SPORTS UPDATE 12.12.11

Christian County High School is holding a news conference this afternoon concerning its soccer program.  The conference is set to begin at 2:45.  We'll have details later this afternoon.

Austin Peay's Josh Terry has been named the Mid Major College Basketball Player of the Week by the website College Sports Madness.  The Henderson native led Austin Peay in scoring in both their wins last week 86-82 in overtime over Arkansas State and in the Governors come from behind win 74-70 Saturday at Tennessee.

The Kansas City Chiefs have fired head coach Todd Haley.  The Chiefs won the AFC West under Haley last season, but are 5-8 and in last place this season.  Haley--who was in his third season--compiled a 19-27 record.  Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel--once a head coach with the Cleveland Browns and a Western Kentucky university grad--will serve as head coach for the remainder of the season.

SPORTS HEADLINES 12.12.11

Weekend Wrap

For the first time since winning the 2008 Christian County Invitational, Christian County’s wrestling team won the Derby City Classic at Louisville Central High School Saturday. J.J Killebrew was named the most valuable wrestler after winning the 113 pound division. Other winners included Caleb Austin at 120 pound division, Kevi Matlock at 138 and Kory Polley at 145.

University Heights finished 8^th in the event and had wrestlers earn medals. Wade Willen won at 132, Dalton Putty was runner up at 106 for the Blazers.

High School Basketball

Boys: Fort Campbell travels to Trigg County, Dawson Springs hosts Caldwell County, Livingston Central welcomes Fulton City, Mayfield hosts Heath and Community Christian goes to Hickman County.

Girls: Fort Campbell hosts Logan County, Russellville hosts Warren Central, Henderson County hosts Webster County, Greenwood at Butler County, Livingston Central hosts Fulton City, Marshall County welcomes Massac County, IL.

Our next high school broadcast will be Tuesday night as Hopkinsville’s boys travel to Henderson County, with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 7:15 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

College Basketball

There will be a new number one as Kentucky fell at Indiana 74-72 Saturday. Coach John Calipari will talk more about the game and this Saturday’s matchup with Chattanooga tonight at 5 on Lite 98.7, with Sports Nightly to follow at 6.

Sunday games:   Murray State improved to 10-0 on the season by knocking off Memphis 76-72. A quartet of Racers were in double figures led by Donte Poole with 20 points. The Racers return to action Thursday hosting Lipscomb at the CFSB Center.

Austin Peay’s Lady Governors lost 59-55 at Ball State, Western Kentucky’s Lady Toppers opened Sun Belt Conference action with a 65-48 win over Florida International and number seven Tennessee defeated number 20 DePaul 84-61 at the Maggie Dixon Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York.

College Football

The Courier Journal reports Kentucky and Louisville have landed 2012 football commitments. Kentucky has 23 commitments after receiving one from East Central Community College safety Kory Brown. He will have three years of eligibility remaining and is expected to enroll at UK in January.

Louisville now has 20 commitments after getting verbals from defensive end Pedro Sibiea from Homestead, Florida and defensive tackle DeAngelo Brown from Savannah, Georgia.

NFL

The Tennessee Titans saw their run to the playoffs dashed a bit by the New Orleans Saints, falling 22-17 Sunday at LP Field. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck left the game with a left calf injury. Following two consecutive 100 yard games, Titans running back Chris Johnson had just 23 yards in 11 carries for the Titans who fell to 7-6 with the loss. The Titans are at winless Indianapolis next week.

Monday Night Football has St. Louis at Seattle, with coverage of the game at 7 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

SPORTS HEADLINES 12.9.11

High School Basketball

Boys:   Hopkinsville’s Jaqualis Matlock had a double-double with 19 points and 22 rebounds as the Tigers defeated University Heights 76-68 in 8^th district action Thursday night. Darius White added 16 for the Tigers who are now 4-0 on the season and 1-0 in district play. University Heights was led in scoring by Jake Hopper with 14, with KQuan McNeese and Quadre White each scoring 11. The Blazers are 2-2 and 0-1 in district competition.

Elsewhere: Hopkins Central over Caldwell County 58-50, Dawson Springs edged Christian Fellowship 45-43, Henderson County over Union County 64-58.

Girls:   Caldwell County over Hopkins Central 72-60, Livingston Central over Community Christian 79-53, Muhlenberg County defeated McLean County 68-46, Graves County over Webster County 42-36, Ohio County over Warren Central 58-40.

Tonight’s games

Christian County’s boys and girls play Paducah Tilghman as part of the Heritage Bank/Christian County Athletics Hall of Fame activities. Coverage of both games begins with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 5:45 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and online at whopam.com.

Boys: Todd Central at Russellville, Fort Campbell at Webster County, Trigg County at Livingston Central, Logan County at Franklin Simpson, Crittenden County at Lyon County, Madisonville meets Muhlenberg County, Calloway County hosts Ballard Memorial, Bowling Green hosts South Warren, Murray welcomes Heath and Marshall County hosts an Australian travel team.

Girls: Hopkinsville entertains University Heights in 8^th district action, with both teams 1-0 in district competition. Tip off at Tiger Gym is at 7:30.   Elsewhere: Todd Central at Russellville, Trigg County at Livingston Central, Logan County at Franklin Simpson, Crittenden County at Lyon County, Greenwood hosts Muhlenberg County, Hopkins Central hosts Valley, Bowling Green hosts South Warren.

High School Football

The Kentucky New Era reports five local players will participate in the 2011 Best of the Bluegrass All Star Football Classic Sunday at St. X High School in Louisville. Christian County’s Dayshaun Matlock, along with Fort Campbell’s Marcus Tucker, Aaron Hills, Martenez Smith and Brady Jorstad will play in the game which kicks off at 1 pm Hopkinsville time.

