Great Game

Sarah Fitzpatrick went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and four RBIs Monday as Lincoln County beat host Rockcastle County 9-8. "We had a bunch of upperclassmen step up tonight. It was a great game," Lincoln coach Renita Pennington said. "Rockcastle really hit the ball, as did we. "Courtney Day pitched a great game, and our defense really backed her up. " Morgan Brown was 2-for-4 for the Patriots (12-12). "Morgan had a good game, Ashton Gooch got on base a lot and Alexis Gooch, our designated hitter, did really well," Pennington said.

Boyle County completed a clean sweep of its 42nd District games by beating visiting Lincoln County 25-7, 25-19 on Tuesday. Erica Shell had seven kills, Rachel Staub had five kills and Bruna Lozano had five service aces for Boyle, which takes wins over Lincoln and Casey County into next week's 42nd District Tournament at Casey. "(We) had good passing by the entire team, especially Kate Edmiston and Emily Rigney," Boyle coach Dana Stigall said. "The team stepped up and played a great game tonight.

HARRODSBURG - Mercer County racked up runs in the early innings Thursday to defeat Rockcastle County 8-2 at Harrodsburg. Rockcastle (18-4) took a quick 1-0 lead, but Mercer (14-7) scored twice in the bottom of the first inning and led 5-1 after two innings and 7-2 after three and went on to win their seventh straight game and their 12th in their last 13 games. Winning pitcher Ethan Ashford went the distance for the Titans, scattering seven hits. "Ethan pitched a great game for us tonight, and our bats kept coming alive," Mercer assistant coach Wayne Davis said.

Hannah Miniard struck out 19 batters Wednesday to lead Boyle County to a 7-3 victory over Western Hills at Frankfort. Miniard allowed four hits and two walks and did not give up an earned run as she earned a complete-game victory in her season debut for Boyle (2-0). “Hannah pitched a great game despite the cold tonight,” Boyle coach Brian Deem said. The wind-chill factor hovered just above 30 degrees for the game. “I felt like we did a good job through the first five innings trying to stay focused through the cold and the wind,” Deem said.

LOUISVILLE - Sam Harp didn't expect Danville's 10th state championship to come so easily Friday, but all he had to do was ask Charles Penix and Kelvin Turner for help. Penix had a career day with 268 yards and two touchdowns and Turner had 186 yards rushing and four touchdowns as Danville ran roughshod over Beechwood in a 42-7 victory in the Class A state championship game at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium. "I was quite surprised we were able to win it the way we were," Harp said.

LANCASTER - The way they played Monday night, Garrard County may want to hold Senior Night every night. The Golden Lions' pin-point passing delivered easy baskets throughout the game as Garrard connected on 57 percent of its shots to defeat East Jessamine 87-66 here Monday. "It was only fitting that the seniors came out and had a great game," Garrard coach Jenny Teater said. "They came out and played a great game both offensively and defensively and were very unselfish with the basketball.

NICHOLASVILLE - It came down to hitting shots in the final minutes in Boyle County's 48-47 win over East Jessamine on Tuesday night. While the Rebels (2-0) were far from perfect from the field and free-throw line in final minutes, they converted enough to slip past the Jaguars (3-1) who missed five fre throws in the fourth quarter alone. “We missed the front end of two one-and-ones that could have sealed it, but the kids stepped up,” Boyle County coach Steve Adams said. “We're an awful young team ... and we're still trying to find our way. These kids are really playing hard ... I'm just tickled to death with the way our kids are responding.” Leading 34-30 heading into the fourth quarter, Boyle County was able to pull away from East thanks to two 3-pointers by Hagen Tyler - the second of which gave Boyle a 44-36 lead with 2:50 remaining.

After dropping the first two games of the Arby's/KFC Holiday Classic at McCreary Central, the East Jessamine High boys got together for a team meeting. And whatever was said must have worked because the Jaguars earned big wins in their next three games to finish the tournament 3-2. East Coach Chris O'Bryan called the victories the best three games of basketball the team has played all year. "I would like to say, 'Coach made a great call and that's what flipped the switch,'" he said.

LANCASTER - Garrard County coach Steve Stonebraker won't downplay how important a Class AAA playoff victory at Wayne County on Friday would be for his team. "I told the kids that beating Wayne would be huge for a couple of reasons. One, it would redeem our seniors for their loss to Wayne on our senior night," Stonebraker said. "And two, it would help our younger players get a taste of playoff success which will make them want even more down the road. "There is no doubt this is our biggest game of the year.

Danville scored three times in the top of the seventh inning Thursday to break a tie and go on to beat host Lexington Christian 8-6 in an All “A” Classic semi-state game. The Admirals (15-11) will play in the All “A” state semifinals at 4:30 p.m. May 4 at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington against an opponent yet to be determined. The semifinals and final are May 5. “This was a great win, probably the most complete game we've played so far this year both offensively and defensively,” Danville coach Paul Morse said.

