LEXINGTON, Ky. – A sharpshooter and two-time Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year, Koby Brea (pronounced BRAY-ah), was added to the Kentucky men’s basketball roster, head coach Mark Pope announced on Wednesday.  

Brea paced the nation in 3-point percentage a season ago, making 49.8% of his attempts for Dayton, the nation’s third best in 3-point percentage in 2023-24. Brea averaged 3.0 made 3s per game for the Flyers who went 25-8 on the season and advanced to the NCAA Tournament as an at-large bid. He will have one season of eligibility remaining.

“By the numbers, Koby Brea is the most efficient mid-to-high major player in college basketball in the last decade,” Pope said. “He’s the best returning shooter in college basketball next year. Koby is a dangerous, dangerous man who is a great human with an incredible family. He will be key in allowing us to play the style of basketball that we love the most. Koby and this group are going to take Big Blue Nation on an incredible ride.”

A native of Washington Heights, New York, Brea has made 21 starts in 113 games for the Flyers. Dayton went 85-41 with Brea on the roster and amassed 22 or more wins in each of the last three seasons.

Brea appeared in 17 games as a freshman and averaged 2.9 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. As a sophomore, Brea earned his first A-10 Sixth Man of the Year honor after notching 8.1 points and 2.9 rebounds per game. He connected on 43.6% from the field and 42.3% from 3-point range, making 1.8 3-pointers per game. An injury-plagued junior year still saw Brea play in 28 games and make 10 starts. He logged 6.8 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game.

Brea broke out for a memorable season during his fourth year in Dayton. He averaged 11.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, while contributing 1.2 assists per game en route to A-10 Sixth Man of the Year honors for the second time in his career. He joins Xavier’s James Posey (1997 and 1998) as the league’s only two-time winners of the award. Brea connected on 51.2% of his field goals, including the nation-leading 49.8%, with a minimum of 2.5 makes per game, from long range.

Brea was able to rise to the occasion in big moments this season. He tallied 13 points, including the game-tying 3 with 48 seconds left in a win over LSU. Brea totaled a career-high 22 points, six rebounds and two steals at SMU, where he scored seven of UD’s last eight points in the two-point victory. The 6-foot-6 wing connected on six of eight 3s against SMU. Other season highlights include making 5 of 8 from deep to score 17 points and finish plus-24 against Oakland, and he scored 18 points, 16 coming in the second half, in the come-from-behind VCU win, which included 4 of 5 makes from long range. 

In all, Brea has recorded 38 double-digit scoring efforts and connected on three or more from distance on 33 occasions. He has scored 889 career points, hauled in 351 rebounds, dished out 120 assists and connected on 224 3-pointers at a 43.4% rate.

In two NCAA Tournament games this season, Brea was 9 of 16 (56.3%) from 3-point range against Nevada and Arizona. He scored at least 14 points and made at least four 3s in both contests.

Prior to signing with Dayton, Brea averaged 20.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game as a senior at Monsignor Scanlon High School. The squad advanced to the final four of the Class AA New York Catholic High School Athletic Association for the first time in school history before COVID-19 canceled the tournament.

In the summer of 2019, Brea represented the Dominican National Team in the U-17 FIBA Centrobasket Championships in San Juan. Although he was born in the United States, both of his parents are from the Dominican Republic, making him eligible to play for the national team. He played in five games, averaging 26.8 minutes, 9.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. He connected on 44% of his field-goal attempts and 41% from 3-point range.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky men’s basketball head coach Mark Pope announced the addition of Brandon Garrison, a 6-foot-11 big, on Tuesday, adding the Oklahoma State transfer to the Wildcats’ rapidly growing 2024-25 roster. He will have three seasons of eligibility remaining.

In his freshman season with the Cowboys, Garrison appeared in 32 games, starting 29, while averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per contest. The Oklahoma City native also shot a team-best 57.2% from the floor in his first collegiate season, the fourth-best all-time among OSU rookies with at least 80 makes.

“Brandon’s a McDonald’s All-American and a FIBA U18 Americas gold medalist with Team USA who crushed me at BYU last year and crushed Coach [Alvin] Brooks at Baylor last year,” Pope said. “We’re unbelievably glad he’s on our team now. He’s an incredible person with a brilliant, joyful smile that BBN will fall in love with. We’re really excited about our front line and Brandon will be a key piece to it.”

Garrison elevated his play during Big 12 action, averaging 9.9 points in conference games, including three 20-point efforts. In the Cowboys’ Big 12 opener, Garrison dropped 20 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting vs. Baylor, while also collecting eight rebounds. The big man again scored 20 points against West Virginia, before tallying a career-high 21 points against Pope’s BYU squad in February. The freshman showed a knack for getting to the line, registering the league’s highest free-throw rate during conference play per KenPom at 71.6 (68 free-throw attempts, 95 field-goal attempts). He scored in double figures on nine occasions and collected his first-career double-double when he posted 11 points and 10 rebounds in a win over South Carolina State.

In addition to his offensive abilities, Garrison also brings a strong shot-blocking presence. He totaled 47 blocks on the 2023-24 season, the fifth-most ever by an Oklahoma State freshman. He set a personal-best with six blocks against Houston Christian in November and registered five blocks vs. UCF in the Big 12 Tournament.

Garrison attended Del City High School and was a 2023 McDonald’s All-American. He was the 2023 Gatorade and MaxPreps Player of the Year in the state of Oklahoma and led his team to a pair of 5A state titles, the school’s first in more than four decades. Garrison also has international experience, winning a gold medal with Team USA at the 2022 FIBA U18 Americas in Mexico.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky men’s basketball roster continues to take shape with the addition of Andrew Carr to head coach Mark Pope’s inaugural roster it was announced on Monday.

Carr is a collegiate 1,000-point scorer who has also amassed more than 500 rebounds and 100 blocks in a four-year career at Delaware and Wake Forest. He will have one season of eligibility remaining.

“Andrew Carr is the prototypical college and NBA power forward,” Pope said. “He’s incredibly skilled and an elite level decision maker. He shoots the ball with terrific range and is a force inside shooting 66 percent on 2-point field goal attempts.

“Andrew understands what it means to wear this jersey and he understands the assignment and why he is coming to Lexington. He’s been a captain of every team he’s ever been associated with. He’s a steadying force and a great leader who Kentucky fans are going to love.”

Carr has averaged 11.0 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game in 117 career contests. In two seasons at Wake Forest, Carr notched averages of 12.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 blocks per outing.

