Sports

Bree Glover was unstoppable on Thursday night as the senior led the Lindsey Wilson College women’s basketball team to a 63-54 victory against Pikeville (Ky.) at the Biggers Sports Center.

The forward out of Glasgow, filled the stat sheet. Glover recorded a career-high 21 rebounds, just two shy of tying the program record, 13 points, four blocks, and four steals.

After two weeks off, the Blue Raiders (10-1, 5-1 MSC) showed some rust early on with five turnovers in the first five minutes of the game. Despite that, Lindsey Wilson was able to stay close to Pikeville (9-5, 5-5 MSC), down just 18-15 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, the Blue Raiders returned to their dominant form by going on a 9-0 run and taking a 24-18 lead which turned into a 31-27 advantage by halftime.

Despite taking a seven-point lead into halftime, the Lindsey Wilson College men’s basketball team fell to Thomas More (Ky.) 67-51 on Monday at Biggers Sports Center. The loss is the sixth straight for the Blue Raiders.

Lindsey Wilson (3-8, 1-7 Mid-South Conference) shot 39.6 percent from the floor while the Saints (6-3, 4-3 MSC) came alive in the second half to finish the game with an even 50 percent from the field.

Elijah Jordan managed a team-high 18 points as Colen Gaynor was the only other Blue Raider in double figures with 10. Travez Nyx finished with nine points and a team-high five boards.

After trading baskets in the early stages of the game, Thomas More took a 19-16 lead over LWC but the Blue Raiders surged over the final nine minutes of the half. LWC closed out the half on a 14-4 run to take a 30-23 lead into the halftime locker room.

Jordan caught fire in the first half as the junior guard went 7-of-11 from the field to lead all scorers. Lindsey Wilson shot 46.4 (13-of-28) percent from the floor while limiting Thomas More to a 31.8 (7-of-22) percentage. Lindsey Wilson did the majority of their scoring in the paint, corralling a 16-4 advantage through the first 20 minutes.

The Blue Raiders struggled over the opening six minutes of the second half as they saw their lead vanish. Thomas More opened with a 21-3 scoring spurt that gave them a commanding 44-33 lead.

Lindsey Wilson returns to the court on Thursday when they welcome Pikeville (Ky.) to Biggers Sports Center at 6:30 p.m. CT.

Nick Coe is preparing to begin his first season as head swim coach at Adair County High School. After several years as an assistant with the Indians, Coe is ready to hit the ground running as head coach.
However, due to COVID-19, Coe and his squad are hoping to begin preseason practice this week, some two months after the swim teams usually get their seasons underway. For sure, it has been an unusual year.

“We’ve not had a chance to practice yet, but for me I just want to make sure I make note of the changes going on. One day, there could be this rule, and then the next day it changes,” Coe said last week. “I am just making sure I am following guidelines set forth by the KHSAA (Kentucky High School Athletic Association), Lindsey Wilson College (practice facility home) and our school.
“It can be hectic at times. The kids are very eager to get started. They’re eager to get into the water. They love this sport and it is stressful for them to have the virus keep pushing the season forward.”

The Indians are heading into the year after posting a pretty successful 2019-20 campaign. Luke Rich, an eighth-grader, highlighted last year by making it to the finals of the 100 breaststroke.
“We’re going to have a very young team. I think this will be only our fourth season to even have a program,” Coe said. “The success we’ve had for being such a young team has been phenomenal. Luke reached the finals in the state last year and we did extremely well in the region, considering the number of swimmers we had in the meet.”
Coe said Adair County’s roster last year had several swimmers who had never competed in a meet, but set personal best times every outing. ACHS will have a large boys’ squad this campaign and is expected to have a full girls’ squad, too. Many seventh grade girls plan to come out for the team, Coe said.

“For us heading into this year, the key is mainly experience,” Coe said. “With so many new swimmers, we need the experience to knock off some of the nerves, and that is so important. (That is because) we will have a lot of middle school kids swimming this year.”
Coe said training this year will include helping the Indians and Lady Indians get physically stronger. He also wants to work on individual development because he hopes to spread the swimmers around to the events they like to do, while also making sure Adair County is represented in as many events as possible.

