Today's Sports

The way Steven Rucker sees things, Anderson County boys' tennis will look a bit like his college alma mater this year.

"I think we can be just like the Tops!" Rucker, a graduate of Western Kentucky University says. In comparing the team he coaches with the Hilltoppers' NCAA basketball tournament run, Rucker says, "I think we are sitting here and not too many people know about us or expect a lot out of us, but I think we are going to surprise some people."

There really is an "I" in team.

At least in track and field there is.

"It's not like football or basketball. Track is an individual sport," says Anderson County head coach Travis Gay. "If you improve, you have been successful. You do not have to win every time you step out there."

The key factor, as far as Gay is concerned, is for the individual to be able to say, "I have improved."

"We try to make it fun for the kids and have them compete with themselves," Gay says. "If you do that, you can be successful even if you don't win."

There had to be times when the collective knot in Anderson County's stomach might have been incurable during last week's state basketball tournament.

Nothing against Shelby County. The Bearcats' chief rival proved during the Eighth Region Tournament that those who had written Shelby off because of some puzzling mid-season losses were quite mistaken. Down 5 inside the last half-minute of the regional championship game, Shelby showed the heart of a champion by coming back to win against Gallatin County.

The Anderson County spring sports season is scheduled to get under way in a big way Monday, March 24, as three Bearcat teams have season-opening events that day.

The Lady Bearcat softball team, ranked 15th in the state in the pre-season poll, will get tested early as the Lady Bearcats travel to Louisville Mercy Academy, the defending Region 7 champion. Tuesday, the Lady Bearcats return to Louisville to take on Butler, the defending Region 6 titlist. Both games begin at 6 p.m.