Fern Creek’s Jared Armstrong rolled a perfect 300 game to win the boys’ Region Three individual title.

Louisville’s top bowling teams are set to tangle with the best from across the Commonwealth at the second annual KHSAA-sanctioned state tournament this Thursday and Friday at Executive Strike and Spare.

The top two teams and top four individuals from eight regional tournaments advanced to the event.

In Region Four qualifying last month, Manual’s Raylin Benningfield downed Male’s Marissa Thomas 203-191 to win the girls’ individual crown. Also advancing were Manual’s Amber Kleitz and Seneca’s Amber Wright.

Male bested Sacred Heart three games to one to take the team title.

Trinity’s Conor Minogue knocked off Manual’s Kiefer Hillerich 224-214 to take the boys’ individual crown. Minogue and Hillerich both advanced, along with Manual’s Kyle Abell and Male’s Michael McCubbins.

Manual whipped Trinity 3-1 for the boys’ team championship.

PRP’s Keelyn Cox nipped Mercy’s Megan Minch 196-194 to earn top individual honors among Region Three girls. PRP’s Shelby Bigos and North Bullitt’s Courtney Donaldson also punched their ticket.

PRP topped North Bullitt for the girls’ team title.

Jared Armstrong of Fern Creek delivered a perfect 300 game in the boys’ final to take down PRP’s Anthony Alvey. Bullitt Central’s Jareth Howerton and Fairdale’s Jerry Whobrey also advanced.

PRP held off Bullitt Central for the boys’ team win.

Boys’ and girls’ singles tournaments will take place simultaneously beginning at 10 a.m. on Thursday.

The team tournament will be held Friday. The girls’ competition begins at 7:30 a.m. and the boys’ tournament is scheduled to start at approximately 1:15 p.m.

The Scott County boys and PRP girls are defending state champs.

Admission is $10 or $15 for a two-day pass.

Basketball
Two teams entered this week with flawless records and a chance at regular season perfection.

On the girls’ side, Marion County, No. 1 in the Lexington Herald-Leader’s Cantrall Ratings, has rolled to a 27-0 record, defeating opponents by an average margin of 34.6 points.

Standing between the Knights and a blemish-free regular season are No. 15 North Hardin (Feb. 8), No. 3 Henderson County (Feb. 9) and No. 6 Mercy (Feb. 12).

The state runner up in 2012, Marion County is led by 5-foot-10 senior guard Makayla Epps (21.6 ppg., 4.1 rpg.), who recently surpassed 3,000 career points, and 6-foot-1 forward Kyvin Goodin-Rogers (12.3 ppg. 7.5 rpg). Epps is the daughter of former UK player Anthony Epps, while Goodin-Rogers is the daughter of former Louisville player Tick Rogers. Both have signed to play at UK.

In boys’ play, No. 13 Holmes had a 24-0 record before taking on Boone County earlier this week. The Bulldogs face No. 10 Newport Central Catholic on Feb. 8, Conner on Feb. 12 and George Rogers Clark on Feb. 14.

Fairdale’s Boo Crabtree, a three-sport standout, has signed to play football at Lindsey Wilson.

Hoops Slate
Here are this weekend’s top matchups on the hardwood (Ratings from the Lexington Herald-Leader’s Cantrall Ratings):

Girls

Friday, Feb. 8
No. 24 Eastern at No. T9 Ballard, 6 p.m.
Central at No. 4 Manual, 6 p.m.
No. 6 Mercy at Fern Creek, 6 p.m.
No. T9 Assumption at Male, 6 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 10
No. 6 Mercy at No. T20 Sacred Heart, 6:30 p.m.

Boys

Friday, Feb. 8
Eastern at No. 2 Ballard, 7:30 p.m.
No. 1 Trinity at No. T19 Lafayette, 8 p.m.
No. 3 Bullitt East at North Bullitt, 6 p.m.
No. T7 PRP at No. T10 Fairdale, 7:30 p.m.
Christian Academy at No. T10 Male, 7:30 p.m.
No. 23 St. Xavier at Fern Creek, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 9
No. 1 Trinity at No. 22 Central, 7:30 p.m.
No. T10 Fairdale at Doss, 7:30 p.m.
No. T10 Male at No. 23 St. Xavier, 7 p.m.

Notes

• Boo Crabtree, a three-sport standout at Fairdale, has signed to play football at Lindsey Wilson. The 6-foot-5, 205 pound senior was a four-year starter at quarterback for the Bulldogs, finishing with 5,866 yards passing, 428 yards on the ground and 70 touchdowns.

A shortstop and pitcher on the baseball diamond, Crabtree maintained a .901 fielding percentage and is also averaging 12.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game for the No. 10 Fairdale basketball team, which entered this week with a 14-6 record.

Farewell
After two years covering prep sports for The Voice-Tribune, this will be my final installment of the High School Sports Report. It has been an absolute thrill contributing each week and I am grateful for the tutelage of Sports Editor Earl Cox and the support of the kind and talented staff at The Voice.

While I am stepping down to devote more time to other pursuits, I look forward to following the progress of the many athletes, coaches and administrators who have made my time here so rewarding.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this column as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

Contact columnist Chris Cahill at ccahill@voice-tribune.com.

Lakeside and Manual swimmer Peyton Greenberg has been selected to compete at the 19th Maccabiah Games, set for July 18 through 30 in Israel.

At her first swim practice, a 7-year-old Peyton Greenberg clung reluctantly to dry land.

“I didn’t even get in the baby pool,” said the Manual sophomore. “I’d hide behind the lawn chairs and cry.”

It’s safe to say she has overcome that fear.