“Luke Rich will be one of the swimmers we will be expecting big things from,” Coe said. “He does the 100 breaststroke and the 200 individual medley. He is a region champion and set a personal best in the 100 breaststroke at the state. Skeet Carter should have a good year too, just missing out for last year’s region meet.

“Swimming last year, Genevieve Myles figured out the events she swam and dropped 15 seconds in time. Senior Ashley Smith should do well for us in the sprints, especially the freestyle and the backstroke.” He also mentioned Brianna Hillock and Mia Wilkerson.
Now, Coe is focused on getting his team ready for the season opener. Though he is still working on completing his schedule, he expects to have it finalized in a couple of weeks.

“We’re working on consistency with them, working on conditioning,” Coe said. “(We’re preparing for a tough schedule because) I do definitely want to swim against established, successful teams. I want our kids to have to compete because this could be our year to move up.”

By Scott Wilson
Assistant Editor
scott@adairvoice.com

The Board of Control conducted a special meeting on Thursday morning, upholding its earlier decision by a 12-5 vote to begin practice for winter sports on Dec. 14th and regular-season competition on Jan. 4th. Prior to confirming the start of the winter sports season, the Board voted 12-5 to push back the dates for the boys’ and girls’ Sweet 16® to March 29-April 8 after narrowly defeating other alternative dates, with the event schedule and format to be finalized at a later date in consultation with Rupp Arena.

“These are extremely complex issues. Our Board has spent an extraordinary amount of time examining every aspect surrounding the resumption of sports, particularly those that are indoors and have extreme concerns from public health officials,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “At the same time, there is significant data being shared about the need for students to be engaged with one another in traditional settings, be they the classroom or the athletic court or field.

“Trying to balance competing public health concerns has been a tremendous challenge all year. Just last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics published an article on the need to get kids back involved, while at the same time, the number of positive cases of coronavirus continues to be very high both in Kentucky and in other states. Finalizing the plan for going forward allows the member schools to use some local decision making in areas that are concerning and adopts a blueprint for the rest of the school year.”

On Nov. 18th, the Board postponed all activity in the winter sports from November 20 through December 13 in congruence with the Governor’s order issued that same day. The cessation applied to all indoor interscholastic sports at all school levels, including but not limited to basketball, bowling, competitive cheer, dance, indoor track and field, swimming, and wrestling. By confirming its decision from Nov. 18th, each of these sports and sport-activities will be permitted to resume activity on Monday.

Regular season competition may begin on Jan. 4th, though the Governor’s current order limits competition in the sport-activity of bowling due to the restrictions placed on bowling centers. The Association staff will communicate more details to the membership on Friday regarding the guidelines for winter sports and scheduling revisions. In the coming days and weeks, more details will be released as plans for postseason events continue to take shape.

“Our staff continues to be extremely agile in planning and adjusting to the problems of conducting competition during the pandemic,” added Tackett. “And our Board of Control continues to prioritize a full season for the spring sports and sport-activities during 2021. These schedule adjustments balance these priorities while also allowing for additional flexibility should the situation worsen again.”

Lindsey Wilson women’s basketball’s schedule this week has been adjusted, LWC athletics director Willis Pooler announced earlier this week.

The Blue Raiders (6-1) were scheduled to host Thomas More (Ky.) and Shawnee State (Ohio) this week, but due to COVID protocols, both games have been postponed. Mid-South Conference officials will announce the rescheduled dates for both games at a later date.

Despite the postponements, Lindsey Wilson will not be idle this week.

The Blue Raiders are scheduled to travel to Cumberland (Tenn.) at 5:30 p.m. CT on Thursday in Lebanon. Cumberland was also impacted by postponements with Shawnee State and Thomas More this week. Lindsey Wilson returns home on Saturday to host Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) at 1:30 p.m. CT on Saturday at Biggers Sports Center. The meeting is the second this season between the two programs.

The Lindsey Wilson men’s basketball games with Shawnee State and Thomas More are still scheduled to take place. The game time of the Blue Raiders and Thomas More matchup has been moved to 5 p.m. CT.

