Contributed
(January 30, 2012)

The No. 13 Auburn University at Montgomery baseball team dropped a 10-9 decision to No. 18 Tennessee Wesleyan on Sunday, after the Bulldogs scored eight runs in the final three innings and erased a 4-0 Warhawk advantage in the contest.

As a result of the loss, the Warhawks fell to 2-2 on the young season, while the TWC improved to 2-2 overall.

Senior Jorden Johnson paced AUM with two hits, while fellow senior Michael Dugan drove in a pair of runs with his third home run of the season. Junior Carson Amick scored a team-best three runs, reaching base all five times he came to bat.

Senior Cory McGinnis started the game for the Warhawks, tossing the opening four frames and allowing just two runs, while striking out five. Fellow seniors Wes Cook, Tyler Dent and Michael Carden (0-1) followed, but allowed eight runs on four hits, while walking four.

AUM held a 6-2 lead after four innings, but the Bulldogs took advantage of a pair of singles and three walks by Cook to cut the lead to 6-3. Tennessee Wesleyan took the lead four pitches later when Stephen Branca smashed a grand slam to centerfield to cap the rally.

The Warhawks showed their grit in the bottom of the sixth inning, pushing across a pair of runs to regain the lead, 8-7. In the inning, senior Hunter Cross plated a run on a RBI fielder’s choice, while junior Shane Turner doubled home a run.

Despite the rally, scored three times to put the game on ice in the top of the seventh, two of which came on a Warhawks’ throwing error with two outs. AUM made the bottom portion of the inning interesting when junior Wes Hughes singled home Johnson, who lined a one-out double. However, Zach Fleshmen settled down and got the final two outs to preserve the victory.

Branca finished 2-for-3 with four RBIs and three runs scored for Tennessee Wesleyan. Justin Sprenger earned the victory, tossing two innings and allowing two runs. Fleshman allowed a run on two hits in the bottom of the seventh inning, but was able to close the door to pick up his first save of the season.

The Warhawks will return to action on Friday, Feb. 3, when they host Webber International in a doubleheader. First pitch of game one is slated for noon.

Contributed
(January 29, 2012)

The Huntingdon women’s basketball battled Piedmont from start to finish on Saturday. But in the end the Lady Hawks came up short, 78-72.

Huntingdon never led in the game, but never trailed by more than 10 points. The Lady Hawks made it a three-point late in the first half and a one-point game midway through the second half. But each time Huntingdon threatened, Piedmont answered and pulled back ahead.

A Jodi Montalvo basket with 4:20 left in the first half made it a 30-27 game. Piedmont answered and led 42-32 at the half. In the second half, a LaTerial Williams 3-pointer cut the Lady Lions’ lead to 50-49 with 14:01 left. Piedmont responded with a 20-11 run and led 70-60 with 5:39 to play.

Huntingdon (10-7, 5-3 Great South Athletic Conference) chipped away at Piedmont’s lead in the final minutes and made it a four-point game on a Williams basket with 24 seconds to play. But Piedmont (15-3, 7-2 GSAC) sank a pair of free throws to go up 78-72 and close out the win.

Raven Prater, who scored a previous-career high 18 points in a win over LaGrange earlier this month, led Huntingdon with 19 points. Montalvo added a season-high 14 points and Morgan Crawford and Williams each scored 11 points. Williams also had seven rebounds and five assists. Sekal Ousley pulled down seven rebounds and Tanjanik Munford finished with 10 points.

Alyssa Jones and Shanice Wheeler each scored 15 points for Piedmont. Jones added 11 rebounds and seven assists and Wheeler had seven rebounds and four assists. Sada Wheeler followed with 14 points, 11 rebounds and seven blocked shots. Amber Satterfield finished with 12 points and Symone Bell had 10 points.

Men fall

Five Huntingdon players combined for 73 points, but Piedmont pulled out a 90-82 win Saturday afternoon.

Huntingdon (6-12, 2-2 Great South Athletic Conference) rallied from a 16-point deficit in the first half and tied the game late in the second half. A Kanden Blackmon 3-pointer made it 76-76 with 4:42 to play, but Piedmont (5-14, 1-3) closed the game with a 14-6 run.