College Basketball

10^th rated Kentucky knocked off number six Duke in women’s play at Rupp Arena Thursday night 72-65 in front of 14, 508 fans.

There are two women’s games on the schedule this evening with Austin Peay taking on Bowling Green and Western Kentucky meeting Illinois State.

Top ranked Kentucky returns to action Saturday evening at Indiana, with pre game coverage beginning at 2:30 on Lite 98.7.

College Football

The Courier Journal reports Louisville coach Charlie Strong spoke to the media Thursday in regards to his name popping up as the possible new coach at Texas A and M and Penn State. Strong said he has not talked with any schools, nor does he have the desire. The Cardinals are in the post season for the second straight year under Strong, meeting North Carolina State in the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, December 27^th.

The Atlantic Sun conference will have a new member. The Lexington Herald Leader reports Northern Kentucky University will become the 10^th member beginning the 2012-13 season in its first year of transitioning from Division two to Division one status. Northern Kentucky will replace Belmont, who is leaving the A-Sun to join the Ohio Valley Conference next year.

NKU is the second school leaving the Great Lakes Valley Conference after this season, with Kentucky Wesleyan to join the newly formed Division two Great Midwest Athletic Conference beginning in the 2012-13 school year.

NHL

The Nashville Predators scored two goals in the last two minutes of regulation, then won on a Colin Wilson goal in overtime in Columbus against the Blue Jackets 4-3. The Predators are back in action tomorrow night hosting the Anaheim Ducks at seven in Bridgestone Arena.

SPORTS UPDATE 12.08.11

Heritage Christian Academy's boys basketball team is ranked number one in this week's Kentucky Christian Athletics Association Power Poll, while the Lady Warriors are ranked number three in the girls KCAA Power Poll.  Both teams return to action next Tuesday at Lighthouse.

It appears free agent first baseman Albert Pujols is headed west.  ESPN and Yahoo! Sports are reporting Pujols is headed to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  Yahoo Sports reports the deal is for 10 years and worth at least 250 million dollars.

SPORTS HEADLINES 12.8.11

Tickets are on sale for the Christian County High Athletics Hall of Fame luncheon and ceremony to be held Saturday beginning at 11:30 am at Christian County High school cafeteria. Tickets are 10 dollars each and can be purchased at Heritage Bank, Remax Advantage Realtors and Christian County High School.

University Heights Academy will honor its 1992 Sweet 16 championship basketball team this Saturday at halftime of its basketball game with Apollo. Following the game, there will be an invitation only reception at Harper House. For more information on the event, contact athletic director Dick Weaver at 886-0254.

The 2^nd region umpire’s association is looking for persons interested in umpiring high school baseball this spring. If you need more information, contact Matt Bell at 270-871-6956.

The 2^nd region softball umpire’s association will hold its first meeting Sunday January 8^th at 2 pm at Broadway Elementary School in Providence. Anyone interested in umpiring this spring is asked to contact Del Brantley at 270-836-0649 for more information.

High School Basketball

Boys:   Crosstown rivals Hopkinsville and University Heights open the 8^th district portion of the season this evening at Tiger Gym. Tipoff is set for 7:30, with the Heritage Bank pre game show at 7:15 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP.

Elsewhere this evening:   Hopkins Central hosts Caldwell County, Henderson County welcomes Union County, Dawson Springs plays at Christian Fellowship, Murray at Fulton City.

Girls:   Caldwell County at Hopkins Central, Muhlenberg County hosts McLean County, Livingston Central at Community Christian, Webster County at Graves County, Ohio County hosts Warren Central, Calloway County at Massac County, IL and Ballard Memorial meets Marion, IL.

College Basketball

Fifth ranked Louisville made easy work of IUPUI winning 90-60 at the KFC Yum Center Wednesday night. Gorugi Deng had a career high 18 points and 12 rebounds. It’s the 16^th consecutive home win for the Cardinals.

Elsewhere last night: Western Kentucky defeated Southern Illinois 62-55, Manhattan over Fordham 81-47—former Christian County standout Donovan Kates had 10 points off the bench in the win for the Jespers and Vanderbilt edged Davidson 87-83.

Women’s action saw Tennessee Tech defeat Western Kentucky 69-59.

Tonight’s action has Kentucky’s women’s team hosting Duke at Rupp Arena.

For the second straight season, Austin Peay’s Anthony Campbell has seen his season end due to a knee injury. Campbell suffered lateral and medial meniscus tears in Monday night’s win over Arkansas State.

College Football

Western Kentucky University announced coach Willie Taggart has received a contract extension through 2019 and a pay raise. The school announced Wednesday Taggart’s base salary will increase from 225 to 475 thousand dollars. Taggart in his second season led the Hilltoppers to a 7-5 record and a second place finish in the Sun Belt Conference.

Western Kentucky running back Bobby Rainey has been named the Sun Belt Conference offensive player of the year. The senior rushed for 16 hundred 95 yards in setting a single season record for the Hilltoppers this season. Rainey is also the second player in Sun Belt history to win the Offensive Player of the Year in consecutive seasons.

Louisville’s football commitment list for 2012 has reached 17 players. The Courier Journal reports defensive tackle DeQuan Ivery of Columbia High School in Lake City, Florida intends to play for the Cards next season.

NFL

Tennessee Titans rookie linebacker Colin McCarthy was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week Wednesday. In making just his third start, McCarthy had 11 tackles, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in the Titans 23-17 win at Buffalo last Sunday.

The NFL weekend kicks off tonight as AFC North rivals Cleveland and Pittsburgh meet at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.

NHL

The Nashville Predators are back in action this evening on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets. First puck drops at 6 in Nationwide Arena.