All home games will be streamed live on the Lindsey Wilson Sports Network. Visiting fans are not permitted and only immediate family members on the pass list are allowed in Biggers Sports Center. Click here for the LWC Athletics home attendance protocols.

Lindsey Wilson basketball schedule this week:

Thursday:

LWC men’s basketball vs. Thomas More – 5 p.m. CT

LWC women’s basketball at Cumberland – 5:30 p.m. CT

Saturday:

LWC women’s basketball vs. Freed-Hardeman – 1:30 p.m. CT

LWC men’s basketball vs. Shawnee State – 4 p.m. CT

The Board of Control conducted its third regularly-scheduled meeting of the 2020-21 academic year on Wednesday and elected to postpone the start of the winter sports season to January 4th by unanimous vote. In congruence with the Governor’s order issued later the same day, official practice for all indoor interscholastic winter sports shall cease on Friday, November 20 at 5 p.m. and is planned to resume on Monday, December 14. This cessation will apply to all indoor interscholastic sports at all school levels, including but not limited to basketball, bowling, competitive cheer, dance, indoor track and field, swimming, and wrestling.

Details regarding any allowances for indoor interscholastic sports, which will be restricted prior to December 14, will be distributed to the membership prior to the Governor’s ordered shutdown of school-related in-person activity on Friday, November 20. The season calendar for each winter sport, as well as current virus data and any potential adjustments to the start and end dates for spring sports, will be reviewed in a follow-up meeting of the Board of Control currently scheduled for December 10th. The Board’s approved motion for basketball also included authorizing the Association to attempt to negotiate the dates for the Girls’ and Boys’ Sweet 16® during NFHS calendar weeks 37 and 38, and is pending final confirmation of specific available dates with the Lexington Center and Rupp Arena.

“Our Board has remained steadfast in their support for the spring sports and sport-activities in 2021 and continues to attempt during these challenging times to ensure these athletes, coaches, and schools have a full and complete season with an appropriate culminating event,” said KHSAA Commission

er Julian Tackett. “We should never forget the sacrifices made by all involved during the spring of 2020 and that has remained at the forefront of Board discussions. The currently approved action would shorten the winter seasons but the Board and staff continue to recognize that during these pandemic times, there will be nearly constant changes in the operations around education and school-based sport.”

The ongoing football playoffs were also addressed on Wednesday, with the Board authorizing the Commissioner to adjust the schedule for the state finals as necessary depending on the ever-developing situation with COVID-19 and facility availability. It was noted following the meeting that the Governor’s executive order and references to the KHSAA in that order apply to indoor sports, and there has been no adjustment to the completion of any KHSAA fall sport championship.

The Lindsey Wilson College men’s golf team put together its best rounds of the season to finish in first place at the Mid-South Conference Fall Tournament Tuesday in Bowling Green. The Blue Raiders carded a 595 (295-300) to capture the team title and pick up their first victory of the season.

Lindsey Wilson entered the final round of the tournament trailing Cumberland (Tenn.) by two strokes. By the day’s end, LWC made up three strokes on the Phoenix to take the team championship by just one stroke. Cumberland finished in second place with a 596, as Cumberlands (Ky.) took third with a 599.

The event took place at Bowling Green Country Club, a par-72, 6,800-yard design.

Callum Blinkhorn finished the tournament in a tie for sixth place overall, carding a 146 (72-74). Emil Gruhn just cracked the top-10 in a tie for 10th place with a 148 (73-75). Callum Burns followed up his round one score of 77 with a second day total of 73. He managed 14 pars and two birdies to finish in a tie for 13th place after starting the day in 24th.

Sebastian Sandin managed a tie for 19th with a 153 (75-78) as Janik Hawlitzky finished in a tie for 32nd with a 156 (75-81). Jeremiah Hayes competed as an individual at the tournament to turn in a 146 (72-74). He finished in a tie for sixth place with teammate Blinkhorn.

BJ Knox of Shawnee State (Ohio) and Kyle Alexander of Thomas More (Ky.) finished in a tie for first place at three-under-par 141.

With the completion of the MSC Fall Tournament, the Blue Raiders wrap up the fall portion of their schedule.