Greenberg, 15, now spends up to five hours a day in the water and is considered one of the nation’s elite junior swimmers.

Already this season she has posted two top-10 national times in the 200 breaststroke for her age and was recently invited to compete at the 19th Maccabiah Games set for July 18-30 in Israel.

The Maccabiah Games are an Olympics-style international competition held every four years for athletes of Jewish descent.

More than 8,000 athletes from at least 50 countries are expected to compete this summer, making the games the third largest sporting event in the world. The U.S. will send a delegation of more than 900, including Greenberg, who was one of 12 junior girls (ages 15-18) selected to the swim team.

“I’m very honored to go,” said Greenberg. “A lot of people have said they are proud of me and that’s a cool thing to know that they support me and they’re going to be rooting for me.”

After joining the nationally regarded Lakeside SeaHawks Swim Team four years ago, Greenberg raced up the state rankings as a breaststroker, then made a statement on the national scene in December when she qualified first in the 200-yard breaststroke prelims at Winter Junior Nationals in Knoxville, Tenn.

Greenberg eventually finished sixth at the event, but the experience solidified her status as a rising star.

“She’s in that upper echelon of kids (nationally),” said Lakeside coach Mike DeBoor. “She’s had a lot of progress and things continue to go in the right direction.”

Her 200-meter breast time of 2:35.07 at the Austin Grand Prix in Texas on Jan. 18 was fast enough to land a spot in June’s World Championship Trials in Indianapolis, this year’s de facto national championship.

“At my last meet (in Austin) I was like, ‘This is where I want to be,’” said Greenberg. “Now I feel like I have a different attitude. In the back of my mind, I know where I want to be.”

In addition to the 200 breast, Greenberg also competes in the 100 breast, 200 IM and 400 IM.

At last year’s KHSAA state meet, Greenberg took fourth in the 100-yard breast and swam a leg on Manual’s third-place 200-yard medley relay squad to help the Crimsons to their sixth title in eight years.

Like many top-notch swimmers, Greenberg keeps a grueling schedule.

Three days a week she is up at 4:20 a.m. and in the pool at the Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center by 5 a.m. After a 90-minute session, it’s off to school, where she maintains a 4.0 grade-point average. Following dismissal it’s back to the pool for another two-and-a-half-hour session and then an hour of dry-land training. Her three “light” days each week consist of a two-hour afternoon session.

“After a while I’m just kind of numb to it,” said Greenberg. “I just wake up and get in the car.”

Greenberg hopes a strong showing at the Maccabiah Games will lift her profile and possibly serve as a stepping stone to her ultimate goal of competing at the Olympics.

“I know it’s going to be a lot of hard work, but I’m really excited and I believe I can do it,” she said.  “And that’s the most important part.”

Sweet 16 Draws

Draws for the KHSAA Boys’ and Girls’ Sweet 16 basketball tournaments were held in Lexington on Jan. 25.

Contact columnist Chris Cahill at ccahill@voice-tribune.com.

University of Louisville basketball signees Terry Rozier (left) and Anton Gill of Hargrave Military Academy will be in town Saturday as part of the inaugural Louisville Hoopfest.

In November, University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino inked a four-player recruiting class that is widely considered among the top 10 in the country for 2013.

Fans will have an opportunity to see two of those future Cards in action this Saturday when Hargrave Military Academy of Chatham, Va. – featuring signees Anton Gill and Terry Rozier – travels to Iroquois High School for the inaugural Louisville Hoopfest.

Gill, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard, has averaged 25.3 points per game this season and is ranked as the No. 6 two-guard in the Class of 2013 by Scout.com.

Rozier, a native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, was originally a member of the 2012 class, but after failing to qualify academically, the 6-foot-1 point guard took a post-graduate year at Hargrave.

Rozier is averaging 28.1 points per game this season and is ranked as the 18th best point guard in his class by Scout.

Rounding out Louisville’s signees are Akoy Agua (6-9 F Omaha Central High) and Chris Jones (5-10 PG Northwest Florida State College). David Levitch of North Oldham will also join the squad as a preferred walk-on.

Hargrave will take on Action Sports Academy of Stone Mountain, Ga., in the event’s marquee tilt at 8:30 p.m.

Action Sports boasts Tennessee Tech commit Shaquille Calhoun (6-4, G) along with a host of other DI prospects, including point guard Micah Thomas, who was the top scorer in Virginia last season, averaging 27 points per game.

Here are Saturday’s other matchups (ratings are from The Lexington Herald-Leader’s Cantrall Ratings):

Sellersburg (Ind.) Rock Creek vs. Iroquois, 3:15

Apollo vs. Manual, 5

No. 16 Lexington Catholic vs. No. 24 Butler, 6:45

Admission is $10 at the door. No presale tickets will be sold.

McDonald’s All American Nominees Announced

China Dow of Christian Academy, who recently became the first player in school history to score 2,000 career points, has been nominated for the 2013 McDonald’s All American Game.

Trinity’s Darryl Hicks, Ballard’s Lavonne Holland and Bullitt East’s Rusty Troutman and Derek Willis were among 10 Kentucky seniors nominated for the 2013 McDonald’s All American Games set for April 3 at Chicago’s United Center.

Other nominees were Pulaski County’s Taylor Gover, Madison Central’s Dominique Hawkins, Montgomery County’s Omar Prewitt, Lexington Catholic’s Jack Whitman and Dunbar’s William Gary and Mike Smith.

China Dow of Christian Academy was the only Louisville-area player nominated on the girls’ side. The 5-foot-9 guard became CAL’s first 2,000-point scorer in a 59-50 win over Sacred Heart on Jan. 17.