Danville scored three times in the top of the seventh inning Thursday to break a tie and go on to beat host Lexington Christian 8-6 in an All “A” Classic semi-state game. The Admirals (15-11) will play in the All “A” state semifinals at 4:30 p.m. May 4 at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington against an opponent yet to be determined. The semifinals and final are May 5. “This was a great win, probably the most complete game we've played so far this year both offensively and defensively,” Danville coach Paul Morse said.

Hannah Miniard struck out 19 batters Wednesday to lead Boyle County to a 7-3 victory over Western Hills at Frankfort. Miniard allowed four hits and two walks and did not give up an earned run as she earned a complete-game victory in her season debut for Boyle (2-0). “Hannah pitched a great game despite the cold tonight,” Boyle coach Brian Deem said. The wind-chill factor hovered just above 30 degrees for the game. “I felt like we did a good job through the first five innings trying to stay focused through the cold and the wind,” Deem said.

East Jessamine overcame a slow start and poor shooting Friday night to take a scrappy game against Danville 60-51. The Jaguars (22-7) will enter the postseason having won 11 of their last 12 games. They struggled early Friday as the Admirals (10-14) came out in a zone. East trailed 12-10 after the first quarter. "They weren't ready," East coach Chris O'Bryan said. "They were in that 3-2 zone, and we didn't have anybody cutting; we didn't have anybody flashing; we were just looking at people we were trying to throw the ball to. " With the district-tournament bracket for next week already set and six seniors honored before the game, O'Bryan said his players may have been distracted early.

NICHOLASVILLE - It came down to hitting shots in the final minutes in Boyle County's 48-47 win over East Jessamine on Tuesday night. While the Rebels (2-0) were far from perfect from the field and free-throw line in final minutes, they converted enough to slip past the Jaguars (3-1) who missed five fre throws in the fourth quarter alone. “We missed the front end of two one-and-ones that could have sealed it, but the kids stepped up,” Boyle County coach Steve Adams said. “We're an awful young team ... and we're still trying to find our way. These kids are really playing hard ... I'm just tickled to death with the way our kids are responding.” Leading 34-30 heading into the fourth quarter, Boyle County was able to pull away from East thanks to two 3-pointers by Hagen Tyler - the second of which gave Boyle a 44-36 lead with 2:50 remaining.

It has been a little over 20 years since it looked like Sean Woods had hit the shot with 2.1 seconds left in overtime to give Kentucky a monumental upset of Duke in the NCAA Tournament East Regional final only to have Christian Laettner hit the shot that still makes highlight reels to beat Kentucky. But rather than dreading those memories, Woods embraces them. And that's probably wise, since the new Morehead State coach acknowledges the first thing people bring up when they see him or meet him is that game.

NEW ORLEANS - He's getting set to play the biggest basketball game of his young life, but Anthony Davis doesn't mind letting everyone know that there is an off-court side to him as well. “I am a very laid-back guy off the court. I like to draw in my spare time.I watch a lot of movies. Terrence (Jones) is a big movie guy, so we like to go to movies a lot,” Davis said. He will draw “whatever pops into my head” and especially likes doing cartoon characters. “Stuff I have seen on TV. I put up a picture on Google sometimes.

Florida  coach  Billy Donovan  says it is “hard to answer” how  Kentucky  improved from the first time it beat his team in early February until it beat the Gators again 74-59 on the road Sunday. “I think the thing that has been the most impressive about them is they really have played well from start to finish,” Donovan said during the  Southeastern Conference  coaches teleconference Monday. “They haven't had games where they've been vulnerable, in my opinion.

Kentucky's first three Southeastern Conference opponents have tried to control the tempo, play physical inside with Kentucky and make it a lower-scoring game than the No. 2 Wildcats prefer. Arkansas coach Mike Anderson, a former assistant under Nolan Richardson with the Razorbacks, says that won't be the case for tonight's game at Rupp Arena. “We are going to attack. That's how we play. We play up tempo, attack basketball. They play the same way in terms of getting up and down the floor,” said Anderson, who is in his first year as Arkansas' head coach after a successful stint at Missouri.  “I think for the fans (who are there)

STANFORD - It's the game that both teams like to use to get ready for the postseason, and it's a good bet that both Lincoln County and Casey County are a little better prepared for what lies ahead after what they went through Friday night. The area's top two girls teams duked it out for 40 captivating minutes in their regular-season finale before Lincoln pulled out a 72-69 victory in double overtime. Casey extended the game with two long buzzer-beaters by Nicole Coffman, but the host Patriots nosed in front at the free-throw line in the final minute and dodged one last desperation shot.

For several years I didn't get to see the Boyle County-Danville game. Last year I did get back home and was at Admiral Stadium for the game Danville won 21-7. Tonight was a lot different. Since I have been back home after getting released by the Kansas City Chiefs, people have been telling me that Boyle County is a lot more confident and has that winning edge back. I thought it would be a win on Boyle's side, but I didn't think it would be a win like this. It was more a game of turnovers, mistakes and field position.