A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Kentucky Wildcats have a knack for sharing, caring, on and off the basketball court

By Keith Taylor Kentucky Today Sharing is caring and Kentucky has developed the trait as one of its trademarks five games into John Calipari’s 15th season at the helm. The 16th-ranked Wildcats (4-1) are averaging 18 assists per game and have made 12 or more 3-pointers in a three-game stretch for the first time since Rick Pitino’s squad accomplished the same feat in the 1994 Southeastern Conference...

Tony Calo named new track announcer for Turfway Park, will begin with opening of Holiday Meet Nov. 29

Veteran race caller Tony Calo will begin his position as the new track announcer for Turfway Park Racing and Gaming when the 2023-24 season opens Wednesday, Nov. 29. Tony Calo (Photo from Turfway Park) “I’m very honored and thankful to everyone at Turfway Park and Churchill Downs Incorporated for offering me this position,” Calo said. “Turfway has a storied history in Northern Kentucky and...

Four teams–3 here, one way away–playing Friday for next week’s championship slots in KHSAA football

By Dan Weber NKyTribune sports reporter Home and away, near and far. The four Northern Kentucky high school football teams fighting for the right to head down to Lexington and UK’s Kroger Field for the state championship games, have some history to work through Friday night. BEECHWOOD, MAYFIELD: OLD FRIENDS, LONG-TIME FOES First for the Class 2A semifinalists, Beechwood and Mayfield. The schools...

Thanksgiving holiday gives husband, wife head coaches a chance to focus on their family

By Terry Boehmker NKyTribune sports reporter In a few days, Tim Sullivan will begin his 16th season as boys head basketball coach at Cooper High School. One of the freshmen on the roster is his son, Elijah, who was born in 2008, the year that Sullivan launched the Jaguars program.  Cooper’s first two varsity teams compiled a 7-50 record. Sullivan said his infant son was one calming factor during...

CovCath’s state semifinal opponent bringing back memories of team’s first state championship season

By Terry Boehmker NKyTribune sports reporter Covington Catholic’s football playoff game at home on Friday has been creating some nostalgia for former players and long-time fans. The opponent will be Paducah Tilghman, a team the Colonels beat in the 1987 and 1988 Class 3A state finals to claim the program’s first two championship trophies. Both teams ended up in Class 4A this season and...

The Thomas More Report: Men’s hoops win Connor Classic, women return for home opener

By Dan Weber NKyTribune sports reporter With a pair of weekend wins in the Connor Classic, the Thomas More men’s basketball team improved to 3-1 on the season after pummeling both Kent State Tuscawaras, 92-46, in the championship game Saturday after topping UC-Clermont, 84-66, in Friday’s opening game. Nathan Dudukovich (Photo provided) But the going gets a whole lot tougher the next game as Justin...

No repeat of last year as Norse road warriors run into a basketball buzzsaw in Cincinnati

By Dan Weber NKyTribune sports reporter “Only March matters” has been the mantra for NKU Coach Darrin Horn. And it’s worked out pretty well for the defending Horizon League champs who are shooting for their fifth NCAA trip in eight years this season. That’s why the Norse play so many tough early season road games. That’s NKU’s toughen-up time. But Sunday was a different story. In the third...

Matt’s Take: It’s time to move on from Bengals line coach Frank Pollack; expecting baby boy McAdow

By Matthew McAdow NKyTribune sports columnist Anyone who reads my columns each week should know by now that they are often quite positive. Of course, I use my “negatives” to put out some frustration, but I rarely ever say it is time for us to move on from someone. Unfortunately, this is one of those rare columns, as I truly believe now is the time to get rid of Frank Pollack. Pollack is the offensive...

Offensive woes continue for Wildcats in 17-14 loss to South Carolina in Southeastern Conference finale

By Keith Taylor Kentucky Today It wasn’t a good start or finish for Kentucky in its Southeastern Conference finale at South Carolina on Saturday night. The Wildcats (6-5, 3-5) committed three turnovers, including a crucial interception with 1:59 remaining in a 17-14 loss to the Gamecocks in Columbia. It was the team’s fifth setback in the past six games and second consecutive loss to South Carolina. “This...

CovCath remains undefeated with 31-0 win over Johnson Central in Class 4A football region final

  CovCath wide receiver Braylon Miller tries to cross the goal line with Johnson Central defensive back Logan Music holding him back by his undershirt. (Photo by Dale Dawn) By Terry Boehmker NKyTribune sports reporter For the first time in three years, Covington Catholic football players will enjoy the privilege of conducting a practice session on Thanksgiving Day to prepare for a semifinal game...

Beechwood romps over Martin County before heading off to a rematch with Mayfield

By Dan Weber NKyTribune sports reporter “Now it gets real,” first-year Beechwood Coach Jay Volker told his team – and anyone who asked – about what lies ahead for his Tigers as they head off on the road to the fourth round semifinals in the KHSAA’s football playoffs next week. Beechwood’s Clay Hayden on an almost perfect passing night. (Photo by Bob Jackson/NKyTribune) It’s hard to...

Wildcats aim to close out Southeastern Conference schedule on high note Saturday against Gamecocks

By Keith Taylor Kentucky Today Kentucky will close out the Southeastern Conference schedule Saturday hoping to improve its bowl resume in the league final at South Carolina. While the Wildcats (6-4, 3-4) are already eligible for the postseason, the Gamecocks (4-6, 2-5) are looking to end the season on a high note and a bowl berth. South Carolina carries a two-game winning streak into the contest and...

NewCath looking to prove ratings index wrong in Class 1A football playoff game against Campbellsville

By Terry Boehmker NKyTribune sports reporter Newport Central Catholic has reached the region finals in the Class 1A football playoffs for the fifth consecutive year, but it will take a major upset for the Thoroughbreds to remain among the contenders for the state title. NewCath (8-4) will visit Campbellsville (10-1) on Friday with the winner advancing to the final four in the playoff bracket. In the...

Northern Kentucky’s 4 road warriors have a tougher way to go than 3 home teams in the KHSAA playoffs

By Dan Weber NKyTribune sports reporter When it comes to high school football playoffs in Kentucky, it’s good to be home. Stephen Foster’s state anthem always proclaimed the joys of “My Old Kentucky Home,” and he was right. Playing at home this week is better for any number of reasons, including the obvious of having your fans there and being able to follow your familiar game-day routine. But...

Dan Weber’s Just Sayin’: Time to get colleges here playing in hoops, listening in on some history

No question our local college basketball teams have been taking it on the chin a bit – as they take their early 2023-24 schedules on the road. And the question that just jumps out is why there are virtually no local games here. Woody Cottengim (Photo by Dan Weber/NKyTribune) OK, UC’s Bearcats will host NKU Sunday but that’s something of an outlier, the result of NKU allowing the Bearcats...