Kentucky

Three Wildcats who stepped up and shined in Kentucky's first exhibition game

Published

1 year ago

October 24, 2024

Three Wildcats who stepped up and shined in Kentucky's first exhibition game

Kentucky‘s first exhibition game in Rupp Arena went even better than the most optimistic Mark Pope fans could imagine. The Wildcats scored 123 points and won by 71 against Kentucky Wesleyan College, which returned most of its roster from the team that upset Louisville in Louisville in this spot one year ago. Kentucky shot 50 percent from 3 against the Panthers, tying the school record for 3s in a single game with 21 makes.

The final score and 3-point barrage were a sight to see, especially in the debut of Pope’s brand of ball at UK. Within the hot night, nearly everyone on the roster was outstanding. However, some of the stars of the night came as a surprise, based on summer speculation and expectations of how the team will look. It’s way too early to form any solid opinions without overreacting to one outing. Still, we can brag on some of the players who weren’t talked about as much in the weeks leading up to their Kentucky debut. The guys not named Jaxson Robinson, Andrew Carr, or Lamont Butler.

You already know we’re starting with the pride of the 13th Region, who caught fire when his number was called in the second half.

Trent Noah

Trent Noah hits a 3-pointer in Kentucky’s exhibition win against KWC – Photo via Dr. Michael Huang

Harlan County’s Trent Noah wasn’t even supposed to be a Wildcat. He initially committed to South Carolina, then found his way home when Pope inherited an empty locker room in Lexington. Ranked 159th in the 2024 recruiting class, Noah came in with low expectations, considering all of the experience around him, with plenty of time to grow and develop. As Jack Givens noted on the KSR Pregame Show, Noah is doing all of the right things and outworking many of his teammates, but he has some guys in front of him in the rotation that will make it hard to play significant minutes in Year 1.

Against Kentucky Wesleyan, Noah got his first opportunity to play at game speed at the college level. He waited his turn and checked in for the first time with 11 minutes to go in the game. He quickly got a steal, which I didn’t see in the box score, but I saw it with my eyes. Then, he ignited his home state crowd by hitting four 3-pointers in less than four minutes. The homegrown freshman finished with 12 points, two assists, and a rebound in nine minutes. I don’t know how much he’ll play when the season officially starts, but Noah made the most of his first college minutes. Mark Pope said afterward, “Trent is not shy.”

Ansley Almonor

Like Noah, Ansley Almonor brought a hot hand off the bench for a surprise performance against Kentucky Wesleyan. The Fairleigh Dickinson transfer hit five 3-pointers on Wednesday night, going five of seven from beyond the arc for 15 points in the game, the third-highest output on the team.

At 6-foot-7, 244 pounds, Almonor will likely see most of his minutes behind Andrew Carr at forward. Time will tell how many minutes he will get against D1 opponents. But he will certainly see the floor plenty if he shoots the ball anything like he did in the exhibition game. I doubt many people, if any, predicted he’d hit five from long range. Although, Otega Oweh saw it coming. Oweh said of Almonor after the game, “Everyone knows he’s capable of hitting from three.”

Otega Oweh

Otega Oweh cracked Mark Pope’s first starting lineup for Kentucky, taking the open two-guard spot next to point guard Lamont Butler. We quickly saw why.

Right away, the Oklahoma transfer cleaned up Lamont Butler’s long miss with an offensive rebound and a second-chance layup for Oweh’s first Kentucky bucket. A minute and a half later, he sank his first 3-point attempt as a Wildcat, followed by another second-chance layup for seven points in the opening minutes. By halftime, Oweh had 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, four rebounds, and two assists before finishing the game with 18 points, second to Jaxson Robinson’s team-high 19. Oweh played only 18 minutes in the win.

Coming from the Big 12, we knew Oweh could play. He averaged 11.4 points in 24.8 minutes as a sophomore, starting in 28 of 32 games for the Sooners in 2023-24. Still, he looked really good in his first exhibition game at his new home. Pope said the starting lineup is subject to change, but it may not need any changes based on the team’s first exhibition. Otega brings a little bit of everything, from athleticism to more 3-point shooting, to a team that may break 3-point shooting records.

Mark Pope loved Oweh’s decision-making against KWC. Pope said in his postgame comments, “I was so proud of Otega tonight. You know, I actually wondered if this was going to be a little bit of a complicated game for him. Because it is such a heavy gap team. His decision-making about when he attacked all the way to the rim and when he came to two feet was brilliant and actually incredible all night long.”

I’ll add that Kentucky looked incredible all night long. Let’s do it again next Tuesday for fun. Who will step up next?

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Kentucky

Woman dies in head-on collision in Bullitt County

Published

10 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Woman dies in head-on collision in Bullitt County

Kentucky State Police is investigating after a Shepherdsville woman died Feb. 28 in a two-vehicle crash in Bullitt County.

