HEATH BOYS LOSE TO COLONELS
At the boys western sectional soccer final, Henderson County nipped Heath 2-1. The Pirates season ends with a record of 17-5-1.

MARSHALLS PLAY IN STATE VOLLEYBALL TOURNEY
Today at 5, Marshall County plays Newport Catholic at the State Volleyball Tournament at Bellermine University.

MAYFIELD AND LONE OAK PICK UP THURDAY WINS
In high school football last night, Mayfield crushed Marshall County 55-27, and Lone Oak breezed past Fulton City 54-0 without Jamarielle Brown. Cameron Looper filled in and tossed five touchdown passes in the win. Tonight,

TIGERS HIT THE ROAD; SENIOR NIGHT FOR LAKERS
Murray High closes out the regular season with a visit to 10th ranked Owensboro Catholic. The Aces are a spread team, and Tigers head coach Steve Duncan knows they present a challange to his team. Airtime tonight is 7 on 1340 WNBS with Jeremy Bell and Travis Turner...District 4A Champion Calloway County plays its final home game tonight as they welcome Fulton County to Jack Rose Stadium. It's senior night, and Lakers head coach Josh McKeel says they will be honoring a special bunch...(SB) Kickoff time is 7:30 tonight on WAAJ. In other games tonight:

Paducah Tilghman at Heath
Reidland at Ballard Memorial
Graves County at Christian County
Crittenden County at Caldwell County
Trigg County at Fort Campbell
Hopkins Central at Union County
Webster County at Muhlenberg North
Hopkinsville at Warren Central
Owensboro at Henderson County
Daviess County at Hancock County
Lexington Catholic at Apollo
Muhlenberg South at Grayson County
Central Hardin at Ohio County.

RACERS VISIT CHARLESTON SATURDAY
Tomorrow, Murray State visits Eastern Illinois. The Panthers have were a preseason top-25 team, but they have been hampered by injuries. Still, Racers head coach Matt Griffen says they are still pretty good. The Racers and Panthers are meeting for the 24th time on the gridiron. EIU holds a 12-11 advantage in the overall series. The Racers are just 3-8 in games played in Charleston, Ill. and have not won there since 1998.  Saturday’s game will feature the league’s best passing offense (Murray State, 247.9) against the league’s best pass defense (Eastern Illinois, 169.7). The Murray State defense has recorded 10 sacks in four OVC games, while the offense has only allowed one sack. Nathan Williams leads the way with four sacks, while Austen Lane has added 3.5.
The Racers are averaging 259 yards a game on the ground over the last two games. MSU has had two different running backs go over 100 yards in those games. The Racers have outrushed their opponents in all four conference games this season. MSU finds itself in the middle of the race for the OVC championship as they are one of five teams with two losses or less in conference action. Two of those one-loss teams, Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State, await the Racers in their final two games of the season Airtime tomorrow is 1pm on Froggy, and 1340 WNBS. It's part of a doubleheader on WNBS, with #1 Texas visiting #6 Texas Tech at 6:30.

VOLLEYBALL AT HOME TONIGHT AND TOMORROW
The Murray State volleyball squad will be looking to get back on the winning track this weekend when the Racers (10-12, 7-5 Ohio Valley Conference) host Tennessee State and Austin Peay. The Tigers visit Racer Arena tonight at 7, and then Austin Peay visits tomorrow afternoon at 2.

MSU PLAYS FINAL PRE-TOURNEY GAME TONIGHT
The OVC Champion Murray State soccer team closes out the regular season tonight at Lipscomb. Next week they host the OVC Tournament semifinals and title game at Cutchin Field.

EARLY MADNESS NIXED
Midnight Madness is going back to its regularly scheduled date next season. The NCAA's board of directors passed emergency legislation Thursday which prevents basketball coaches from holding opening night festivities earlier than the governing body's normal start date. President Myles Brand said the proposal was made by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, who originally asked the NCAA to allow coaches up to two hours of additional practice time per week beginning in mid-September. The rule was intended to help players and coaches work on skill development. Instead, Kentucky, West Virginia and several other schools took advantage of a loophole and scheduled their Midnight Madness party a week earlier than other schools, which waited until Oct. 17. The board made sure there wouldn't be any questions next year.

