ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) - No, this was not an instant replay, though it certainly is turning into a highlight loop that Aaron Harrison and his Kentucky teammates could get used to watching.
Harrison took a pass from his twin brother, Andrew, spotted up from NBA range and watched the ball rattle in for the lead with 5.7 seconds left Saturday night to lift the Wildcats to a 74-73 victory over Wisconsin in the Final Four.
It was a near carbon copy of his game-winner last weekend in the regional final against Michigan. It was every bit as big as the 3 he made the game before that to help Kentucky take the lead for good in the Sweet 16 against Louisville.
“You can’t be scared to miss, and you want to be that guy that wants to take the big shots,” Aaron Harrison said.
“He has that clutch gene,” Wisconsin’s Sam Dekker said.
Traevon Jackson had a last-second shot to try to beat the Wildcats (29-10), but the desperation jumper rimmed out, and once again Harrison found himself at the bottom of a dog pile at center court. Sophomore Alex Poythress’ leg bent backward in the scrum. He was icing his left knee afterward but said he’d be OK for Monday’s final.
___
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Conservative activists from across the country came to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s hometown on Saturday to insist that their fight against established Republicans in the 2014 midterm elections isn’t over.
The downtown Louisville rally served as a lift for McConnell challenger Matt Bevin, a Louisville businessman who wants to capitalize on the same tea party energy that helped Rand Paul defeat McConnell’s choice for the state’s other Senate seat two years ago.
The event also was intended as a morale booster as the so-called liberty movement tries to put its imprint on an election cycle where McConnell and many of his fellow Republican incumbents appear to be in a strong position to win their party’s nomination. Speakers accused the Republican Senate leader and his colleagues of joining President Barack Obama in perpetuating a behemoth central government.
Bevin charged McConnell, who’s held his seat since 1985 with “selfishness … hubris … and cowardice.” And he encouraged his supporters not to be cowed by polls suggesting a McConnell advantage. “If you think we cannot win, then you’re right,” Bevin said, looking out at signs that urged voters to “Ditch Mitch.”
Bevin was followed by conservative media personality Glenn Beck, who told the crowd that McConnell’s challenger was “called by God.”
The Kentucky primary is May 20.
___
HAWESVILLE, Ky. (AP) - The Big Rivers Electric Corporation is closing its Kenneth C. Coleman Station in Hawesville after losing two of its largest customers.
Company spokesman Marty Littrel told the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer (https://bit.ly/1lAJIrqhttps://bit.ly/1lAJIrq ) the company will take the plant offline May 1. About 96 employees are expected to lose their jobs.
The shutdown comes after Century Aluminum of Kentucky cancelled contracts for its Hawesville and Sebree smelting plants. Both plants hope to get cheaper power on the open wholesale market. The cancelations have cost the Henderson-based utility $360 million in annual revenue. Littrel said the plant closing will save $20 million per year.
Big Rivers had expected to shut down the D.B. Wilson plant in Centertown this year, but a deal to sell 200 megawatts will keep that plant open through February 2015.
___
___
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Scott County is the fastest growing county in Kentucky, according to projections by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Lexington Herald-Leader reports (https://bit.ly/1i1WM4T) Scott County’s population grew by 2 percent between July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2013.
Missy Winchell, a Scott County real estate agent, attributed the growth in part to Toyota’s plans to build Lexus sedans at its Georgetown plant in 2015.
“We’re seeing a lot of relocating auto-industry workers,” Winchell said. She also said the county gets a lot of retirees. And she noted that Scott is conveniently located off both Interstate 75 and Interstate 64.
The census estimates were developed using the 2010 federal census as a baseline. Population change each year was calculated using births, deaths, administrative records and survey data. According to estimates, Oldham was the second fastest growing county, with a 1.6 percent population increase. Shelby and Montgomery were next, each with a 1.4 percent growth rate, followed by Bath with a 1.3 percent rate.
Finishing the top 10 were Simpson, Bullitt, Warren, Jessamine and Spencer counties.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.