Look for smaller plates at Talladega

Look for NASCAR to mandate use of a smaller restrictor plate with practice speeds approaching the magic 200-mile per hour barrier at the 2.66-mile Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
Friday’s fastest drivers during drafting were over 199 mph and NASCAR’s move to the replace the wing on the rear deck lid with the old spoiler could be a reason for the higher speeds.
We’ll probably have to wait until qualifying Saturday to know for sure, but if the times continue to be that quick, NASCAR will make a move. Recent accidents, like Edwards sailing into the fence at Talladega after being turned by Brad Keselowski, are a reminder of Bobby Allison’s terrifying crash there in 1987 when his car blew a tire, turned, lifted into the air and destroyed part of the fence, nearly sailing into the crowd.
The sanctioning body will do what it has to for avoiding a repeat of that near disaster.

Ohio County vs. George Rogers Clark

Hello from Diddle Arena in Bowling Green.
Ohio County’s first-round Sweet 16 game against George Rogers Clark will tip off around 8:20 p.m. In the game beforehand, Rockcastle County looked impressive in a 69-36 victory over Murray, running out to a 17-0 lead before the Lady Tigers found their bearings

Stay tuned…….

4 minutes away from tip. This game is expected to be to run and gun, up and down the floor as both teams will look to their defense for easy scoring opportunities.

Ohio County trails 7-5 with 4:12 left in first period. GRC has turned over the ball four times, but the Lady Eagles have missed some easy shots.

Ohio County’s zone is helping them win the battle of the boards, but Jewel Rogers banks in a 3 from the top of the key and GRC leads 10-5 with 2:18 left in first.

The Lady Eagles rally late in the period, getting a 3 from Arielle Keown , a 10-footer from Sabrina Ruby and a layup by Sarah Wood with two seconds left to take a 13-12 lead at the horn.

Ohio will be in the bonus on the next foul. Three Lady Cardinals have already picked up two fouls each. Arielle Keown hits two free throws, Ohio leads 15-12 with 7:00 to go until half.

Lady Eagles lose GRC’s Brittney Black on defense and she buries two straight 3s out of the left corner as Ohio’s lead is cut to 19-18 with 5:31 to go. Ohio calls time.

Ohio in double bonus with 3:44 to go in 2nd. Kaley Griffin misses pair of free throws . GRC gives ball right back on charging call.

GRC in bonus with 1:44 to go. Brittani Gay hits one of two free throws then grabs the rebound on her own miss to put the Lady Cards ahead 24-23.

Ohio gets back lead on Sarah Wood bucket. GRC had shot to tie with 15 seconds to go, but Gay hit one of two free throws and the Lady Eagles got a turnaround jumper from Griffin with two seconds left for a 31-28 lead at hafltime.

At the break, this contest is still a tossup. No one, except for GRC’s Black, has shown a hot hand from the floor. Both teams haven’t shot free throws well, so this one may come down to who can drain them late.

Wood hits two free throws with 5:29 go go. GRC has grown cold from the field, but Ohio has been hurt by three turnovers already this period.

Griffin picks up third foul. Black hits bucket and Ohio leads 35-32 with 4:04 left.

GRC’s Shamy Williams buries a 3 from the right side to give the Lady Cards a 38-37 lead but Wood hits a layup to tie the score at 39. Ohio hits bucket to end third but shot was after the horn.ne

GRC time out at 6:01 in fourth after turnover. Ohio leads 43-41 on Ruby bucket and long 2 from Griffin.

Millsaps picks up fourth foul with 3:22 to play. Ohio leads 48-44.

Ohio in the bonus with 2:52 to play. Millsaps hits one bonus free throw and Ohio leads 49-44.

Williams hits 3 for GRC to tie game at 49. Keown hits 2 bonus tries with 1:39 to give Ohio back the lead, 51-49.

Ohio County turnover with 1:10 to go. GRC calls time.

GRC’s Kayla Jones at line for bonus free throws with 25 seconds to go and Ohio leading 51-49. Jones hits two to tie game.

Ohio turnover (walk) with 22 seconds left. GRC calls time.

GRC turnover walk takes away basket. Ohio calls time with 7 seco0nds left.

