 Whitney Hanley scores two of her 38 points during the APSU vs Morehead State game in round 1 of the OVC Tournament in Nashville, TN Nashville, TN – Throughout 29 regular-season games, the Austin Peay Lady Govs had looked to Whitney Hanley to lead them down the stretch.
Wednesday’s OVC Women’s Basketball Championship opener against Morehead State proved to be no exception as the Lady Govs rallied from 15 points down in the final nine minutes of regulation to defeat the Eagles 84-83 in double overtime at Municipal Auditorium.
After the Lady Govs trailed for all of regulation, Hanley’s free throws with 5.5 seconds left tied the game at 61-61 and sent the game into the first of two overtime periods.
In the first extra period, the Lady Govs appeared to be in control behind the steady play of Hanley, who led all scorers with a career-high 38 points.
Hanley’s career night was even more impressive, however, considering the majority of her points came against vaunted Eagles defender Linda Dixon.
“She had 38 and I feel like Linda made her earn every one of them,” Eagles head coach Tom Hodges said. “She made some really tough shots. I felt like we defended her as good as we could have.”
After Hanley and the Lady Govs took a 74-71 lead with just over 13 seconds to play in overtime, Dixon sent the game to a second overtime session when she knocked down a straight-away 3-pointer with three seconds to play.
In the second overtime, both Shelby Olszewski and Meghan Bussabarger fouled out for the Lady Govs, who took their final lead at 84-83 when Nicole Olszewski converted 1-of-2 free throws with 12 seconds left.
Out of a timeout with five seconds left, Eagles guard Terrice Robinson’s jumper came up short and extended what has been a magical finish to the Lady Govs season.
“I honestly don’t know if I have words to describe the game we just played,” APSU Head Coach Carrie Daniels said. “We had to fight just to be here and be one of the eight and we have continued to fight. That was an unbelievable basketball game and our players have persevered like heck.”
An early missed Morehead State jumper at the end of regulation sent the two teams to overtime – a familiar place for the two schools.
The Lady Govs beat the Eagles 88-81 in an overtime thriller in Clarksville on Feb. 18, kick-starting a run that propelled the Lady Govs on their run to clinch the tournament’s final berth.
“It wasn’t exactly the way we had planned for it to happen,” a smiling Hanley said. “But we just had to keep fighting. We didn’t want this to be our final game this season.”
Now, after winning three of their last four games and qualifying for the OVC Women’s Basketball Championships on the final day of the regular season, Daniels said she felt as if her team might be peaking at the right time.
“We have played so well just to get here,” Daniels said. “This is tournament time. We have to bring our best or we will be going home.”
After turning in a season-low nine giveaways in the regular-season finale against Southeast Missouri, the Lady Govs struggled offensively against the Eagles for much of regulation, committing 17 of their 19 turnovers in the opening 40 minutes.
Down the stretch, however, the Lady Govs not only took better care of the basketball – they started attacking the Eagles defense.
“I wouldn’t change a thing (about our defense),” Hodges said. “Austin Peay has been playing as well as any team in the conference. They made some big plays down the stretch tonight.”
After both teams played a scoreless opening 90 seconds, the Eagles took their first and only lead of the game when Linda Dixon’s 3-pointer rattled home 15 seconds later.
The Eagles would drain two more 3-pointers in the game’s opening five minutes, extending their lead to 11-3 with 15:36 left in the first half.
Trailing 37-29 at halftime, Hanley and the Lady Govs would continue scratch and claw the Lady Govs back in it throughout the second half,following up a 3-pointer with 6:21 left in regulation with a corner 2-point jumper that trimmed the Eagles lead to 56-50 with 5:10 to play.
In the end, however, tournament time turned into Hanley Time.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever coached a player that has had a performance like that,” Daniels said. “What an effort from one of our leaders. She put the team on her back and said ‘Let’s go.’”
With the win, the Lady Govs punched their ticket to Thursday’s quarterfinals against Murray State, a team the Lady Govs swept in the regular season.
Tipoff is set for noon.
Despite the double overtime marathon on Wednesday, Daniels said the Lady Govs have to be just as prepared on Thursday.
“I’m sure Murray was very excited that we played two overtimes,” Daniels said. “But we can’t worry about that. We just have to go out there and play as well as we can.”
Photo Gallery
Austin Peay 84, Morehead St. 83 (2 OT)
Austin Peay vs Morehead State
02/29/11 12:00pm at Nashville, TN (Municipal Auditorium)
Austin Peay 84
|
|
|
Total |
3-point |
|
Rebounds |
|
| ## |
Player |
p |
fgm-fga |
fgm-fga |
ftm-fta |
off-def |
tot |
pf |
tp |
a |
to |
blk |
stl |
min |
| 05 |
OLSZEWSKI, Nicole |
* |
1-6 |
0-1 |
2-4 |
0-3 |
3 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
31 |
| 12 |
HANLEY, Whitney |
* |
15-28 |
3-6 |
5-6 |
1-6 |
7 |
3 |
38 |
4 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
50 |
| 14 |
MARTINEZ, Leslie |
* |
3-5 |
1-1 |
4-5 |
0-9 |
9 |
4 |
11 |
6 |
6 |
0 |
0 |
44 |
| 42 |
HILL, Kaitlyn |
* |
2-5 |
0-0 |
6-8 |
5-3 |
8 |
3 |
10 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
19 |
| 44 |
OLSZEWSKI, Shelby |
* |
1-5 |
0-3 |
3-4 |
1-3 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
2 |
4 |
1 |
1 |
39 |
| 03 |
BULEY, Shira |
- |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0+ |
| 04 |
STAINBACK, Kristen |
- |
4-6 |
1-2 |
1-2 |
0-0 |
0 |
1 |
10 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
30 |
| 43 |
BUSSABARGER, Meghan |
- |
3-5 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
1-2 |
3 |
5 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
37 |
| TM |
TEAM |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2-3 |
5 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Totals………….. |
- |
29-60 |
5-13 |
21-29 |
10-29 |
39 |
23 |
84 |
15 |
19 |
5 |
10 |
250 |
|
48.3% |
38.5% |
72.4% |
|
Team summary: |
|
FG |
3FG |
FT |
|
1st Half: |
|
10-24 |
1-7 |
8-11 |
|
41.7% |
14.3% |
72.7% |
|
2nd Half: |
|
11-25 |
2-4 |
8-11 |
|
44.0% |
50.0% |
72.7% |
|
Overtime: |
|
8-11 |
2-2 |
5-7 |
|
72.7% |
