Jones
Guest
Speaker
AtFCA
by Ronnie Warrick
The Fellowship
of Christian Ath
letes held its
weekly meeting on
Wednesday night,
November 12, and
featured former
NBA great Bobby
Jones as guest
speaker. A crowd,
estimated at
around 400 people,
gathered in the
Paul Porter Arena
to hear and to see
the famed Phila
delphia 76er’s
"sixth man" tell
about his life,
his career and his
God.
In the twenty-
five minute talk,
Jones spoke of his
unwillingness to
play sports as a
youngster and then
being forced to
play basketball
when he entered
junior high in
Charlotte, N.C.
After three suc
cessful years at
South Mecklenburg
High School, Jones
entered UNC under
the leadership of
coach Dean Smith.
It was during his
four years at
North Carolina
that Jones ad
mitted to himself
that "Basketball
is my God." While
at Carolina, Jones
met his wife-to-
be, Tess, who
shared with him
Jesus’ plan of
salvation. Jones
stated that he
asked Jesus to
show that he was
real. Since that
night, he has
turned over to
Jesus all of his
problems he faced
while playing
professional
basketball, as
well as other
conflicts that
plagued his life.
Jones then posed
two questions to
the audience:
"What kind of
people are you
around?" and "What
makes a success of
your life?"
He concluded by
saying, "You can
have everything
and more, but if
you don’t have
Jesus, you’re not
happy. You are a
success only if
you’re a success
in Jesus’ eyes.
Do everything for
the glory of God."
Easterling Paces
GWC: Panthers
Pounce On
Runnin ’ Bulldog
Basketball
Outbok ^ Good
by Grady Martin
Coach Jim Wiles
and the rest of
the Runnin’ Bull
dogs have reason
to be optimistic
about the 1986-87
season.
Heading the list
of returnees is
6’8" sophmore cen
ter Stan Easter
ling. Stan aver
aged 15.2 points
and 7.7 rebounds
per game as a
freshman in 1985-
86. Stan has
added weight and
muscle to his
frame, and this,
along with the
last season’s
experience, should
make him a con
tender for post
season honors.
Also returning
is the veteran
backcourt of Aaron
Patterson and Brad
Smith.
Patterson is a
6’0" senior who
handled the start
ing point guard
position the last
two years. Always
known as a gritty,
defensive player,
he has improved
his offensive
skills and should
be a major factor
in any Bulldog
success this year.
Smith is a 6’3"
junior who started
most of last year.
Brad is a player
who is always a-
round the basket
ball at the right
time. The 1986-87
season could be
one in which Brad
really comes into
his own.
Senior Grady
Martin should be a
major factor this
season for the
Bulldogs. Hard
wo^rk and determin
ation over the
summer has paid
off to make him a
threat both of
fensively and
defensively.
Also returning
to add depth at
the post position
are 6’8" sopho
mores Randy
Grayson and Joey
Renfro.
The newcomers to
this year’s squad
make up what Coach
Wiles called "the
best recruiting
class since I’ve
been at Gardner-
Webb and maybe the
school’s best
class ever from
top to bottom."
The list of
newcomers is
headed by a pair
of junior college
transfers.
Anthony Hailey, a
6’5" junior,
transferred in
from Brevard
College. He is a
tough inside
player and
outstanding
athlete. Steve
Conley, a 6’5"
sophomore, trans
ferred from New
Mexico Military
Institute. The
Marion, N.C.
native is an
outstanding leaper
and super athlete
who can play
either the post or
wing positions.
Several freshman
could contribute
to the team this
season. Reggie
Ampley, a 6’2"
guard from
Gastonia Hunter-
Huss, is a fine
athlete and has a
good fundamental
background. Chad
Gough, a 6’4" wing
from North Surry
High, was recruit
ed for his
excellent shooting
ability. He could
become a threat
from the three-
point line.
Other freshman
who could contri
bute include:
Darren Sanders
(6’0"), Bill Fath
(6’7 " ) , Thomas
uses TOURNEY
Gardner-Webb
competed in the
use-Spartanburg
tournament during
Thanksgiving week
end and came away
with a second
place finish.
They defeated
Edward Waters 97-
80, but lost to
USC-S to even
their record at 3-
3.
The Bulldogs,
led by Stan Eas
terling’ s 27
points, had to
overcome a half-
time deficit to
win. They commit
ted 16 turnovers
in the first half.
Brad Smith chipped
in 15 points for
G-W.
The bad news was
that Anthony Hai
ley and Easterling
suffered injuries
in the first round
which hampered the
Bulldog effort
against USC-S.
The Rifles raced
out to a 37-24
halftime advantage
and never looked
back. Behind
Smith, the Bull
dogs closed to 44-
39 at one point
only to see the
lead increase once
more. Foul
trouble to Steve
Conley and Grady
Martin also doomed
the Bulldog
effort.
Smith paced the
Bulldogs with a
career-high 25
points. He, along
with Easterling,
was named to the
all-tournament
team.
Anthony Hailey
hit an 18-foot
jumper with 2
seconds left to
give the Runnin’
Bulldogs a thril
ling victory over
the Panthers from
High Point 60-58.
Stan Easterling
scored 17 points
and had 11 re
bounds to lead the
Bulldogs. Hailey
finished with 11
points.
High Point led
for much of the
first half. They
had a 24-18 lead
with 7:15 to go.
But Reggie Ampley
and Steve Conley
brought the Bull
dogs back with
five unanswered
points.
Easterling and
Chad Gough hit
crucial free
throws to help G-W
to a 29-26 half-
time lead.
The game was
close throughout
the second half.
G-W’s biggest lead
7 points at the
6:05 mark as
Darren Sanders hit
a couple of foul
shots.
But the Panthers
made their move in
the waning minu
tes. They trailed
58-55 with 17
seconds left,
worked the ball
around and scored
a 3-pointer with 4
seconds left to
tie the game.
G-W called time
out and put the
ball in play to
Hailey, who scored
the winning tal-
ley.
Plaster(6’7"),
Darryl Floyd
(6’0"), and
Orlando Early
(6’2").
According to
John Haskins, the
assistant coach, a
lot of the Bull
dog’ s success
could be deter
mined from the
output of the
newcomers.
Merty
Christinas