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 […]
Author Archives: Ray Schaefer
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 […]
Posted inSports
A strong sports septet: NKSHOF inducts 7
They played football, basketball, baseball and softball in high school and college, and they ran track, cross country and swam. They coached teams to state titles and won tournaments and served as teachers and athletic directors, and one became a professional musician. Yes, the seven newest members of the Northern Kentucky Sports Hall of Fame […]
Posted inSports
The Terrific 20: an NCAA Division I presence from NKY
It was about 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on Thursday when Lehigh sophomore basketball player Whitney Lind woke up and prepared for her three morning classes. At about the same hour, DePaul sophomore Jacob Meyer lifted weights before getting taped for an upcoming practice. Some 740 miles and a time zone separate Lehigh’s Bethlehem, Pennsylvania […]
Posted inFootball
Campbell’s pick-six, O’Hara’s three TD passes propel Cooper
Ryker Campbell had never experienced anything like it. Cooper’s junior safety had never returned an interception for a touchdown until Friday’s Class 5A second-round playoff game against Scott County. His 95-yarder was the biggest chunk of yardage in the Jaguars’ 45-20 win. A familiar foe awaits: Southwestern, a 31-14 winner over North Laurel, in the […]
Posted inVolleyball
State volleyball quarterfinals: It’s Notre Dame vs. Assumption in the semifinals
It’s almost as predictable as leaves falling from the red maple trees in Park Hills. Notre Dame vs. Louisville Assumption in the state volleyball tournament. The Pandas and Rockets meet for the 48th time at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the semifinals at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester. In Friday’s quarterfinals, Notre Dame eliminated first-time […]
Posted inVolleyball
State volleyball quarterfinals: Scott earns state semi rematch 10 years in the making
Morgan Justice simply wants Scott referred to as a volleyball school now. With two state semifinal appearances in a 10-year stretch, it’s certainly something to consider. Justice and the Eagles volleyball team eliminated Paintsville in Friday’s state quarterfinals, 3-0 (25-19, 25-23, 25-18), at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester. Next is Louisville Mercy, a […]