100 % |
71.4% |
Morehead State 83
|
|
|
Total |
3-point |
|
Rebounds |
|
| ## |
Player |
p |
fgm-fga |
fgm-fga |
ftm-fta |
off-def |
tot |
pf |
tp |
a |
to |
blk |
stl |
min |
| 04 |
JONES, Almesha |
* |
5-14 |
1-4 |
5-8 |
1-2 |
3 |
2 |
16 |
6 |
4 |
0 |
1 |
42 |
| 05 |
HARRIS, Ashar |
* |
1-3 |
0-0 |
2-6 |
9-5 |
14 |
4 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
44 |
| 21 |
DIXON, Linda |
* |
9-16 |
3-5 |
0-2 |
2-3 |
5 |
5 |
21 |
0 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
43 |
| 25 |
LUMPKIN, Courtney |
* |
6-14 |
2-3 |
8-9 |
0-3 |
3 |
2 |
22 |
2 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
38 |
| 45 |
ARLEDGE, Mackenzie |
* |
1-1 |
0-0 |
0-0 |
1-4 |
5 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
18 |
| 10 |
KYLE, Whitney |
- |
0-2 |
0-2 |
0-0 |
0-1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
| 11 |
ROBINSON, Terrice |
- |
5-11 |
0-1 |
1-1 |
1-5 |
6 |
4 |
11 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
2 |
33 |
| 20 |
ITUEN, Tyler |
- |
3-9 |
1-4 |
0-0 |
2-3 |
5 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
26 |
| TM |
TEAM |
- |
- |
- |
- |
2-0 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
|
Totals………….. |
- |
30-70 |
7-19 |
16-26 |
18-26 |
44 |
23 |
83 |
11 |
19 |
2 |
10 |
250 |
|
42.9% |
36.8% |
61.5% |
|
Team summary: |
|
FG |
3FG |
FT |
|
1st Half: |
|
15-26 |
4-8 |
3-6 |
|
57.7% |
50.0% |
50.0% |
|
2nd Half: |
|
8-31 |
1-7 |
7-12 |
|
25.8% |
14.3% |
58.3% |
|
Overtime: |
|
7-13 |
2-4 |
6-8 |
|
53.8% |
50.0% |
75.0% |
| Score by Periods |
1st |
2nd |
OT |
OT2 |
Total |
|
| Austin Peay |
29 |
32 |
13 |
10 |
84 |
Record: (9-21) |
| Morehead State |
37 |
24 |
13 |
9 |
83 |
Record: (10-19) |
| Points in the paint-APSU 40,MOR 42. Points off turnovers-APSU 22,MOR 27. |
| 2nd chance points-APSU 10,MOR 8. Fast break points-APSU 6,MOR 8. |
| Bench points-APSU 16,MOR 18. Score tied-9 times. Lead changed-9 times. |
| Last FG-APSU OT2-01:31, MOR OT2-00:36. |
| Largest lead-APSU by 3 OT-00:16, MOR by 15 2nd-09:41. |
Officials: Charlie Hust, Jack Whittemore, Randy Robertson
Technical fouls: Austin Peay-None. Morehead State-None. |
Go back to the beginning of the season at Ohio Valley Conference Media Day and even well before and the talk was all about Austin Peay and how they had the team to beat on paper.
It was believed by everyone in the OVC — and I know I went around telling people just as much — that the Govs had the talent to finish first and thusly the vote in the preseason OVC poll reflected that as Austin Peay was the choice to win the league.
 It wasn’t by a run-away mind you, because Tennessee Tech garnered eight first-place votes to APSU’s 10 and the final point total favored the Govs 185 to Tech’s 181. And there were some, three exactly, that thought Murray State was going to be the team to beat and I wish I knew who those three were because I have some lottery numbers I want them to pick for me.
Fast forward to now and the start of tonight’s OVC Men’s Basketball Tournament, the No. 6 Govs play tonight at 8 p.m. against No. 7 Jacksonville State at Municipal Auditorium, and really nothing happened the way most people thought. Murray State not only ran away from the league but did it in fashion where the rest of the nation took notice and vaulted them into a place of honor, i.e., the ESPN/USA Today and Associated Press Top 25 polls and an at-large bid even if the Racers don’t win the tournament.
And on the flip side, Austin Peay did the exact opposite of what was predicted and until winning its last two games to clinch the N0. 6 seed it currently has seemed destined to the No. 8 and final seed in the Tournament and consequently face the toughest road to get to the championship game on Saturday.
But fate was kind — it helped the Govs won their final two OVC games of the season and three overall, after losing five straight tilts – and Austin Peay laid claim to the No. 6 seed and possibly set the Govs up to make a run of a lifetime.
I’ve written on this site about the good things I saw after the Govs ended their initial OVC three-game losing streak with a win over Eastern Kentucky and how much more rosy life was when they extended that streak to three games and ultimately the five-game winning streak it turned out to be.
I also wrote how the Govs seemed to have lost their heart and soul after losing to Tennessee Tech during a two-game OVC losing streak that turned in to a five-game slide.
But now the Govs have the opportunity to show everyone that they are the team people thought they were at the beginning of the season.
This OVC Tournament couldn’t have set up any better. While Jacksonville State is scrappy, the Gamecocks aren’t as seasoned as APSU is and shoul d fall tonight.
That would put the Govs in the quarterfinals against a Morehead State team — who without Kenneth Faried and Demonte Harper — still managed to earn this year’s No. 3 seed and has built a nice little winning streak of four games over APSU. But I just don’t believe this version of Donnie Tyndall’s group has what it takes to stop the Govs in this year’s tournament.
With that win, the Govs would meet No. 2 Tennessee State in the semifinals. Now Tennessee State has had a remarkable turnaround under John Copper and he like Tyndall build their teams of the success model APSU coach Dave Loos has used in becoming the OVC’s all-time winningest coach.
But on a neutral court I give the edge to the Govs because John Fraley, Melvin Baker and TyShwan Edmondson should cancel out the exploits of Robert Covington and Kenny Moore.
So that puts the Govs in the championship game against archrival Murray State, and there well, let’s just say it’s hard to beat a tam three times and also let’s not forget the Racers are mostly in if they get here, remember they only have to win one game to do so.
I still fully believe this collection of Govs is the most talented group in the OVC and I still think that even with everything that Murray State has done that Austin Peay can be the better team at the right time, and remember I don’t get paid by Austin Peay.
But it doesn’t matter what I believe, all that matters is what the Govs can do on the court. But if they believe in themselves like I do, then I hope they see themselves holding up the OVC Championship plaque and punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
From Clarksville High’s perspective, winning the Girls Region 5-AAA Championship game would just be another step on the path to a hopeful Class AAA State Championship.
