Page 6
The Pendulum
Sports
Thursday, February 14, iggj
Leak optimistic for tourney play
By Jonathan Martin
Staff Writer
Elon wins
2 of 3
* By Wes Durham
Special to the Pendulum
Elon’s men’s basketball team
entered February with a 15-5
record, the best record Coach
Bill Morningstar has had in his
six years at the helm. But the
month got off to a shaky start as
Elon dropped an 83-55 decision
to Pembroke State. The loss
hurt Elon worse in the NAIA
District 26 race more than in
the race for the Carolinas Con
ference crown. Senior Robert
Leak led the Christians in the
loss with 16 points, followed by
Rafeal Hernandez with 12.
Next, Elon traveled to Lex
ington, Va.,- to take on Washing
ton and Lee. The Christians got
off to a hot start as they hit 76
percent from the floor en route
to a 73 to 68 victory. Leak again
led Elon in scoring with 22
points. Ricky Larry and Eric
Hairston also hit double fi
gures with 10 points a piece.
Elon needed their sharp shoot
ing against the Generals to
offset a fine second-half per
formance by Lex Fitzenhagen.
He finished with 22 points, 18 of
those in the second half
Alumni Gym was the site of
last Saturday’s contest with
Atlantic Christian. Revenge
was in order since the Bulldogs
had defeated Elon 72 to 68 in
early December. The Elon club
paid ACC back as Leak paced
the Christians with 30 points in
the 82-75 win. Elon, down 33-30
at the half, used a pressure de
fense and a transition game to
get the win.
The Christians have been
able to put together fine per
formances on several occa-
Grapplers
2nd atW&L
Elon had one tournament
champion, four second place
finishes, three thirds and a
fourth place finish at the
Washington and Lee tourna
ment on Jan. 26. As a result of
these finishes the Christian
team placed second in team
scores, beaten only by the
tournament’s hosts, Washing
ton and Lee college.
Bobby Brown won the indi
vidual title at 150 pounds,
while Mike Fitzgerald (118 lbs),
Stafford Young (134 lbs.), Scott
Crater (142 lbs.) and Fred
McMannus (Hwt.) all took
second places.
The Christians went to the
Carson-Newman College
tournament on Feb. 4, and
finished 5th out of nine teams.
Johnny Travis (190 lbs.), and
Fred McMannus (Hwt.), both
finished second and Bobby
Brown (150 lbs.) finished third. ^
Robert Leak
sions. When their shots are not
falling as in the Pembroke
game, it could be a rough night.
Elon can win with good defense
and or good team rebounding.
The Christians are fourth in
the country in team rebound
ing percentage. Hernandez
led the conference with an
average of better than 10 re
bounds a contest.
With a greatly improved bas
ketball program, the Fightin’
Christians have a chance to win
20 games for the first time in
years. This wouldn’t be possi
ble without the help of 6-foot-6
senior Robert Leak.
For the first 23 games. Leak
has averaged 18.7 points a
game as well as 8.7 rebounds a
game. His tough inside play
and accurate 15-foot jump shot
have helped Elon to first dis
trict. He is the leading scor
er in the Carolinas Conference
and has been among the top
five rebounders most of the
year. Last week Leak was
named Player of the Week in
the Conference for the second
time this season.
Born in Charlotte, Leak went
to North Greenville Junior Col
lege, in Greenville, S.C. There
he averaged 19 points a game as
a sophomore.
Leak first played basketball
on the playgrounds before join
ing the team in high school. He
averaged 17 points a game and
enrolled briefly at Auburn
University before transfering
to North Greenville Junior Col
lege.
Calling himself an “easy
going person,*’ Leak gets along
well with his teammates and
his coach. Bill Morningstar. “1
think Coach Morningstar is a
great man,” he said.
A highlight in Leak’s career
was his 36 points against
Hampden-Sydney last Nov. 29.
The Christians beat Hampden-
Sydney 114 to 72.
If the Christians finish fourth
place or better in the district
they will go to Kansas City to
play in the NAIA basketball
tournament. Leak is optimistic
about the rest of the year and
says that the Christians will do
well. “We’re getting things
back together,” he said.
Leak says that attendance is
up this year and that the stu
dents are enthusiastic at the
games.
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89.3 FM STEREO
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Feb. 16: Guilford
Feb. 18: Lenoir-Rhyne
Bob Anderson will
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with Wes Durham
providing the color
commentary.