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.

SPORTS HEADLINES 12.21.11

High School Basketball

Boys:   Christian County snapped a three game losing streak with a 80-77 win over Murray Tuesday night. CJ Cotton led a quartet of Colonels in double figures with 17 points. The Colonels are now 3-4 on the season.

Elsewhere: University Heights defeated Kentucky Country Day 60-47 at the Apollo-Kentucky 811 tournament in Owensboro. Other games in that event saw Henderson County defeat Oakland, TN 43-40, with Apollo defeating Morristown East, TN 64-56.

Fort Campbell defeated Dawson Springs 70-61.

Girls: University Heights got a 26 point effort from Dannika Prater in defeating Hopkins Central 81-35. The Lady Blazers improved to 7-1 with the victory.

Elsewhere: At the Marshall County Christmas Classic—host Marshall County defeated Union County 70-43, Graves County over Lyon County 55-41, Pleasure Ridge Park defeated Apollo 57-31 and Union County 58-50, Paducah Tilghman defeated Beech 78-70 and lost to Dyersburg, TN 77-64 at the Lady Bomber Shootout at Ballard Memorial.

Today’s games

Boys: University Heights meets Apollo at the Apollo-Kentucky 811 Classic in Owensboro. Hopkinsville plays Mayfield at the Paducah Tilghman Holiday Classic, where the host Blue Tornado play Livingston Central and Hickman County. Christian County plays Dyer County TN at Kenwood High in Clarksville, with tip off at 5 pm.

Madisonville meets Warren Central and Marshall County meets Union County at the Hancock Bank/Brand 40 Classic, Murray plays Todd Central and Trigg County at the Kentucky Machine and Engineering Classic at Trigg County where Crittenden County meets Stewart County, TN.

Girls: Caldwell County meets Dawson Springs and Trigg County and Heath meets Hickman County at the Kentucky Machine and Engineering Classic at Trigg County.

Madisonville meets Bourbon County and Warren Central plays Owensboro at the Hancock Bank/Brand 40 Classic, Calloway County meets Northwest at the Heritage Bank Hardwood Classic, Todd Central plays Ohio County at the Mustang Holiday Classic at Muhlenberg County, where the host Lady Mustangs meet Wayne County.

College Basketball

Kentucky defeated Samford 82-50 behind 26 points from Doron Lamb and 17 from Darius Miller. The third ranked Wildcats host Loyola-Maryland at noon tomorrow in Rupp Arena, with pre game coverage at 10:30 on Lite 98.7.

Number four Louisville improved to 11-0 after getting by Charleston 69-62. Kyle Kuric had 17 points for the Cardinals.

Manhattan defeated Towson 81-62, with former Christian County standout Donovan Kates scoring seven points in the victory.

Tennessee defeated North Carolina Asheville 72-68, ending a four game losing streak.

Women’s scores: 6^th ranked Tennessee lost to 4th ranked Stanford 97-80, Florida A&M defeated Austin Peay 86-77 and Murray State lost to Cleveland State 68-61.

Tonight’s games: 22^nd ranked Murray State opens Ohio Valley Conference action against UT Martin, Austin Peay hosts Belmont and Vanderbilt hosts Lafayette.

Women’s play has Kentucky hosting Samford, with pre game at 5:45 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP, Austin Peay welcomes Alabama A&M, Western Kentucky plays Texas Tech.

NFL

Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck practiced, while running back Chris Johnson sat out on Tuesday. Hasselbeck is battling a left calf injury suffered against New Orleans, while Johnson sprained his ankle in Sunday’s loss at Indianapolis. Johnson tells the Tennessean he expects to play when the Titans host Jacksonville at noon Saturday at LP Field.

NHL

The Nashville Predators lost to the Washington Capitals 4-1. The Predators host the Columbus Blue Jackets Thursday night at 7 in Bridgestone Arena.

SPORTS HEADLINES 12.20.11

Christian County Chamber of Commerce President Carter Hendricks says after the success of last summer’s Ohio Valley League baseball game between the Tradewater Pirates and Owensboro Oilers held here, baseball enthusiasts began exploring the possibility of bringing a team to Hopkinsville.

