist also had 15 points and senior Darius Miller had 13 for the 11-1 Wildcats.  Kentucky is back in action December 28th hosting Lamar University, with pre game coverage at 6 on Lite 98.7.

SPORTS HEADLINES 12.22.11

High School Basketball

Boys:   Hopkinsville won a pair of games at the Paducah Tilghman Christmas Classic, defeating Mayfield 73-54 and Reidland 78-50, Christian County lost to Dyer County, TN 92-48 at the Kenwood Christmas Classic, University Heights defeated Apollo 68-59 at the Apollo-Kentucky 811 Holiday Classic.

At the Kentucky Machine and Engineering Christmas Classic at Trigg County: Murray went to triple overtime to defeat Todd Central 62-57, with Trigg County defeating Murray 68-59. Crittenden County over Stewart County, TN 52-51

Elsewhere: Caldwell County lost to Owensboro 64-42 and to Silver Thorne, Canada 68-59 at the Citizens First Holiday Classic in Bowling Green, where Bowling Green beat South Warren 63-48, but lost to Spring Hill, TN 71-58, Graves County over Leslie County 59-56 and Russellville defeated Garrard County 65-54 at the Hardee’s Classic, Warren Central defeated Madisonville 82-70 and Marshall County over Union County 69-40 at the Hancock Bank/Brand 40 Classic.

Girls:   At the Kentucky Machine and Engineering Classic at Trigg County: Caldwell County defeated Dawson Springs 51-27, but lost to Trigg County 65-50.

Heath over Hickman County 46-30, Ohio County defeated Todd Central 48-45, Bowling Green over Henderson County 62-51, Muhlenberg County over Wayne County 48-47 at the Mustang Christmas Classic, Graves County defeated Apollo 61-47, Marshall County over Nelson County 74-61 and Union County over Lyon County 50-38 at the Marshall County Christmas Classic.

Today’s games

Boys: Hopkinsville plays Paducah Tilghman at the Paducah Tilghman Christmas Classic, Trigg County plays Todd Central and Crittenden County at the Kentucky Machine and Engineering Classic, with Murray meeting Stewart County, TN, Dawson Springs is at Frederick Fraize.

Girls: At the Kentucky Machine and Engineering Classic: Trigg County meets Hickman County and Dawson Springs, with Heath meeting Dawson Springs and Caldwell County.

College Basketball

22^nd ranked Murray State opened Ohio Valley Conference play with a 78-54 win over UT Martin to improve to 13-0 on the season. Austin Peay lost to Belmont 77-67, despite 20 points from former University Heights standout Tyshwan Edmondson. Vanderbilt hit 15 three pointers in downing Lafayette 89-58.

Women’s scores: Alabama A&M over Austin Peay 80-68, Texas Tech over Western Kentucky 75-38 and 8^th ranked Kentucky downed Samford 90-61.

Today’s games

3^rd ranked Kentucky meets Loyola-Maryland, with pre game coverage from Rupp Arena at 10:30 on Lite 98.7. LSU plays its final game before Christmas against North Texas.

The Courier Journal reports high school junior Anton Gill of Raleigh, North Carolina has verbally committed to play for Louisville. The 6-2 Gill is one of the highest rated shooting guards in the 2013 class.

College Football

Kentucky coach Joker Phillips says he feels good about Wildcat football in 2012. Phillips tells the Lexington Herald Leader seeing a lot of young guys making plays next season will make things exciting, despite missing out on a bowl game this season. Phillips referred to the 5-7 2011 season as a series of ups and downs, despite ending a 26 year losing streak to Tennessee.

Meanwhile, quarterback Morgan Newton will not participate in spring practice following surgery on his right shoulder according to coach Phillips, who also says linebacker Ridge Wilson will only be allowed in non contact drills in the spring because of surgery on his left shoulder.

Austin Peay has received a transfer from the Naval Academy.  Jeremiah (JJ) Rutledge is a former star receiver and defensive back from Clarksville Northeast.  He will have four years of eligibility and has enrolled for classes in the springs semester.  Rutledge is projected to be a cornerback and possibly a kick returner according to coach Rick Christophel, who says Rutledge will work out with the team this spring.

Murray State coach Chris Hatcher announced the addition of four players during the first day of the mid year signing period Wednesday.  The Racers strengthened their interior lines with the addition of offensive lineman Hunter Hogan of Tyler, Texas, defensive end Adrian Dinkins of Ridgeland, Mississippi, and defensive tackles Kamalie Matthews of Lithonia, Georgia and Anthony Payne of Leroy, Alabama.  All four will be enrolled in classes next month and go through spring practice with the Racers.

NFL

The Indianapolis Colts look for their second win in as many games as they host Houston, with coverage at 7 this evening on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

NHL

The Nashville Predators host Columbus this evening, with first puck dropping at 7 in Bridgestone Arena. The Tennessean reports forward Kevin Klein will miss his second straight game because of the flu.

SPORTS UPDATE 12.21.11

Lyon County High School is searching for a new softball coach. The Princeton Times Leader reports today that Jeff Doom is leaving the position after 20 seasons. Doom will remain as the school’s girls basketball coach.

Trigg County High School has announced its second athletic Hall of Fame class. The inductees are: Chappel Allen, Duke Burnett, David Butts, Selby Grubbs, Joe Jaggers, Sam Love, David Radford, Gary Siegmund, Buddy Sivills and Ginger Wallace. The inductees will be honored during Trigg County’s basketball game with Christian County January 27th , with a banquet to be held January 28th.