Jeremiah Thomas led Huntingdon with his seventh double-double of the season. Thomas finished with a game-high 21 points and 13 rebounds. Courtnee Edgar added 15 points and Blackmon followed with 13 points and five rebounds. Ryan Petty and Jason Varney each had 12 points and six rebounds. Varney also had five assists.

Josh Haymore led Piedmont with 19 points and Jessie Jenkins scored 14 points. Dylan Delaney added 13 points and Tyler Arnold finished with 10 points.

Junior andrew Steele set career highs in points and rebounds in Alabama’s win over Arkansas on Saturday. (Photo courtesy Unv. Alabama Athletic Dept.)

Contributed
(January 29, 2012)

TUSCALOOSA. - The Alabama men’s basketball team improved to 14-7 on the season and 3-4 in Southeastern Conference play with a 72-66 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks on Saturday. In front of 13,145 fans at Coleman Coliseum, the Crimson Tide halts a four-game losing streak, while winning its 500th game all-time at Coleman Coliseum. Arkansas falls to 15-5 overall and 3-3 in the SEC.

Sophomore guard Trevor Releford led Alabama with a game-high 18 points, while junior guard Andrew Steele scored a career-high 11 points, to go along with a career-high six assists and six rebounds. Senior forward JaMychal Green added 14 points, including 10 in the second half, and added a game-high eight rebounds. Junior forward Tony Mitchell chipped in 11 points as the Crimson Tide place four players in double-digits scoring.

"It’s always good to win, our guys certainly needed it," Alabama head coach Anthony Grant said. "They came in with great poise and figured out, from a defensive standpoint, how to make us stay down a little bit.  We, I thought, had success in the first half attacking and being aggressive. Their zone really slowed us down, slowed the tempo of the game down. I’m proud of our guys for finding a way, when Arkansas took the lead during the second half; our guys never lost their poise, stayed with it and found a way to come out with the win. It was good to see our guys get stops at the end of the game, come up with some big rebounds and make some free throws to close it out."

Alabama connected on 25-of-50 shots from the field, marking the seventh time this season the Crimson Tide has shot 50 percent or better in a game. Alabama notched 40 of its 72 points in the paint, while connecting on 20-of-25 free throws (80.0%), the third most the Tide has registered from the charity stripe this season.

The four players scoring in double-digits were the most this season since Alabama put five players in double digits during an 82-45 victory over Alabama A&M in the sixth game of the season on Nov. 23.

After trailing for much of the first half, Alabama outscored Arkansas 14-4 over the final 8:41 to take a 37-30 lead into halftime. The Crimson Tide took its first lead of the game, 28-26, at the 7:11 mark on a three-point basket by Releford, before finishing off the first half with a 7-1 run, with Releford accounting for all seven points.

After Arkansas came back to take the lead in the second half, the Tide trailed 56-54 with 6:59 left in the game, before unleashing a 9-0 run over a span of 4:17 to take a 63-56 lead with just over two minutes remaining. Green sparked the UA scoring burst, scoring five of the nine points during the stretch, as Alabama matched its biggest lead of the game. From there, Arkansas quickly pulled within two points before the Tide closed the game out at the free line, connecting on 7-of-8 free throws over the final stages.

Rickey Scott led Arkansas with 18 points.

The Tide will host the Mississippi Rebels in its next game on Feb. 4. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.

Contributed
(January 29, 2012)

Despite giving up three first-inning runs, the No. 13 Auburn University at Montgomery baseball team rallied past No. 18 Tennessee Wesleyan, 8-5, on Saturday at the AUM Baseball Field.

With the win, the Warhawks improved to 2-1 on the season, while the Bulldogs fell to 1-1 overall.

Junior Jordan Reid and senior Andrew Morris combined to allow just six hits in the contest, while working around three errors by the AUM defense. Reid (1-0) earned the victory after tossing the opening four frames, allowing four runs, only two of which were earned, and striking out five. Morris closed the door, allowing three hits over the final three innings to earn the save.

At the plate, senior Michael Dugan led the team with three hits, including his second home run in as many days. Junior Adam Russell added a two-run single, while senior Logan Remson finished 2-for-3 with a triple, a runs scored and a RBI. Junior Carson Amick scored a pair of runs and added a run scored from the leadoff spot.