As a senior with the Deacons, Carr started all 35 games and averaged 13.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. He shot 52.6% from the field and 37.1% from distance. Carr registered seven double-doubles on the season, including three against league foes. The 6-foot-11 big boasted a career-high 31 points against Georgia in the second round of the National Invitation Tournament.

Carr started all 33 games and averaged 10.8 points and 6.2 rebounds per game as a junior at Wake Forest. He led the squad with 32 blocks and also paced the team in field-goal percentage at 49.4%. He had a game-high 14 points in his debut with Wake Forest against Fairfiled. He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week following consecutive 20-point scoring efforts including a 21-point, 13-rebound double-double against Boston College. Wake Forest totaled 40 wins in two seasons with Carr on the roster.

The West Chester, Pennsylvania, native began his collegiate career at Delaware. He was named to the Colonial Athletic Association’s All-Tournament Team as a sophomore after notching a double-double with 17 points and 12 boards in the title contest against UNC Wilmington helping the Blue Hens to the NCAA Tournament.

In all, Carr played in 49 games and made 44 starts at Delaware. He averaged 8.2 points and 3.6 boards as a freshman before upping his averages to 10.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game his sophomore season.

For his four-year career, Carr has amassed 64 double-figure scoring games and registered 11 double-doubles. He’s connected on 94 3-pointers at a 34.4% clip and swatted 133 shots for an average of 1.1 blocks per game for his career.

Carr was a three-year starter at West Chester East and was named to the all-state first team as a senior and the third team as a junior in high school before signing with Delaware.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Otega Oweh (pronounced oh-TEG-uh OH-way), who averaged 11.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game as a sophomore at Oklahoma, has joined the Kentucky men’s basketball program for the 2024-25 season, head coach Mark Pope announced on Saturday.

Oweh has seen action in 60 games and made 37 starts over a two-year career with the Sooners. He will have two years of eligibility with the Wildcats.

“Otega shot 37 percent from the 3-point line last year,” Pope said. “He’s elite at earning trips to the free-throw line and he brings a special physicality and intensity to the game. Otega spent his entire season last year picking up the point guard full court in the Big 12. His tenacity on the court is contagious and his humility off the court is going to endear himself to Big Blue Nation.”

During Oweh’s sophomore season, he averaged 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.0 assists per outing. He connected on 49.3% of his field-goal attempts and 37.7% from 3-point range. Oweh registered double-digit scoring efforts on 19 occasions, including a career-high 23 points on 6-of-10 shooting and 10 for 11 from the free-throw line against North Carolina. Additionally, he had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds against West Virginia. Oweh added defensive savviness to the Sooners’ lineup with 12 games of multiple steals, including a seven-swipe effort against Green Bay. He notched seven games with five or more rebounds from the guard position.

Oweh was the second-leading scorer for a team that went 20-12 overall and 8-10 in Big 12 action.

As a freshman, Oweh made nine starts in 28 appearances. He logged averages of 4.8 points, 2.1 boards and 0.2 assists per game and had four double-figure scoring efforts.

In all, the 6-foot-4 guard has scored 498 points, hauled in 179 rebounds and tallied 80 steals. He’s connected on 49.8% of his 2-point attempts and 36.8% from 3-point range. He was 20 of 53 (37.7%) from long distance in 2023-24. He ranked among the top 20 in steals in the Big 12 Conference during both seasons with the Sooners.

A native of Newark, New Jersey, he was a four-star prospect in the 2022 class and was rated as high as No. 73 by 247Sports. During his prep career, Oweh led Team Final EYBL (PA) to a 17U Peach Jam title and was named the Peach Jam Breakout Player of the Session after averaging 14.9 points, 4.9 boards, 1.8 steals and 1.3 assists per game.

Oweh has three siblings, including an older brother, Odafe, who plays linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Lamont Butler, who hit the game-winning buzzer-beater shot for San Diego State in the 2023 Final Four, has joined the Kentucky men’s basketball team for the 2024-25 season, head coach Mark Pope announced Saturday.

Butler is the reigning two-time Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and has averaged 7.7 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game in 131 games played for the Aztecs. San Diego State was 104-32 and captured a pair of Mountain West regular-season and two tournament titles with Butler on the roster. Butler will have one season of eligibility remaining.

“Lamont Butler is the definition of a winner,” Pope said. “He might be the best perimeter defensive player in all of college basketball. Lamont has helped lead championship teams for the last four years and hit one of the most epic shots in the NCAA Tournament to send his team to the championship game.

“He is an elite student who takes his academics seriously. He cares about the community and will embrace the power of wearing ‘Kentucky’ across the front of his chest. I’m extremely excited to coach Lamont and to see the influence he’s going to have on this team.”

During his senior season, Butler averaged a career-high 9.3 points per game, while shooting a career-best 48.5% from the field. He also induced 1.5 steals per game. He generated 17 double-figure scoring efforts, including a 23-point performance against Wyoming. Butler had four or more steals in five games, including four against UAB in the NCAA Tournament’s opening round. He started all 37 games and averaged 27.5 minutes per outing. 

Butler drained the most memorable shot in San Diego State history when he sank a buzzer beater in the 2023 Final Four against Florida Atlantic to send the Aztecs to the title game as a junior. He was a member of the 2023 NCAA All-Tournament Team and a member of the All-South Regional Team. Butler also garnered Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year accolades. The Moreno Valley, California, native averaged 8.8 points and 2.7 boards per game. He also contributed 126 assists and 57 steals. In addition to the buzzer beater in the Final Four, he also had one in a win over New Mexico in February of the same year.

As a sophomore, Butler started 25 of 27 games and averaged 7.3 points and 2.1 rebounds per game. He was a member of the Paycom Wooden Legacy All-Tournament Team after averaging 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game in the two-game tournament. Butler started a pair of games in 28 appearances as a freshman and was the only first-year player on the squad to make an appearance in every game.

For his career, Butler has scored 1,008 career points and snared 305 boards. He has added 338 assists and 183 steals. The 6-foot-2 guard, known for his defensive prowess, has recorded 43 double-figure scoring efforts, dished out five or more assists 17 times and logged 22 games with at least three steals.

Butler graduated from Riverside Poly High School where he was a four-year letterwinner and a four-star prospect. He was tabbed as one of the top-50 points guards by ESPN in the class of 2020. During his prep career, he compiled 91 wins culminating in a conference championship as a senior. He was tabbed as the Ivy League Most Valuable Player for his efforts. Furthermore, Butler passed NBA Hall of Famer Reggie Miller as Poly’s all-time leading scorer with more than 1,800 career points.

PRESS RELEASE:

Belfry High School is pleased to announce Brent Perry as Head Boys Basketball Coach.