THE SPORTS NETWORK--UK VS MISS STATE PREVIEW
FACTS & STATS: Site: Davis Wade Stadium (55,082) -- Starkville, Mississippi. Television: Pay-Per-View. Home Record: Kentucky 4-1, MSU 3-1. Away Record: Kentucky 1-2, MSU 0-4. Neutral Record: Kentucky 0-0, MSU 0-0. Conference Record: Kentucky 1-3, MSU 1-3. Series Record: Kentucky leads, 20-15.

GAME NOTES: SEC action will take place this Saturday afternoon, as the Mississippi State Bulldogs host the Kentucky Wildcats at Davis Wade Stadium. After opening the year with four straight victories, the Wildcats have lost three of their last four contests, including an embarrassing, 63-5 loss to Florida this past weekend. The Wildcats have not enjoyed a lot of success on the road over the previous five seasons, posting a mere 5-19 ledger away from home. As for the Bulldogs, they have won two of their last three games, including a 31-22 victory over Middle Tennessee this past weekend. MSU is only 3-5 on the season, but all three of those wins have come at Davis Wade Stadium. However, the Bulldogs have struggled in league play since 2002, accumulating a terrible 8-28 record against SEC foes. In terms of the all-time series between the two schools, the Wildcats have a 20-15 edge over Mississippi State, but the Bulldogs won the last battle, defeating Kentucky 31-14.

The Wildcats have been inconsistent offensively, as the team is producing just 317.8 and that has led to just 22.9 ppg. The team does not have a main option in the backfield, which is why the tea is only averaging 125.5 ypg on 4.0 ypc. Derrick Locke has done the most damage, rushing for 303 yards and one score. The passing attack has not been much better, as Mike Hartline has not performed at a high level. The signal caller has thrown for just 1,298 yards and has eight touchdowns against seven interceptions. The Wildcats could get nothing going in the recent loss to Florida, as the team racked up just 268 total yards. Hartline was extremely ineffective, throwing for just 33 yards and one interception. He was replaced by Randall Cobb, who threw for 78 yards, but also led the team with 52 rushing yards.

Poor offensive play has overshadowed the strong defensive performances put forth by Kentucky. The Wildcats are currently limiting teams to just 302.6 total ypg, which has led to only 18.2 ppg. The defense has done an exceptional job against the pass, holding teams to just 165.2 ypg through the air, while also collecting 11 interceptions. Overall the defense has forced 21 turnovers, and has also pressured the quarterback frequently, racking up 19 sacks. Unfortunately nothing went right for Kentucky this past weekend, as the defense was tortured by Florida for 446 total yards en route to a 63-5 loss. The Wildcats were embarrassed by Florida's ground game, allowing 214 yards and five touchdowns on 5.2 ypc. Kelley Braxton was by far the most noticeable player for this unit, as the linebacker racked up a team-high 11 tackles.

The Bulldogs have had very little success on the offensive side of the football and come into this matchup averaging just 294.9 total ypg, and that has led to a mere 16.2 ppg. The passing attack has been pathetic, as the team is posting just 174.0 ypg through the air, and out of the 16 TDs scored by MSU, only five have come via the pass. Out of the backfield Anthony Dixon has been the main source of production, as the tailback has rushed for 599 yards and six touchdowns. In the team's recent 31-22 victory over Middle Tennessee, the Bulldogs put forth a solid offensive effort, racking up 366 yards, including 169 yards on the ground. Dixon did a tremendous job in the win for Mississippi State, as the junior rushed for 126 yards and three scores on 27 totes. Tyson Lee managed the game well under center, completing 17-of-25 passes for 197 yards.

Where the Bulldogs have performed at a high level is defensively, as the team is limiting opponents to just 298.6 total ypg, and that has led to 22.1 ppg. The one problem area has come against the run, as teams are producing 144.5 ypg on the ground and out of the 18 touchdowns allowed by MSU, 13 have come via the run. The Bulldogs have also struggled to make big plays, collecting just 11 takeaways, while recording 12 sacks. Surprisingly, the defense put forth a tremendous effort against the run in the win over Middle Tennessee this past weekend, as the Bulldogs limited MT to just 80 yards on 2.9 ypc. Marcus Washington and Jasper O'Quinn led the way with nine tackles apiece, while Dominic Douglas added eight stops.

