Tim Stephens

HUNTINGTON -- Marshall University's women's basketball team begins defense of its Sun Belt Conference championship Dec. 29 against Texas State at Cam Henderson Center. The league released its conference schedule Thursday, revealing new Thundering Herd coach Juli Fulks will be tested by the Bobcats in the opener. Game times weren't revealed.

Experience is an advantage Chesapeake High School football has, and not just because the Panthers field 16 seniors. Chesapeake's coaching staff is among the most veteran units in the Tri-State. Bob McCollister is a former head coach at Rock Hill, where he went 72-60 and won two Ohio Valley Conference championships. Rick Clark went 27-23 at Frankfort Adena from 1986 through 1990. Longtime coach George Long and veteran Ryan Summers round out the staff.

That collective groan heard throughout West Virginia on Tuesday was from high school football coaches in Class AAA.

RACELAND, Ky. -- Raceland prepared for Tomcats, but it was Lyons who hurt them.

ONA -- Ty Steorts didn't need an advantage, but he had a significant one. Steorts, a Hurricane High School standout, won the boys Class AAA 5,000-meter run at the Cabell Midland High School Cross Country Festival Saturday night at Chris Parsons Track. Steorts finished in 15:38.06 to outdistance runner-up Will Sheets of Covington Catholic, who ran 15:49.43. Connor Nolan of Eastern-Meigs was third in 16:29.75.

ONA -- Ty Steorts didn't need an advantage, but he had a significant one. Steorts, a Hurricane High School standout, won the boys Class AAA 5,000-meter run at the Cabell Midland High School Cross Country Festival Saturday night at Chris Parsons Track. Steorts finished in 15:38.06 to outdistance runner-up Will Sheets of Covington Catholic, who ran 15:49.43. Connor Nolan of Eastern-Meigs was third in 16:29.75.

IRONTON -- The 433-mile trip home is long, in more ways than one.

Prep football: Spring Valley rolls Cabell Midland 49-19

LLOYD, Ky. -- In the state most known for horse racing, Ashland proved to be the mudder.

Close, but no corncob pipe.