The Lady Wildcats (34-0) have been on this road before and have actually faced the team they’re playing tonight in the Region 5-AAA final at 7 p.m. at Northeast High’s Eagles Nest, Mt. Juliet, at this sam e point in 2009.
The Bears won that encounter 44-38, but Clarksville High still managed to get to the State Tournament by dispatching Hillsboro 54-42 in Sectionals (sub state). That unfortunately would be CHS’s last win that year because Memphis Central knock the Lady Wildcats out of the first round of the State Tournament with a 55-50 defeat.
Last year, Clarksville High topped Wilson Central 54-46 in the 5-AAA title game and then manhandled Ravenwood 52-27 in Sectionals. But like the year before, the Lady Wildcats wouldn’t make it out of the first round after losing to Science Hill 52-50.
Clarksville High got to this year’s Region 5-AAA final by beating Rossview for the District 10-AAA Tournament title and then Wilson Central and Station Camp in the first two rounds in 5-AAA.
“We’re excited to be playing in the Region championship for a third year in a row,” CHS guard Tiasha Gray said. “We just want to play hard in the Region championship so we can play one more game at home.”
They now face Mt. Juliet (31-3), District 9-AAA’s regular season and tournament champs, again tonight at 7 p.m. and both teams have earned a spot in Saturday’s Section als. If Clarksville High wins, it will host the loser of 11-AAA No. 3 Brentwood- 12-AAA No. 3 Antioch. A loss and CHS travels to the winner of 1-AAA No. 3 Brentwood- 12-AAA No. 3 Antioch.
“What we really liked about winning (the Region championship last year) was the opportunity to host sub state (Sectionals),” CHS coach Brian Rush said. “We got to do that against Ravenwood and we’d love the opportunity to host again.”
“It’s great we’re playing for the Region championship,” CHS center Bashaara Graves said. “We’ve been in this position twice before and we just want to come out and play our hardest like we did against Station Camp.”
 Clarksville High pulls the 'upset' beats Mt. Juliet 65-45 . Wildcats advance to Thursday's Region 5-AAA Championship game at 7 pm at Northeast. Clarksville High’s idea was simple: Follow the game plan and disrupt what Mt. Juliet likes to do.
And luckily for the Wildcats everything worked out according to plan and they went on to beat Mt. Juliet 63-45 in a Region 5-AAA semifinal game Tuesday night at Northeast High’s Eagles Nest.
Clarksville High (21-10) advances to Thursday’s Region 5-AAA Championship Game for a second straight year, this time the Wildcats will face Wilson Central which beat Beech 56-50 in the other 5-AAA semifinals.
The win also secures a berth in next Monday’s Sectionals (sub state). If Clarksville High beats Wilson Central, it will host the game as the Region 5-AAA winners. A loss and the Wildcats would travel to the home of the Region 6-AAA winner.
And a loss in the 5-AAA title game doesn’t necessarily mean Clarksville High won’t make it to state, because that’s the route it took last year after losing to West Creek in the 5-AAA final and then going to beat Nashville Overton 62-58 in the 2011 Sectionals.
“I just our players that this game and the Hendersonville game were the two games where we followed our script from what we thought the scouting report was telling us to a ‘T’,” CHS coach Ted Young said. “And that was because of the all players in that locker room, it had nothing to do with us as a coaching staff. That locker room won that game.”
Clarksville High was led by Anthony Hightower’s 15 points, Eric Holmes’ 14, Daijon Williams added 12 and Chase Knott and Drake Young each scored 10.
Belmont signee Caleb Chowbay led Mt. Juliet with 17 points and Brandon Shepard added 11.
“It was a great win,” Hightower said. “We just went out and practiced hard and executed what we needed to and just won the game.”
Mt. Juliet had shaken up the world by beating top-ranked Northeast in the Region 5-AAA quarterfinals Saturday, but none of that was of consequence to a Wildcats’ team that had handed Northeast its only loss in District 10-AAA play. Clarksville High also avenged a 45-40 loss to the Bears in the championship game of the Father Ryan Tournament, a game that saw the Wildcats play with just seven players and without Williams, a Lee University signee.
The first half was a close affair that saw Clarksville High end it leading 10-8. But the Wildcats turned it up a notch and expressed their will in the second quarter and outscored Mt. Juliet 19-7 to take a 29-15 lead at halftime.
It was all Clarksville High in the third quarter with the Wildcats outscoring the Bears 19-7 to take a 42-17 lead at the end of the period.
The Wildcats kept the pressure up in the fourth quarter and outscored Mt. Juliet 23-13 in en route to the 18-point victory.
“We had a good game plan coming into the game,” Williams said. “We just executed on defense, got good shots and it all just worked out for us.”
Clarksville High 65, Mt. Juliet 45
| Box Score |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
FINAL |
| Clarksville High |
10 |
19 |
13 |
23 |
— 65 |
| M. Juliet |
8 |
7 |
2 |
28 |
— 45 |
Clarksville High 65
| Player |
Points |
FGs |
3pts |
FTs |
| Anthony Hightower |
15 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Eric Holmes |
14 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Chase Knott |
10 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Tevin Majors |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Daijon Williams |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Drake Young |
10 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
Mt. Juliet 45
| Player |
Points |
FGs |
3pts |
FTs |
| Anthony Casciani |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Caleb Chowbay |
17 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
| Nolan Chowbay |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Quinton Hall |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| C.J. McEwen |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| DaShawn McMurry |
3 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Brandon Shepard |
11 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Clarksville High-Mt. Juliet Photo Gallery
February 28, 2012 | 
Austin Peay senior guard Whitney Hanley has been named first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference the league office announced today.
Hanley, of Mt. Washington, Ky., averaged 18.9 points per game during the regular-season, ranking 28th nationally and third among OVC scorers. She raised her play in conference action, averaging 20.9 points per game in OVC play. In addition, Hanley’s 88.9 free-throw percentage led the conference and ranked 10th nationally as she missed only 12 free throws in 29 games.
 Whitney Halney scored 25 points in the Lady Govs' 72-61 loss to SIU Edwardsville “I believe Whitney has earned all-conference recognition through her hard work this season,” Lady Govs head coach Carrie Daniels said. “Whitney has worked harder this season and has improved her game in every aspect. She was an all-round player before the year began but now she is a player other teams have to plan to stop.”
Sixteen times this season she scored 20 or more points and surpassed 30 points twice, including a career-best 33-point outing against Jacksonville State, Jan. 14.