Brent Perry, a native of Barbourville, KY has been an assistant coach under some of the best and most respected high school coaches in the state of Kentucky, where he has accomplished several successful seasons under outstanding administrations. Last season, Perry was head assistant at Montgomery County High School under Coach Jason Mays. Previously, Perry had been a part of Tony Patterson’s staff at Knox Central where he helped lead Knox to a 13th region championship and a KHSAA Sweet 16 appearance in 2021. After his time at Knox Central, Perry joined the staff at his alma mater- Barbourville High School and completed two seasons helping lead the Tigers to their first District Championship in nearly 10 years.

Aside from being an assistant coach on the high school level, Perry also currently holds a head coaching position for one of the state’s premier AAU programs with Griffin Elite out of Erlanger, KY. Coach Perry has been with Griffin Elite for 3 years coaching several players that have gone on to play at the collegiate level.

Prior to coaching, Perry was a standout and a 4-year varsity starter at Barbourville High School, where he completed his high school career with over 1200 points, capturing the 51st District Championship his junior season. Perry led the 13th region in scoring (24.3) and was named the 51st District Player of the Year, along with First Team All-Region honors his senior season. Perry continued his basketball career at the University of Cumberlands and later graduated from Union College.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WMDJ) - Kentucky’s reigning Mr. Basketball from state champion Lyon County High School has officially announced his intentions on staying committed to the Kentucky Wildcats this coming season.

Perry a picture with new head coach Mark Pope on X saying, "Can’t wait to wear the blue and white. Go Cats!"

Perry joins Amari Williams on the Kentucky men's basketball roster for the 2024-25 season. 

Williams, a three-time Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year, has been officially announced by UK. He's the first player Coach Pope has secured through the transfer portal.

Williams averaged 12.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 blocks per game as a senior, starting all 32 games for Drexel University last season. He'll have one season left of eligibility as a graduate transfer.

CINCINNATI (WMDJ) - Christian Encarnacion-Strand smacked a 2-RBI double to break a scoreless tie in the 6th inning and the Reds clipped the Angels 3-0 to sweep the weekend series.

The Reds bullpen picked up the slack left behind by starter Frankie Montas, who left the game in the first inning after being hit by a line drive off the bat of Taylor Ward. Montas suffered a bruised right forearm.

Reliever Brent Suter allowed four hits in 3 1/3 innings. Emilio Pagan (2-1) picked up the win allowing one hit over two innings. Fernando Cruz and Lucas Sims each tossed a scoreless inning before handing over the game to Alexis Diaz to punch his fourth save of the season in five chances.

Cincinnati (12-9) will welcome the Phillies to Great American Ballpark for the start of a 4-game series beginning tonight. Hunter Greene (0-1, 4.35) will take the ball for the Reds starting at 6:40 p.m. / Inside Pitch airs 6:10 on WMDJ.

Kentucky basketball star Reed Sheppard will forego his remaining college eligibility and enter his name in this summer’s NBA Draft.

Sheppard made the announcement via a social media post Thursday.

Sheppard was named National Freshman of the Year. He averages 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game this season for the Wildcats in 33 games. He also shot 51% from 3-point range – best in Kentucky history for a single basketball season. He was the only player in the nation to enjoy 145 assists, 80 steals and 75 made 3-pointers. He’s also the second player in UK history to have 80 or more steals in a single season.

“I will be entering my name into the NBA Draft today,” Sheppard posted. BBN, you have been with me from day one, faithful and passionate. I’m asking you to go with me on this journey, I’m looking forward to taking you with me. I’ll represent you with all the characteristics that make us Kentuckians: passion, humility, perseverance, sacrifice and joy. And one day, I’ll return to family, to friends to Kentucky, my home. I love you, BBN. Thank you.”

The freshman standout had to declare his intentions before April 27th to be considered for this year’s draft. He reserved the right to withdraw his name and return to college by May 29th, yet Sheppard has announced that he has no intentions on returning to Kentucky.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) – Five-time 15th Region championship coach Kristy Orem has announced she is letting go the reigns of the Pikeville Lady Panthers’ basketball program.

She’ll also be stepping away from the athletic director’s position at PHS.

Orem made the announcement via social media Wednesday afternoon.

In a statement, Orem said, “Over the past 27 years, coaching young women has been a significant part of my life. Together, we have created unforgettable memories and built lifelong relationships that I will always cherish.”

“Although I am stepping away from coaching for now, I will always remain a passionate advocate for women’s sports and the positive impact it has on young athletes’ lives,” Orem stated.

Pikeville captured their fifth regional championship in the last six seasons this year. The Lady Panthers’ season ended in the opening round of the Sweet 16 Tournament.

Orem won over 500 games in a 27-year coaching career that also including a stop in Fleming County, where she won the 16th region championship prior to arriving in Pikeville.

No announcement has been made as Orem’s replacement on the sidelines or as athletic director.

LEXINGTON, Ky. – When his alma mater came calling, Mark Pope knew there was no place like home.

Pope, a captain of the University of Kentucky’s 1996 National Championship team, has returned to Lexington as the 23rd head coach of Kentucky’s storied men’s basketball program, UK Athletics Director Mitch Barnhart announced Friday.

Pope is a nine-year head coaching veteran with stops at BYU and Utah Valley, amassing a 187-108 career record. His squads won 20 or more games in six of the last seven seasons and he has made six postseason appearances.

“Mark Pope not only brings an impressive record in nine years as a head coach, but also a love of the University of Kentucky and a complete understanding of what our program means to the people of our state,” Barnhart said. “As a captain on the ‘96 championship team, Mark was a beloved and respected teammate. As a head coach, he is highly regarded nationally as an innovator. His teams run a unique and dynamic up-tempo offense and they get after it on defense. He is a strong recruiter with international ties and a person of integrity. 

“He fully embraces our high expectations and standards and I know that as our fans get reacquainted with Mark, they will be eager to join him on what promises to be an exciting ride.” 

Pope returns to UK from Provo, Utah, where he compiled a 110-52 record (.679) during five campaigns at the helm of BYU. He took the Cougars to three postseason appearances, including two trips to the NCAA Tournament, and missed another bid when the 2020 event was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three of his five BYU teams finished the season ranked in the top 20 of the Ken Pomeroy efficiency ratings. 

“The University of Kentucky is the pinnacle of coaching in college basketball. It’s the definition of blueblood program where hanging a banner is the expectation ever year,” Pope said. “Equally as important, UK changed my life forever as a human being. The love and passion I have for this program, this University and the people of the Commonwealth goes to the depth of my soul.

