Basketball Court

Indiana University could have met its budget or perhaps surpassed its monthly goal last weekend at Assembly Hall. The funds could have easily been obtained in the form of handing out tickets for trespassing to those who stampeded the court after the Hoosiers stunned then top-ranked Kentucky 73-72, handing the Wildcats their first loss of the season. For the record, fans always have been known to get arrested for trespassing during athletic events of any type during the course of history.

Being a standout athlete in one sport at the varsity level is a great accomplishment, but to do it in two sports is an even more amazing feat. George Rogers Clark senior Corey Rogers is among the few high school athletes in the state who have excelled on both the gridiron and the basketball court. On the football field last fall, he was a leader on both offense and defense, hauling in 50 passes for 856 yards and seven touchdowns, while also recording 56 solo tackles and assisting on 28 more.

When Robbie Graham was hired to coach the George Rogers Clark girls basketball team last spring, no one was more excited than his daughter, Lexxus Graham. For Lexxus, a junior point guard, it was a dream come true to play for her father, and she hasn't noticed any difference on the court. “It's been the same,” she said. “He's just like a regular coach. At home, he's dad and in the gym, he's the coach.” Lexxus has played under her dad on the AAU circuit, but this is her first full season in the prep ranks.

By the time the winter snow melts and spring rolls around again, visitors to Wilmore's Centennial Park could have a little bit more to see and do. Paved access roads and parking lots, a basketball court, and a one-mile walking trail around the park's perimeter are in the works, funded by $250,000 secured by Rep. Bob Damron and Sen. Tom Buford from the state's general fund. "We've always had a list of things we've wanted to include at that park," said Amy Fitch, director of Wilmore Parks and Recreation.

A basketball court is adjacent to the Rev. Marvin King’s office at First Baptist Church. When time allows, King puts up a shot and reflects on his basketball career at Drake University. However, his time is mostly filled serving as pastor of his church, located on North Highland Street. King, 37, was called to serve as pastor at First Baptist nearly a year ago and his venture into the ministry featured a “very interesting career path.” King is originally from Houston, Texas, and went to college in Iowa before settling down in Lexington.

Lincoln County Fair June 29-July 4; cost, $8Monday through SaturdayWeb site: www.lincolnfair.netInformation: (606) 365-3940 Monday 7:30 p.m.: Pedal pull, basketball court; Broken Horn Rodeo, motor sports track. 8: Arm wrestling contest, floral hall patio. Tuesday 7:30 p.m.: Motorcycle/ATV drag, motor sports track. Wednesday 7 p.m.: Power wheels, warm-up track; open cornhole tournament, basketball court. 7:30: Demolition derby, motor sports track.

6-10 p.m. - Floral hall open 7 p.m. - Lamb show, show pavilion, rabbit/poultry show, horse shoe pit, basketball 3 on 3, basketball court, power wheels, warm-up ring, baby show, pageant hall 7: 30 p.m. - Demolition derby, motor sports track 8 p.m. - Arm wrestling, floral hall patio

Tim Cassity sends a mix of grass seed falling to the earth Tuesday morning, seeding around the basketball court and other areas at College Park. The spreading of grass seed is a sure sign that spring is just three weeks away. James Mann/jmann@winchestersun.com

Winchester-Clark County Parks and Recreation Department employees Rick Winburn, left, and Pete Embry fill large cracks in the surface of the basketball court at College Park with an acrylic patch. Once all the surface cracks are sealed, the court will resurfaced. The court will be closed for a day when the court is resealed. James Mann/jmann@winchestersun.com

LEXINGTON - On the same day he made his intentions known about entering the NBA draft - where he could be Kentucky's third overall No. 1 pick in four years - Nerlens Noel suddenly quit thinking about his future. Instead, he was saddened by the bombings at the Boston Marathon in his hometown. “That definitely affected me. Just growing up in that city, born and raised and to see that happen, you just can't think that (there's a) human being that could do that to people that run in the Boston Marathon from all over the country.