Proving she is more than a scorer, Hanley also ranked among the league’s leaders in rebounding (18th, 5.2 rpg), field-goal percentage (5th, .440), steals (15th, 1.4 spg), three-point field goal percentage (10th, .333), three-pointers made (10th, 1.8 pg) and minutes played (3rd, 34.9 mpg).
She is the ninth individual Austin Peay player to receive first-team All-OVC honors and it is the 16th time a Lady Govs player has been named to the league’s first team.
UT Martin’s Jasmine Newsome was named the 2011-12 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in voting by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. Eastern Illinois’ Ta’Kenya Nixon was selected as the OVC Defensive Player of the Year while SIUE’s Katie Hempen earned Freshman of the Year honors. The Cougars’ Amanda Levens was tabbed the Coach of the Year.
A native of Millington, Tenn., Newsome becomes the second Skyhawk to be named OVC Player of the Year after Zabrina Harris earned the honor in 1998-99. The sophomore guard leads the league with 5.9 assists per game. She dished out a season-best 11 assists versus Austin Peay on Feb. 23. Newsome, who was also selected to the All-OVC first team, ranks second in league and 18th in the nation with 19.7 points per outing. She has reached double-digits in points in all but two games this season with a career-high of 39 coming against Southern Miss. She is among the league leaders in field-goal percentage (4th, 44.5%), free-throw percentage (6th, 82.4%), steals (3rd, 2.0 spg), three-point field goals made (9th, 1.9 per game) and three-point field goal percentage (8th, 35.0%). Earlier this season, Newsome had a streak of 36 straight free throws made that spanned over five games. The mark was eight shy of the OVC record of 44 held by former Murray State player Paige Guffey. Newsome received OVC Player of the Week honors four times this season.
Hempen, a product of Highland, Ill., was named OVC Freshman of the Year after SIUE’s first season of playing a full OVC schedule. The freshman guard averaged 9.9 points while recording 10.4 points per league contest. She ranks second in the conference with a 86.9 free-throw percentage. Hempen has posted 14 double-digit scoring outings, hitting a career- best 19 twice. The All-Newcomer selection has seen action in all 27 games for the Cougars so far this year. Hempen has been named OVC Freshman of the Week four times this season.
Nixon becomes the league’s first ever two-time Defensive Player of the Year honoree after winning the award in 2009-10. She was also selected as the OVC Freshman of the Year that season, becoming the first player to win both awards in the same year. The Michigan City, Ind., native leads the league averaging almost three steals per outing. She has recorded a season-high six steals twice this year. Nixon, who earned her third straight All-OVC first team selection, also ranks first in the league with a 52.5 field-goal percentage. She is recording 15.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game this year and is fourth in the OVC with a 83.4 free-throw percentage. Nixon earned Player of the Week honors on Jan. 17.
Levens was tabbed the OVC Coach of the Year after leading her team to a 12-4 league mark in its first season with a full OVC slate. SIUE, which was predicted to finish eighth in the conference race, went 7-1 on the road in league play this year. The Cougars, who will finish reclassifying from Division II and be eligible for postseason play next year, would have been the third seed in the OVC Tournament this season. SIUE has also compiled an 18-9 overall mark which is the most wins in the Division I era and the most since the 2006-07 season.
ALL-OVC
Joining Newsome and Nixon as repeat first-team selections are UT Martin sophomore guard Heather Butler and Tennessee Tech senior guard Tacarra Hayes. Austin Peay senior guard Whitney Hanley moves up to the first team after earning second team honors last year.
Butler, a Medina,Tenn., native, leads the league and ranks fifth in the nation with 23.7 points per game. She also ranks third in the NCAA with a 43.8 three-point field goal percentage while making 3.3 treys per game to rank fourth among Division I players.
A product of Lebanon, Ky., Hayes ranks among league leaders with 16.6 points per game and a 41.4 field goal-percentage. She is currently the league’s career active points leader with 1,705 points.
Hanley, a native of Mt. Washington, Ky., is third in the OVC with 18.3 points per outing to go with 5.2 rebounds per game this season. She has made 44.0 percent of her shots from the floor to rank fifth in the league. Hanley has recorded 20 or more points 16 times this season.
The 2011-12 All-OVC second team features five first-time honorees. Making her second straight appearance on the second team is Eastern Illinois junior forward Marian King (Chicago, Ill.). Also making the squad are Morehead State senior guard Courtney Lumpkin (Cincinnati, Ohio), SIUE junior forward Raven Berry (Collinsville, Ill.), sophomore guard Erica Burgess (Memphis, Tenn.), Tennessee State junior guard Jasmin Shuler (Clarksville, Tenn.) and Tennessee Tech junior guard Jala Harris (Madison, Ala.)
King ranks among league leaders in points (12.8 ppg), rebounds (7.2 rpg) and field goal percentage (45.6%) while Lumpkin has recorded 16.1 points each time out to rank sixth in the OVC. Berry is averaging a double-double so far this season with 11.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Shuler is recording 15.3 points each time out including 2.5 treys per game while Harris is second on the team in scoring with 14.7 points per contest.
Joining Hempen on the All-Newcomer team are Eastern Kentucky junior center Jade Barber (Louisville, Ky.), Jacksonville State freshman forward Briana Morrow (Nashville, Tenn.), Tennessee Tech junior guard Jala Harris (Madison, Ala.) and Murray State sophomore guard Erica Burgess (Memphis, Tenn.).
Barber is second on the team with 11.0 points per game to go with 7.4 rebounds each time out so far this season while Morrow paced the Gamecocks with 11.4 points per outing and was second on the squad averaging 7.5 boards.
2011-12 All-Ohio Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Teams
(voted on by the league’s head basketball coaches and sports information directors)
FIRST TEAM
Ta’Kenya Nixon, Eastern Illinois*
Jasmine Newsome, UT Martin*
Heather Butler, UT Martin*
Whitney Hanley, Austin Peay%.
Tacarra Hayes, Tennessee Tech*
SECOND TEAM
Courtney Lumpkin, Morehead State
Raven Berry, SIUE
Mariah King, Eastern Illinois%.
Erica Burgess, Murray State
Jasmin Shuler, Tennessee State
Jala Harris, Tennessee Tech
(Six appear on the second team due to a tie.)
