Bailey Gay can skillfully steer a bulldozer, road grader or crane. Earlier this month, he expertly maneuvered a rod and reel. He won his first National Professional Fishing League title – and $100,000 – Dec. 13 on Lake Murray, South Carolina. “It was unbelievable,” Gay said. “I mean, I’ve been chasing this dream since since […]
Author Archives: Ray Schaefer
Posted inBasketball
Finn-tastic: Louden’s 34 leads Conner past Beechwood
Finn Louden wasn’t sure whether Thursday’s 34 points against Beechwood was a career high. What was certain: Conner’s junior guard led his team to a 70-66 win at Bill Warfield Court. “I think I had somewhere in the 30s last year, but it’s a season high at least,” Louden said. “I think I was getting […]
Posted inSports
NKY swimming preview: Ryle, Highlands vie for Combined team title, Hartig defends state title
Jeff Floyd isn’t satisfied. Ryle’s swimming coach reveled in the Raiders winning the state Combined team title last February, where boys and girls scores are added together. He rejoiced in both teams finishing third in the team standings. None of which matters now. “It was something we chased for a long time, and we had […]
Posted inSports
Camels have faith – and Faith – in win over Walton-Verona
Campbell County had faith they would survive Tuesday’s girls basketball game against Walton-Verona. The Camels had Faith, too. Junior guard Faith Whitford’s two free throws with 5.4 seconds left helped bail out the Camels in Tuesday’s 61-59 win over Walton-Verona. Whitford’s free throws put Campbell County ahead, 60-59. “I tell you what, it’s been a season of close games, and […]
Posted inSports
State football finals: Union takes over Lexington for a day
There’s at least one thing Ryle senior Shane Reim will never do. He’ll never cheer for Cooper. Cooper senior Emily Green was more charitable when asked whether she’d pull for the Raiders. “Yeah, kind of,” Green said. “They’re from Union.” Saturday was nevertheless a chance for the 7,671 Union residents to unite because the Boone County city’s two high schools […]
Posted inFootball
‘We can achieve a lot of things’, Ryle making people believe
Ryle head football Mike Engler thinks people are starting to believe. The Raiders take on defending Class 6A champion Louisville Trinity for the title at 4 p.m. Saturday at Kroger Field in Lexington. And no, Engler doesn’t think his team should be called the U-word – underdog. “I think that people have taken notice of […]
Posted inFootball
Class 5A semifinals: Cooper overwhelms Highlands with 54-point second half
Thirty-four points in the third quarter and 54 in the second half. It took Cooper a little more than eight minutes to turn a 17-7 halftime deficit against Highlands into a 61-23 running clock win in Friday’s Class 5A semifinals. “To do that against a really good football team that’s well-coached, that says a lot […]
Posted inBasketball
Girls 33rd District preview: Cooper, Ryle, Conner hit hard by graduation
Conner girls basketball coach Michelle Gambrel said this season would be different. Three-time defending Ninth Region champion Cooper and regional runner-up Ryle have met for the last three district and regional championships, and the Jaguars have won the last eight games since 2022. Graduation losses hit Cooper, Ryle and Conner hard – The Jaguars and […]
Posted inBasketball
Boys 33rd District preview: Cooper seeks third consecutive championship
For most of the last 12 years, the path to the district championship ended at 2855 Longbranch Road in Union – the home of the two-time defending champion Cooper Jaguars. Cooper coach Tim Sullivan takes nothing for granted. “Obviously, to get out of the Ninth Region – and you could take it even further, to get out […]
Posted inFootball
Highlands rides Litmer’s four touchdown passes to win over Pulaski Co.
It was halftime of Friday’s Class 5A quarterfinal game when Highlands football coach Bob Sphire told a video cameraman to “expect a 48-minute game.” The Bluebirds delivered. They spotted Pulaski County a 10-0 lead and then ran away to a 42-18 win in the Class 5A quarterfinals at David Cecil Memorial Stadium. The win sets […]