Owensboro Catholic’s Rebecca Greenwell, Sheldon Clark’s Katelyn Newsome and Marion County’s Makayla Epps and Kyvin Goodin-Rodgers rounded out the girls’ nominees.

The final roster of 24 boys and 24 girls will be announced during a selection show televised by ESPNU on Feb. 14 at 5 p.m.

Fairdale’s Wright Promoted

After serving as an assistant the past two seasons, Matt Wright has been named head football coach at Fairdale.

Wright, 31, replaces Chris Engstrand, who compiled a 5-16 record in two seasons. Engstrand took the head coaching position at Green County in December.

A ‘00 Fairdale graduate, Wright played baseball and football for the Bulldogs and went on to play defensive back at Campbellsville.

Wright was head coach at Beth Haven in 2008 and served one-year assistant stints at Henry County (’09) and North Hardin (’10) before returning to Fairdale in 2011.

Davis and Thomson Honored

Assumption’s Bailey Davis and Holy Cross’s Jacob Thomson have been named Gatorade Kentucky Cross Country Runners of the Year for 2012-13.

The award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence as well as academic achievement and exemplary character.

Davis won the individual Class-3A state championship and led the Rockets to a team title. The junior then placed sixth at the Nike Cross Nationals Southeast Regional before finishing 36th at Nationals.

A member of the National Honor Society, Davis has maintained a 4.0 grade-point average and volunteered with Special Olympics and as a peer leader at Assumption.

“She was the top runner in our classification throughout the year and she posted some superb times at top meets throughout the country,” said Eastern coach Mike Horan in a release. “No other runner comes close in my book.”

Thomson, a senior N.C. State commit, received the award for a second straight year after winning his second consecutive Class-A state title and taking fifth at Foot Locker Nationals.

A 3.7 student, Thomson volunteered for St. Vincent dePaul charities and served as an elected member of Holy Cross’s student government.

“In the 29 years that I have been coaching, I can say that Jacob Thomson is the most intense and competitive runner ever to wear a Holy Cross uniform,” said Cougars coach Richard Reynolds.

Contact columnist Chris Cahill at ccahill@voice-tribune.com.

Andrew Steggeman is averaging 16.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and four steals a game for Collegiate, which is making its second straight appearance in the All “A” state tournament.

The Collegiate boys’ basketball team is set to make its second straight appearance in the Touchstone Energy All “A” Classic state tournament after downing archrival Kentucky Country Day 81-73 in the Seventh Region championship on Jan. 12.

Senior Andrew Steggeman has been a driving force for the Titans (11-6), averaging 16.2 points per game on 47 percent shooting along with 5.6 assists and four steals. Against KCD, the 5-foot-11 point guard exploded for a season-high 29 points, including 9 of 12 fourth quarter free throws that preserved the win.

“He’s probably the strongest guard in the city, physically, and he uses that to his advantage,” said second-year Collegiate coach Joel Morris.

Earlier this season, Steggeman notched a school-record 12 assists against Spencer County in a Pikeville Invitational semifinal, then lit up Betsy Layne for 26 points, five assists and five steals in the championship game to earn tournament MVP honors.

“He sees the floor really well and rewards guys for running the floor,” said Morris. “He’s a floor general first and foremost. The scoring and other stuff is a bonus.”

Steggeman, who carries a 3.9 unweighted grade-point average, was also a standout forward on the soccer pitch, where he tallied 11 goals and two assists as a junior before injuries sidelined him most of his senior season.

The Salem, Ind., native recently discussed his career and the prospect of an All “A” title.

CHRIS CAHILL: Last year Collegiate advanced to the All “A” semifinals before falling to Covington Holy Cross. How do you like your chances this time around?

ANDREW STEGGEMAN: Last year I felt like a lot of people thought we were a no-name team, but this year we’ve actually got a lot of experience and confidence. We feel like we definitely belong in the tournament.

CAHILL: How did you get into basketball and who was your inspiration?

STEGGEMAN: By age 3, I was watching my older brother (Matthew) play basketball and I always wanted to be just like him so I knew I was going to play when I was really young. Salem High School put on a little lions (program) for younger kids to play basketball and have a couple games and practices. My dad (Jim) always signed me up for that and I fell in love with it.

CAHILL: What do you see as your role on the court?

STEGGEMAN: My job is just to win basketball games for us. If that means scoring because some of our other scorers are injured or on the bench, then I’ll go score. If that means drawing attention and passing the ball to get open looks, then I’ll pass the ball. If I need to rebound because some of our big men are out, then I’ll rebound. I’ll just do whatever it takes to win.

CAHILL: After attending Collegiate your freshman year, you transferred to Salem High for a year, then returned to Collegiate as a junior. How does the high school basketball atmosphere in Southern Indiana compare to that in Louisville?

STEGGEMAN: (Laughs) There’s absolutely no comparison. I apologize to all Kentucky high school basketball fans, but Southern Indiana basketball is one of the greatest things ever. Southern Indiana towns are more community-based and there are not as many social things to do on the weekends so one of the big things to do is go to basketball games.

Salem has 650 students and yet their gym holds like 3,500. You’ll have a consistent 2,000 fans, no matter how good your team is.

Steggeman is “probably the strongest guard in the city, physically,” Collegiate coach Joel Morris said.

CAHILL: Who is the best player you’ve faced this season?

STEGGEMAN: We just played Pulaski County and (Taylor) Gover. We tried to shut him down, we tried to man the ball, but he just took the game over. I have a lot of respect for him.

CAHILL: What are your favorite classes this semester?