“I’m thankful to Dr. (Eli) Capilouto and Mitch Barnhart for this opportunity. I’m proud to be your next head coach and I can’t wait to do this together!”

Pope is coming off a 23-11 season in 2023-24. It was BYU’s first season in the Big 12 Conference and the Cougars’ 10-8 league record featured victories over No. 7 Kansas, No. 11 Baylor and No. 24 Iowa State. BYU’s first win in the Big 12, on January 13 at Central Florida, also marked Pope’s 100th victory as head coach of the Cougars.

The Cougars ranked third in the country with 11.1 made 3-pointers per game in 2023-24, and also ranked in the top 10 in assists per game (3rd) and assist-to-turnover ratio (6th). BYU led the Big 12 in scoring at 81.4 points per game. They were ranked as high as No. 12 in the AP Poll after going 12-1 in nonconference action, winning the Vegas Showdown, BYU’s first multi-team event title since 2011. Pope was named to the 2024 Naismith College Coach of the Year Late Season Watch List for his efforts.

Pope’s teams also hit the postseason in 2020-21, finishing with a 20-7 mark and making BYU’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since 2015. The Cougars were 24-11 in 2021-22 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament. The Cougars captured win No. 60 under Pope in January of ‘22, making him the fastest BYU coach to achieve the mark.

Pope began his head coaching stint at BYU in the 2019-20 season, tallying a 24-8 record, the most wins for a first-year coach in program history. He finished the season ranked No. 18 in the Associated Press poll and No. 16 in the USA Today/Coaches poll, becoming the first head coach at BYU to conclude the season with a national ranking in his first season. The Cougars finished second in the West Coast Conference with a 13-3 record. The Cougars also toppled No. 2-ranked Gonzaga, earning their best win over a ranked opponent inside their home venue in program history. The Covid pandemic prevented an almost-certain bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Pope’s Cougars were statistically among the top offenses in the nation in ’19-20. The Cougars finished the season ranked first in 3-point field goal percentage, second in assist-to-turnover ratio, third in field-goal percentage, fourth in 3-point field goals per game and fifth in assists per game.

Following his first season with the Cougars, Matt Norlander of CBS tabbed Pope as the best hire of the year. He was also awarded with the United States Basketball Writers Association District VIII Coach of the Year honor. He was a semifinalist for the Werner Ladder Naismith Coach of the Year.

Pope’s first head coaching stint was a four-year term at Utah Valley. Beginning in 2015-16, the Wolverines increased their win total during every season of Pope’s tenure, culminating in a 25-10 overall mark and a runner-up finish in the Western Athletic Conference in 2018-19. Utah Valley was 30-2 at home from 2017-19, and the 25 wins in 2019 were a single-season school record.

He began his collegiate playing career at the University of Washington, where he was tabbed the 1992 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year. After his sophomore season, he transferred to Kentucky, where he appeared in every game of his two-year career with the Wildcats. UK won the 1995 and ‘96 regular-season Southeastern Conference championships, the ’95 SEC Tournament title and the 1996 NCAA Tournament. He averaged 7.9 points and 5.7 rebounds per game in 69 career games. Pope was named to the All-SEC Tournament Team in 1995, behind a pair of double-doubles in three games, including one in the title game that went to overtime.

Pope was selected in the second round of the 1996 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers. He played professional basketball from 1997-2005, including stints with Indiana, Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets. In 2000-01, he started 45 games and helped the Bucks reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

Following his playing days, Pope enrolled in medical school at Columbia University and completed two years before returning to basketball. He joined Mark Fox’s staff at Georgia in 2009. He then spent one season as an assistant coach for Jeff Bzdelik at Wake Forest and four seasons at BYU under Dave Rose. The Cougars posted four straight 20-win seasons and advanced to postseason play in each of those four years, including three bids to the NCAA Tournament. His success as an assistant at BYU was the springboard to become head coach at Utah Valley. 

Pope and his wife, Lee Anne, have four daughters, Ella, Avery Layla and Shay. He is a 1996 graduate of Kentucky with a degree in English.

A pair of Pike County schools announced the hiring a new boys’ basketball coaches on Thursday.

East Ridge High School has named Adam Farmer as their new choice to lead the Warriors. Farmer served three seasons as East Ridge girls’ basketball coach. He also served as an assistant to Randy McCoy on the boys’ side. Farmer’s first coaching experience came as an assistant under Justin Holbrook at South Floyd High School.

Shelby Valley named Matthew Taylor as their new boys’ basketball coach. Taylor has spent three seasons leading Letcher County Central with an overall record of (51-40) and one 53rd District championship.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Spencer Steer has been named the National League Player of the Week presented by Chevrolet.

Spencer Steer, Cincinnati Reds (@spenc_er22)

• The 26-year-old hit .409 (9-for-22) with three home runs, nine RBI, a double, a triple, three walks, five runs scored, and a stolen base in six games last week.
• The California native led the Majors in slugging percentage (.955) and total bases (21); tied for the Major League lead with three home runs; ranked second in the Majors in OPS (1.455); ranked second in the NL in RBI; ranked third in OBP (.500); and tied for third in extra-base hits (5).
• The University of Oregon product slugged his first career grand slam in the 10^th inning on Monday at Philadelphia. It was the Reds’ first extra-inning grand slam since Todd Frazier’s on June 17, 2015 and was the first of three go-ahead homers last week for Steer.
• The outfielder continued his tear with homers in back-to-back games on Friday and Saturday against the Mets, marking the fourth time in his career that he homered in two straight games. His Friday night home run came in the first inning to give the Reds a 1-0 lead and his three-run blast on Saturday highlighted the Reds’ five-run eighth inning in a comeback victory.
• After finishing sixth in Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year voting in 2023, Steer is off to a blistering start in 2024, reaching safely in eight of his nine games so far and slashing .400/.500/.813 with a team-high 12 RBI. Overall, Steer recorded hits in five of his six games last week with multiple hits in three of the contests.

Multiple sources are reporting that John Calipari has reached an agreement to become the new men’s basketball coach at Arkansas.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported late Sunday night that, “Calipari's contract is expected to have an overall base salary of slightly less than the $8.5 million he's making at Kentucky. However, the deal is expected to be incentive laden with the ability to pass that number.”

Nothing has been announced by either Arkansas or Kentucky at this time and Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart has told CBS Sports that he has not yet heard from Calipari about any talks with Arkansas.

The move comes less than two weeks after Barnhart appeared with Calipari on LEX-18 TV to discuss their relationship, the future of Kentucky basketball and their desire to exit well.

Coach Cal leaves with a record of (410-123) at Kentucky, six SEC championships, six SEC Tournament championships, four Final Four appearances and 1 national championship.

