Most wins, KY boys' basketball, past four seasons:
Scott County 122
Covington Catholic 110
Bowling Green 109
Trinity 107
Cooper 100
Mercer County 99
McCracken County 98
Oldham County 96
South Laurel 96
Campbell County 96
My son Stephen is at UK Hospital with one of those rare and serious surgical complications they tell you about. He is stable and awaiting another procedure to nip it. We're all pretty traumatized and tired, obviously none of us more than he. Thanks for continuing to lift us up.
It's hard to adequately describe the intensity of Kentucky high school basketball postseason. You can win regular season titles out your ears and be all done in the round of 256. It's brutal. It's stressful. And it's absolutely perfect.
Prayer warriors, please put 'em up for a medical emergency with my son. God is great: He's provided quick answers and a path to recovery. But it's tough on Mom and Dad! Much love to all.
Saddened beyond words to awake to news that the incomparable Billy Hicks has passed. I'm one of thousands who count him as a second dad, a mentor and a cherished friend. I am only comforted that he is reunited with Tyler. The fish in heaven are in serious trouble.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
No. 8 Great Crossing 6, No. 1 Ballard 4, final.
@MaxPreps
fourth-ranked team in America and a 61-game winning streak go down.
The Bruins still stuck around for this.
Kentucky >>>>>>
Sitting here at 3 a.m. after banging out a bunch of stories for the Friday edition, still wowed that my community deemed me worthy of not merely a personalized Louisville Slugger but a whole dang day in my honor. I love you, Gtown. Thank you for loving me back.
Mayor of Georgetown has made March 23, 2022 Kal Oakes Day in Georgetown, KY. Congratulations
@oaksie72
. It is definitely well deserved. For what you do for every sport and school in this county is unmatched. Georgetown is forever grateful for your hard work!!
Shout-out to Georgetown Middle School football. When the Buffaloes' first scrimmage at Breathitt County was canceled today due to the flooding, they made the four-hour round trip anyway to help with the continued cleanup.
Congratulations to Ava Schureman on signing with University of the Cumberlands basketball and most importantly a full, five-year academic scholarship. She has started for Great Crossing since Game 1 for Team 1 in her eighth-grade season. Great young woman from a great family.
If you didn’t think Athletic Trainers were important for vital to sports, I hope this situation has changed your feelings about that. This is why Athletic Trainers, trained health care professionals are needed at all sporting events.
Scott County folks: Without going into detail, there have been some positive trends for Coach Willard today. Please keep praying. It is the most powerful force in the universe.
Blessed tonight with Kentucky Press Association awards for top sports story & section. Thank you to my wife for her patience and love, the award-winning Scogin family for their continued faith in me, this amazing community for its humbling support, and God from whom it all flows.
Honored and thankful to have received first place awards from the Kentucky Press Association.
I owe it all to my Lord, to my wife and son who have supported me faithfully, and to a boss who trusts me and cares about me as a person.
And I sure do love Georgetown, Kentucky 40324.
Four years ago today I retired (LOL) from journalism and packed my bags to move 1,000 miles to a place I'd never seen with nothing lined up. My point is don't ever let "uncertain times" throw you off. God's got it. He always does.
Today is March 9.
My mom would have been 74 today. She was a wonderful lady and is sorely missed.
It also marks the 30th anniversary of my start in the newspaper business. Not an easy road, but I'm glad I chose it.
Live every day.
Camden Cox of Spencer County initiated this moment as Great Crossing coach Steve Page shook his hand in the line after the game. Class kid from a class program. Bears were tough as nails against the Warhawks last season and again tonight on a much bigger stage.
Five new starters.
Hall of fame coach retired.
Lost more than half the student population.
Three games under .500 in late January.
Headed to their fifth consecutive 11th Region final as three-time defending champion.
WEDNESDAY SIX O’CLOCK NEWS THREAD:
Excited to announce a dramatic shift of gears professionally: I have accepted a full-time position as a sixth-grade science teacher and co-athletic director at Georgetown Middle School.
Praying peeps, please say another one for my son and best friend Stephen this morning. He's undergoing a procedure that the surgeon is optimistic will get him back to his old self after all his recent GI issues. Mom and I are equally nervous and relieved. Thank you.
And that concludes my eighth full year of HS sports coverage in Gtown. Thank you for the continued love and support. I hope to keep doing it until I'm much older and grayer. If you enjoy my efforts, please do subscribe to the News-Graphic. It helps tremendously. See you soon!
Four consecutive sports seasons with Scott County appearing in a state championship game.
Lot of haters celebrating the idea that it's nearing an end.
Time will tell. I'm just blessed to have been here while it happened.