After surrendering the three runs in the top half of the first inning, AUM stormed back and tied the score with three in the bottom of the frame. With two outs in the inning, Remson started the rally with a single through the right side, before senior Hunter Cross reached on a fielding error. Junior Shane Turner followed with a double down the right field line, plating Remson, before Russell followed with a two-run single through the right side to tie the score.

The Warhawks took the lead in the bottom of the second inning when Dugan came around to score on a two-out triple by Remson. Dugan reached after lining a double to left field, giving him four extra-base hits in two games.

The Bulldogs scored an unearned run in the top of the fourth to tie the score at 4-4, but AUM answered with three runs in the bottom of the stanza to take the lead for good. In the inning, Amick lined a run-scoring double, while Dugan connected on a two-run blast.

In the sixth inning, the Warhawks plated an insurance run on a sacrifice fly by Cross, pushing the lead to 8-4.

The run proved huge, as the Bulldogs line consecutive singles to open the top half of the seventh inning, but Morris worked around an error and was able to escape the jam with a game-ending double play.

Josh McDaniel took the loss for Tennessee Wesleyan, tossing 4.0 innings and allowing seven runs. Stephen Branca and Jake Stone each had a pair of RBIs for the Bulldogs’ offense.

The two teams will face again on Sunday at 3 p.m.

Men’s basketball loses to Loyola

NEW ORLEANS —- Loyola-New Orleans converted 50.9 percent of its shots from the floor, including 11 3-pointers, as the Wolfpack defeated the Auburn University at Montgomery men’s basketball team in Southern States Athletic Conference play Saturday at The Den.

The loss drops the Warhawks to 5-15 on the season and 2-9 in the conference. Loyola improved to 13-7 overall and 5-6 in the league.

Freshman Trey Geter paced AUM with 16 points, while senior Alex Hergott and sophomore Caz Cole each added seven points. Freshman Justin Zachary chipped in six points off the bench.

While the Wolfpack were making shots, the Warhawks struggled. AUM shot just 25 percent in the first half, as Loyola raced out to a 15-point halftime lead and never looked back. For the game, the Warhawks converted 38.3 percent of their shots, thanks to a second half in which they hit better than 53 percent (15-of-28). Along with solid shooting from the floor, Loyola also hit 14-of-15 free throws, compared to just 5-of-9 for AUM.

On the glass, the Wolfpack held a 36-30 advantage, despite AUM pulling down 15 offensive rebounds. Senior Michael Lee paced the Warhawks with six rebounds, while Hergott, sophomore A.J. Ansley and freshman Da’Keidres Wade each grabbed four.

Corey Gray led all scorers with 21 points, while Cameron Cates added 12 points and a game-high seven rebounds.

Lady Warhawks fall

The Auburn University at Montgomery women’s basketball team dropped a 75-48 decision to No. 23 Loyola-New Orleans in Southern States Athletic Conference play Saturday at the Den.

The Warhawks fell to 10-11 on the season and 4-7 in SSAC play, while the Wolfpack improved to 17-2 overall and 9-2 in the league.

Junior LaKenya Drayton led AUM with 12 points, while fellow junior Matika Sterling added nine points off the bench. Senior Courtney Thacker chipped in six points.

The Warhawks struggled offensively for much of the game, hitting just 32.7 percent of their shots from the floor and only 2-of-14 3-point attempts. The charity stripe treated them equally bad, as AUM hit just 10-of-25 free throws.

Each team committed 18 turnovers, while the Warhawks held a 35-32 advantage on the boards. Sterling paced the team with five rebounds, with Drayton and Thacker each added four.

Loyola converted 55.8 percent of its shots, including 59.3 percent in the first half to race out to a 43-24 halftime advantage.

Jasmine Brewer led all players with 21 points, while Keiva Council and Amy Moody finished with 16 and 14, respectively. Brewer also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

The Warhawks will look to rebound on Thursday, Feb. 2, when they host crosstown foe Faulkner at 5:30 p.m.

Contributed
(January 29, 2012)

Senior point guard Vittoria Poole’s late jumper and a pair of steals in the final two minutes provided the difference as the Lady Eagles escaped with a 64-59 victory over Mobile here Saturday afternoon in a key Southern States Athletic Conference West Division game at Tine Davis Gymnasium.

