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.

High School Basketball

Post season play begins with district tournaments all across the Commonwealth this evening.

8^th district boys 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 boys at Lyon County: Livingston Central meets Crittenden County at 6, with Trigg County and Lyon County to follow.

6th district girls at Henderson County:  Union County meets Webster County.

7^th district at Caldwell County: Madisonville meets Hopkins Central in girls action at 6 and Hopkins Central meets Caldwell County in boys action at 8.

13^th district at Russellville:   Todd Central meets Franklin Simpson in girls action at 6, with Todd Central meeting Logan County in boys action at 8.

High School Wrestling

Campbell County won the state championship this weekend at the Alltech Arena at Kentucky Horse Park. Union County finished second, Christian County finished 14^th, University Heights 32^nd, Fort Campbell 33^rd, Trigg County 40^th, Caldwell County 44^th and Hopkinsville 68^th.

Christian County had three medalists with JJ Killebrew second in the 113 division, Kory Polley third in the 145 division and Caleb Austin sixth in the 106 division. University Heights Wade Willen finished 4^th in the 126 division.

College Basketball

ESPN’s Dick Vitale was at Murray State Saturday for the Bracketbuster game against St. Mary’s, which the 14^th ranked Racers won 65-51. Vitale said he appreciated the outpouring from Racer Nation and added the Racers were having a special season and praised coach Steve Prohm on the job he has done. Vitale also said top ranked Kentucky would be one of his choices to win the national championship.

Speaking of Kentucky, Coach John Calipari’s call in show and Big Blue Insider move to Wednesday night this week beginning at 5 on Lite 98.7.   Kentucky plays at Mississippi State tomorrow night, with pre game coverage at 6:30 on Lite 98.7.

Ray Harper is no longer the interim basketball coach at Western Kentucky University. Harper—who replaced Ken McDonald January 6^th—will be officially introduced during a pep rally in Diddle Arena this evening. Harper is 4-7 since taking over the Hilltoppers. Harper was also head coach at Kentucky Wesleyan and Oklahoma City College.

Tonight’s action has 8^th ranked Kentucky meeting 24^th ranked Vanderbilt and number four Notre Dame at number 19 Louisville in women’s games.

College Football

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports CBS may not carry the Tennessee-Florida matchup this fall. It would be the first time in the 16 year history of the SEC on CBS the game would not be carried. The teams are scheduled to play September 15^th, the same day Alabama meets Arkansas, which the network may carry.

PGA Tour

Former UK golfer JB Holmes finished three shots off the lead at the Northern Trust Open, finishing the four day event at four under par, while Nashville’s Brandt Snedeker finished at one under par. Bill Haas won a two hole playoff over Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley. The three finished regulation at seven under.

After setting the Champions Tour scoring record in the first two rounds, Kenny Perry breezed to a five shot win over Bernhard Langer at the ACE Group Classic. Perry finished the three day event at 20 under par. Paducah’s Russ Cochran finished at 10 under par.

NHL

The Nashville Predators picked up a 3-2 over the Dallas Stars Sunday night. Colin Wilson had what proved to be the game winner late in the 2^nd period.

Western Kentucky University has removed the interim tag from basketball coach Ray Harper. Harper will be officially introduced in a pep rally Monday evening at 6 pm in Diddle Arena. Harper had been serving as interim coach since Ken McDonald was fired January 6th. Harper was previously an assistant for the Hilltoppers and before that was head coach at Kentucky Wesleyan and Oklahoma City. Todd Hamilton will have more on sports Monday morning, along with some comments from ESPN's Dick Vitale who worked the Murray State-St. Mary's game Saturday.

Baseball is coming to Hopkinsville this summer. The Ohio Valley League’s Hoptown Hoppers will play at Christian County High’s Colonel Field after the Christian County Board of Education approved letting the Hoppers use the field during their meeting Thursday evening. Christian County Chamber of Commerce president Carter Hendricks says there will be at least one local player on the roster, with former UHA standout Matt McGowan playing for the Hoppers.

There is still one roster space left, and those involved with bringing the Hoppers to town are looking for families to host players and for sponsors. Hendricks says the response thus far has been very positive. The Hoppers will play a 40 game regular season schedule beginning in early June, with 20 home games then the playoffs. Hoptown becomes the fifth team in the league, joining the Tradewater Pirates and teams in Owensboro, Marion and Fulton.

High School Basketball

Boys:   Christian County fell in its regular season finale to Marshall County 62-41. CJ Cotton was the only double figure scorer for the Colonels with 11 points. Christian County has lost five games in a row heading into the post season with a 7-20 record, while Marshall County improved to 27-2.