ALL-NEWCOMER
Jade Barber, Eastern Kentucky
Briana Morrow, Jacksonville State
Jala Harris, Tennessee Tech
Erica Burgess, Murray State
Katie Hempen, SIUE
OVC PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jasmine Newsome, UT Martin
OVC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Katie Hempen, SIUE
OVC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ta’Kenya Nixon, Eastern Illinois
OVC COACH OF THE YEAR: Amanda Levens, SIUE
* – 2010-11 First Team All-OVC
% – 2010-11 Second Team All-OVC
UT Martin’s Jasmine Newsome was named the 2011-12 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in voting by the league’s head coaches and sports information directors. Eastern Illinois’ Ta’Kenya Nixon was selected as the OVC Defensive Player of the Year while SIUE’s Katie Hempen earned Freshman of the Year honors. The Cougars’ Amanda Levens was tabbed the Coach of the Year.
A native of Millington, Tenn., Newsome becomes the second Skyhawk to be named OVC Player of the Year after Zabrina Harris earned the honor in 1998-99. The sophomore guard leads the league with 5.9 assists per game. She dished out a season-best 11 assists versus Austin Peay on Feb. 23. Newsome, who was also selected to the All-OVC first team, ranks second in league and 18th in the nation with 19.7 points per outing. She has reached double-digits in points in all but two games this season with a career-high of 39 coming against Southern Miss. She is among the league leaders in field-goal percentage (4th, 44.5%), free-throw percentage (6th, 82.4%), steals (3rd, 2.0 spg), three-point field goals made (9th, 1.9 per game) and three-point field goal percentage (8th, 35.0%). Earlier this season, Newsome had a streak of 36 straight free throws made that spanned over five games. The mark was eight shy of the OVC record of 44 held by former Murray State player Paige Guffey. Newsome received OVC Player of the Week honors four times this season.
Hempen, a product of Highland, Ill., was named OVC Freshman of the Year after SIUE’s first season of playing a full OVC schedule. The freshman guard averaged 9.9 points while recording 10.4 points per league contest. She ranks second in the conference with a 86.9 free-throw percentage. Hempen has posted 14 double-digit scoring outings, hitting a career- best 19 twice. The All-Newcomer selection has seen action in all 27 games for the Cougars so far this year. Hempen has been named OVC Freshman of the Week four times this season.
Nixon becomes the league’s first ever two-time Defensive Player of the Year honoree after winning the award in 2009-10. She was also selected as the OVC Freshman of the Year that season, becoming the first player to win both awards in the same year. The Michigan City, Ind., native leads the league averaging almost three steals per outing. She has recorded a season-high six steals twice this year. Nixon, who earned her third straight All-OVC first team selection, also ranks first in the league with a 52.5 field-goal percentage. She is recording 15.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game this year and is fourth in the OVC with a 83.4 free-throw percentage. Nixon earned Player of the Week honors on Jan. 17.
Levens was tabbed the OVC Coach of the Year after leading her team to a 12-4 league mark in its first season with a full OVC slate. SIUE, which was predicted to finish eighth in the conference race, went 7-1 on the road in league play this year. The Cougars, who will finish reclassifying from Division II and be eligible for postseason play next year, would have been the third seed in the OVC Tournament this season. SIUE has also compiled an 18-9 overall mark which is the most wins in the Division I era and the most since the 2006-07 season.
ALL-OVC
Joining Newsome and Nixon as repeat first-team selections are UT Martin sophomore guard Heather Butler and Tennessee Tech senior guard Tacarra Hayes. Austin Peay senior guard Whitney Hanley moves up to the first team after earning second team honors last year.
Butler, a Medina,Tenn., native, leads the league and ranks fifth in the nation with 23.7 points per game. She also ranks third in the NCAA with a 43.8 three-point field goal percentage while making 3.3 treys per game to rank fourth among Division I players.
A product of Lebanon, Ky., Hayes ranks among league leaders with 16.6 points per game and a 41.4 field goal-percentage. She is currently the league’s career active points leader with 1,705 points.
Hanley, a native of Mt. Washington, Ky., is third in the OVC with 18.3 points per outing to go with 5.2 rebounds per game this season. She has made 44.0 percent of her shots from the floor to rank fifth in the league. Hanley has recorded 20 or more points 16 times this season.
The 2011-12 All-OVC second team features five first-time honorees. Making her second straight appearance on the second team is Eastern Illinois junior forward Marian King (Chicago, Ill.). Also making the squad are Morehead State senior guard Courtney Lumpkin (Cincinnati, Ohio), SIUE junior forward Raven Berry (Collinsville, Ill.), sophomore guard Erica Burgess (Memphis, Tenn.), Tennessee State junior guard Jasmin Shuler (Clarksville, Tenn.) and Tennessee Tech junior guard Jala Harris (Madison, Ala.)
King ranks among league leaders in points (12.8 ppg), rebounds (7.2 rpg) and field goal percentage (45.6%) while Lumpkin has recorded 16.1 points each time out to rank sixth in the OVC. Berry is averaging a double-double so far this season with 11.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game. Shuler is recording 15.3 points each time out including 2.5 treys per game while Harris is second on the team in scoring with 14.7 points per contest.
Joining Hempen on the All-Newcomer team are Eastern Kentucky junior center Jade Barber (Louisville, Ky.), Jacksonville State freshman forward Briana Morrow (Nashville, Tenn.), Tennessee Tech junior guard Jala Harris (Madison, Ala.) and Murray State sophomore guard Erica Burgess (Memphis, Tenn.).
Barber is second on the team with 11.0 points per game to go with 7.4 rebounds each time out so far this season while Morrow paced the Gamecocks with 11.4 points per outing and was second on the squad averaging 7.5 boards.
2011-12 All-Ohio Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Teams
(voted on by the league’s head basketball coaches and sports information directors)
FIRST TEAM
Ta’Kenya Nixon, Eastern Illinois*
Jasmine Newsome, UT Martin*
Heather Butler, UT Martin*
Whitney Hanley, Austin Peay%.
Tacarra Hayes, Tennessee Tech*
SECOND TEAM
Courtney Lumpkin, Morehead State
Raven Berry, SIUE
Mariah King, Eastern Illinois%.
Erica Burgess, Murray State
Jasmin Shuler, Tennessee State
Jala Harris, Tennessee Tech
Six appear on the second team due to a tie.
ALL-NEWCOMER
Jade Barber, Eastern Kentucky
Briana Morrow, Jacksonville State
Jala Harris, Tennessee Tech
Erica Burgess, Murray State
Katie Hempen, SIUE
OVC PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jasmine Newsome, UT Martin
OVC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Katie Hempen, SIUE
OVC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ta’Kenya Nixon, Eastern Illinois
OVC COACH OF THE YEAR: Amanda Levens, SIUE
* – 2010-11 First Team All-OVC
% – 2010-11 Second Team All-OVC
February 28, 2012 |
Freshman forward Malcolm Smith, a Clarksville Academy graduate, was named to the Atlantic Sun All-Freshman Team, the conference office announced.