Keown pass to Millsaps misses runner at horn and game tied at 51 heading to overtime.

Ohio patient after winning tip. Keown scores and was fouled, misses free throw. Lady Eagles lead 53-51. GRC misses 2, Griffin rebounds. 3:05 to play.

Millsaps fouls out with 1:16 to go. Ohio leads 57-54. GRC’s Williams hits two free throws to cut Ohio’s lead to 57-55.

GRC’s Black hits 2 free throws to tie game at 57 with 58 seconds left.

Ohio holds for last shot. Wood drives, is hammered but no call and GRC grabs board but clock runs out. Heading to second overtime.

GRC goes on 5-1 run to open 2nd OT. Griffin hits layup to cut deficit to 62-60 with 2:12 to go.

GRC lead 64-63 with 18 seconds to go but commits a turnover to give Ohio another chance after Griffin hit one of two free throws.

GRC’s Williams hits 1 of 2 free throws with :08 to go. 64-62 GRC. Timeout.

GRC’s Jewell Rogers hits two free throws with 1.4 seconds left after her steal led to a foul by Griffin. Ohio falls 67-63

NASCAR’S No-win situation

NASCAR was put in a predicament when Carl Edwards sent Brad Keselowski airborne in retaliation for an earlier incident Sunday at the Atlanta Motor Speedway.

NASCAR handed Edwards probation for three races on Tuesday, a slap on the hand for many who felt he should have been suspended.
But the penalty falls in line with NASCAR’s new, mostly hands off policy if giving drivers more leeway on the track.

Still, the line is a fine one here. Edwards did not intend for Keselowski’s car to go airborne, but it did. It put his safety in danger, as well as the fans at that part of the track.

NASCAR had to do something. Was it enough? There are plenty of other simmering rivalries out there. We’ll probably find out soon enough.

Boys 3rd Region championship

Monday night’s 3rd Region title game between Apollo and Muhlenberg County will be a classic tests of wills, and styles.

Muhlenberg County will want to run. Apollo will try to keep the game a half-court affair.

Muhlenberg County should be used to this by now as every team in the postseason has used the same strategy. It hasn’t worked. Yet.

Apollo coach Tony Hopper is the master of this type of playing style. His team will know the Mustang’s weaknesses and the Eagles are a disciplined bunch who won’t stray away from the game plan.

Muhlenberg County counters with a super-quick team that score in bunches if they can get out and run. But they’ve managed to win three games so far playing mostly in the half court. They only need one more to play in the Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena in two weeks.

But their stiffest challenge yet awaits on Monday night.

Aces edge Wildcats

Owensboro Catholic’s 55-50 victory over Edmonson County on March 2 in the first round of the 3rd Region boys’ basketball tournament was a big win for the Aces.
Catholic was a heavy favorite coming into this game, and that was before the Wildcats lost their leading scorer and best player, 6-5 senior Cody Rich, who left the team late last week.
I’ve seen it in high school teams before when something like this happens. Instead of giving up, the team circled the wagons and rallied, playing perhaps its best game of the season in the process, or at least the most inspired. Getting a career-high 28 points from senior guard Kacy Clemmons certainly didn’t hurt.
But Catholic pulled it out, and the win could pay dividends down the road heading into Friday’s first semifinal against Muhlenberg County.
Catholic wasn’t supposed to be tested in the first round with Rich out of the lineup, but was faced with a gut check in the fourth quarter when the Wildcats took a brief 1-point lead.
The Aces made the plays and hit the shots they needed to down the stretch.
They survived, and you can bet they won’t be caught napping next time.

Ohio tops Breck; rematch set with Daviess

Ohio County beat Breckinridge County 64-50 on Monday night in the first round of the 3rd Region Tournament at Hartford. That sets up what could be a fantastic rematch with Daviess County in the regional semifinals on Wednesday.

Ohio County, the two-time defending regional champ, handled Daviess 75-60 in that meeting at Daviess on Feb. 5.

I don’t look for the rematch to be a 15-point game. I wouldn’t be surprised if it went down the wire.