STEGGEMAN: I take two AP English classes and those are probably my favorites because you get to write and express your opinion. I think analyzing literature is one of the best ways to learn and create your moral beliefs. I take AP Physics and that class is ridiculously hard, but it’s a small class and I always have fun.

CAHILL: Where are you in your college search and do you know what you’d like to study?

STEGGEMAN: Some of the schools (I’m considering) are Covenant College, Washington and Lee, Denison, Rhodes, Hanover and Transylvania. Wherever I go, I’ll play basketball.

Right now, as a naïve 17-year-old, I think I want to go into sales and advertising. That (field) involves socializing, people skills and also negotiating. I just think it’s a perfect job for my strengths and interests.

Collegiate will take on the winner from the 10th Region at 1 p.m. Thursday in the opening round of the All “A” state tournament at the Frankfort Convention Center. The final is set for 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

The smallest 130 high schools in Kentucky, based on enrollment, are eligible to compete in All “A” championships.

Contact columnist Chris Cahill at ccahill@voice-tribune.com.

Photo by CHRIS CAHILL | Contributing Photographer

With a deep, talented squad and one of the state’s brightest (and most unlikely) stars in senior Justin McDaniel, the Mustangs, ranked No. 4 in the state by Kentuckywrestling.com, have reason for brash optimism.

After transferring to Moore in 10th grade, the sturdy 6-foot-1 McDaniel was spotted by wrestling coach Mike Thomas, who wasted no time in extending an invitation to join up – no experience necessary.

Over the next two years, McDaniel would toil his way from the bottom of the Mustangs’ junior varsity squad to the upper echelon of Kentucky wrestling.

From a know-nothing rookie, to a savvy, technique-driven grappler now ranked No. 2 statewide in the 182-pound class.

“His growth is due to work ethic,” said Thomas. “He’s the hardest working kid I have. He just doesn’t stop.”

Already this season, McDaniel has compiled a 25-2 record and claimed individual titles at the Lafayette Classic and Woodford County Invitational. He was runner up at the Jefferson County Tournament of Champions earlier this month, where he dropped the final 4-2 to St. Xavier’s Brandon Pledger. It was McDaniel’s first loss to an in-state opponent this season.

“He manhandles quite a few kids he wrestles,” explained Thomas. “He’s too strong to hold down, he escapes quickly and he’s very good on top.”

McDaniel wasn’t always so dominant.

He posted a 7-8 record in his sophomore season and struggled with the physical and cerebral demands of the sport.

“It took me maybe two months to get the feel of it,” he said. “I thought wrestling was one of the hardest things ever, just remembering all the moves and everything.”

Once the tactics became second nature, the wins started to pile up. McDaniel posted a 49-11 record in a junior year capped by a sixth place finish at the State Meet.

The progress has extended beyond wins and losses, according to McDaniel’s mom, Kimberly.

“I like the fact that Justin picked wrestling as a sport because it’s helping him grow into a man,” she said. “(Wrestling) has been teaching him discipline, how to win and lose, and how to control all of that emotion and come out on top.”

Along with his own wins, McDaniel takes pride in the progress of his sparring partner Smi Smith.

A sophomore who competes at 160, Smith is ranked No. 6 in his weight class and took an individual title at the Tournament of Champions.

McDaniel earned all-district honors at linebacker for the Mustangs football team and recorded a team-best 88 tackles and an interception this season. Several small college programs in both football and wrestling have shown interest and McDaniel said he will pick one school – and one sport – at the conclusion of the state wrestling meet.

In addition to McDaniel and Smith, Moore boasts three other top-10 wrestlers in junior Jason Hall (No. 1 at 113) and seniors Jesus Rosado (No. 4 at 132) and Sam Willbanks (No. 5 at 170). Injuries have sidelined Rosado (knee) and Willbanks (neck), but both may return to action in the coming weeks.

“(Despite the injuries) this is still definitely the best team I’ve ever had,” said Thomas. “If those guys get back and they’re as good as they’ve been in the past, then we’ll make a run at (State).

“We’ll be right up there at the top.”

Notes

*Holy Cross senior Jacob Thomson, winner of nine state cross-country and track state titles, has committed to North Carolina State.

Contact columnist Chris Cahill at ccahill@voice-tribune.com.

Mercy sharpshooter Whitney Hartlage, a University of Tennessee at Chattanooga signee, is averaging 16.9 points per game.

Life on the hardwood has gotten a bit more complicated for Mercy Academy’s Whitney Hartlage.

An up-and-coming star the past two seasons, the 5-foot-8 senior is now widely recognized as one of the state’s purest long-range shooters.

And defenses have responded accordingly.

“She sees everything. Everybody shades her or chases her,” said Jaguars coach Mark Evans, a 16-year veteran. “That’s hard when you’re used to getting the ball and getting looks.”

Despite the added attention, Hartlage has knocked down 31.3 percent of her 3-point attempts (27 of 86) and is averaging 16.9 points per game, up 2.9 from last season.

Mercy, ranked No. 5 in the Lexington Herald-Leader’s preseason poll of coaches, won seven of their first eight games before heading to last week’s Queen of the Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

Hartlage, a 4.0 student and University of Tennessee at Chattanooga signee, took a break from holiday festivities to answer questions about the challenges of sharpshooting.

CHRIS CAHILL: How difficult has it been to get open looks this season now that you are a well-established threat?
WHITNEY HARTLAGE: (Teams are) definitely aware that I can shoot the ball so they shade me and some games I’ll get a diamond-and-one on me and they’ll chase me. It’s definitely frustrating. Whenever they do that I need to focus on defense more. If I play good defense then I’ll get steals and shots off of that.

Our point guard (Kayla Richardson) is good at drawing the defense in and kicking it out.