As she talked about her rehabilitation from a torn ACL suffered earlier this season, UK Hoops junior guard Maegan Conwright's face lit up. “I'm biking now!” she said. According to Conwright, it's the little things like finally being able to bike that are most important when coming back from a “devastating” injury such as a torn ACL.  She is in her first few weeks of post-surgery rehab, and Conwright has learned to focus on the baby-step approach to getting back on the court.

Christian Gateskill-Fuqua is still a target for opponents' student sections, but there's one chant he doesn't hear any more. The Danville senior has made his mark in athletics primarily on the soccer field, but now his play on the basketball court is also commanding attention. By becoming the Admirals' starting point guard and their leading scorer this season, Gateskill-Fuqua has proved this season that he is a valuable player in both of his chosen sports, and he said he has made it clear that he isn't just playing basketball to pass the time.

When Robbie Graham was hired to coach the George Rogers Clark girls basketball team last spring, no one was more excited than his daughter, Lexxus Graham. For Lexxus, a junior point guard, it was a dream come true to play for her father, and she hasn't noticed any difference on the court. “It's been the same,” she said. “He's just like a regular coach. At home, he's dad and in the gym, he's the coach.” Lexxus has played under her dad on the AAU circuit, but this is her first full season in the prep ranks.

Former Centre College men's basketball coach Tom Bryant has been honored as a distinguished alumni at Chillicothe (Ohio) High School. Bryant, who was honored posthumously, was one of seven honorees recognized at a ceremony Saturday. Bryant graduated in 1951 from Chillicothe, where he played on one of the school's winningest basketball teams. He coached for 28 seasons at Centre, winning 382 games and 15 conference championships and reaching the NCAA¿Division III¿tournament nine times, and he was the school's athletic director for 21 years.

Former George Rogers Clark standout Vinny Zollo has found a new home. Zollo plans to transfer to Furman in Greenville, S.C. from Western Kentucky University to finish out his collegiate career. Zollo narrowed his list of schools to Furman and Iona College earlier this week and settled on Furman. “This (was) a big decision for me, because this is the last go-around and the last chance to get it right as far as where you want to be,” Zollo said during a video post on his blog Friday.

Actor Ed Norton warned: “Fame is very corrosive and you have to guard very strictly against it.” Unfortunately for Richie Farmer, star guard for the 1992 University of Kentucky Wildcats, a new report by state auditor Adam Edelen indicates he did not guard very well against fame's corrosive nature - at least not during his eight-year stint as the commonwealth's agriculture commissioner. Edelen's audit of the Department of Agriculture under Farmer reeks of the hubris of someone who allowed his celebrity status and retired jersey number to lure him into thinking he was exempted from accountability to the employees and taxpayers he was there to serve.

On the boards of the Hogsett Elementary School gymnasium, younger boys are learning from older boys in ways adults involved hope will have lifelong value. Mary Wells is the family resource liaison at the school tasked with identifying ways the school can be of assistance in a larger sense in the lives of students there. “My job is to try to remove any barriers the child may have that interferes with them being able to make the most of their education,” she said. Some of the parents asked her about mentors for their sons.

Derek Willis of Bullitt East, a top-35 player in the class of 2013, will announce Friday whether he'll play college basketball at Kentucky, Louisville, Indiana or Purdue. The 6-foot-8 Willis originally committed to Purdue as a sophomore before changing his mind and re-opening his recruitment. Family friend Kevin Veeley has known Willis since he was 6 years old and was his Little League baseball coach. “My son was best friends with him until we moved to Shelbyville three years ago, and they still talk all the time,” Veeley said.

Indiana University could have met its budget or perhaps surpassed its monthly goal last weekend at Assembly Hall. The funds could have easily been obtained in the form of handing out tickets for trespassing to those who stampeded the court after the Hoosiers stunned then top-ranked Kentucky 73-72, handing the Wildcats their first loss of the season. For the record, fans always have been known to get arrested for trespassing during athletic events of any type during the course of history.