Daviess County and Ohio County are great at the guard spots. Both also have dominating post players, although the Lady Eagles’ Olivia Millsaps, a senior, has the edge in experience on DC sophomore Sarah Martin.

Daviess County passed a hurdle on Monday night, beating Edmonson County handily. That victory should do much to erase whatever postseason jitters the Lady Panthers may have felt heading into the regional tournament.

The Lady Eagles are the two-time defending regional champ, so until someone knocks them off, they have to be considered the favorite heading into this game.

But don’t count out the Lady Panthers.

3rd Region boys’ tournament preview

The draw for the Boys’ 3rd Region Basketball Tournament is Saturday morning, and the suspense only adds to what I feel could be the most wide-open tourney in years.
From what I’ve seen, Muhlenberg County has to be the favorite based on personnel. They have quick guards, a 6-4 shooting guard in Joe Gabbard that can shoot lights out, and a dominating presence inside with LeMon Gregory and Grant Warford.
But they’ve struggled against teams that can control tempo. Friday’s night 49-47 win over Ohio County was just such a game. The Eagles overcame 17 turnovers and a 10-point hole in the first half to nearly snatch the win away in the fourth quarter.
Don’t think other teams in the regional won’t take notice.
I’ll go out on a limb and say the regional is a toss-up right now among four teams. I rate the tournament field this way: Muhlenberg County, Grayson County, Owensboro Catholic, Ohio County, Apollo, Breckinridge County, Edmonson County and Hancock County.
Let ‘er rip.

Ohio County downs Muhlenberg County

Ohio County and Muhlenbeg County combined for 46 turnovers in the 10th District championship game Thursday night at Greenville.
It was a sloppy game, but I look at it as two defensive-minded teams getting after each other rather than both teams just being careless with the ball. Ohio County, a 61-52 winner, has history on its side entering the 3rd Region Tournament as the defending champ. Muhlenberg County will have to win a game on the road in the first-round and that will be a tough task no matter who they draw. But though the Lady Mustangs are young, they have the potential to advance far into the tournament if they can find the consistency that’s eluded them all year. A rematch with the Lady Eagles for the title would be a surprise at these point, but it is certainly not impossible.

Wing could change look of 2010 NASCAR season

The 2010 NASCAR Sprint Cup season is two races old and already there are some interesting trends. Teams out of the running last year, like Kevin Harvick, Jeff Burton and Clint Bowyer at Richard Childress Racing, are off to great starts.
Harvick and Bowyer hold down the top two spots in the point standings. The only question is will it last, and for how long?
NASCAR is due for a rules shakeup here in the next few weeks when the rear wing on the cars will be replaced by the traditional spoiler.
How that will affect the racing is anyone’s guess, but earlier testing by Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle and others brought positive comments.

As close as competition is in NASCAR, any rule change no matter who small can have a big impact. When the spoiler makes its debut, the teams that have prepared the best will be the ones out front.

Hendrick showed with the Car of Tomorrow’s introduction how important early testing can be. The spoiler change wasn’t announced that long ago, giving teams little time to prepare.

But teams are getting ready. Who’s done the best job at anticipating how the car will react to the new sheet metal will be obvious right from the start.

An old 2nd Region boy says goodbye to the Sportscenter

I covered the final Owensboro boys’ basketball game on Friday night at the Sportscenter, and as a reporter my story was straightforward. Just the facts, please.

But as a native of Union County over in the 2nd Region, I know the mystique the place carried, and much of that was due to the success the Red Devils have had in that old building over the years.
I am a 1981 grad of Union County. My junior year, the Braves lost to Louisville Doss in the semifinals of the Sweet 16. OHS then beat Doss to win the title.

Sitting in Union County as a fan, Owensboro was one of those special teams that never seemed to lose, and when we gave them a close game, in football or basketball, it was an effort to be proud of.
The Sportscenter just made a trip here for a basketball game that much more special, maybe even intimidating. It was at least twice as big as Union County’s gym. And the larger, college-length floor gave the Red Devils plenty of room to run, which they did.

Union County had plenty of speed in those days, too. But OHS always seemed to be a step quicker.

The new gym at Owensboro just won’t be the same, but at least it will be a home the Red Devils can call their own.