CAHILL: How much extra time do you spend honing your shot?
HARTLAGE: Usually, I come in 30 minutes before practice and shoot every day. If my shot’s off – or even when it’s on – I’ll bring Coach Evans in or (assistant coach) Keith (Baisch) and they’ll work with me. We’ve been working off screens and expanding my range.

CAHILL: Tell me about your family.
HARTLAGE: My dad (Jerome) owns a machine company and my mom (Beth) is the secretary there. My sister (Taylor) graduated from Assumption. She’s a sophomore at Western Kentucky. I have a little brother (Jackson) and he goes to St. Nicholas. He’s 13 and in the seventh grade. He plays basketball too.

CAHILL: You chose between Lipscomb University and Chattanooga. What made you go with the Lady Mocs?
HARTLAGE: I loved their team and I like the coaching staff. Their campus and gym are really nice and they’re a very high-level, competitive program. It’ll probably take a year or two (for me to make an impact), but they’re losing one of their top shooters. There’s always room where I could come in, but I’ll have to work for it.

CAHILL: What’s next for you and your team?
HARTLAGE: We call January “The Month” because we play so many tough teams. We have Marion County (Jan. 19), Manual (Jan. 15), Assumption (Jan. 13), Butler (Jan. 18) and then we play two out-of-town teams. One of them is ranked top-5 in the nation (Science Hill of Tenn., Jan. 25) and the other one is the top team from Missouri (Incarnate Word Academy of St. Louis, Jan. 26). And the LIT is in there, so it’s kind of a challenging month.

Notes
*Jason Hiser, who guided Pleasure Ridge Park to a school-best 14-1 record and a runner-up finish in Class 6-A, has been named Kentucky Football Coach of the Year by the Associated Press.

*Trinity’s James Quick has been named AP Kentucky Mr. Football. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound wide receiver finished his career with a state-record 280 receptions and ranks third all-time in receiving yards (4,434) and receiving touchdowns (57).

Quick, who was an electric playmaker for the three-time defending state champion Rocks, plans to announce his college intention (Louisville or Ohio State) on Jan. 5 at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

*Emerson Walsh, a senior at Trinity, has committed to play tennis at Johns Hopkins University. The Blue Jays are currently ranked No. 7 nationally in Division III.

Walsh and partner Randi Strause advanced to the 2012 state doubles final before falling to  Collier Bouchillon and Matt Browne of KCD.

*Butler’s Tre’tez Kinnaird, one of the nation’s top middle-distance runners, has committed to Indiana University.

Kinnaird has won two consecutive state titles in the 800 and is the current record holder in the event (1:49.96). He chose the Hoosiers over Louisville and Oklahoma.

After clocking a personal record of 1:49.31 at the Music City Distance Carnival in June, the senior will return this season as the fastest 800 runner in the country.

Contact columnist Chris Cahill at ccahill@voice-tribune.com.

Butler’s Demetrius McReynolds is averaging 20.6 points and 9.4 rebounds for Butler, which is off to its best start in nearly a decade. “He’s probably the best shooter I’ve ever coached,” Butler coach Shawn Purlee said of McReynolds.

In a basketball landscape often populated by chest-beating, jersey-popping stars, Butler High School’s Demetrius McReynolds is a standout who possesses an uncommon quality: reticence.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound shooting guard has the tools: pure shot, vertical explosiveness, chiseled frame.

And the numbers: 20.6 points per game, 9.4 rebounds, 53.2 percent shooting from the field, 39.5 percent from behind the arc.

What the mild-mannered senior doesn’t have is even a trace of the arrogance so frequently excused, even heralded, as swagger.

“Even though he’s a big-time player, he just plays within himself and doesn’t worry about all the hype and attention,” said longtime teammate RaShawn Farrell. “He does what he needs to do.”

Don’t confuse his reserved demeanor on the court with indifference, though.

“I play with passion. I just don’t show it,” McReynolds explained. “I’ve always been like that.”

Known to his teammates as “Meechie,” the three-year starter is the most prolific cog on a Butler squad that, at 5-1 entering this week, is off to the program’s best start since 2003-04.

“He’s probably the best shooter I’ve ever coached,” said Bears coach Shawn Purlee. “He’s got the green light to shoot it every time he catches it.”

Butler, a team with no starters taller than 6-foot-2, began the season in the shadows of Sixth Region heavyweights Bullitt East and PRP, but a tight loss to the Chargers on the road (57-61 on Dec. 4) and an overtime upset of the Panthers (66-64 on Dec. 7) served notice that the bantam squad had found ways to compensate.

“We’re small and we think we can outrun everybody, so every time we step on the court we think we can win,” said McReynolds, whose game meshes well with the high-tempo style of play.

“It helps us that he can grab a rebound and lead the break,” said Purlee. “He can do all the things perimeter players need to do. He’s strong at finishing so if he does attack the rim he can absorb contact and finish.”

McReynolds elevated for a shot in a 76-58 win at DeSales on Dec. 14. The senior guard shoots a team-best 53.2 percent from the field.

Flanking McReynolds in a balanced attack are Farrell, a 6-foot-1 senior point guard averaging 9.8 points and sophomore guard Jeremiah Bell (12.4 ppg., 3.6 apg.). Will Johnson, another sophomore guard, is chipping in 9.8 points and 4.8 rebounds a game as well.

On defense McReynolds is tasked with stopping the opposing team’s tallest player. “I just use my quickness to get around them and don’t let them post me up,” McReynolds said.

Although he counts Kobe Bryant and Derrick Rose as his favorite pros, McReynolds said his biggest influence has been Antonio Sullivan, a cousin who starred at Iroquois and is now a senior at Kentucky State.