The local team would use the historic name of the team which once played in the Kitty League—the Hoptown Hoppers. Hendricks says there’s a good possibility the team would begin play in 2012.

The Ohio Valley League—which gets its players from the collegiate ranks—currently has four teams. The Christian County School Board last week passed a measure to explore letting the proposed team use Christian County and Hopkinsville High’s baseball facilities for its home games. The 50 game season would take place from early June until early August.

High School Basketball

Heritage Christian Academy hosted Jo Byrns in a doubleheader at Warrior Gym Monday night.   The Warriors rolled to a 79-46 win behind Alex Little’s 19 points. Little was one of four players who scored in double figures for HCA, now 9-1 on the season.   The Lady Warriors lost to Jo Byrns 39-26. Grace Waldron led HCA with 19 points. The Lady Warriors are now 4-4 on the season.

Other scores

Boys: University Heights lost to Morristown East 68-40 at the Apollo-Kentucky 811 Holiday Tournament, where Henderson County defeated Seneca 64-52 and host Apollo lost to Kentucky Country Day 65-37. Caldwell County lost to South Warren 62-59 at the Citizens First Holiday Classic, Muhlenberg County defeated Dunbar 73-59 at the iHigh Fayette County Invitational, Hopkins Central over McLean County 52-47, Livingston Central over Dawson Springs 74-44.

Girls: Marshall County lost to Pleasure Ridge Park 54-49 at the Marshall County Christmas Tournament, where Graves County fell to Nelson County 49-37, Apollo edged Union County 42-40, Covington, TN over Lyon County 75-44, Paducah Tilghman defeated Ballard Memorial 79-59 at the Lady Bomber Classic, Daviess County defeated Webster County 53-42, Greenwood over Metcalfe County 65-41 at the Caverna Lady Colonel Holiday Classic.

Tonight’s games

Boys:   Christian County hosts Murray—tip off at 7:30 with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 7:15 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

Fort Campbell meets Dawson Springs, University Heights meets Kentucky Country Day at the Apollo-Kentucky 811 Holiday Tournament, where Henderson County faces Oakland, TN, Logan County plays Owensboro and Franklin County at the Citizens First Holiday Classic, where Bowling Green meets Shelby Valley, Muhlenberg County meets Knott County Central at the iHigh Fayette County Invitational, Calloway County meets Henry County, TN and Lyon County travels to Calloway County.

Girls: University Heights hosts Hopkins Central, Logan County welcomes West Creek, TN, Graves County meets Lyon County and Marshall County takes on Union County at the Marshall County Christmas tournament, Russellville meets Bardstown at the Caverna Lady Colonel Christmas Tournament, Paducah Tighman meets Dyersburg, TN and Beech at the Lady Bomber Shootout at Ballard Memorial.

College Basketball

Kentucky returns to action this evening hosting Samford, with pre game coverage at 4:30 on Lite 98.7.

Elsewhere this evening—Tennessee takes on North Carolina-Asheville, Manhattan meets Towson. Murray State’s Lady Racers meet Cleveland State at the Magnolia Classic at Ole Miss, while Austin Peay’s Lady Governors hosts Florida A and M

Monday scores:   LSU handed 10^th ranked Marquette its first loss of the season 67-59 in Baton Rouge. Anthony Hickey scored eight points and had five rebounds, six assists, and two blocks.   Jeffery Taylor had 29 points as Vanderbilt defeated Longwood 99-71.  Murray State’s Lady Racers lost to Ole Miss 64-59 at the Magnolia Classic.

College Football

Austin Peay will play a game in the 2012 season at national power Virginia Tech. The Hokies will host the Governors September 8^th at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg. Virginia Tech is representing the Atlantic Coast Conference at the Allstate Sugar Bowl January 3^rd in New Orleans. Virginia Tech is one of two BCS teams Austin Peay will play in 2012, with the other being Western Kentucky in its season opener September 1^st.

