Kentucky High School Basketball News

Two Sundays ago, I observed in a column that if the Dec. 1 Kentucky-Louisville women's basketball game proved a classic it could help Matthew Mitchell's program continue to "break through" with the mainstream of the Wildcats fan base.

An assistant football coach and first-year teacher at the time, Randy Napier recalls being asked by the school superintendent to coach the M.C. Napier High School girls' basketball team and having a negative reaction.

Daily NewsBell County senior guard Tyler Potter draws a foul from Cumberland Gap's Austin Anderson as he lays in two of his 31 points duri... Cumberland Gap senior guard Tyler Parker around Bell County's Josh Asher as drives the baseline during Saturday's game.

Tournament MVP Maci Morris scored 39 points and grabbed 12 rebound on Saturday as the Bell County Lady Cats held off a late rally from Corbin to win the championship game of the Cumberland Falls Invitational, 83-82.

The Lady Cougars got their basketball season off to a perfect start Monday night in Cougar Gym with a pair of wins over visiting McLean County.

Going on the road Monday night to Hancock County, the middle school Cougars came home with a split of the two games.

The seventh-grade girls never trailed as they improved to 10-5 on the season with a 30-21 win.

Raymond Spalding had 18 points, 12 rebounds and four blocks for the Shamrocks, who trailed 37-28 at halftime but outscored the Purples 17-5 in the third quarter to go ahead 45-42.

WKU erased a late first half deficit of 22 points to take a six-point lead midway through the second half, but were unable to maintain the lead, suffering an 85-77 setback to Ball State at Worthen Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Anyway, Bell County overcame a rough offensive first half to pull away for a 64-40 win over the Lady Cardinals at the Cumberland Falls Invitational.

Daily NewsPineville junior guard Cody Collett cuts between a pair of Thomas Walker defenders as he gets to the basket for a reverse layup ... A little defensive tweak made a big difference for the Pineville Mountain Lions on Thursday as they came back from eight points down at halftime to beat Thomas Walker 62-54.

High school: Rachel Blake scored 21 points to lead Lexington Catholic past visiting Rowan County 60-42.

Dunbar's Ezzy Ighodaro put up a shot against Anderson County's Kaci Currens at Paul Dunbar Thursday.

Before last year's Class 4-A state championship game against perennial power Highlands, Collins High School football coach Jerry Lucas had his team watch the movie "Miracle" in hopes of finding inspiration.

"I've changed my approach in practice; I'm going after it every day," Kentucky coach Matthew Mitchell said on Wednesday.

By GAVIN LAPAILLE Gold Standard Sports Editor gavin.lapaille.ctr@mail.mil The Fort Knox High School boys basketball team lost a heartbreaker Monday night to Caverna, falling 80-77 in overtime at Caverna High School.

The Harrison County Fillies' defense shut down the Calvary Christian Lady Cougars Monday night in Covington with a 35-14 win to open the 2013-14 season.

Missouri football coach Gary Pinkel yells at his players during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Mississippi, Saturday, Nov. 23, 2013, in Oxford, Miss.

Ballard High School, which features University of Louisville signee Quentin Snider, will face the teams of University of Kentucky signees Trey Lyles and Devin Booker on Friday and Saturday at the Marshall County Hoop Fest -- two of the 18 games to be played during the annual three-day event in Benton, Ky., that showcases many of the nation's best ... (more)

At a family get-together a few months ago, cousins Clay McKee and John Wilson caught up with each other and chatted about the high school football season.