“(I admire) the way he shoots, creates his shot and his work ethic,” said McReynolds.

College ball is on the horizon for McReynolds, too. Although he is still waiting for his first scholarship offer, Samford, Morehead State, Eastern Kentucky and Murray State have all shown interest.

“I think he’s ready to go to the next level,” said Purlee. “If he’ll buy in to everything in college, he could be that guy who could go overseas and play somewhere because basketball is that much of a passion for him.”

Notes

*Mercy’s Courtney Crable has been named Gatorade Kentucky Volleyball Player of the Year. The junior outside hitter tallied 635 kills, 88 blocks and 96 service aces in leading the Jaguars (33-10) to the state final.

*The Canfield Development King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic basketball tournament got underway Wednesday and will run through Sunday. The event, hosted by Fairdale, features 10 teams in the Lexington Herald-Leader’s preseason coaches’ poll. Here is the slate:

Wednesday

No. 20 Collins vs. No. 7 Hopkinsville, 4:30 p.m.

Fairdale vs. Apollo, 6 p.m.

No. 4 Madison Central vs. No. 22 St. Xavier, 7:30 p.m.

No. 1 Ballard vs. No. 25 Butler, 9 p.m.

Thursday

Nashville Christ Presbyterian vs. Philadelphia Electric & Technical, 4:30 p.m.

No. 3 Trinity vs. Phoenix Mountain Pointe, 6 p.m.

No. 2 Bullitt East vs. No. 17 Bowling Green, 7:30 p.m.

No. 6 PRP vs. Brooklyn (N.Y.) South Shore, 9 p.m.

Friday

Quarters (West gym), 4:30, 6, 7:30 and 9 p.m.

Consolation games (East gym), 4:30, 6, 7:30 and 9 p.m.

Saturday

Semis, 7:30 and 9 p.m.

Consolation games, 4:30, 6, 7:30 and 9 p.m.

Sunday

Seventh place, 3 p.m.

Fifth place, 4:30 p.m.

Third place, 6 p.m.

Final, 7:30 p.m.

Contact columnist Chris Cahill at ccahill@voice-tribune.com.

Photo courtesy of Tim Porco | Sweet Spot Photos

Sacred Heart’s DaiJia Ruffin averaged 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds per game as Sacred Heart opened its season 5-0.

The stage was set last February at Bellarmine’s Knights Hall.

Double overtime. Two-point-four seconds on the clock. Sacred Heart trailed Assumption 59-57 in a Seventh Region basketball semifinal and had one last chance to send the game into a third OT.

Taking the ball out under the Rockets’ basket, Sacred Heart’s Raven Merriweather heaved a long pass to DaiJia Ruffin.

Ruffin collected the ball near the top of the key, dribbled toward the basket, and with a Rocket defender bearing down, attempted a layup at full speed.

After bouncing hard against the backboard, the ball caromed off the rim – and out.

Game over.

Ruffin, then a sophomore, finished with a game-high 21 points, but her failure to convert at crunch time was devastating.

“It was like: ‘How could I miss that layup?’ ” Ruffin said. “I just made my team lose and we had so many seniors on that team who wanted to win. I was crushed.”

The short-range misfire brought an end to the 2011-12 season for Sacred Heart, but as Assumption players and fans celebrated, Ruffin resolved to bounce back.

Through the first three weeks of this season, the 5-foot-9 guard/forward has done just that.

Ruffin is shooting 78 percent from the field and has averaged 19.2 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists a game for the Valkyries, who entered this week with a perfect 5-0 record.

“She’s got great hands, quick feet and she’s been playing basketball for a long time and it shows,” said Sacred Heart coach Donna Moir, a 22-year veteran.

Deceptive quickness has allowed Ruffin to thrive in Moir’s five-guard system of up-tempo offense and full-court defense.

“(My speed) is what turns a lot of people’s heads when I play,” said Ruffin, who also averages 2.6 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.

In the season-opener against Franklin County, Ruffin caught fire for 23 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field, and then went off for 23 points and 16 rebounds in a 64-54 win over Highlands a week later.

Facing Jeffersonville (Ind.) on Dec. 6, Ruffin was 10 of 13 from the field, charting 23 points and 16 rebounds en route to a 64-43 victory.

According to her mother, Ruffin’s passion for the game sprouted early.

“I asked her what she wanted for her (first) birthday and she said a basketball rim,” recalled Danielle Ruffin, who was a standout center at J’town and later played at Kentucky State.

DaiJia Ruffin will lead the No. 15 Valkyries as they travel to No. 11 Ballard this Saturday.

“(At) about (age) seven we knew that this is what she was here to do,” said Danielle Ruffin.

The younger Ruffin played up on Butler High School’s varsity team beginning in sixth grade and was named to the Sixth Region All-Tournament team in 2009 as a seventh-grader.

After transferring from Butler following her freshman year, Ruffin averaged 12.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game last season.

In addition to her hoops prowess, Ruffin is quickly becoming one of the state’s top shot putters after taking up the event last year. She finished fifth at the 2012 state track and field meet with a throw of 36 feet, 1.25 inches.

Ruffin, a B-student who favors math and history, said she has received interest from Indiana, Louisville, Tennessee-Martin and Vanderbilt.

Her dream school, however, is North Carolina.

“I haven’t heard anything from North Carolina, but I’m still waiting,” she said with a laugh.

Sacred Heart was ranked No. 15 in The Lexington Herald-Leader’s preseason survey of coaches and is joined in a loaded Seventh Region by defending state champion Manual (No. 2), Assumption (No. 6), Ballard (No. 11) and Christian Academy (No. 19).