MOREHEAD, Ky. (WMDJ) – Morehead State has announced head men's basketball coach Preston Spradlin is leaving the Eagles program and has accepted the head coaching position at James Madison University.

The Floyd County native and Betsy Layne alumnus was named interim coach at Morehead during the 2016-17 season following the dismissal of Sean Woods. Spradlin was hired full-time the following season and has since posted a (140-109) record, winning two Ohio Valley Conference Tournament championships and led the Eagles to a pair of appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Director of Athletics Kelly Wells released a statement saying, "We absolutely want to thank Coach Spradlin for raising the prominence of our men's basketball program to championship level and wish nothing but the best for his family and him as they move forward.” "Preston and his staff engaged and excited the community and created a winning culture on and off the court, developing our young men into servant leaders. Our goal with our next head coach and staff is to maintain that level of excellence in our program and build upon our recent success so that Morehead State men's basketball remains the premier program in our conference and competes year in and year out for championships."

This past season was historic for Morehead State as the Eagles won a record 26 games. Spradlin will leave as the third winningest men’s basketball coach in program history.

Spradlin takes the reigns of a James Madison program that found success this season as the Dukes upset Wisconsin in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament last week before losing to Duke 93-55.

EASTERN, Ky. (WMDJ) - It's becoming a traditional visit every spring for Alice Lloyd College women's basketball coach John Mills.

For the third time in four years, Alice Lloyd College will pickup another talented departure from Floyd Central High School as senior basketball standout Riley Jo Compton on Thursday officially signed her Letter of Intent to play for the Eagles beginning in 2024-25.

Compton displayed her dominance in the paint on both ends of the court during her senior season, averaging 18.5 points per game and grabbed 13.3 rebounds per contest. Compton finished her career scoring with 1,165 points and pulled down over 1,072 rebounds. 

Compton joins former high school teammates Katie Jo Moore and Kennedy Harvel at Pippa Passes.

Moore played in 27 games and started 16 for the Eagles, averaging 9.5 points per game last season as a junior. Moore scored a career-high 37 points in an 81-76 loss to at West Virginia Tech on February 10th. 

Harvel played in 10 varsity games as a freshman. 

Alice Lloyd finished this season (13-19) falling in the first round of the River States Conference tournament to Midway. The Eagles continued playing in the NCCAA postseason, winning the Midwest Region Championship against Asbury College and finished in fourth place in the National NCCAA Tournament. 

BUCKLEYS CREEK, Ky. (WMDJ) - Pike Central is searching for a new head football coach.

Ronn Varney has resigned from the position after three seasons.

In a statement today Varney said, “It was an honor to be the head coach at the place I called home as a student, player and assistant coach for many years. However, at this time I feel I need to focus on more time with my family and other career opportunities.”

Pike Central finished (5-6) in 2023, dropping six of their last seven games with their season ending in the opening round of the playoffs with a loss to Martin County 43-3.

Varney compiled a record of (11-22) in three seasons as head coach of the Hawks. No word on a replacement for the position.

Hope springs eternal every spring with the beginning on the Major League Baseball season. This spring in Cincinnati, hope has been shaded with questions.

After a breakout season in 2023, Youth Movement 2.0 begins Thursday as the Reds host the Washington Nationals.

The major concern for Reds fans is injuries:

1.     Matt McLain underwent successful surgery to address cartilage damage and repair his labrum in his left shoulder on Tuesday. The Reds say an exact timeline is still to be determined as it has a wide range of possibilities. Team officials hope to have McLain back this season. 

2.     The Reds will also have outfielder T.J. Friedl beginning the season on the IL after injuring his wrist. Friedl sustained a small fracture to the distal radius of his right wrist on March 16th. On Sunday, manager David Bell indicated that Friedl could be cleared for game action in six weeks.

3.     Starting pitchers Brandon Williamson and Nick Lodolo will begin the season on the IL as well. Williamson has been sidelined with shoulder soreness, while Lodolo return has been delayed after recovering from last year’s tibia injury. Lodolo stayed in Arizona to pitch in a minor league game on Tuesday and will make two starts for the Louisville Bats before rejoining the Reds on April 10th.

Meanwhile, Noelvi Marte will serve an 80-game suspension for PED use, which opens up a crowded infield for the likes of Jonathan India, Christian Encarnarcion-Strand and free agent signee Jeimer Candelario will occupy several spots on the diamond, along with the versatile Spencer Steer.

Fans will hope Elly De La Cruz will improve from his 2023 debut as starting shortstop. Cruz started hot, then cooled as the Reds faded from contention last September. Cruz batted .280 with a .379 OBP during spring training.

The Reds will send Frankie Montas to the mound for Opening Day verses the Nationals, which will feature former Reds players Nick Senzel and Jesse Winker.

Gametime is set for 4:10 p.m. Thursday. Inside pitch at 3:40 on WMDJ.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WMDJ) – The bright lights and build-up of Magoffin County’s first trip to the Boys’ Sweet 16 did not disappoint, yet it took a Hornets rally in the second half as Magoffin County emerged victorious over Perry County Central 54-47 Wednesday afternoon.

It was history in the making as Magoffin County made their state tournament debut with a sea of maroon-clad Magoffin faithful filling Rupp Arena to witness their team’s achievement.

Both teams tipped off the opening game of the tournament on a torrid pace. 15th Region Player of the Year Aden Barnett started the game with a layup to give Magoffin the lead as the game would be tied five times in the first quarter. Perry Central’s junior center Carter Castle would tie the game at the buzzer 13-13 with a jumper to end the period. Both teams combined to shoot 10-for-17 from the field early on.

Castle would breakthrough again to start the second quarter with a layup to give the Commodores their first lead of the game 15-13 at the 7:51 mark. Perry would quench Magoffin’s hot start forcing the Hornets to shoot 3-of-11 in the period as a pair of free throws by Castle with 0:06 left gave Perry Central a 25-19 lead at the break.

The Commodores maintained an arm’s-length lead in the third quarter between four and seven points before Magoffin County senior center Zane Whitaker made good on a layup and a tip-in off a miss from Ethan Salyer to cut the Perry Central lead to 38-35 by the end of the quarter.

Magoffin County grabbed the lead back on a Walker Russell layup with 6:36 left to play in the game. Following a Perry Central turnover, Salyer made good on a layup to extend the Hornets lead to 41-38.

Perry Central’s Mason Sumner would sink a 3-pointer to tie the game at 41-41 with 5:01 remaining.

