Friday^ December 13,1996 Page 7 MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY four year program RUSTY STROUPE Sports WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL MEN’S BASKETBALL Men’s Basketball wins but loses a close one Jay Smith Sports Writer The Men’s basketball team took to the road one last time before going on Christmas vacation to face the Queens College J.V. Royals this past Monday night in hope of a victory to build the team’s confidence on a lackluster first half of the season. The game started on the right momentum as freshman guard Philip Tensley gave BC an early 2-0 lead. It was a close first start, when the Tornados jumped out to a 20-16 lead with 10:38 to go into the first half. Sophomore point guard Todd Alston would spark a Tornado run as he hit two fastbreak lay-ups for a 28-19score with 7:29 to go in the fust. Queens College began to make a late minute run as both Kevin Gettys and Brett Phillips hit back- to-back three pointers to make it a 44-43 BC lead at half-time. Queens College Will Phifer gave the Royals their first and only lead of the game at 45-44 to start the second half, but freshman shooting guard Shaimon Miller’s jumper relinquished that lead quickly. The score and balance of the game would exchange several times until a three pointer by Alston. Then a fastbreak lay-up made it a 62-55 BC lead with 13:49 to go. The Tornados would continue to really hurt Queens College as an Alston three point attempt was no good, but sophomore forward Derrick Jackson grabbed it and jammed it for a thunderous dunk that sent the crowd and the team into a frenzy. After that the Royals just couldn’t get anything to start clicking for them as the Tornados’ defense kept them at bay. Midway through the second half defense was the key for the Tornados as they held only a 74-67 lead with 6:50 to go. The team was led defensively by freshman forward Ben Warren ( 7 rebs. 4 blks.) Brevard kept rolling, until foul trouble on Carter ( 19 pts. 6 rebs. 2 blks.) forced Brevard head coach Dudley Bradley to bring freshman guard Clifton Joyner into the game to keep up the pressure. Joyner came in scorching as he jammed an open wide dunk on the Queens’ defense and scored 10 straight points, as he connected on 5 of 5 from the field. The Royals wouldn’t quit as they rallied from a 12 point deficit with 38 seconds to go . Derrick Sink hit a three pointer, making it an 87-81 game. After freshman center Carlos Sulton missed a freethrow, Queens College Cyrus David was fouled on a three point attempt but was only able to hit 2 out of 3 making it 87-83. After a steal, a Will Phifer lay up made it 88-85 with 10 seconds to go, but Joyner’s free throws sealed the BC victory, 90-85. This past Wednesday night was back to work for the Tornados as they hosted Central Piedmont Community College. Both teams came out struggling to find their offenses, but CPCC was ahead in the game as they came out and built a lead by as much as 14 points late in the first half. The Tornados held strong as they went into halftime, down 39-29. In the second half, Brevard came out and went on a 14-4 run, tying the game at 43 early in the second half. Each team kept the game close until the fmal two minutes exchanging the lead several times until missed shots and turnovers would cost the Tornados in the fmal moments of the game With two seconds left to go L. Campos put CPCC up, 68-66 on a free throw. Brevard was seeing a recap of their first loss at home to DeKalb College over again. With one last chance to get the tie or the win, Alston’s desperation throw fell short as Central Piedmont College (6-0) dropped Brevard College to (2-10) on the season. The Men’s basketball team will return to the courts on January 23, as they open conference play against Louisburg College in Louisburg, NC at 7:30pm. Cross Country runners place at Nationals Scott Wolfe Sports Editor On November 17th, the Brevard College Men’s and Women’s Cross Country teams traveled to Overland Park, Kansas, for the 1996 NJCAA National Cross Country Championships. Both squads were prepared for the task ahead, and each carried Top 5 rankings into the meet. The meet featured teams with runners from all over the world, including top ranked teams from Butler Community College and College of Southern Idaho. The Men’s squad went into the race "'ith no expectations. They expected some good individual results and a good overall team race. The results were a fd place fmish and two All-Americans. 6 team was led by Sophomore Joe '“on who logged a 7th place fmish en- ''owe to earning his All-American certificate in his young career. Joe was 0 owed closely by Tommy Lancaster, * 0 ran an excellent race to finish 15th earn All-American. The team was ^0 elped by Freshman Kieth Natti and joptiomores B.J. Temple and Will '*'ho finished 21st, 22nd, and respectively. The race was hosted by Johnson County Community College and was held at the school. The conditions included wind in excess of 45 mph and rolling hills. TTie times were slower than m years past, but the quality of the field was excellent. Congratulations to both squads on your fantastic showing at the National Meet. You represented the school with pride and showed the class that the NJCAA is used to seeing from a Brevard College distance crew. Great Job!! Rinker aives his runners a pep talk Before the race, Coach RinKer gives The Women’s team carried a #4 ranking and a positive attitude into the National race. The team was expected to have their best fmish as a team in over 6 years. The team lived up to their ranking and logged a fourth place fmish. T^e team was led by Sophomore Jennifer Vrobel and Freshmen Kristin Parrot, Aimee Salzar, Meadow Mielke and Tracy Phelps. The team was excited as they had two Top 20 finishes and a fourth place overall in the team standings. Congratulations to the Brevard CoUege Women’s Soccer Team on their victory at Nationals. — The Clarion Staff