“It’s going to be a battle when it comes down to it at the end,” said Moir, who led the Valkyries to consecutive Sweet 16 titles in 2002, ’03 and ’04. Sacred Heart also won in 1976 under Bunny Daugherty.

Along with Ruffin, Sacred Heart features one of the state’s top point guards in junior Raven Merriweather (15.4 ppg., 7 rpg., 3.2 apg.). Senior Kristin Matula, a Michigan State field hockey commit, averages 8.6 points per game and sophomore Ashley Johnson (8.4 ppg.) provides strong support as well.

This Saturday, the group will get its first opportunity to make some noise in the region when it travels to Ballard for a 2:30 p.m. tip. The Bruins also entered the week undefeated at 4-0.

“We just want to come out and prove people wrong and show them that we are good,” said Ruffin. “We want to be the best in our region and go to state.”

And what if the season again hinged on a late shot in a post-season game?

“It would be me shooting and it would be me hitting,” Ruffin said.

Contact columnist Chris Cahill at ccahill@voice-tribune.com.

Members of Trinity’s football team hoisted the 6-A state championship hardware after dusting PRP 61-7.” src=”http://www.voice-tribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/32-203×300.jpg” alt=”Members of Trinity’s football team hoisted the 6-A state championship hardware after dusting PRP 61-7.” width=”203″ height=”300″ />

Trinity High School football coach Bob Beatty likens each season to a single chapter in a long book.

Last Saturday, in front of an announced crowd of 7,412, the 2012 iteration of Rocks closed its chapter with an exclamation point.

Seniors Dalyn Dawkins and James Quick combined for 325 all-purpose yards and the Trinity defense stifled previously potent Pleasure Ridge Park for a 61-7 win in the Class 6-A championship game at WKU’s L.T. Smith Stadium in Bowling Green.

It was Trinity’s third title in a row, 22nd overall and 10th in 12 years.

“They created their own chapter,” said Beatty, whose team finished 13-1. “They didn’t talk about last year. They didn’t talk about the future. (They said) let’s just live in the moment and take this thing game by game.”

Dawkins ran for two of his three touchdowns in the second quarter as Trinity raced to a 27-0 lead. The senior finished with 163 yards on 15 carries and snagged four passes for 69 yards.

Quick, in his first action since a rib injury against St. X on Nov. 16, made three catches for 83 yards, including a pair of 35-yard TDs that made it 41-7.

Quarterback Travis Wright finished with 239 yards and three TDs on 15-of-29 passing.

PRP (14-1) got on the board in the second quarter when Spencer Sumpter hit Davon Quisenberry for a 14-yard score.

Class 3-A

Central’s Sydney Tedford connected with Marcel Malone for a 15-yard overtime TD to lift the Yellowjackets (13-2) over Belfry 12-6 in the 3-A championship game.

Deris Cox had a team high 102 rushing yards on 17 carries, including a 28-yard score late in the first quarter that put Central (13-2) up 6-0.

It was the Yellowjackets’ third straight title and fifth in six years. Belfry finished 12-3.

Other championship results:

Class 1-A: Mayfield 55, Fairview 8

Class 2-A: Newport Central Catholic 30, Caldwell County 26

Class 4-A: Highlands 47, Collins 0

Class 5-A: Bowling Green 34, Cooper 20

Cross-Country

Assumption, competing as Louisville Track Club, finished 10th at Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore. Team members, from left to right: Katherine Receveur, Abbie Wright, Kenzley Defler, Olivia Boughey, Bailey Davis, Kate Crawford and Emily Bean. ” src=”http://www.voice-tribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/11-300×185.jpg” alt=”Assumption, competing as Louisville Track Club, finished 10th at Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore. Team members, from left to right: Katherine Receveur, Abbie Wright, Kenzley Defler, Olivia Boughey, Bailey Davis, Kate Crawford and Emily Bean.” width=”300″ height=”185″ /> Assumption, competing as Louisville Track Club, finished 10th at Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore. Team members, from left to right: Katherine Receveur, Abbie Wright, Kenzley Defler, Olivia Boughey, Bailey Davis, Kate Crawford and Emily Bean.

Teams from Assumption and St. Xavier, competing as Louisville Track Club, turned in strong performances on a muddy five-kilometer course at Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, Ore. on Dec. 1.

Assumption, led by Bailey Davis (36th, 20:31) and Emily Bean (89th, 21:36), finished 10th in team standings with 274 points. Manlius (N.Y.) finished with 54 points to win its seventh consecutive team competition. Sarah Baxter of Simi Valley, Calif., repeated as individual champ with a time of 19 minutes, 17 seconds.

Rounding out the Assumption contingent were Katherine Receveur (108th, 21:54), Kenzley Defler (119th, 22:04), Olivia Boughey (120th, 22:05), Kate Crawford (132nd, 22:20) and Abbie Wright (162nd, 23:00).

St. Xavier was 14th in the boys’ race with 322 points. Sam Lewis (16th, 17:40) and Connor Sheryak (58th, 18:13) were the first two across for the Tigers, followed by Chris Streigel (65th, 18:20), Maximilian Mudd (158th, 19:29), Thomas Cave (168th, 19:43), Mark Johnson (175th, 19:52) and Nick Reader (183rd, 20:09).

Sam Wharton of Tipp City, Ohio, took the individual boys’ crown in 17 minutes, six seconds. Arcadia (Calif.) claimed the team title with 108 points.

This Weekend

*Holy Cross’ Jacob Thomson will contend for a national title Saturday at the Foot Locker Cross-Country Championships in San Diego. The boys’ race begins at 1 p.m. EST and will be streamed live at www.footlockercc.com. The senior finished 19th at the event last year with a time of 15:42.