NFL

Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak says if quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is healthy, he will start Saturday against Jacksonville at LP Field. Hasselbeck left Sunday’s loss at Indianapolis due to a left calf injury sustained in the December 11^th game against New Orleans.

Meanwhile, Titans running back Chris Johnson is also expected to play Saturday against Jacksonville according to the Tennessean. Johnson sprained his ankle in Sunday’s loss to Indianapolis. Coach Mike Munchak says Johnson could miss some practice time this week, but could play Saturday.

NHL

The Nashville Predators return to action this evening in the nation’s capitol against the Washington Capitals.

SPORTS UPDATE 12.19.11

Could minor league baseball make a return to Hopkinsville?  Christian County Chamber of Commerce president Carter Hendricks says after the success of last summer’s Ohio Valley League game featuring the Tradewater Pirates and Owensboro Oilers played at Christian County High School, baseball enthusiasts began exploring the possibility of bringing an Ohio Valley League team here.  The local team would bring back the historic name of the team which once played in the Kitty League—the Hoptown Hoppers. Hendricks says there’s a possibility the local team could begin play in 2012. 

The Ohio Valley League—which gets its players from the collegiate ranks currently has four teams in Dawson Springs, Marion, Fulton and Owensboro.  If the local team materializes, tenative plans are to play home games at Christian County High and Hopkinsville High's baseball facilities.  The Ohio Valley League plays a 50 game scheduled from June through early August.

SPORTS HEADLINES 12.19.11

Weekend Wrap

Christian County’s wrestling team participated in two different events over the weekend. One team finished fifth at the Tiger Classic in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, while the other team participated in the Armstrong Tiger Classic at Caldwell County, along with University Heights and Hopkinsville.

High School Basketball

Heritage Christian Academy’s boys and girls teams are in action this evening hosting Jo Byrns. Tip off for the girls game at 5, with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 4:45 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and online at whopam.com.

Other games this evening:

Boys: University Heights meets Morristown East, TN at the Apollo-Kentucky 811 Holiday Classic where Apollo plays Kentucky Country Day and Henderson County meets Seneca. Caldwell County plays in the Citizens First Holiday Classic at Bowling Green High, Muhlenberg County plays Dunbar at the iHigh Fayette County Invitational, Livingston Central at Dawson Springs, Hopkins Central hosts McLean County.

Girls: Webster County at Daviess County, Graves County meets Nelson County, Lyon County meets Covington, TN, Apollo goes against Union County and Marshall County hosts Pleasure Ridge Park at the Marshall County Christmas Tournament, Paducah Tilghman meets Ballard Memorial at the Lady Bomber Classic, Russellville plays Bardstown and Greenwood meets Metcalfe County at the Caverna Lady Colonel Christmas Tournament,

College Basketball

Third ranked Kentucky returns to action tomorrow night hosting Samford with pre game coverage at 4:30 on Lite 98.7.   This evening, coach John Calipari has his weekly call in show at 5, with Sports Nightly at 6 on Lite 98.7.

Games tonight include LSU taking on 11^th ranked and undefeated Marquette, while Vanderbilt entertains Longwood. Murray State’s women are in action this evening taking on Ole Miss at the Magnolia Classic in Oxford.

Sunday scores: Austin Peay’s Lady Governors snapped an eight game losing streak with a 58-56 overtime win at Belmont. Whitney Hanley’s jumper with 1.8 seconds left gave Austin Peay the win. The Lady Governors have home games with Florida A& M Tuesday and Alabama A&M Wednesday.

Number three Notre Dame handed number eight Kentucky's women their first loss of the season, 92-83.

College Football

The Bowling Green Daily News reported over the weekend Western Kentucky football coach Willie Taggart’s new contract is one step closer to reality. The executive committee of WKU’s Board of Regents approved the package on Friday. The package—announced December 7^th—calls for Taggart’s base salary to increase from 225-thousand to 475-thousand dollars. WKU’s Board of Regents will vote on the proposal January 20^th.

NFL

Monday Night Football has Pittsburgh at San Francisco, with coverage following HCA basketball this evening on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.