LINK: http://www.lindseyathletics.com/article/12640.php

SCHEDULE: http://www.lindseyathletics.com/schedule/36/32.php

Lindsey Wilson Football releases 2020 schedule

COLUMBIA, Ky. — Lindsey Wilson football head coach Chris Oliver announced the 2020 Blue Raider schedule on Wednesday.

The Blue Raiders are slated to play a 10-game schedule in 2020 with five home and five away games.

Lindsey Wilson opens the season on Saturday, Sept. 5, at Blue Raider Stadium against Mid-South Conference newcomer Florida Memorial in a non-divisional game. The season-opener marks the only game on the Lindsey Wilson schedule featuring a team the Blue Raiders are playing for the first time.

The Blue Raiders are slated to play a pair of night games this season — both on the road. Lindsey Wilson faces Campbellsville at 6 p.m. CT on Oct. 10 in Campbellsville in the annual Battle of Highway 55 and Cumberland (Tenn.) at 5 p.m. CT on Oct. 31 in Lebanon.

Lindsey Wilson also travels to Bluefield (Va.) on Sept. 12, Kentucky Christian on Sept. 26 and Georgetown (Ky.) on Oct. 17.

The Blue Raiders host Thomas More (Ky.) at 2:30 p.m. CT on Oct. 3. The game is part of Homecoming weekend as well as Lindsey Wilson’s MSC Bluegrass Division opener.

The Blue Raiders host Cumberlands (Ky.) on Oct. 24 and close out the regular season with back-to-back home games against Bethel (Tenn.) on Nov. 7 and Pikeville (Ky.) on Nov. 14.

Lindsey Wilson is coming off its best season in the program’s history in 2019. The Blue Raiders won a program-record 12 games en route to reaching the NAIA Football Championship Series Semifinals.

LINK: http://www.lindseyathletics.com/article/12639.php

Burke, Dukes named Lindsey Wilson Scholar-Athletes of the Year

COLUMBIA, Ky. – Elly Burke and Cameron Dukes have been named 2019-20 Lindsey Wilson College Scholar-Athletes of the Year.

The pair was alerted to the honor this afternoon by phone in place of the college’s annual Honors Convocation ceremony that was canceled due to COVID-19.

Burke and Dukes earned the award based on their academic, athletic, and civic achievements throughout their Lindsey Wilson careers.

“Elly and Cameron are bright, articulate, and selfless student-athletes that have always represented Lindsey Wilson College well,” LWC athletics director Willis Pooler said. “They are leaders by their actions in everything they do. They exude class and embody what we want our student-athletes to be.

“Lindsey Wilson is incredibly fortunate to have some of the very best young men and women representing us each day in the athletic arena, in the classroom, and within our community,” Pooler added. “Elly and Cameron are two of our very best. Congratulations to each of them on this prestigious and well-deserved honor.”

Burke is a four-year member of the Lindsey Wilson volleyball program. She is a business administration major with a 3.93 grade point average.

The Louisville, Ky., native, earned NAIA All-America honors in 2018 and honorable mention All-America honors in 2016, 2017, and 2019. Burke is a four-time All Mid-South Conference performer as well as a four-time American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Region player. She earned MSC Freshman of the Year and AVCA Region Freshman of the Year in 2016.

In the classroom, Burke earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete twice and Academic All Mid-South Conference three times.

Burke helped the Blue Raiders to the MSC regular-season and tournament titles in all four of her seasons at Lindsey Wilson. She helped Lindsey Wilson reach four straight NAIA National Tournaments, including winning the 2017 national championship — where she earned all-tournament team honors.

Burke concluded her career with 1,158 kills, 227 blocks, and 1,243 digs — all ranking in the program’s top-10. She is one of two Blue Raiders with at least 1,000 kills and 1,000 digs in her career.

Burke helped the Blue Raiders to a 135-12 record over her four seasons, including a 66-3 record against Mid-South Conference competition and a 60-1 record at home.

Dukes is a four-year member of the Lindsey Wilson football program. He is a physical education and health major with a 3.88 grade point average.

The Shepherdsville, Ky., native, is the reigning Mid-South Conference Bluegrass Division Offensive Player of the Year. Dukes earned NAIA Honorable Mention All-America last season. He is a two-time All Mid-South Conference performer and a five-time MSC Bluegrass Division Player of the Week.