*The third annual Best of the Bluegrass All-Star football game, pitting top players from the Louisville area against the rest of the state, is set for 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Xavier High School. Admission is $10 (children under 6 admitted free of charge).

*Fairdale will host the King of the Bluegrass wrestling tournament this Saturday. Southern, ranked 15th in the state by KentuckyWrestling.com, won the event in 2011 and will look to defend against No. 13 Central Hardin, No. 17 Henry Clay, No. 23 Ohio County, No. 24 J’town, No. 25 John Hardin, Boyle County, Bullitt Central, Doss, Caldwell County, North Hardin, Western, Fort Knox, Paducah Tilghman, Valley, Holy Cross, DeSales and the host Bulldogs.

Wrestling begins at 9:30 a.m. The championship round is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Collegiate’s Connor White is one of three local players who will compete in the Choice Hotels International High School All-American Game this Saturday at UAB. The senior has committed to N.C. State. ” src=”http://www.voice-tribune.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/2-248×300.jpeg” alt=”Collegiate’s Connor White is one of three local players who will compete in the Choice Hotels International High School All-American Game this Saturday at UAB. The senior has committed to N.C. State.” width=”248″ height=”300″ /> Collegiate’s Connor White is one of three local players who will compete in the Choice Hotels International High School All-American Game this Saturday at UAB. The senior has committed to N.C. State.

*Three local soccer standouts are set to compete in the Choice Hotels International High School All-American Game this Saturday at the University of Alabama-Birmingham. Connor White (Collegiate, N.C. State commit), Chris Hubbard (Trinity, Notre Dame commit) and Kaelon Fox (St. Xavier, University of Kentucky commit) were among 40 players selected from around the country to compete in the prestigious event.

Contact columnist Chris Cahill at ccahill@voice-tribune.com.

Junior running back Dylan Byrd leads DeSales in rushing, receiving and scoring. The Colts take on Caldwell County this Friday in a Class-2A semifinal at Fairdale.

The DeSales High school football team downed Glasgow 10-2 in Class 2-A quarterfinal action last Friday and will face Caldwell County this Friday with a trip to the state championship on the line.

Leading the way for the Colts (9-4) is slippery running back Dylan Byrd. The junior is averaging 123 rushing yards per game (209 carries for 1,599 yards) and has piled up 30 touchdowns (22 rushing, seven receiving and one kickoff return) in his first season as a starter.

The 5-foot-10, 163 pounder is also tops in receiving with 22 catches for 562 yards.

“He’s as good as anybody in town,” said first-year coach Harold Davis, who was a member of DeSales’ 1981 squad that made the 4-A state final before falling to Henry Clay 20-7. “He can run the ball, has seven touchdowns receiving and over 2,000 yards of total offense. A lot of good running backs can’t do the things that he can do.”

DeSales also reached the 2-A final in 2009, losing to Fort Campbell 29-9.

With just one game separating him from a long-held dream of reaching the state championship, Byrd sat down to answer questions about his life inside and outside the lines.

CHRIS CAHILL: During the regular season, DeSales was 6-0 when you ran for 100 yards or more and 0-4 when you didn’t. Do you feel added pressure knowing that your performance is so critical to the team’s success?

DYLAN BYRD: I don’t feel any pressure, really. I’m going to get a lot of touches and I know what I have to do. I have a good line in front of me and they’re going to help. It’s crazy how much our defense and our O-line step up. A lot of people think it’s all the running back, but the line has a lot to do with it.

CAHILL: Coach Davis said you remind him of former DeSales and University of Louisville standout Willie Shelby. What do you see as your MO?

BYRD: I am a speedy running back, but, if I have to, I can get the yards under pressure with people around me. I can still rumble to get the yards.

CAHILL: After seeing only limited action last year, what’s been the difference this season?

BYRD: I think it’s physical maturity, training in the off-season and the leadership role that I have as the starting running back. Other than the seniors, I feel like it’s my duty to be a leader.

CAHILL: What would reaching the state championship mean to you?

BYRD: It’ll prove to us that we were as good as we thought we were. At the beginning of the season we knew we were going to be okay, but a lot of people doubted us. Our (offensive) line has helped me and the rest of us do what other people didn’t think we could do and our defense has made stops that are unbelievable.

CAHILL: Why do you wear number 30?

BYRD: My dad (Marcellous) was number 30 in high school. Me and my other two brothers (Nick, 19, and Adam, 18), who also played at DeSales, wore numbers in the thirties because we wanted to be like my Dad. He was a great running back for Dorman High School in South Carolina. He was my inspiration and got me playing football.

CAHILL: Do you have any pre-game rituals?

BYRD: Coach Davis gave us scapulars at the beginning of the year. When he was in high school they got them and they went to State. I say a prayer, kiss (the scapular) and then wear it during every game.

CAHILL: Win or lose on Friday, what are the areas you’ll look to improve in the off-season?

BYRD: Footwork. I want to have a lot better, faster and quicker footwork. I want to be able to break free quicker and explode better. And I want to gain maybe 10 to 15 pounds and hit the weights hard.

CAHILL: What kind of mark would you like to leave at DeSales?

BYRD: I want people to remember me as one of the greatest DeSales running backs. I want to hold a rushing touchdowns record. I want to hold a (career rushing) yards record and I just want to be known for the great things that I did in football for DeSales High School.

Byrd and the Colts will host Caldwell County (10-3) this Friday at Fairdale. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Newport Central Catholic (9-4) will visit Somerset (11-2) in the other semifinal.

Contact columnist Chris Cahill at ccahill@voice-tribune.com.