The Clarksville, Tenn., native averaged 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds in 30 games. He started seven of the final eight games of the regular season.
 “Malcolm has been relentless this season playing a lot against bigger five-men,” Lipscomb coach Scott Sanderson said. “He’s a hard worker and very deserving of this honor.”
Smith scored in double digits 14 times this season and had at least 20 points three times. He posted a high of 22 points against Mercer on Dec. 1 as he went 6-of-9 from the field and 10-of-10 from the free throw line.
Smith shot 47.1 percent from the field and 62.1 percent (105-169) from the free throw line.
USC Upstate earned three of the league’s top four awards. Torrey Craig was named Player of the Year, Ty Greene was selected as Freshman of the Year, and Eddie Payne was tabbed as Coach of the Year. Belmont’s Ian Clark was named Defensive Player of the Year.
Lipscomb opens the 2012 Atlantic Sun Championship as the No. 7 seed against No. 2 seed Mercer Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. central in Macon, Ga. The game will be carried on ESPN3 and Nashville’s 102.5 The Game.
Clarksville, Tenn. — (Courtesy: Austin Peay Sports Information) The start of John Fraley’s senior season was as inauspicious as the beginning of his Austin Peay State University basketball career.
Fraley, who was redshirted in 2007-08 to acclimate himself to the Division I game, suffered a concussion in the 20110-12 season opening game at Middle Tennessee and proceeded to miss the Govs next nine games, a stretch that saw APSU go 1-8 without its big man. But the 6-8 local product recovered to produce the best season of his APSU career.
He was rewarded for that effort by being second-team All-Ohio Valley Conference, announced Tuesday, by the conference office.
 Despite missing nine games this season due to a concussion, Govs senior John Fraley was named second team All-OVC Tuesday. The Clarksville native leads the OVC in rebounding during conference games at 9.3 per game-to put his consistent rebound numbers in perspective he is second in both offensive and defensive rebounds. Fraley also leads the OVC in shooting percentage at 64.8 percent and is tied for third in blocked shots (1.8 bpg). His 13.5 scoring averaging in league games paces the Govs.
“John is really deserving and I’m happy for him to be rewarded with this after his five-year tenure,” APSU coach Dave Loos said. “When John came here, he was an athletic, thin guy that couldn’t play very long. The first thing he had to do was develop some endurance so he could play longer. He’s always been a very good rebounder, but he’s really developed an offensive game around the basket.
“I’ve not had any players that have started at one level and finished like he has and shown any more improvement than he has. It’s really fitting that he’s acknowledged this way.”
Since Fraley’s return the head injury, the Govs have claimed 11 of their 12 victories. In late January-early February, he rolled off three straight 20-point outings, including a career-best 31-point game against Tennessee Tech on a night when he went a startling 10-of-13 from the floor. He also had 17 rebounds, the most in his career. He had five double-doubles during league play, including a 25-point, 12-rebound effort in the Govs’ Jan. 12 home win against Eastern Kentucky, a contest where he was 10-of-12 from the field.
Overall, Fraley is averaging 11.9 ppg, shooting 60.1 percent from the floor, and 8.9 rpg. However, he is not listed in the overall statistical leaders because he missed too many games because of the concussion.
“He showed what I thought was true,” Loos said. “That he was the player we could least afford to be without. He bounced back after missing nine games and was really an important part of our team, both offensively and defensively, but certainly on the boards.”
Fraley came to APSU a project, despite his height, because he was still a basketball novice. He played for Heritage Christian Academy and put up superb numbers (23 ppg, 14 rpg) per game as a senior, but that was against lightly-regarded competition.
He redshirted his first season and worked on adding bulk and strength. As a redshirt freshman he played in only 23 games, averaging 2.8 ppg, But he moved into the starting lineup the next season and was the OVC’s second-leading rebounding in 2009-10, averaging 7.8 rpg to to go with 9.2 ppg. A year ago, he averaged 9.6 ppg and 7.4 rpg.
February 28, 2012 |
Tuesday, February 28th, 2012 at 6:00pm CT at RBC Center
Nashville, TN – The Nashville Predators and Carolina Hurricanes face off tonight at RBC Center in their second and final meeting of the season. Nashville has posted six consecutive wins over the ‘Canes and points in eight straight dating back to December 3rd, 2003 (6-0-(0)-1 record).
The Predators last regulation loss to Carolina was the only time the Hurricanes have beat them on home ice – a 2-1 Hurricanes victory on December 3rd, 2002. Nashville is 4-2-(1)-1, and 11-3-(1)-1 in 14 all-time matchups against Carolina.
In their first match-up of the season on January 7th, the Predators notched a season high four power-play goals on their way to a 5-2 win over the Hurricanes. Patric Hornqvist had two power-play markers on the night, while Shea Weber, Craig Smith and Ryan Ellis – who tallied his first career NHL goal – all scored for the Predators. Pekka Rinne made 27 saves as he began a stretch that would see him post a franchise-record 11 straight wins.
Shea Weber has seven points (4g-3a) in seven games against the ‘Canes… Pekka Rinne has posted a 3-0-0 record with a 1.63 goals-against average and a .936 save percentage for his career against Carolina.
Deadline Dealers
As the 2011-12 trade deadline came to a close yesterday afternoon, the Predators were able to bolster their line-up with the addition of forwards Andrei Kostitsyn and Paul Gaustad – both are expected to make their Predators debut tonight against the Hurricanes. Nashville began deadline day by acquiring Kostitsyn from Montreal for a pair of draft picks. It was the second transaction with the Habs in the past 10 days; the Predators acquired Hal Gill on February 17th. Andrei, the older brother of current Predator Sergei Kostitsyn, becomes the fourth former Canadien to appear on the Predators roster this season – Sergei, Gill and Francis Bouillon are the others. The elder Kostitsyn has posted 24 points (12g-12a) in 53 games thus far in 2011-12.
The Predators second and final transaction of the day saw them acquire Gaustad and a fourth-round selection in the 2013 Entry Draft from Buffalo for a first-round pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Gaustad has 17 points (7g-10a) and 70 penalty minutes in 56 games for the Sabres this season, in addition to ranking 10th in the League in face-off efficiency (56.8 percent) and eighth among forwards in average shorthanded ice time (2:52). The Fargo, N.D., native has finished among the NHL’s Top 10 in face-offs each of the past two seasons (third in 2010-11, 59.8 percent and sixth in 2009-10, 57.4 percent).