The Lady Rams (6-14 overall, 4-7 SSAC) tied the game at 57 with 3:21 left on a 3-pointer by Morgan Melancon, but Brittney Carter’s two free throws on Faulkner’s next possession gave the Lady Eagles the lead for good. After Poole’s basket with 1:54 showing pushed the lead to four, she forced back-to-back turnovers to end any possible Mobile comeback.

"Vitt is just clutch," Faulkner head coach Reed Sutton said. "She always steps up at key moments, first with the shot then with the great defensive plays to basically end the game. She has that intestinal fortitude you want in a player. Trust me, their guards didn’t enjoy bringing the ball up the floor against her, and that proved really true late in the game."

With the victory Faulkner (15-7 overall, 6-5 SSAC) remained in third place in the SSAC’s West Division, and it was able to do so in large part due to the inside presence of Carter, who had 29 points and nine rebounds. Spenser Cantrell complimented Carter’s play with solid shooting on the perimeter, hitting three 3-pointers on the afternoon.

Mobile had three players in double figures, led by Daphnee Frieson’s 15 points. Alice Honnery added 14 and Courtney Bayliss 10 for the Lady Rams.

In a cold-shooting first half for both teams, the Lady Eagles erased an early five-point deficit with a 12-0 streak to build a 19-12 advantage with 8:32 on the clock. Carter’s 16 points led the way for Faulkner, and her two free throws in the closing seconds allowed the Lady Eagles to grab a 31-27 advantage at the break.

The Lady Eagles travel cross-town Thursday night to take on SSAC rival Auburn Montgomery at the Warhawks’ Physical Education Complex. The game tips off at 5:30.

Faulkner men holds on for win

With Mobile having clawed back from eight points down to within two in the final half-minute, Faulkner needed somebody to stem the tide. Enter senior guard Chris Palmore, who’s 14-footer with 26 seconds left provided enough margin as the Eagles held on for a 63-60 victory here Saturday afternoon in a Southern States Athletic Conference West division showdown at Tine Davis Gymnasium.

Adam Okechukwu’s basket  with 4:03 left gave Faulkner a 59-51 lead, but the Rams refused to wilt, scoring on three consecutive possessions to trim the deficit to 59-57 with 48 seconds on the clock. It was then that Palmore took over, driving the lane and hitting a fall-away 14-footer that proved to be the game-winner. His two free throws with 15 seconds left pushed the lead to six, and the Eagles survived a frantic finish to move to 10-11 overall and 3-8 in the SSAC.

Mobile (9-12 overall, 5-6 SSAC), cut the lead to three on Ji Kimbrough’s conventional three-point play with 7 seconds left and had a chance to tie it after Faulkner’s Duke Phillips missed a pair of free throws, but Kimbrough’s desperation try from 30-feet was too hard off the backboard.

"Chris wanted the ball and it ended up in his hands, and that’s usually a good thing," Faulkner head coach Jim Sanderson said. "He’s helped us win a lot of games here, and made it happen again. I’m just happy for our guys, who really needed a win. Things have been tough, but these guys have kept the faith. We just need to play them one at a time from here on in and see what happens."

The top five teams in both the East and West divisions of the SSAC make the post-season tournament, and currently the Eagles are along in fifth place, one game ahead of Auburn Montgomery. The two teams face off at AUM Thursday night.

Palmore led Faulkner’s offensive output with 18 points, while fellow senior Adam Okechukwu added 14. Okechukwu’s seven rebounds were a game-high. Jake Mitchell chipped in 10 for the Eagles. Kimbrough paced the Rams with 19 points, with Jonathan Tinch following with 13 and Antonio Hester 10.

The Eagles found a way to win despite committing 24 turnovers, nine more than Mobile. Faulkner did win the rebounding battle 31-23 and outshot the visitors from the field 49 percent to 39 percent.

The Eagles held Mobile without a field goal in the final 7:09 of the first half, and made three of their six 3-point attempts in building a 30-25 advantage at intermission. The lead increased to as many as 13 in the second half before Mobile made it interesting down the stretch

Thursday’s Faulkner-AUM game tips off at 7:30 at the Warhawks’ Physical Education Complex.