Scott County's Ryan Barts has won Special Olympics USA gold once again. Barts, 29, topped his age group Monday in the 100-meter dash at the University of Washington. He previously won a gold and two silvers at the 2010 edition, as well as silver at the 2011 worlds.
Happy graduation day, Scott County HS Class of 2019.
OK, truthfully, selfishly, I hoped this day would never happen.
To the student-athletes in this group: I love y'all as if you were my own.
Trust in the Lord. Believe in yourselves.
Keep being great and keep in touch.
Kalib Perry is a dude.
4.3 weighted GPA.
Three-sport star.
Holds just about every offensive and defensive record in the Great Crossing program.
Wears his love of God, family and community on his sleeve.
Now, a Tennessee Volunteer.
After 27 years of meritorious service to Scott County Schools, Glenn Wilson is retiring from coaching at the end of the school year. He has served the past three seasons as the first head coach of Great Crossing High School girls' basketball.
Scott County stays No. 12 in the MaxPreps boys' basketball national poll.
And I have it on good authority that the injured list will be vacant soon.
Happy Tuesday, Kentucky.
Scott County 28, Lexington Catholic 21, final.
Put some respect on their name.
Cards are 9-1 and absolutely a top-10 if not top-5 team in the state regardless of class.
Great decision by Scott County Schools, which announced today that the gymnasium at the new Scott County High School to open in August will be named in honor of the late, great Billy Hicks.
More in Tuesday's print edition of the News-Graphic or online this afternoon.
2,000 advance tickets sold for Scott County vs. Great Crossing tomorrow night. Game now very likely to shatter city's modern-era, unofficial attendance record, which was 4,100 for SC vs. Shaun Alexander and Boone County in the mid '90s.
Through his first 16 pro games in Slovenia, Cooper Robb (Scott County, EKU) leads his team with 16.2 points per game while also averaging 5.3 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 3.4 steals.
Blessed to receive some first-place awards from Kentucky Press Association over the weekend. Equally blessed to represent News-Graphic. Ever grateful to my publisher, my colleagues, and the great people of Georgetown. Thank you for getting me and making this my forever home.
Michael Moreno finishes his freshman season as EKU's leading rebounder with 202 (6.1 rpg). Also averaged 8.7 ppg with 43 3-pointers. Played in all 33 games, starting 22.
Shout-out to Chris Willhite, who announced today that he will not be returning to the Scott County boys' basketball staff in 2024-25. Chris was part of 11 region titles with the Cardinals, two as a player and nine as an assistant coach, including the 2007 KHSAA Sweet 16 champs.
The news is bad (but thankfully not horrific) for Michael Moreno. X-rays revealed a fracture in the right foot. Normal recovery time is 4-6 weeks. Sometimes quicker with the help of a bome stimulator. In other words, NOT season ending.
Kentucky AP girls' basketball poll:
1. Conner 21-1
2. Scott County 22-1
3. Elizabethtown 20-4
4. Boyd County 17-3
5. Ryle 19-4
6. Male 14-4
7. Sacred Heart 15-6
8. Lincoln County 17-3
9. Highlands 20-4
10. Webster County 22-3
As a journalist I've occasionally rolled my eyes at being asked to "localize" a national story. Well, never is it more challenging than when the national story takes place in your old locality.
Hopefully I captured the essence of Lewiston here.
Scott County's Rodney Haddix has been named men's basketball coach at Union Commonwealth University (formerly Union College) in Barbourville. Haddix most recently served as assistant coach at Georgetown College.
S/O to these six cats.
114 wins.
Three D1.
One NAIA.
One TBA.
One academic full boat.
Special group from a young age and will do great things in their baseball future and in life.
Thanks for everything, guys.
Amazing day. We have purchased our old Kentucky home in Versailles.
Can't thank Scott Porter of Just 4 You Home Loans and James Jefferies of BrickHouse Real Estate enough.
Scott County peeps, no worries. You're really stuck with me now.
Big housewarming party details soon!
Chris Hatfield, longtime teacher and coach at Scott County, has passed away. Chris's 2010 freshman football team went 9-0 with six shutouts, building the group that won a 6A state title as senior. My prayers are with his family and the countless Cardinals he impacted.
Congratulations to Coach Billy Hicks on the birth of his grandson, Wyler Nash Johnson! I'm sure the young man is already proud owner of a basketball and a fishing pole.
Three years ago today three adults, two cats, one moving pod and the clothes on our backs made a 17-hour, one-way trip to live in one of the few southern states we'd never even visited.
That was a good day, ordained by a great God, and Scott County, Kentucky is an awesome place.
Georgetown College President William Jones and AD Brian Evans present Coach Bill Cronin with a framed Jersey in honor of his silver anniversary season.