High School Basketball-Girls Sweet 16

Lower bracket opening round games Thursday saw Owensboro Catholic defeat Lincoln County 66-55, Manual over Mercy 74-60, Marshall County defeated Letcher County Central 56-52 and Notre Dame edged Madison Central 57-53.

Today’s games: Top ranked Marion County meets Montgomery County at noon, followed by Anderson County and Shelby Valley. The evening session has Owensboro Catholic and Manual at 6:30, with Marshall County meeting Notre Dame in the nightcap.

High School Baseball-Thursday’s scores: Christian County blanked Trigg County 11-0 in 5 innings, University Heights defeated Crittenden County 7-0, Lyon County over Fort Campbell 10-7, Logan County edged Warren East 3-2, Russellville over Caverna 17-6, Caldwell County over Henderson County 7-4.

Today’s games: Hopkinsville hosts Clarksville Northwest, Fort Campbell hosts Stewart County, TN, Todd Central entertains Warren Central, Russellville goes to Bowling Green, Dawson Springs at Livingston Central, Madisonville travels to Grayson County, Trigg County is at Paducah Tilghman, Webster County hosts Ohio County.

High School Softball-Thursday’s scores: University Heights defeated Crittenden County 11-5, Trigg County over Russellville 6-1, Lyon County over Carlisle County 10-7.

Today’s games: Hopkinsville at Lone Oak, Russellville at Butler County, Murray has a doubleheader with Creekwood, TN and Obion County Central, TN.

College Basketball

SEC Tournament-Thursday’s scores: LSU survived a scare from Georgia to advance to the quarterfinals defeating the Bulldogs 68-63. Former Christian County standout Anthony Hickey was held to 3 points in the game.

Other games saw Tennessee defeat Mississippi State 69-53, Vanderbilt edged Arkansas 75-72 and Missouri defeated Texas A&M 62-50.

Today’s games: Kentucky is in action against Vanderbilt this evening in Nashville at 6:30, with pre game coverage at 5 on Lite 98.7. Other quarterfinal games have LSU and Florida at noon, followed by Tennessee and Alabama, with Missouri and Ole Miss playing following Kentucky this evening

Big East Tournament: Louisville got 28 points from Russ Smith in downing Villanova 74-55 to move to the semi finals this evening to face Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish advanced with a 73-65 win over Marquette. Georgetown and Syracuse will play in the other semi final game this evening.

College Football: The Leaf Chronicle reports Austin Peay has concluded interviewing candidates for the vacant head coaching position. The university has not said when the hire will be announced publicly, but it should be rather quick considering the Governors begin spring practice Monday.

Hoppers Baseball: “Hop On” is the tag line for the 2013 Hoptown Hoppers season. The Hoppers issued a news release Thursday announcing the tagline, along with an improved website, hoptownhoppers.org.

The “Hop On” tagline is meant to capture the excitement and enthusiasm of the inaugural season which saw the Hoppers win the Ohio Valley League championship and is also asking fans to hop on the bandwagon and help push the team for a second successful season.

The Hoppers will open the season June 1^st hosting the Madisonville-Tradewater Pirates at Hopkinsville High’s Tiger Stadium.

NFL: The Tennessee Titans resigned kick returner Darius Reynaud to a one year contract Thursday. Terms were not disclosed. Reynaud joined the Titans as a free agent last season and returned two punts and a kickoff for touchdowns. Reynaud ranked third in the NFL in punt return average at 13.2 yards per return.

NHL: The Nashville Predators lost at Vancouver 7-4. The Predators have won only one game in their last eight away from home. They will return to action this evening at Calgary, with coverage of the game at 8 on News/Talk WHOP.

The NHL on Thursday approved the realignment plan for the league beginning with the 2013-14 season. There will be 16 teams in the Eastern Conference, with 14 in the Western Conference. Nashville will be in a Western Conference division with Chicago, St. Louis, Dallas, Minnesota, Colorado and Winnipeg.

College Basketball: The Lexington Herald Leader reports Madison Central High School’s Dominque Hawkins and his coach Allen Feldhaus, Jr. met with Kentucky coach John Calipari Wednesday about UK’s interest in Hawkins.

Feldhaus says Hawkins will not walk on at any school and if Kentucky wants him they will have to offer a scholarship. Hawkins currently has offers from Western Kentucky, Murray State, Morehead State, Florida International, South Carolina and Wright State.

College Football:   Murray State coach Chris Hatcher’s name has surfaced as a leading candidate to become coach at Kennesaw State, which is starting a football program for the 2015 season. The Marietta Daily Journal reports Hatcher interviewed for the job last weekend.

However, WPSD-Paducah reports Hatcher declined comment Wednesday. Murray State athletics director Allen Ward said it was no secret Kennesaw State wants the Georgia native as coach, but says he still expects Hatcher to be coach at Murray State next year.