Contributed
(January 28, 2012)

Former Huntingdon baseball player Miles Walding has been trying to take it all in the past few days.

In Palm Springs to play in the California Winter League, Walding’s baseball future got a lot brighter this week. Walding arrived for the first day of the league on Monday. By Wednesday, the Dothan native had signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks’ organization.

“It’s been a crazy few days. It’s like I’m in a dream and I haven’t woken up yet,” Walding said by phone on Friday. “I showed up on Monday, with the dream of getting an offer, but I mainly just wanted to keep playing baseball. Any chance I have to keep playing baseball is awesome.

“To have a done deal in three days is unreal. They told me in the history of this league, no one has signed this quickly. It’s definitely been worth the trip.”

Walding said, with the Diamondbacks’ blessing, he will finish the remaining weeks of the league. The league’s championship is set for mid-February.

He is to report to Scottsdale, Ariz., for spring training on March 3.

“They’ve talked to me about starting out in high-(Class) A ball after spring training,” Walding said. “They told me I could move up pretty quickly from there. The biggest thing is going to be adjusting to the kind of pitching I’ll be seeing.”

A four-year player for Huntingdon, primarily at shortstop and in the outfield, Walding started all 40 games as a senior, batting .301 with 20 RBIs and 33 runs. He stole 31 bases in 36 attempts.

“This is a guy who has a lot of athletic ability combined with a great attitude and work ethic,” Huntingdon baseball coach D.J. Conville said. “He worked hard while he was here at Huntingdon and he’s continued to work hard and improve to earn this opportunity.”

Walding said he was approached by a scout on Monday. There was a quick conversation about where he was from and why he hadn’t signed yet. The former Northview High School player answered the questions, but didn’t think too much of it.              

“I thought he was probably a scout from an independent league,” Walding said. “I didn’t find out until later that he was with the Diamondbacks. He talked to me again and said he was bringing in the assistant general manager to see me. They watched me hit and they talked a little while.

“When they made an offer, excited doesn’t begin to describe how I felt.”

As soon as the deal was finalized, he called his parents with the good news. Calls to his girlfriend and former Huntingdon teammates followed.

“My parents were extremely happy for me,” Walding said. “Everyone has been very supportive. God has really blessed me. This is something I’ve worked for my whole life and it feels great.

“But this is just a foot in the door. I’m happy to have this opportunity, but I’m not satisfied. My goal is to make it to the big league. I’m going to continue to work hard, play hard and do what I can to get there.”

Contributed
(January 27, 2012)

Plans to institute Super Regional tournaments at two sites in the state volleyball playoffs were approved for the 2012-13 school year by the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Central Board of Control at its winter meeting this week.

 The post-season playoff format will include three rounds beginning next season – area tournaments to be played any time Oct. 18-20; Super Regional tournaments with 96 teams in six classifications at the north site and 96 teams in six classifications at the south site Oct. 26-27; and the Elite Eight state tournament to be held Oct. 31-Nov. 1

Huntsville’s Von Braun Center will host the North Super Regional and Montgomery’s new multi-purpose complex at Cramton Bowl was approved to host the South Super Regional, contingent on a site visit scheduled later this week.

The new format streamlines the volleyball playoffs  by combining two regional tournaments into one and eliminating the sub-state round, thus reducing travel costs. The 2012 format will advance the winner and runner-up from each area tournament to a Super Regional. The top four finishers in each Super Regional will then advance to the Elite Eight state tournament in each classification.

“We think this will elevate the championship program to a new level for volleyball and provide a memorable and positive experience for our student-athletes and schools,” AHSAA Executive Director Steve Savarese said.

The Central Board also approved keeping the site for the state cross country championships at Oakville Indian Mounds Park near Moulton for the next three years.

 The Central Board endorsed a leadership program, “Ideals,” designed specifically to teach leadership skills to student-athletes. Program founder Jack Williams made a presentation on the merits of the program.

In other Board action:

*  Approved a four-year rotation schedule for the two at-large female Central Board members through 2019-20. Currently, two members serve from Districts 2 and 8. Two new members will be elected from Districts 3 and 6 for 2012-13 to 2015-16. Districts 4 and 5 will be elect two members for 2016-17 to 2019-20. At-large female representation began with Districts 1 and 7 from 2004-05 to 2007-08.