Next trip down court, the Hornets Zane Whitaker would be fouled by Castle with the result being two made tosses for Whitaker, giving the Hornets the lead back for good 43-41 and start a 6-0 run as Barnett would pick up a fastbreak layup followed by jumper with 3:08 to play leading 47-41.

The Commodores cut the lead to four on a Trayten Woods basket with 2:44 on the clock, but would not get any closer as the 14th Region champs fell 54-47.

The drought continues for the 14th Region as it’s now been 68-years since Carr Creek High School brought a state championship back to the 14th.

Barnett finished with 24 points on 10-of-21 shooting to lead the Hornets in scoring. Russell scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds while Zane Whitaker tossed in 13 points lead the team with eight rebounds.

Castle and Woods each scored 14 points for Perry Central.

Magoffin County will face the winner of Great Crossing and Spencer County in Friday’s quarterfinals at 11 a.m. Great Crossing entered the tournament as the number 1-ranked team by media and statewide coaches’ polls.

PERRY CO. CENTRAL (47) – Castle 5, 4-4 14. Slone 3 3-4 9. Woods 6 (1) 1-2 14. Neace 2 (1) 2-2 7. Sumner 1 (1) 3. Bakun 0. Miller 0.

FG Pct.: 39.5%. FT Pct.: 83.3%. 3-PT: 3-16 (Castle 0-1, Woods 1-9, Neace 1-4, Sumner 1-2). Fouls 13. Fouled out: none. Rebounds 24. Assists 10. Turnovers 12.

MAGOFFIN COUNTY (54) – Russell 6 2-2 14. Z. Whitaker 4 (1) 4-4 13. Barnett 10 4-4 24. G. Whitaker 0. Salyer 1 1-2 3. Sammons 0. Meadows 0.

FG Pct.: 46.7%. FT Pct.: 91.7%. 3-PT: 1-7 (Russell 0-3, Z. Whitaker 1-1, Barnett 0-1, G. Whitaker 0-1, Salyer 0-1). Fouls 12. Fouled out: none. Rebounds 26. Assists 6. Turnovers 10.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WMDJ) - Pikeville standout Trinity Rowe has been named Kentucky’s Miss Basketball 2024 by the Kentucky Lions Eye Foundation and the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches.

Rowe was honored during a formal dinner ceremony Sunday evening.

The 5-foot-5 point guard becomes only the third player from the 15th Region to win the award, joining McDowell’s Geri Grigsby who won the award in 1977 and Sheldon Clark’s Ida Bowen who was honored in 1991.

Rowe was a six-year starter for the Pikeville, leading the Lady Panthers to five regional titles in six seasons. She averaged 16.2 points per game this season and completed her career with over 2,300 points and 1,000 assists. She also shot 40.3% from 3-point range this season.

Rowe will be playing for Southern Mississippi in the fall.

Lyon County sensation Travis Perry was also named Mr. Basketball. During his six-season varsity career, Perry became the all-time leading scorer in boys’ basketball, breaking the record of 4,337 points set by Wayland’s “King” Kelly Coleman. Perry currently sits at 5,393 career points going into this week’s Boys’ Sweet 16 Tournament.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WMDJ) – Leah Macy scored a game-high 31 points and pulled down 17 rebounds as 5^th region champion Bethlehem bounced Pikeville 56-49 in the opening round of the Girls’ Sweet 16 Tournament at Rupp Arena on Thursday.

Macy, a 5-star recruit who has received over 40 scholarship offers to play at the collegiate level including offers from Kentucky, LSU, Georgia and others, shot 12-of-19 from the field and knocked down 7-of-8 from the free throw line in the win for the Lady Banshees, their 13^th-consecutive victory.

Pikeville jumped out early leading 19-14 at the end of the first quarter. The Lady Panthers came out firing 3-of-5 from the outside. Senior guard Trinity Rowe scored eight points and connected on a pair of 3-pointers to lead the way. Senior Kirsten Whited also hit one outside shot and scored a layup early.

The Lady Panthers enjoyed their largest lead of the game at 29-18 after sophomore Shyla Kidd drained another Pikeville 3-pointer with 4:17 left in the second quarter. Pikeville would lead 32-26 at the break.

Bethlehem flipped the script in the second half with Macy heating up for 10-points in the third quarter. Macy’s jumper at the 2:31 mark gave the Lady Banshees their first lead since midway through the first period at 38-37. Bethlehem would take a 4-point advantage to the fourth at 44-40.

Pikeville tied the game at 44-44 with 7:09 left to play in the game on a goal by senior Kyera Thornsbury.

Bethlehem would lean on Macy the rest of the way as she would score seven more points as the Lady Banshees would do just enough to keep Pikeville out of reach with a 56-49 win.

Rowe finished with 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting and dished out six assists for the Lady Panthers in her final game. Seniors Thornsbury and Whited each finished with 14 and 10 points respectfully. Senior Rylee Theiss was 0-of-7 from the field but pulled down seven rebounds.

Pikeville finishes their season at (27-6). Bethlehem moves to (27-8) and will face the winner of George Rogers Clark and Sacred Heart in Friday’s quarterfinals at 6 p.m.

PIKEVILLE (49) – Jackson 2 1-6 8. Theiss 0. Rowe 6 (2) 3-4 17. Whited 4 (2) 10. Thornsbury 6 (1) 1-2 14. Kidd 1 (1) 3. Alvin 0.

FG Pct.: 37.3%. FT Pct.: 41.7%. 3-PT 6-22 (Jackson 0-1, Rowe 2-5, Whited 2-6, Thornsbury 1-8, Kidd 1-2). Fouls 13. Fouled out: Theiss. Rebounds 32. Assists 11. Turnovers 7.

BETHLEHEM (56) – A. Miles 2 2. Leah Macy 12 7-8 31. T. Miles 3 (1) 2-2 9. Clayton 1 2-2 4. Thurmond 1 4-6 6. Osborne 0. McIlroy 1 2. Loren Macy 0.

FG Pct.: 41.7%. FT Pct.: 83.3%. 3-PT 1-10 (Leah Macy 0-1, Miles 1-3, Clayton 0-3, Thurmond 0-3). Fouls 12. Fouled out: A. Miles. Rebounds 30. Assists 5. Turnovers 8.

PIKEVILLE       19 13   8   9 – 49

BETHLEHEM  14 12 18 12 – 56

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) – It took a 100-point effort to break 100 years of waiting for the Magoffin County Hornets to finally be crowned 15th Region Boys champions on Monday night.

Fans in Magoffin County have been waiting 100 years to celebrate a regional boys’ basketball championship since their first season of competition as Salyersville High School in 1924.

The wait is finally over.

