Mercer

The Mercer County volleyball team opened its season with a two-game sweep of visiting Bardstown on Tuesday night at Harrodsburg. Mercer won the season-opening match 25-12, 25-4 to begin a stretch of three matches in three days. The Titans play at Western Hills today and host Boyle County on Thursday. Boyle loses Boyle County opened its season by falling 25-12, 25-20 to visiting Pulaski County. "We did some good things that we can build on and work on for the rest of the season," said coach Heather Wheeler.

The Mercer County girls got a goal and a save in the last two minutes of the game Tuesday night to edge South Laurel 2-1 at Harrodsburg. Livi Logue scored the tiebreaking goal for Mercer (9-6-1) with 1 minute, 50 seconds left after South Laurel (7-6-1) was unable to clear a corner kick. Goalkeeper Amanda Howard then protected the Titans’ lead with a diving save in the final minute after South Laurel mustered one last rally. Mercer coach Paul Brooks said Mercer took some time to adjust to the Cardinals’ speed.

STEARNS - The Mercer County girls know what a good night feels like, and they know this wasn't it. The feeling was something entirely different Tuesday night after the 12th Region Tournament title game, where the Lady Scotties were hoping to celebrate but instead found themselves frustrated. Mercer was denied in its bid for a second regional title in three years after being dominated by South Laurel in a 76-64 defeat Tuesday night at McCreary Central. "You can say it wasn't our night, but it was probably South Laurel's night," Mercer coach Chris Souder said.

HARRODSBURG - The Lincoln County girls suffered from a bit of a holiday hangover in the Patriots' first game back after Christmas. Kourtney Belcher scored with 4.5 seconds left off an assist from Emily Fox, and the Patriots' defense forced an off-balance shot at the end for a 56-54 win over Covington Holy Cross in the first round of the Harrodsburg/Mercer Tourism Titans Christmas Clash on Tuesday. “We had long week at (Lexington) Catholic playing up there, and coming off Christmas break.

HARRODSBURG — Amanda Howard could not ease into her first start. The Mercer County freshman goalkeeper had to make her first varsity start against Boyle County last week after Haley Fox sprained her rotator cuff. While she gave up eight goals, she also had 17 saves and earned praise from her coach. It’s a game Howard said she will always look back on as a great learning experience. “They’re a good team. But they’re all going to be hard, and you’ve got to go and do your best and whatever happens happens,” Howard said.

Lake Village Water Association has lifted a boil water advisory issued for residents of Hughley Lane from house numbers 115 to 366 and all of Cedar Lane. The advisory was issued Tuesday after a water line was damaged by a construction crew.

HARRODSBURG - A Boyle County man remains in the Boyle County Detention Center following a stabbing in Mercer County Saturday night. Mercer County Deputy Sheriff Chris Edwards said a 911 call came in at about at 8:14 p.m. and he was sent to 1672 Battlefield Road where dispatchers reported a man had been stabbed. When he arrived, he found Robert Earl Marple, 36, lying in the front yard of the residence with at least two stab wounds in his chest and one in his lower right arm. Edwards said that Marple and Anthony Hicks, who lives at the Battlefield Road address, apparently got into a fight.

The Mercer County girls are just doing what they always do. And no one is doing it better than Chrystal Claunch. Claunch and her Mercer teammates have relied on the same formula for countless track meets: They throw themselves into many events, winning a few and scoring in almost all of them. It worked for them again Tuesday, as they scored in all but one event and had two scorers in six events to win the Thoroughbred Classic by 32 points over host Boyle County. "We just pick away at you," Mercer coach Brian Pendygraft said.

HARRODSBURG - The Mercer County Titans already got the win they wanted, but this is the one they need. For all that Mercer's win over Boyle County two weeks ago meant to the Titans and their fans, Friday's game at Newport - its first in Class AA, District 5 - is far more significant. "It's no comparison," Mercer coach Marty Jaggers said. "It's the biggest game all year that we've played. " Mercer (5-0) made a statement by beating Boyle, but beating Newport (4-1) would allow the Titans to make considerable headway toward the goals that eluded them last season.

HARRODSBURG - Jamel Taylor is just settling in. The Mercer County sophomore has shown marked improvement since last season, and the Titans are already reaping the rewards of his increased contributions. Taylor won't lead Mercer in scoring every night - the Titans aren't set up that way - but he is becoming the kind of player who commands attention from opposing defenses. "He can take over a ballgame any time," Mercer coach Nelson Cundiff said. And while Taylor's size and skills make him one to watch both this season and in the future, he said becoming more comfortable in his surroundings has been a big part of his improvement.