=== COLLEGE BASKETBALL ===

North Carolina senior forward Tyler Hansbrough, the reigning national player
of the year, will be out indefinitely due to a stress reaction condition in
his right shin. Tar Heels head coach Roy Williams announced Thursday night
that an MRI revealed the stress reaction and indicated there is no timetable
for Hansbrough's return. According to the school, Williams will not have a
statement until Friday after he meets with the UNC medical staff and
Hansbrough. Hansbrough averaged 22.6 points and 10.2 rebounds last year,
leading the Tar Heels to a school-record 36 victories. Hansbrough has played
in all 108 games over his first three seasons with the Tar Heels, who start
their season November 15 against Pennsylvania. North Carolina has a remarkable
90-18 record in Hansbrough's games. The Tar Heels were chosen as the No.1
ranked team on Thursday in the preseason coaches' poll.


=== MLB ===

The city of Philadelphia will hold its first championship parade in 25 years
on Friday in honor of the Phillies winning the World Series. The Phils
finished off the Tampa Bay Rays in five games, winning 4-3 Wednesday night in
the conclusion of a rain-suspended contest from Monday. Brad Lidge threw the
final pitch and struck out pinch-hitter Eric Hinske to give the Phillies
their second World Series title and first since 1980. The triumph also ended a
25-year drought for the city of Philadelphia, which had not witnessed a major
pro sports title since the 76ers won the NBA crown in 1983.

===

Baseball's offseason is officially underway, and a few teams have already made
some major moves, most notably the Milwaukee Brewers, who named Ken Macha as
the team's new manager on Thursday. Macha guided the Athletics to a record
of 368-280 with three 90-plus win seasons and a pair of division titles from
2003-06. However, he was fired just two days after the club was swept by the
Detroit Tigers in the 2006 American League Championship Series. The
Brewers were in the market for a new manager after Ned Yost was fired with 12
games left in the season and Dale Sveum led the team to the playoffs as the
National League wild card. Following a 26-year postseason drought, Milwaukee
was eliminated in the Division Series by eventual World Series champion
Philadelphia.

===

Manny Ramirez and Mark Teixeira highlight a list of 65 Major League players
who filed for free agency on Thursday. Garret Anderson, Jason Varitek, Derek
Lowe, Ryan Dempster and Ben Sheets were also among the players who filed just
a day after the Philadelphia Phillies won their first World Series title since
1980. Potential free agents have until November 13 to make themselves eligible
to the masses. The St. Louis Cardinals had the most players file for free
agency on Thursday with six: shortstop Cesar Izturis, catcher Jason LaRue,
second baseman Felipe Lopez, and pitchers Braden Looper, Russ Springer and Ron
Villone. Other notable players filing included the Yankees' Bobby Abreu and
Ivan Rodriguez, the Angels' Jon Garland, the Rangers' Hank Blalock and Milton
Bradley and the Mariners' Raul Ibanez.

===

The Kansas City Royals have acquired first baseman Mike Jacobs from the
Florida Marlins in exchange for pitcher Leo Nunez. Jacobs, who turned 28 years
old on Thursday, belted a career-high 32 homers and drove in 93 runs with a
.247 batting average in 2008. He is a career .262 hitter with 80 homers and
247 RBI in 421 big league games with Florida and the New York Mets. Nunez was
4-1 with a 2.98 earned run average in 45 relief appearances for the Royals in
2008.

===

The Detroit Tigers have declined to exercise the 2009 option on the contract
of shortstop Edgar Renteria, making the veteran a free agent. Renteria batted
.270 with 10 home runs and 55 RBI in 138 games last season, his first for the
Tigers. He was acquired from Atlanta in a three-player deal on October 29,
2007. The 33-year-old Renteria, who just completed his 13 big league season,
has also played for Florida, St. Louis, Boston and Atlanta, and owns a career
.290 batting average with 127 homers, 817 RBI and 280 stolen bases in 1,860
games. He has also participated in 55 postseason contests and had the game-
winning hit in the bottom of the 11th inning in Game 7 of the 1997 World
Series with Florida.