15th Region Player of the Year Aiden Barnett scored 34 points in the breakthrough victory as the Hornets defeated defending region champion Martin County 67-57.

Barnett scored a total of 100 points in three games at Appalachian Wireless Arena as the Hornets had reached the finals for only the fourth time ever as a school and their first time since 1996.

Magoffin inflated their one-point lead at the end of the first quarter to 12 in the second.

After two made free throws by Martin County senior Jacob Sturgill, senior guard Ethan Salyer knocked down a 3-pointer to give Magoffin the lead by four at 21-17 with 5:52 to play before halftime.

Barnett connected on a long bomb to push the lead to 24-17, followed by a block on the other end from senior Zane Whitaker, setting up an easy transition basket for Barnett to increase the lead to nine at 26-17.

With 2:49 left in the second, senior Grayson Whitaker fired a 3-pointer off a fast break to give the Hornets a 29-17 lead. They would take a 30-19 lead to the locker room.

Martin County battled cold shooting the entire night, yet Cardinal sophomore Devan Maynard sliced the Hornet lead to one at 44-43 with 7:30 left to play in the fourth quarter.

Magoffin County would answer with a bucket from Barnett, followed by a free throw giving the Hornets a 47-43 lead. Russell connected on a basket after a miss by Sturgill to push the lead to six at 49-43 with 6:41 left.

Both teams would trade baskets until Russell sank a pair of free throws to increase the lead to eight at 57-49 with 3:29 left.

Magoffin County would hit 13-of-15 free throws in the final period to keep Martin County at bay for the 67-57 win.

Senior Luke Hale struggled from the field for the Cardinals shooting 4-of-13, while seniors Brayden McKenzie and Sturgill also misfired for most of the night, shooting 5-of-11 and 5-of-16 respectfully.

Magoffin County (21-13) will face Perry County Central (22-13) in the Boys’ Sweet 16 Tournament on March 20th at 11 a.m. at Rupp Arena in Lexington.

MAGOFFIN CO. (67) – Russell 5 6-6 16. Barnett 9 (2) 14-16 34. G. Whitaker 2 (1) 1-2 6. Salyer 1 (1) 1-2 4. Z. Whitaker 2 1-2 5. Meadows 1 2. Sammons 0.

FG Pct.: 58.8. FT Pct.: 82.1. 3-PT 4-12 (Barnett 2-5, G. Whitaker 1-5, Salyer 1-2). Rebounds 28. Fouls 11. Fouled out: none. Turnovers 14. Assists 13.

MARTIN CO. (57) – Hale 4 (1) 4-4 13. McKenzie 5 (1) 1-1 12. Davis 3 (2) 1-2 9. Sturgill 5 2-2 12. Maynard 3 (1) 1-2 8. Dials 1 (1) 3. Estep 0. Mills 0. Moore 0.

FG Pct.: 37.5. FT Pct.: 81.8. 3-PT 6-18 (Hale 1-4, McKenzie 1-1, Davis 2-5, Sturgill 0-2, Maynard 1-3, Dials 1-3). Rebounds 23. Fouls 20. Fouled out: Sturgill. Turnovers 9. Assists 17.

All-Tournament Team:
Logan Ratliff – Lawrence Co.

Carter Parsons – Betsy Layne

Braden Moore – Floyd Central

Jaden Stewart – Pike Co. Central

Eli Johnson – Pikeville

Carter Hurley – Pikeville

Austin Slone – Johnson Central

Brayden Shepherd – Johnson Central

Jacob Sturgill – Martin Co.

Brayden McKenzie – Martin Co.

Luke Hale – Martin Co.

Ethan Salyer – Magoffin Co.

Walker Russell – Magoffin Co.

Grayson Whitaker – Magoffin Co.

Zane Whitaker – Magoffin Co.

Aiden Barnett of Magoffin County named Tournament MVP.  

GOODYEAR, Ariz. - The Cincinnati Reds have named free agent signee Frankie Montas as their Opening Day starting pitcher.

Montas will take the ball when the Reds host the Washington Nationals on Thursday, March 28th at Great American Ballpark.

Montas has a record of (37-35) with a 3.90 ERA in 130 appearances and 99 starts during his eight year big-league career. He signed a one-year $16 million contract during the offseason in hopes of having a bounce-back season after battling shoulder issues as a member of the New York Yankees, where he appeared in only 10 games over two seasons. Last season, Montas pitched in just 1 1/3 inning.

Montas was the Opening Day starter as a member of the Oakland A's in 2020 and 2022.

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) – The Pikeville Lady Panthers climbed back to the pinnacle of the 15th region defeating Johnson Central in the regional championship game Saturday, 70-41 at Appalachian Wireless Arena.

After suffering a heartbreaking loss to Lawrence County in last year’s title game, Pikeville came back determined to recapture the crown led by a core of four seniors that wanted to finish as champions.

Pikeville senior Kyera Thornsbury scored 17 points in the first half, connecting on four 3-pointers to set the pace as the Lady Panthers ran away from the Lady Eagles early.

The Lady Panthers scored 18 points off 15 forced turnovers, including 14 fast break points to simply outrun Johnson Central from the beginning. Pikeville forced Johnson Central into poor shot selection as well with the Lady Eagles shooting 27% from the floor for the game.

Tournament MVP senior Trinity Rowe scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field but did dish four assists. Rowe is a six-year member of the varsity squad. During that time, Pikeville is (137-28) in games she has taken part in.

Senior forward Rylee Theiss recorded a double-double with 12 points and grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds. Senior guard Kirsten Whited gave her usual steady effort scoring 13 points.

Pikeville won their fifth 15th Region title in six seasons. The title was their 7th overall as a school.

Pikeville (27-5) will take on 5th Region Bethlehem (26-8) in the KHSAA Girls’ Sweet 16 Tournament on Thursday, March 14th at 11 a.m. Pikeville defeated Bethlehem 78-52 in the Lady Panther Invitational Tournament on December 30th. Bethlehem was without the services of their star player, junior guard Leah Macy in the loss. Macy, a five-star recruit, has nearly 40 college offers which includes Kentucky, Tennessee, LSU, Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss, Illinois, Arizona, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

PIKEVILLE (70) - Rowe 4 (2) 10. Whited 4 (2) 3-4 13. Thornsbury 4 (4) 7-8 19. Jackson 3 3-4 9. Theiss 4 4-4 12. Alvin 2 (1) 5. Rogers 1 2. Kidd 0. Stone 0. Lin 0. Ch Compton 0. Ca Compton 0. Woods 0. Collins 0. 