* Reviewed Legislative Proposals to be considered by member schools in February. The schools will also have the opportunity to participate in a general AHSAA survey to be conducted during the same month.

* Approved the financial reports of the 2011 Super Six Audit, the 2011 State Cross Country Meet, the 2011 State Swimming & Diving Meet and the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Football Game.

* Approved budgeted expenses for the 2012 Final 48 State Basketball Tournament.

* Were updated about the second phase of the AHSAA’s online software program from C2C ‘s Robert Gomes and the thorough training that C2C plans to provide for member schools.

Contributed
(January 27, 2012)

In an effort to allow the playing surface at the AUM Baseball Field to dry, Friday’s season opener between the No. 13 Auburn University at Montgomery baseball team and No. 5 Embry-Riddle has been pushed back to 3 p.m.

The original start time for the contest was noon, but due to heavy rains in the Montgomery area throughout the past week, the start time was delayed.

The Warhawks, which posted a 42-19 record last season, return 15 seniors, seven regular starters and seven pitchers from the 2011 squad. Highlighting the returners are senior pitchers Cody Hall and Wes Cook, who each won eight games last season, as well as senior third baseman Hunter Cross, who hit .382, with three home runs and a team-high 50 runs batted in. Also returning are seniors Rusty Todd, Logan Remson, Drew Walker, Jorden Johnson, Brian Wheeler, Chezz McCann and Michel Dugan, all of which hit better than .300 last season.

AUM added 14 newcomers to the mix, including a trio of Division I transfer pitchers in Michael Carden and Cory McGinnis from the University of South Alabama and Andrew Morris from Auburn University. At the plate, the Warhawks also added juniors Adam Russell and Shane Turner, who will compete for a starting spot.

The Eagles of Embry-Riddle finished last season with a 51-11 record and advanced to the Avista-NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho. The Eagles return 17 letterwinners, including seven starters and three pitchers.

In addition to Friday’s game, the Warhawks will also be in action on Saturday and Sunday.

The Saturday schedule will begin with Embry-Riddle taking on No. 21 Southern Poly at 11 a.m., followed by the Hornets taking on No. 18 Tennessee Wesleyan at 1:30 p.m. AUM will host TWC at 4 p.m.

On Sunday, Embry-Riddle and Tennessee Wesleyan will meet at noon, followed by a second game between the Warhawks and Bulldogs at 2:30 p.m.

Contributed
(January 27, 2012)

NEW ORLEANS —- Behind the third double-double of the season by junior LaKenya Drayton, the Auburn University at Montgomery women’s basketball team rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to defeat New Orleans, 65-59, Thursday at Lakefront Arena.

With the win, the Warhawks improved to 10-10 on the season, while the Lady Privateers remain winless at 0-21.

Drayton led the Warhawks with 20 points, while adding a game-high 11 rebounds in the victory. In the deciding second-half, Drayton and sophomore Keisha Moore scored 10 points each, but the difference came on the boards, where the Hephzibah, Ga., native pulled down nine rebounds in the 17 minutes of play.

For the game, Moore added six rebounds and a pair of steals, while juniors Caitlin Cunningham and Matika Sterling combined for 14 points and 13 rebounds, seven offensive, off the bench.

In the contest, AUM converted 42.4 percent of its shots, including a blazing 53.3 percent in the second half. Likewise, UNO shot better in the first half, 51.9 percent, and raced out to a 35-25 halftime advantage, but converted just 30.3 percent in the second period. Perhaps the major flaw for AUM was free throw shooting, where it made just 12-of-25 attempts (48 percent).

On the boards, the Warhawks dominated, holding a 47-32 total advantage, including an 18-8 lead on the offensive end. The differential led to a significant discrepancy in second-chance points, as AUM scored 21, compared to just four for the Lady Privateers.

Keri Thomas led UNO with 20 points and six rebounds. Mechelle Thomas added 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

The Warhawks and Lady Privateers swapped momentum during the first half. UNO opened the game with a 6-2 spurt in the first three minutes, but AUM answered with eight straight and gained a four-point lead, 10-6, following a basket and free throw by Drayton at the 15:45 mark.