A preliminary investigation shows the crash, which occurred at 7:34 p.m. at the intersection of KY 44 East and Watergate Drive, began when the passenger-side tires of a Toyota Tacoma heading westbound on KY 44 East dropped off the right side of the roadway and onto a steep shoulder, Master Trooper Bryan Washer said in a statement March 1.

The teenage driver “overcorrected, causing the vehicle to cross the centerline into the eastbound lane and into the path of a Ford Escape.”

Due to a head-on collision, the Ford Escape went down a small embankment and overturned on its roof before coming to rest, Washer said. The driver of the Ford Escape, Sarah Weisman, 27, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Bullitt County Coroner’s Office. The driver of the Toyota Tacoma was not injured from the crash.

Trooper Scott Wheatley and Detective Brad Holloman of the State Police conducted the initial investigation into the crash, Washer said. Holloman continues to investigate.

Reach reporter Leo Bertucci at lbertucci@usatodayco.com or @leober2chee on X, formerly known as Twitter

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Kentucky

Three NKY girls wrestlers win titles, including a third for Emma Moore

Published

23 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Three NKY girls wrestlers win titles, including a third for Emma Moore

LEXINGTON, KY – The Kentucky High School Athletic Association has sponsored a girls state tournament for three seasons.

That’s three seasons of wrestling over the dirt at Alltech Arena at Kentucky Horse Park

That’s three seasons of the girls having their own day to crown winners and placers.

And three seasons of Emma Moore climbing up the podium, taking her place as a Kentucky state champion.

Moore, a Walton-Verona senior who said she picked up the sport once the KHSAA started sanctioning, has gone 12-0 in her three trips to state with eight pins and a tech fall on the record.

“I feel great,” Moore said of ending her preps career on top again. “I feel like I made a lot of growth season and I’m really proud of what I was able to accomplish.”

Moore won the all-Northern Kentucky state final at 107 pounds, besting Ryle eighth grader Peyton Brinkman, 13-5. Moore beat Brinkman with a 17-1 tech fall in the regional championship, but had to battle with Brinkman for three complete periods in the state final.

“I felt like she was better at stopping my attacks today,” Moore said. “But, I just make sure to get to my offense and wrestle like myself.”

Brinkman was one of three Brinkmans to place at the state tournament. While younger sister finished as runner-up, older twin brothers and Ryle sophomores Aiden and Bryant placed second and fifth respectively.

Moore’s championship was the 14th in Walton-Verona history. Of those 14, three came from Emma, two came from brother Spencer and two more came from brother Ryan.

Highlands junior Emma Hood grinds out 152-pound championship

Emma Hood had a 3-0 lead in the 152-pound KHSAA state final and just around a minute needed to hold on to win her first championship.

When opponent Bralyn Maynard of Prestonsburg tried to get out of Hood’s grasp, she bent Hood’s leg sideways at the knee, causing Hood to immediately react to the injury. Hood’s injury time ticked away before she hopped up, ready to continue on.

With the knee barking, Maynard scored a quick reversal and cut Hood’s lead to 3-2. For 44 seconds, Hood had Maynard wrestling on top, but unable to score any more points.

“That last minute was just pure fight or flight,” Hood said. “After the knee, adrenaline kinda kicks in and I really couldn’t feel it at all for the last minute of the match.

“She gets the reversal with about 46 seconds left. The whole time I’m replaying how it felt last year to lose to her and making sure that didn’t happen again.”

Hood was a runner-up last year, losing to Maynard by a pin in the match’s final seconds. The championship was the fourth state placement for Hood, who also placed fifth in 2024 and eighth in the Kentucky Wrestling Coaches Association girls tournament in 2023 that ran before KHSAA sanctioned a tournament.

With the win, Hood became the first wrestler in Highlands history ‒ boy or girl ‒ to win a KHSAA wrestling championship.

Cooper freshman Aaliyah Svec finishes off undefeated season

Aaliyah Svec’s freshman season is one that will hard to improve on, but she’s up for the challenge.

Svec’s first season as a high schooler saw her go 19-0 for the year, claiming Kentucky’s 138-pound state championship. She didn’t even wrestle a full-length match in the postseason, going 8-0 across the regional and state tournaments with six pins and a pair of tech falls.

One of those pins came in the 138-pound final as Svec pinned North Hardin’s Payton Perry in the third period while Svec was already sitting with an 8-2 lead.

“It’s absolutely wild,” Svec said. “I never thought I would be here. I’ve grown up doing this sport and I’m just so, so grateful for these opportunities.”

Like Hood, Svec’s championship was also historic for Cooper as she also became the first wrestling state champion ‒boy or girl ‒ in the program’s history.