MLB: Cactus League action has Cincinnati meeting Seattle and the Chicago Cubs against Los Angeles. Grapefruit League action includes Atlanta playing St. Louis.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch reports Cardinals manager Mike Matheny is back at spring training, three days after having back surgery in St. Louis. Matheny told reporters this morning that doctors have been scaring him about having to take it easy for the next eight weeks.

NHL:  The NHL Board of Governors has approved the realignment proposal for the 2013-14 season.  The new alignment calls for four divisions, two in each the Eastern and Western Conferences.  The Nashville Predators will play in one of the Western Conference divisions with  Chicago, St. Louis, Colorado, Dallas, Minnesota and Winnipeg.

Golf: The PGA Tour’s Tampa Bay Championship is underway today, with Danville native Josh Teater in the field. The Champions Tour’s Toshiba Classic begins tomorrow in Newport Beach, California, with Paducah’s Russ Cochran in the field.

Nashville native Brandt Snedeker plans to return to action next week at the Bay Hill Invitational. Snedeker has been sidelined with a rib injury since winning the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro Am last month. Snedeker, who leads the Fed Ex Cup points race, was named the February PGA Tour player of the month earlier this week.

High School Basketball-Girls Sweet 16

2^nd region representative Henderson County trailed by as many as 17 in the third quarter and cut the deficit to four late in the game before falling to Anderson County 65-54. Maci Brown led the Lady Colonels with 18, Ellie Fruit added 14 and DeAsia Outlaw pitched in 13 as Henderson County finished the season 26-3.

Other first round games saw top ranked Marion County defeat Bowling Green 64-43, Montgomery County over Ashland Blazer 60-49 and Shelby Valley defeated Corbin 45-38.

Today’s games: Third region winner Owensboro Catholic meets Lincoln County at noon, followed by Manual and Mercy. This evening’s games have 1^st region winner Marshall County playing Letcher County Central at 6:30, followed by Madison Central and Notre Dame.

High School Baseball: Christian County goes to Trigg County, University Heights travels to Crittenden County, Fort Campbell at Lyon County, Todd Central at Butler County, Logan County at Warren East, Caldwell County hosts Henderson County, Madisonville hosts Muhlenberg County, Union County hosts Owensboro.

High School Softball: University Heights at Crittenden County, Trigg County goes to Russellville, Lyon County hosts Carlisle County.

College Basketball

SEC Tournament: Mississippi State defeated South Carolina 70-59 and Texas A&M defeated Auburn 71-62.

Today’s games: LSU and Georgia open play at noon today, followed by Tennessee and Mississippi State. The evening session has Vanderbilt meeting Arkansas at 6:30, with Missouri meeting Texas A&M in the nightcap.

Big East Tournament: Louisville meets Villanova at 6 this evening at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Villanova advanced to tonight’s game with a 66-53 win over St. John’s Wednesday.

College Football: Austin Peay assistant coach Gary Shephard announced his retirement Wednesday. Shephard returned to coaching two years ago to assist his longtime friend former Governor head coach Rick Christophel. Shephard served as the Governors linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator.

Austin Peay is still conducting interviews to find a replacement for Christophel, who resigned in January to become the tight ends coach for the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.

College Baseball: Austin Peay defeated Lipscomb 3-1, Northern Illinois defeated Murray State 8-4 and Tennessee won over Western Kentucky 5-4 in 10 innings.

College Softball: Austin Peay lost a pair of games to Lipscomb 8-6 and 15-0.

NFL: The Tennessee Titans picked up three free agents Wednesday, signing former New York Jets running back Shonne Greene. Greene rushed for 1,063 yards last season and will be a compliment to Chris Johnson in the backfield. Terms of Greene’s contract were not disclosed.

Former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Sammie Hill received a three year, $11 million dollar contract and former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Moise Fokou agreed to a two year deal. The Tennessean reports the Titans are still $5 million under the salary cap after signing five free agents the last two days.

NHL: The Nashville Predators play game two of their five game road trip tonight at Vancouver, with coverage at 9 on News/Talk WHOP.

Former Christian County softball standout Griffin Joiner had a big day in Kentucky’s 18-0 win over #24 North Carolina Tuesday. Joiner had two home runs and drove in six runs. Joiner’s two home runs in a game marked the 19^th time a Kentucky player has accomplished the feat. True freshman Katie Henderson picked up the pitching win by firing a no hitter.

College Football: Murray State is beginning spring practice today as the Racers have the first of 15 workouts on the turf at Stewart Stadium. Spring practice concludes April 20^th with the Blue-Gold bowl. The Racers open the 2013 season August 31^st at Missouri.

Could former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer be lured out of retirement? The Johnson City Press reports East Tennessee State University interim athletics director Richard Sander said Tuesday Fulmer would be his first choice to coach at the school.

Fulmer met with school officials last week about the possible return of the sport, which was dropped in 2003. East Tennessee’s Board of Regents are scheduled to vote soon about reviving the sport. East Tennessee is currently a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference, but has played football in the Ohio Valley and Southern Conferences in its past.