In the classroom, Dukes earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete twice and Academic All Mid-South Conference three times.

Dukes helped the Blue Raiders to a pair of MSC Bluegrass Division titles and to two NAIA Football Championship Series appearances. Last season, he helped the Blue Raiders to a program-best national semifinal finish.

Dukes ranks third in the program’s history in career passing yards (5,445) and passing touchdowns (54). His 583 rushing yards are the most by a quarterback in the program’s history.

Dukes has helped the Blue Raiders to a 30-5 record over his three-season, including a 17-2 record against MSC divisional competition.

Burke is the fifth volleyball student-athlete while Dukes is the fourth football student-athlete to earn Lindsey Wilson College Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

LINK: http://www.lindseyathletics.com/article/12589.php

Lindsey Wilson’s Brooks earns NAIA All-America Team honors

COLUMBIA, Ky. — Reece Brooks has been named to the NAIA Division I Men’s Basketball All-America Third Team, NAIA officials announced today.

Brooks led the Mid-South Conference and ranked 10th in the NAIA in scoring, averaging 20 points per outing. His 620 points this season is the third-most in a single season in Lindsey Wilson men’s basketball history.

The Brampton, Ontario, senior, also led the Mid-South in free throw shooting, making 89.2 percent (99-of-111) of his freebies. He was second in the conference in 3-pointers made per game (2.8) and assists per game (5.0) this season.

Brooks becomes the ninth Blue Raider, including the 12th time, to earn a spot on an NAIA All-America team.

Lindsey Wilson finished with a 17-14 record in 2019-20.

LINK: http://www.lindseyathletics.com/article/12588.php

Turner named to the NAIA All-America Team, Hall and Outlaw earn honorable mention accolades

COLUMBIA, Ky. — Reagan Turner, J’Nayah Hall, and DeAsia Outlaw have earned NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball honors, NAIA officials announced today.

Turner was selected to the NAIA Second Team All-America team while Hall and Outlaw picked up honorable mention accolades.

Turner becomes just the fifth Blue Raider in the program’s history to repeat as an all-American.

The Gamaliel, Ky., junior led the Mid-South Conference in scoring this season, averaging 18.9 points per game. She led NAIA Division I women’s basketball in 3-point shooting, making 45.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

Turner shot 45.5 percent from the field this season while averaging 4.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per outing.

Last week, Turner was named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association NAIA All-America team. She also was named Mid-South Conference First Team earlier this season.

Hall averaged 12.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game — both in the top-15 in the Mid-South Conference. The Owensboro, Ky., native, joined the 1000-point club earlier this season.

Outlaw averaged 14.4 points — seventh in the MSC — and ranked fourth in the conference grabbing 7.7 rebounds per outing. The Henderson, Ky., native, led the MSC and ranked seventh in the NAIA with 64 block shots during the season.

Hall and Outlaw each joined Turner on the conference’s first team.

Lindsey Wilson finished with a 26-6 record and earned a berth into the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Tournament field. The season was cut short after the tournament was canceled due to COVID-19.

LINK: http://www.lindseyathletics.com/article/12580.php

Lindsey Wilson’s Turner named to the WBCA NAIA All-America Team

COLUMBIA, Ky. — Reagan Turner has been named to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association NAIA All-America team, WBCA officials announced on Monday.

The Gamaliel, Ky., junior, earns her second straight WBCA honor.

Turner averaged a Mid-South Conference-best 18.9 points per game this season. She ended the 2019-20 season leading the NAIA in 3-point shooting, making 45.2 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.

Turner shot 45.5 percent from the field this season while averaging 4.9 rebounds and 3.2 assists per outing.

In addition to earning the WBCA honor, Turner was named first-team all-conference earlier this season.

Turner is one of three women from the Mid-South Conference selected to the WBCA All-America team. Shawnee State’s (Ohio) Bailey Cummins and Campbellsville’s (Ky.) Madison Faulkner also earned the distinction.

Lindsey Wilson finished with a 26-6 record and earned a berth into the NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball National Tournament field. The season was cut short after the tournament being canceled due to COVID-19.