Hopkinsville improved to 26-2 with a 96-55 win at Trigg County, Bowling Green rolled over University Heights 96-55, Russellville defeated Fort Campbell 88-42, Webster County defeated St. Mary 56-50, Heath over Lyon County 62-48, Muhlenberg County over Owensboro Catholic 49-41, Calloway County defeated Fulton City 56-44, Lone Oak over Graves County 40-30, Monroe County over Warren East 55-49, Glasgow rolled over Franklin Simpson 67-33, Warren Central over Daviess County 72-65.

Girls: Hopkinsville routed Owensboro Catholic 71-42, McLean County over Dawson Springs 64-51, Greenwood over Logan County 46-36, Muhlenberg County over Daviess County 51-44, Paducah Tilghman defeated Community Christian 84-45, Lyon County got by Heath 52-47, Lone Oak edged Graves County 47-45,Monroe County over Warren East 83-17, Glasgow defeated Franklin Simpson 63-28.

Tonight’s games

Boys: Hopkinsville closes out the regular season at Logan County, with tipoff at 7:30. The Heritage Bank pre game show begins at 7:15 on Newstalk 95.3 FM/1230 AM WHOP and whopam.com.

Elsewhere: University Heights hosts Crittenden County, Dawson Springs hosts Fort Campbell, Caldwell County welcomes Livingston Central, Hopkins Central entertains Apollo, Henderson County at Owensboro, Murray at Carlisle County, Greenwood entertains Edmonson County.

Girls: University Heights travels to Union County, Christian County entertains Russellville, Fort Campbell at Dawson Springs, Caldwell County hosts Livingston Central, Hopkins Central goes to Lyon County, Madisonville at Apollo, Webster County welcomes Crittenden County, Henderson County at Owensboro, Murray at Carlisle County, Warren Central hosts John Hardin.

College Basketball

Western Kentucky defeated Florida Atlantic 64-57 behind 20 points and 10 rebounds from freshman George Fant. Vanderbilt routed Ole Miss 102-76.

Women’s scores: Alabama edged 8^th ranked Kentucky 77-75, UT Martin defeated Murray State 91-67, number 24 Vanderbilt edged Florida 75-69, number 10 Tennessee defeated Mississippi State 57-41.

Top ranked Kentucky is back in action tomorrow hosting Ole Miss, with pre game coverage at 1:30 on Lite 98.7. Other games tomorrow include 14^th ranked Murray State hosting St. Mary’s in an ESPN Bracketbuster game at 5 at the CFSB Center.

The Ohio Valley Conference announced Thursday beginning with the 2012-13 basketball season, the league will play in divisions. Belmont University becomes the 12^th school to join the league July 1^st.

The divisions will be as follows:

East—Belmont, Eastern Kentucky, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech and Jacksonville State

West—Austin Peay, Murray State, UT Martin, Eastern Illinois, SIU Edwardsville and Southeast Missouri.

College Football

Vanderbilt coach James Franklin defended himself Thursday after reports indicate he improperly contacted three University of Maryland players who announced their transfers earlier this week.

The Tennessean reports Franklin went on a Nashville sports talk show and denied the allegations. The three players included quarterback Danny O’ Brien, who was the ACC 2010 Rookie of the Year. Franklin was the Terrapins offensive coordinator during O’Brien’s first season.

Tennessee State University officials say Hale Stadium will be used for the first time since 1998 this coming season. The Tigers will play Austin Peay September 15^th. The Tennessean reports two other games, Eastern Kentucky October 6^th and Tennessee Tech on October 27^th will be played at the historic stadium.   Hale Stadium is currently under going a renovation.

NHL

The Nashville Predators will try to clip the Detroit Red Wings in Joe Louis Arena this evening, where the Red Wings have won a league record 21 consecutive games.

PGA Tour

Campbellsville native JB Holmes fired a four under par score in the first round of the Northern Trust Open Thursday and trails leader Phil Mickelson by one stroke. Nashville’s Brandt Snedeker finished the opening round at four over par.

The Champions Tour Ace Group Classic tees off today in Naples, Florida with Kenny Perry and Russ Cochran in the field.

The Christian County Board of Education will vote this evening on whether to allow the proposed Hoptown Hoppers Ohio Valley League baseball team to use Christian County High School's baseball field for its home games this summer.  Hoppers officials are optimistic the board will approve the measure.

The Ohio Valley Conference today announced beginning with the 2012-13 season, basketball will go to divisional play.  The OVC will add a 12th school, Belmont University, on July 1st.  The divisions will be as follows:

East:  Belmont, Eastern Kentucky, Jacksonville State, Morehead State, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech.

West:  Austin Peay, Murray State, UT Martin, Southeast Missouri, Eastern Illinois and SIU Edwardsville.

The OVC also says softball and volleyball will use schedules based on a divisional format but have not determined those sports will formally recognize divisions.  Baseball, women's soccer and men's and women's tennis will not use divisional play because there are currently less than 12 participating teams.