College Basketball: Another NCAA tournament invitation will be handed out tonight as Bucknell meets Lafayette in the championship game of the Patriot League. You can hear the contest at 6:15 on News/Talk WHOP.

Golf: Golf World reports Natalie Gulbis has withdrawn from the LPGA’s first stateside event, the RR Donnelley Founders Cup that begins tomorrow in Phoenix. Gulbis contracted malaria while playing in an event in Singapore recently.

MLB: Cactus League action has Cincinnati meeting San Francisco and the Chicago Cubs against Colorado. Grapefruit League action includes the Atlanta Braves playing the Miami Marlins.

Join Todd Hamilton for the final Sports Tonight show of the season this afternoon at 5:08 on News/Talk WHOP. Todd’s guests include the radio voice of the Bowling Green Hot Rods baseball team Hank Fuerst, along with UHA girls basketball coach Taylor Sparks, Hopkinsville boys basketball coach Tim Haworth and a report on the Girls Sweet 16 from Dan Manley.

High School Baseball-Tuesday’s scores: Christian County edged Kenwood 2-1, Logan County shut out Hopkinsville 3-0, University Heights over Madisonville 9-5, Trigg County edged Mayfield 4-3, White House Heritage shut out Todd Central 11-0, Crittenden County over Webster County 6-3, Hickman County defeated Paducah Tilghman 20-0 in 5 innings, Murray slid by Heath 1-0.

High School Softball-Tuesday’s scores: University Heights opened 8^th district play with a 15-0 three inning win over Fort Campbell.

High School Basketball

The Girls Sweet 16 begins today at EA Diddle Arena at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. 4^th region winner Bowling Green will begin the tournament against the state’s top ranked team Marion County at noon, followed by Montgomery County and Ashland at 1:30.

The evening session has 2^nd region winner Henderson County meeting Anderson County of the 8^th region at 6:30, followed by Corbin and Shelby Valley.

The Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches has selected its regional players and coaches of the year for girls basketball.

Players of the year in regions 1-4 are: Ellie Fruit, Henderson County-Region 2, Rebecca Greenwell, Owensboro Catholic-Region 3, Madison Clements, Monroe County-Region 4 and Chelsey Shumpert, Paducah Tilghman-Region 1.

Coaches of the year in regions 1-4 are: Parker McCallister, Webster County-Region 2, Roderick Thomas, Paducah Tilghman-Region 1, Mike Harper, Muhlenberg County- Region 3 and Brad Bonds, Allen County Scottsville-Region 4.

Barren County coach John Butler has been placed in the KABC Court of Honor representing regions 1-4.

College Basketball

The Southeastern Conference tournament begins this evening at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. First round games have South Carolina and Mississippi State at 6:30, with the winner to meet Tennessee tomorrow afternoon at 2:30.

Texas A&M meets Auburn, with the winner to face Missouri tomorrow night at 9 pm.

Kentucky does not see action until Friday when it gets the Vanderbilt-Arkansas winner. The game tips off at 6:30, with pre game coverage at 5 on Lite 98.7.

Despite missing the last few games of the season, Kentucky freshman Nerlens Noel was voted the SEC freshman and defensive player of the year by the league’s coaches Tuesday. Noel was also named to the All SEC first team and all defensive team. Teammate Kyle Wiltjer won the 6^th man award, with Willie Cauley-Stein, Archie Goodwin and Alex Poythress named to the All Freshman team.

LSU’s Anthony Hickey was named to the All Defensive team, with Tennessee’s Jordan McRae named to the All SEC first team, with Jarnell Stokes named to the All SEC second team. Florida’s Billy Donovan was named Coach of the Year, while Georgia’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was named Player of the Year.

Kentucky’s Nerlens Noel has surgery in Florida Tuesday to repair the torn ACL in his left knee suffered in the Wildcats game at Florida last month. Famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews performed the procedure. Rehab will take anywhere from 6-8 months to complete.

NFL: Tennessee Titans offensive lineman Steve Hutchinson announced his retirement Tuesday after 12 years in the NFL. Hutchinson came to the Titans from the Minnesota Vikings last year. He played in 12 games before a knee injury ended his season and his career, which began with the Seattle Seahawks in 2001.

Meanwhile, the Titans were busy on the free agent market Tuesday. The Titans signed former Buffalo Bills guard Andy Levitre to a six year $46.8 million deal and tight end Delanie Walker is coming from the San Francisco 49ers. Walker agreed to a four year $17.5 million contract.

NHL: Pekka Rinne stopped 32 shots on goal to record an NHL best fifth shutout of the season as the Nashville Predators shut out Dallas 4-0. Shea Weber and Gabrielle Borque had power play goals. Nashville returns to action Thursday night at Vancouver, in a game you can hear at 9 on News/Talk WHOP.