FG Pct.: 55.0. FT Pct.: 85.0. 3-PT 9-15 (Rowe 2-4, Whited 2-5, Thornsbury 4-4, Alvin 1-1, Kidd 0-1). Rebounds 32. Fouls 18. Fouled out: none. Turnovers 15. Assists 17.

JOHNSON CENTRAL (41) - T. McKenzie 2 4-4 8. Stambaugh 0. Wright 3 3-5 9. K. McKenzie 1 2. Younce 0. Stanley 3 (2) 2-2 10. Burchett 1 4-6 6. Prater 2 (2) 6. Marsillett 0-2 0. Conley 0. Slone 0. Jarrell 0. 

FG Pct.: 27.3. FT Pct.: 68.4. 3-PT 4-17 (T. McKenzie 0-5, K. McKenzie 0-1, Prater 2-5, Stanley 2-4, Burchett 0-2). Rebounds 21. Fouls 19. Fouled out: K. McKenzie. Turnovers 14. Assists 5. 

JOHNSON CENTRAL   12   5  15   9 - 41

PIKEVILLE                     22 14 24 10 - 70

All-Tournament Team:

Jaaliyah Warren - Belfry

Sophie Adkins - Lawrence Co.

Hannah May - Pike Co. Central

Alyssa Allen - Martin Co.

Audrey Prater - Prestonsburg

Allison Howard - Prestonsburg

Riley Jo Compton - Floyd Central

Maddy Engle - Floyd Central

Becca Wright - Johnson Central

Kaylyn McKenzie - Johnson Central

Taylor McKenzie - Johnson Central

Lee Ann Jackson - Pikeville

Kirsten Whited - Pikeville

Kyrea Thornsbury - Pikeville

Rylee Theiss - Pikeville

Tournament MVP:

Trinity Rowe - Pikeville

PIKEVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) – Aiden Barnett scored 35 points on 14-of-21 shooting as Magoffin County rallied in the second half for a 78-68 victory over Floyd Central in the quarterfinals of the boys’ 15th Region Tournament at Appalachian Wireless Arena Thursday evening.

Barnett, who was chosen by the Kentucky Association of Basketball Coaches as 15th Region Player of the Year and a finalist for Kentucky’s Mr. Basketball distinction, scored 22 in the second half, carrying the team on his back to Saturday night’s semifinals.

The win places the Hornets in the semifinals for the first time since 2016. It was Magoffin County’s 9th win ever in the quarterfinal round.

Barnett set the tone from the start as the Hornets claimed the opening tip with the ball finding Barnett, who connected on a floater in the lane along with a free throw after a Floyd Central foul by Brody Buck to give Magoffin a 3-0 lead.

Floyd Central’s Dylan Boyd tied the game 3-3 with the first of a pair of outside shots he would hit in the first quarter.

Barnett and Buck were both hot early as both players traded baskets back and forth. Buck connected on three consecutive baskets to give Floyd Central a 9-7 lead with just over 5 minutes to play. The Jaguars would hold a 19-16 edge at the end of the first period with Buck leading the way with eight points.

The Jaguars increased their lead in the second quarter as senior Ronnie Samons dumped in 10 points in the period, complimented by fellow senior Braden Moore who finished with 12 first half points. Floyd Central enjoyed a 38-29 lead at the break.

Buck would start the third quarter with a layup off a Magoffin turnover to give the Jaguars their largest lead of the night 40-29.

The Hornets would answer with a 7-0 run starting with a put-back by Walker Russell off a miss from Zane Whitaker, followed by a 3-pointer by Ethan Salyer to cut the lead to 40-34. Magoffin’s Russell cleaned up another miss on a transition bucket to make it 40-36 Jaguars with 6:02 to play in the third.

Magoffin County would enjoy a 22-10 run up to the 1:37 mark in the third to take a 51-48 lead on a 3-pointer by Barnett, who scored 11 during the Hornets’ run.

Buck would convert a basket on the post making it 51-50 Magoffin. A miss from Whitaker from the outside resulted in a run-out by Moore, who was fouled with 32 seconds left. Moore would hit both free throws to give Floyd Central a slim 52-51 lead heading to the fourth quarter.

Both teams exchanged baskets to start the fourth quarter. Magoffin would retake the lead 55-54 on a 3-pointer by Russell with 5:48 to play. Jaguar senior Dawson Moore would match Russell with a 3-pointer of his own, pushing the Floyd Central back in front 57-55, yet a transition 3-pointer by Russell put Magoffin back out 58-57 with 5:12 left.

Barnett would go on a 6-0 run on his own with two layups which resulted in being 3-point plays on two Floyd Central fouls as Magoffin County increased their lead 64-57 with 4:07 remaining and the Hornets would not give up the lead again.

Barnett would score 11 points in the fourth quarter to pad his 35-point total. The Hornets also would make 14-of-16 free throws in the final period to seal the victory.

The Hornets outscored the Jaguars 49-30 in the second half.

Floyd Central is now (0-3) in quarterfinal round matchups with all three losses coming at the hands of a 57th district opponent.

Magoffin County (19-13) will face Johnson Central (15-13) for the fourth time this season in Saturday’s second semifinal game. The Golden Eagles shocked 60th District champion Pike County Central 87-79. With the win, Johnson Central became the first 3-seed to clinch a spot in the semifinals of the new super regional format.

Magoffin County has beaten Johnson Central in all three previous games this season.

MAGOFFIN COUNTY (78) – Barnett 12 (2) 5-7 35. G. Whitaker 2 (1) 4 9. Salyer 3 (2) 4-4 12. Russell 6 (1) 3-6 16. Z. Whitaker 1 2-4 4. Samons 1 2.

FG Pct.: 54.0. FT Pct.: 72.0. 3-PT 7-20 (Barnett 2-5, G. Whitaker 2-9, Salyer 2-3, Russell 1-1, Z. Whitaker 0-2). Rebounds 29. PF 11. Fouled out: none. Turnovers 4. Assists 4.

FLOYD CENTRAL (68) – B. Moore 6 (2) 5-6 19. Spriggs 3 6. Boyd 2 (2) 6. Samons 7 (1) 2-2 17. Buck 8 1-1 17. D. Moore 1 (1) 3.

FG Pct.: 47.3. FT Pct.: 88.8. 3-PT 6-20 (B. Moore 2-9, Spriggs 0-2, Boyd 2-3, Samons 1-3, Buck 0-2, D. Moore 1-1). Rebounds 23. PF 16. Fouled out: Spriggs. Turnovers 8. Assists 12.

MAGOFFIN COUNTY            16 13 22 27 - 78

FLOYD CENTRAL                   19 19 14 16 - 68