Nashville Posts A 19-5-3 Record In It’s Last 27
Nashville has posted a 19-5-3 record in its last 27 games, outscoring the opposition 82-57 (plus 25), despite being outshot 832-743 (minus 89). Since the run started on Dec. 28, Nashville has averaged 3.03 goals per game, while allowing just 2.11 goals per game. Those totals have pushed its goals per game average from 2.60 prior to the stretch to 2.78 (10th) currently, while its goals-against average has fallen from 2.80 to 2.49 (eighth).
The Predators’ current streak includes outscoring foes 66-45 at even strength; they were outscored 72-54 at even strength in the first 36 games of 2011-12.
Nashville’s Vezina Canidate
Pekka Rinne posted his League-leading 35th victory of the season against L.A. on Monday, surpassing his previous career high for wins in a season set in 2010-11 (34). That total is the second highest in franchise history, and just one win shy of tying Tomas Vokoun’s franchise-record 36 wins set during the in 2005-06 season. Since December 28th, Rinne has posted a League-best 19-3-3 record with a 1.89 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage, improving to 35-13-7 on the season. He leads the League in saves (1,599), shots against (1,727) and appearances (57).
Dynamic DUO
The defensive pairing of Ryan Suter and Shea Weber continues its all-star caliber play on the Predators blue line. Since returning from injury on January 23rd, Suter has posted 12 points (2g-10a) in 15 games. For the season, he ranks seventh among NHL blueliners with 37 points (7g-30a), putting him on pace to surpass his career-high 45 points (7g-38a) set during the 2008-09 season. The Madison, WI, native is third among NHL blueliners in power-play points and assists (3g-19a-22pts), and ranks fourth in the League in average ice time (26:33), 15 seconds ahead of Weber (26:18), who ranks fifth.
In his last 43 games, Weber has posted 32 points (13g-19a), moving him into second in team scoring (14g-26a-40pts) – his fourth consecutive season with at least 40 points. He is tied for first among NHL defensemen in goals (14) and power-play goals (8), is third in points (40) by a d-man, and fourth in shots on goal (174). He also ranks among the League’s Top 15 d-men in power-play points (8g-10a-17pts) and plus/minus (+17). He is the only blueliner to post multiple shorthanded goals (2) this season. Since October 25th, Weber has not gone more than two games without a point.
Last Time Out
Predators 2, Los Angeles 1 at Bridgestone Arena
The Predators allowed two goals or fewer for the sixth time in the last seven games.
Roman Josi opened the scoring for Nashville at the 18:27 mark of the first period. He has four points (2g-2a) in his last three games and points in three consecutive games for the second time in his career.
Patric Hornqvist notched his 18th goal of the year. He is now tied with Mike Fisher for the team lead in the category. He has 11 points (6g-5a) in his last 11 games.
David Legwand notched his 24th and 25th assist of the season – surpassing his total from a season ago (24). It was his 10th multi-point game (2a) of the season and the 100th of his career. He is second all-time behind only Martin Erat’s 102 multi-point games.
Gabriel Bourque posted the secondary assist on Josi’s goal. He has points in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.
Ryan Suter played less than 24 minutes in a game he didn’t leave due to injury for just the second time this season (23:15). Shea Weber posted his lowest ice time since Jan. 16 at the N.Y. Islanders (23:20) and played less than 23:30 for just the sixth time this season.
Thirteen different Predators has two shots. No one had more.
Nashville was outshot for the 42nd time this season (31-28). It leads the League in wins (25) in those situations.
The Predators PK has not allowed a power-play goal in seven consecutive games (12-of-12). That span is tied for the second-longest such streak in franchise history to only a nine-game stretch November 18th-December 4th, 2010. Nashville also had a seven-game streak just one month ago (January 12th-23th, 2012), and has been perfect on the PK 20 times in the last 28 games.
Quick Hits
- Nashville is 6-5-3 against the Eastern Conference this season, including a 3-1-0 mark versus the Southeast Division.
- Nashville’s power play has scored 17 man-advantage goals in its last 23 games. For the season, Nashville’s power play ranks first in the League (21.6 percent). The Preds have potted 44 man-advantage goals in 63 games this season, after posting 41 in 82 games a season ago.
- Nashville’s special teams are now plus-12 on the season after finishing plus-three in 2010-11. Nashville (104.2) ranks among the League’s top five teams in combined special teams play (PP%+PK%).
- Patric Hornqvist is now just two goals shy of becoming the first Predators’ draft pick to score at least 20 goals in three consecutive seasons for the club.
- Craig Smith leads the team in road points this season with 20 (7g-13a) in 29 games, while Hornqvist has a team-high 10 goals in 28 road games.
- Nashville is 30-3-4 when scoring three or more goals, and 29-2-1 when holding the opposition to two or less.
- In their 37 victories this season (34 non-shootout wins), the Predators have received game-winning goals from 15 different players, tying them with Vancouver and Colorado for the second-most players with a GWG. St. Louis leads the League with 16 players. Fifteen of Nashville’s GWGs have come in the third period or overtime, with 11 coming in the final eight minutes of regulation or overtime.
- With the addition of Andrei Kostitsyn (12g), the Preds now lead the League with 11 players with at least 10 goals.
- The Predators lead the League in winning percentage (.715) in combined one and two-goal games. They rank among the League’s Top 10 teams in one-goal games (17-7-7) and have posted the League’s best record (11-2) in games decided by two goals.
- Nashville has earned at least a point in all five games Hal Gill has played since being acquired on February 17th (4-0-1).
- In his last 102 regular season games dating back to December 1st, 2010, Martin Erat has posted 90 points (29g-61a).
- The Predators are 26-2-3 when scoring first, ranking them among the top five in the League. They have led after one period in just 21 of 63 games (37 wins), going 18-1-2 in those contests.
- Nashville posted a goal in 10 consecutive second periods, outscoring the opposition 13-5 during that span. It has outscored the opposition by 15 in the second period (53-38) this season. That is the second-best differential in the Western Conference behind only San Jose. Nashville has allowed just 12 second-period goals in its last 27 outings. The team’s 38 goals allowed in the middle frame is the lowest total in the NHL.
- The Predators rank among the League’s top five in third-period scoring this season. Nashville has potted 68 goals in the final frame this season, including 18 goals in its last 16 third periods. Twenty-one of Nashville’s 68 third-period goals have come in the final 100 seconds of regulation.