However, the Lady Privateers responded with a 12-0 run of their own to take an eight-point lead at 18-10 with 10:23 remaining in the half. The Warhawks battled back and cut the margin to just two points, 20-18, behind five points from Drayton. Despite the rally, AUM trailed by 10, 35-25, at halftime.

In the second half, the Warhawks chipped away, before tying the score at 54-54 on a jumper by junior Stephanie Torrence with 4:45 remaining in the game. AUM took the lead for good on a basket by Drayton with 3:50 remaining and outscored the Lady Privateers 9-5 down the stretch to provide the final margin.

AUM will remain in the Crescent City through Saturday, when it takes on Loyola University at 2 p.m.

Contributed
(January 27, 2012)

Andrew Marshall’s putback basket with 2:37 left broke a 47-all tie and Belhaven led the rest of the way, escaping Tine Davis Gymnasium with a 56-49 victory over Faulkner here Thursday night in a West Division matchup in the Southern States Athletic Conference.

The Eagles (9-11 overall, 2-8 SSAC) led 32-25 with 16:40 to play, but went the next six minutes without a basket as the Blazers put together a 10-point run to grab a three-point advantage. Neither team led by more than three points down the stretch, with the game turning for good on Marshall’s bucket. Belhaven built the lead to seven before Chris Palmore scored the Eagles’ final points on a runner in the lane with less than a minute to play.

"It was tough-shooting night for us, but Belhaven is very talented and they made enough plays to win," Faulkner head coach Jim Sanderson said. "We went too many stretches in the game where we couldn’t get anything to fall, and that ultimately was the difference. I thought we had a chance to build a bigger lead in the first half, but we couldn’t keep them from getting second and third shots."

Faulkner jumped on Adam Okechukwu’s back in the first half, riding the senior forward’s 11 points to a lead at intermission. The Eagles led by as many as six points in the opening half, despite allowing the Blazers to grab 10 offensive rebounds en route to an 18-13 advantage on the glass.

Okechukwu finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Eagles, who also got 11 points from Chris Palmore. Belhaven (11-11 overall, 6-5 SSAC West), which won for the fifth time in a row, was paced by the 13 points apiece from Marshall and Britton Smith.

Faulkner hosts SSAC West Division rival Mobile Saturday afternoon. The game tips off at 4.

Jackson leads Belhave over Lady Eagles

Regena Jackson squelched any hopes Faulkner had for an upset, scoring a career-high 42 points in the 18th-ranked Blazers’ 82-65 victory here Thursday night in a Southern States Athletic Conference West Division showdown at Tine Davis Gymnasium.

After trailing early the Blazers raced away behind Jackson, who at one time made six straight shots. The senior guard, a transfer from Baylor who was an All-SSAC performer last season, scored 21 points in each half to keep the Lady Eagles at bay.

The Blazers (17-5 overall, 10-1 SSAC) pushed an 18-point halftime edge to 25 in the second half before Faulkner managed to cut it to 12 late in the game. The Lady Eagles (14-7 overall, 5-5 SSAC) could get no closer, however, as Jackson slammed the door from the free-throw line, hitting all eight of her attempts in the final three minutes.

"She’s a great player, but we totally got away from game plan," Faulkner head coach Reed Sutton said. "I thought we panicked, not so much defensively but offensively. It was by far our worst conference game, but we’re not going to let it get us down. We have to come back Saturday afternoon and be ready to play."

Kiara Johnson added 13 and Portia Tucker 12 for the Blazers, who shot 48 percent from the field while holding the Lady Eagles to 38 percent. Faulkner was paced by Nyla Johnson’s 19 points. Christina Hayes pitched in 13, 11 of which came in the second half.

Faulkner actually led 10-7 just over five minutes into the game before the Blazers took command.  A 16-1 run, sparked by Jackson’s back-to-back 3-pointers, gave Belhaven a 23-11 advantage with 9:16 left in the half. The Lady Eagles cut the margin to eight before the Blazers stretched it back out, building as much as an 18-point lead in the opening half. Belhaven led 40-22 at the break.

The Lady Eagles host Mobile Saturday afternoon in another SSAC West Division battle. The game tips off at 2.