===

Ken Griffey Jr. will not be a member of the Chicago White Sox in 2009. The
club declined the option on his contract for 2009 on Thursday, making the 38-
year-old a free agent. He combined to hit .249 with 18 home runs and 71 runs
batted in last season between Cincinnati and Chicago. The possible future Hall
of Famer was dealt from the Reds to the White Sox at the trade deadline for
pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar, and batted .260 with three
homers and 18 RBI in 41 games with Chicago. Griffey had a no-trade clause in
his contract, but agreed to the deal for a chance to play in the World Series
for the first time in his career. The White Sox gave him a shot at the
playoffs, winning a tiebreaker game with the Minnesota Twins for the AL
Central title, but were ousted in the first round of the playoffs by the Tampa
Bay Rays. The veteran outfielder, who ranks fifth in major league history with
611 home runs, underwent left knee surgery on October 14.


=== NFL ===

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson will most likely be a game-time
decision for Sunday's contest against the Arizona Cardinals. Jackson, who has
a strained right thigh muscle, missed last week's 23-16 loss at New
England. On the season, Jackson has 508 yards on 121 carries with four
touchdowns and has added 25 catches for 259 yards.


=== NBA ===

The Los Angeles Lakers have signed center Andrew Bynum to a multi-year
contract extension. Terms weren't announced by the team, but a Los Angeles
newspaper reported it's a four-year deal worth $57.4 million that will keep
the seven-foot big man with the club through the 2012-13 campaign.
Bynum is playing in his fourth campaign in the NBA. He has averaged 10 points
and six rebounds in LA's first two games this season. He played just 35 games
in 2007-08 because of a left knee injury.


=== COLLEGE FOOTBALL ===

Tony Pike threw two touchdown passes and John Goebel had 121 total yards of
offense and a score as the Cincinnati Bearcats toppled the 24th-ranked South
Florida Bulls, 24-10, at Nippert Stadium, Thursday night. Pike connected on
20-of-28 pass attempts for 281 yards and was intercepted once while Goebel
scored on the ground where he gained 78 yards on 17 carries and also caught
three balls for 43 yards. Mardy Gilyard had four grabs for 98 yards and a
score for the Bearcats (6-2, 2-1 Big East), who were coming off a crushing
defeat, having been walloped by Connecticut, 40-16, on Saturday. The win was
Cincinnati's third straight over South Florida and helped elevate the school
to a perfect 4-0 home mark this season. Matt Grothe struggled under center
completing just 13-of-31 passes for 174 yards with three interceptions for the
Bulls (6-3, 1-3), who were dealt a crushing defeat of a different kind this
past Saturday when Louisville posted a 24-20 victory to dampen the school's
BCS hopes.
 

Thursday's Results
------------------

National Basketball Association
-------------------------------
Ron Artest scored 10 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter as the Rockets
surged down the stretch to beat Dallas, 112-102, spoiling Rick Carlisle's
debut as head coach of the Mavericks. Yao Ming dominated with 30 points and 13
rebounds, going 11-of-15 from the field and making all eight of his foul shots
for Houston, which was coming off an opening victory against Memphis. Tracy
McGrady contributed 16 points and seven assists. Dirk Nowitzki had 36 points
and seven rebounds for the Mavericks, while Josh Howard chipped in 28 points
and 11 boards.

Elsewhere in the NBA:
---------------------
Cleveland Cavaliers 96, Charlotte Bobcats 79
New Orleans Hornets 108, Phoenix Suns 95


National Hockey League
----------------------
Steven Stamkos notched his first and second career NHL goals and the Tampa Bay
Lightning cruised to a 5-2 win over the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena. The
first overall selection in the 2008 entry draft, Stamkos got his first NHL
point with an assist in Tuesday's 3-2 win over Toronto and also assisted on
what amounted to be the game-winner from Ryan Malone in the opening period for
a three-point effort.

Elsewhere in the NHL:
---------------------
New York Rangers 3, Atlanta Thrashers 2
Philadelphia Flyers 3, New York Islanders 2 (OT)
Ottawa Senators 2, Florida Panthers 1
Nashville Predators 3, Edmonton Oilers 1
Montreal Canadiens 2, Minnesota Wild 1
Carolina Hurricanes 1, St. Louis Blues 0
Columbus Blue Jackets 4, Colorado Avalanche 2
Calgary Flames 3, Boston Bruins 2
Phoenix Coyotes 4, Pittsburgh Penguins 1
Vancouver Canucks 4, Los Angeles Kings 0
San Jose Sharks 4, Detroit Red Wings 2