SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP)—Murray State coach Billy Kennedy went with his gut and drew up a play his team had never run before, with Isacc Miles the go-to guy at the end.

The Hopkins County Central softball team won 23 games a year ago despite graduating five seniors and integrating a number of youthful players into the mix.

DAWSON SPRINGS -- After not losing a single player from last season's 7th District Tournament runner-up squad, the Dawson Springs softball team has plenty of promise for this year's schedule.

NEW ORLEANS -- John Calipari has coached in enough NCAA tournaments to know that youth can be more of a liability at this time of year than any other.

Janie McCauley, Associated Press

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Tim Tebow's latest visit to Florida Field looked like most of the others. He was cheered, revered and pulled in every direction.

NEW YORK (AP)—A boxing title doubleheader scheduled for March 26 in Las Vegas has been postponed after contractual differences arose between promoter Don King and ESPN.

STONY BROOK, N.Y. (AP)—Demetri McCamey had 16 points, 11 assists and nine rebounds, and Mike Davis scored 17 points to lead Illinois past Stony Brook 76-66 Wednesday night in a first-round NIT game before a sellout crowd of 4,423 at Stony Brook Arena.

CLEVELAND (AP)—LeBron James(notes) had 32 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and the Cleveland Cavaliers clinched their second straight outright Central Division championship and third in team history, beating Indiana 99-94 on Wednesday night.

ON DECK

LEXINGTON -- Talking to his players during their last practice before the Boys' Sweet 16 tournament, Christian County coach Kerry Stovall explained that he not only wanted to go on a winning streak that would lead the Colonels to the state championship, but also wanted to snap a five-game tournament losing streak.

Three seniors were recently named Athletes of the Week at Hopkins County Central High School.

NEW YORK – NFL owners will vote next week whether to allow each team a possession in overtime in the playoffs if the team winning the OT coin toss kicks a field goal on the first series.

INDIAN WELLS, California (AP)—Rafael Nadal restored order on a day of upsets with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 fourth-round victory over big-serving American John Isner at the BNP Paribas Open on Wednesday, after Novak Djokovic and Elena Dementieva were ousted.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—The Tennessee Titans have signed defensive end Jason Babin(notes) to an offer sheet.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP)—Patrik Elias(notes) scored a breakaway goal and set up another for the New Jersey Devils, who beat the sloppy Pittsburgh Penguins 5-2 on Wednesday night and completed a six-game season sweep of their Atlantic Division rivals.

DAWSON SPRINGS -- This season, the Dawson Springs baseball team has a streak it would like to break.

Kentucky senior Perry Stevenson isn't worried about the Wildcats' youthful roster turning into a liability during the NCAA tournament.

PALM HARBOR, Fla. -- For Tiger Woods, this figures to be a Masters like no other.

After three years as head coach of the Hopkins County Central girls basketball team, Jennifer Hibbs is stepping down.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP)-- A measure that would couple registering to vote with purchasing a hunting license has cleared the House Committee on Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs.

DAYTON, Ohio -- Arkansas-Pine Bluff finally found a road trip to its liking.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP)—For everything Roger Federer did right, the world’s top-ranked player did something wrong. Eventually, his errant shotmaking did him in.

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP)—Dexter Strickland hit the go-ahead free throws with 2:34 left and North Carolina held William & Mary scoreless for the final 5 minutes in the Tar Heels’ 80-72 win in the first round of the NIT on Tuesday night.

ATLANTA -- Kentucky is back in a familiar place -- atop the Southeastern Conference and dominating the league awards.

Jon Hood got his first taste of postseason action for the University of Kentucky men's basketball team during the SEC Tournament semifinals on Saturday.

The MADYSWIM Piranhas USA swim team made its first-ever appearance at the Senior State Championships at Lancaster Aquatic Center in Lexington, which took place Friday through Sunday.

MURRAY, Ky.(AP) -- The mother of Murray State reserve guard Picasso Simmons was killed in a car crash Monday, on the eve of the team's departure for the NCAA tournament.

The coaches handled the snubs with class.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Albert Pujols for Ryan Howard? Let's just say the MVP sluggers don't plan to pack their bags anytime soon.

The coaches handled the snubs with class.

ODDS

BOSTON -- Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Michael Finley scored 15 points apiece, and Kevin Garnett had 14 points and eight rebounds on Monday night to help the Boston Celtics coast to a 119-93 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

JR Motorsports will try to run two full-time teams this season in the Nationwide Series.

LEXINGTON, Ky.(AP) -- The Kentucky Racing Commission holds its first meeting in two months with a packed agenda just six weeks away from the Kentucky Derby.

LOS ANGELES – An Illinois insurance executive who secretly shot nude videos of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was sentenced Monday to 2 1/2 years in prison after giving a tearful apology that was harshly rebuked by his victim.

PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP)—Tiger Woods said Tuesday he will return to golf next month at the Masters, ending a four-month hiatus brought on by a sex scandal that shattered his image as the gold standard in sports.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP)—Novak Djokovic built up a head of steam while losing nine consecutive games over two sets. He let it out by tossing his ballcap after finally winning a game in the third.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP)—David Clarkson(notes) had a goal and an assist as the New Jersey Devils scored three times in the first period against Tim Thomas(notes) and held on for a 3-2 victory over the Boston Bruins on Monday night.

BOSTON (AP)—Paul Pierce(notes), Ray Allen(notes) and Michael Finley(notes) scored 15 points apiece, and Kevin Garnett(notes) had 14 points and eight rebounds on Monday night to help the Boston Celtics coast to a 119-93 victory over the Detroit Pistons.

The selection committee made its choices. Now, it’s America’s turn.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—John Calipari only had questions once he and his Kentucky Wildcats finished celebrating their Southeastern Conference tournament championship.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP)—Basketball still rules in Indiana. Even if the Hoosiers no longer rule basketball in the state

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - A bronze statue of 1987 Kentucky Derby winner Alysheba will soon be unveiled at his grave at Kentucky Horse Park.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP)—Roger Federer had to work a little harder than expected Sunday night before beating Victor Hanescu 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1 in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open.

DORAL, Fla. (AP)—For maybe the first time in his life, Charl Schwartzel found himself rooting against Ernie Els.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—John Calipari brought Kentucky to town focused most on the NCAA tournament.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) - Juliann Miller scored 23 points and

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—Marcus Morris had 18 points, Tyrel Reed added 15 and No. 1 Kansas held off No. 9 Kansas State down the stretch for a 72-64 victory and its seventh Big 12 tournament title Saturday night.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP)—Svetlana Kuznetsova had a succinct explanation after losing her opening match at the BNP Paribas Open.

As The Messenger delves further into the realm of online journalism, it’s time for a sports blog entry and for now it’s – In the Nick of Time.

Fresh air and prayer may be better than medicine

Hello to all of you here in the middle of March. The weather has been a bit more pleasant, but I went to visit with my mama and she says she just doesn't think winter is over. Say a pray