Northern Kentucky girls wrestling state placers

107 – 1. Emma Moore (Walton-Verona), 2. Peyton Brinkman (Ryle); 114 – 6. Leah Boggs (Campbell County); 138 – 1. Aaliyah Svec (Cooper), 6. Preslee Steiber (Ryle); 152 – 1. Emma Hood (Highlands), 7. Devon Banks, Simon Kenton; 165 – 5. McAyla Steffen (Campbell County); 235 – 6. Fanta Mariko, Cooper.

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Kentucky

Which Northern Kentucky boys basketball teams can win regional titles?

Published

1 day ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Which Northern Kentucky boys basketball teams can win regional titles?

The best week of the boys Kentucky high school basketball season is here, as the regional tournaments begin.

Three boys basketball tournaments with Northern Kentucky teams begin next week as they try to punch their ticket to Rupp Arena. They are all in their traditional homes: The Eighth Region takes place at Henry County, the Ninth Region at Truist Arena and the 10th Region at the Mason County Fieldhouse. Here is a look at those brackets.

Eighth Region (at Henry County)

Wednesday, March 4: Henry County (19-11) vs. South Oldham (20-8), 6:30 p.m.; Simon Kenton (16-10) vs. Spencer County (19-13), 8 p.m.

Thursday, March 5: Walton-Verona (17-15) vs. North Oldham (22-5), 6:30 p.m.; Woodford County (17-7) vs. Gallatin County (11-20), 8 p.m.

Monday, March 9: Semifinals – March 4 winners, 6:30 p.m.; March 5 winners, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, March 10: Final, 7 p.m.

What to watch: Simon Kenton edged Walton-Verona 56-51 for the 32nd District championship. Bray Bilton was the tournament MVP. SK did not play Spencer County this year, and lost to South Oldham in its half of the draw by 20. North Oldham and Woodford County are considered the two favorites, and are both 8-0 in the region as they have not played each other. WV lost to North Oldham by 20 on Feb. 6.

Ninth Region (at NKU’s Truist Arena)

Saturday, March 7: Highlands (25-5) vs. Conner (14-12), 1 p.m.; Covington Catholic (28-2) vs. Dixie Heights (18-12), 2:30 p.m.; Lloyd Memorial (22-4) vs. Holy Cross (21-9), 6:30 p.m.; Ryle (21-8) vs. Newport (21-9), 8 p.m.

Sunday, March 8: Semifinals – Highlands/Conner vs. CovCath/Dixie winners, 6:30 p.m.; Lloyd/Holy Cross vs. Ryle/Newport winners, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, March 10: Final, 7 p.m.

What to watch: CovCath is the overwhelming favorite. Its only losses are to other top Kentucky teams Male and Madison Central. CovCath has not played Lloyd or Newport but has beaten the other five teams in the field by an average of 27 points. The Colonels’ closest win against Ninth Region competition is by 18 (72-54) against its first opponent, Dixie Heights.

Conner beat Highlands 72-58 on Feb. 10. Ryle beat Conner by 12 in the 33rd District final for its first district title since 2014. Ryle beat Newport 45-30 on Dec. 17 but Newport has won seven of nine heading into the regional.

Lloyd is the hottest team in the region besides CovCath, winning 12 straight including a 21-point victory over Dixie in the 34th District final. Lloyd beat Holy Cross by 10, 63-53, on Jan. 6. Lloyd and Newport did not play each other this season, and time will tell if either can challenge CovCath if they get that chance. But barring injuries, it’s hard to imagine anyone other than the Colonels going to Rupp.

10th Region (at Mason County Fieldhouse)

Wednesday, March 4: Scott (15-14) vs. Mason County (7-19), 6 p.m.; Pendleton County (17-12) vs. George Rogers Clark (26-4), 8 p.m.

Thursday, March 5: Montgomery County (17-12) vs. Bracken County (14-15), 6 p.m.; Campbell County (21-9) vs. Nicholas County (20-12), 8 p.m.

Monday, March 9: Semifinals – March 4 winners, 6 p.m.; March 5 winners, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, March 10: Final, 7 p.m.

What to watch: George Rogers Clark is the heavy favorite here. Scott beat the host Royals 64-59 Dec. 18 in Taylor Mill. The hosts have struggled all year but won the 39th District. Scott survived a wild finish in the 37th District semifinals, with Jordan Clemons hitting a 3-pointer at the buzzer after a steal to give the Eagles a win over Brossart. Freshman Benjamin Brown has averaged 23 points per game in half a season. Pendleton County won the 38th District behind junior Kamden O’Hara, one of Northern Kentucky’s best shooters (15.4 ppg., 100 3-pointers). They drew the short straw after tourney favorite GRC lost the 40th District final to Montgomery County, 73-66. Campbell County has won four straight, including two dominant wins in the 37th District tournament. The streak started with a 90-89 win over its first-round regional opponent Nicholas County Feb. 13. Sophomore standout Austin Davie put up 50 points against Nicholas. Campbell lost by 12 to potential semifinal opponent Montgomery County Jan. 23.

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