Erat-Fisher-Kostitsyn Line Powers Predators
The line of Martin Erat, Mike Fisher and Sergei Kostitsyn continues to be the driving force behind the Predators’ offense. Since the calendar flipped to 2012, Fisher has posted 23 points (11g-12a) in 24 games, and his 11 markers since the first of the year rank among the NHL’s Top 20 players. He has 38 points (18g-20a) on the season and is just one goal shy of matching his total from a season ago. For the season, Nashville is 21-2-3 when Fisher records a point and 11-0-3 when he scores a goal.
Erat has posted 23 points (6g-17a) in 25 games since the beginning of January. His 17 helpers during that span rank among the League’s Top 15 players. The Trebic, Czech Republic native’s 32 assists on the season are just one shy of his total in two of the previous three campaigns (33 in both 2010-11 and 2008-09) and more than he posted during his 2009-10 season (28). He leads the team with 46 points on the year – his eighth consecutive season with at least 40 points. Nashville is 11-0-1 when Erat scores.
Since the first of the year, Kostitsyn has notched 21 points (10g-11a) in 24 games. His 10 goals during that span have come on 32 shots (31.2 percent), and he ranks among the NHL’s top players in shooting percentage (22.4 percent).
Back-To-Back
After beating Los Angeles on Monday in Nashville, the Predators wind down their eighth set of back-to-back game on Tuesday in Carolina. The Predators play just 11 sets of back-to-back contests this season – the lowest total in the team’s last four campaigns. Thus far, Nashville has posted a 6-2-0 record on the front end and a 3-4-0 record on the back half in 2011-12. A season ago, the Predators were 9-4-0 on the front end and 6-6-1 on the back end of two-games-in-two-nights scenarios.
The puck drops at 6:00pm CT tonight.
Matt Kenseth may have won the 54th running of the Daytona 500, but make no mistake about it – Brad Keselowski was the real winner Monday night.
After the race was pushed back a day for the first time in the event’s history due to heavy rain Sunday, NASCAR officials made the decision to run the race during primetime Monday night.
And, for the first 159 laps of The Great American Race, it appeared as if NASCAR had hit a ratings gold mine.
Then, in one of the most bizarre moments in the history of motorsport, Juan Pablo Montoya lost control of his No. 42 Target Chevrolet and slammed into a jet dryer, setting the track at Daytona International Motor Speedway ablaze.
In fact, since I’m not sure words can even describe how wild it was, you should probably watch the video below.
As drivers pulled to a stop just shy of the carnage and got out of their cars to survey the damage, Keselowski did what anyone would do.
He took a picture and tweeted it to his 60,000 followers.
As members of the track crew worked feverishly to put out the 200 gallons of jet fuel, Keselowski whipped out his iPhone and documented the whole thing, snapping pics and interacting with fans for much of the two-plus hour delay.
As a result of his tweets, Keselowski picked up an eye-popping 140,000 new followers during the break.
140,000.
In less than two hours, Keselowski added the equivalent of the entire population of Clarksville to his Twitter family.
Then, perhaps even more amazingly, Keselowski continued to tweet during the re-start during two of the race’s final three cautions.
And while some were joking online, (Why did Keselowski have his phone in his car in the first place? Was he tweeting and driving?) Keselowski and NASCAR officials were reaping the rewards of a brilliant PR move.
Before tonight, the casual sports fan probably could only name a few NASCAR drivers and the 28-year-old driver from Rochester Hills, Michigan was probably not one of them.
Ask the casual sports fan on Tuesday, and it’s safe to say they will have seen or heard about Keselowski and his tweets.
With such a high demand being placed on customer service and fan interaction, Keslowski got up close and personal with his followers – and he and NASCAR reaped the benefits.
So while Kenseth’s No. 17 car may have claimed victory at the ‘Super Bowl of NASCAR’, Keselowski (and ultimately NASCAR) emerged as the real winners Monday night.
It’s the formula Clarksville High has used in its 33 previous wins so it was no surprise that an overpowering defense led to the Lady Wildcats winning number-34 this time over Station Camp 66-27 in a Region 5-AAA semifinal game Monday night at Northeast High.
The victory moves District 10-AAA regular season and tournament champion Clarksville High (34-0) into the Region 5-AAA championship game Wednesday night at Northeast where the Lady Wildcats will face District 9-AAA regular season and tournament champion Mt. Juliet (31-3), which beat Rossview 68-38 Monday night to earn its spot in the game. Clarksville High is looking to win its second straight Region 5-AAA championship.
Both Clarksville High and Mt. Juliet will advance to Sectionals (sub state), but the winner of the game will host a home game Saturday against the runner up from Region 6-AAA, while the loser will head on the road to face the Region 6-AAA titlist.
“What we really liked about winning (the Region championship last year) was the opportunity to host sub state (Sectionals),” CHS coach Brian Rush said. “We got to do that against Ravenwood and we’d love the opportunity to host again.”
Clarksville High was led by Tennessee signee Bashaara Graves 21 points and 15 each from Florida signee Chandler Cooper and Austin Peay signee Tiasha Gray.
“It’s great we’re playing for the Region championship,” Graves said. “We’ve been in this position twice before and we just want to come out and play our hardest like we did against Station Camp.”
Station Camp (19-11) was led by Savannah Keele’s 12 points.
Clarksville High came out of the gates on fire and use that to take a 19-4 lead at the end of the first quarter and kept the momentum up through the second quarter en route to a 39-10 lead at halftime.
The Lady Wildcats toned things down considerably in the second half, but still outscored Station Camp 27-17.
“We’re excited to be playing in the Region championship for a third year in a row,” Gray said. “We just want to play hard in the Region championship so we can play one more game at home.”
 Bashaara Graves goes up against a Station Camp triple team. In the second round of the Region 5-AAA Tournament, Clarksville High School breeze passed Station Camp 66-27. Clarksville High 66, Mt. Juliet 27
| Box Score |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
FINAL |
| Station Camp |
4 |
6 |
13 |
4 |
— 27 |
| Clarksville High |
19 |
20 |
10 |
17 |
— 66 |
Station Camp 27
| Player |
Points |
FGs |
3pts |
FTs |
| Chelsea Davis |
5 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| Kayla Deter |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Savannah Keele |
12 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Cheyenne North |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Kia Perry |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| Janasia Williams |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Clarksville High 66
| Player |
Points |
FGs |
3pts |
FTs |
| 20 Rameja Bell |
2 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 5 Chandler Cooper |
15 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
| 11 Bashaara Graves |
21 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 14 Tiasha Gray |
15 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| 32 Tia Nicholson |
4 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
| 12 Jessy Ward |
9 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
Clarksville High-Station Camp Photo Gallery
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