Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Feb. 25, 1999, edition 1 / Page 19
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Sports February 25, 1999 19 Athletes of the Week Scott Clark The Low down: Clark, a jun ior, went 8-11 againt Catawba last Weekend, has reached base in nine consecutive times and is hitting .481 through eight games. Loretta Lawson The Lowdown: Lawson, a soph., scored a career-high 28 points in a loss to CSU, and 13 points in the home-fmale win vs. High Point. Unsung Hero Julianne Treme The Lowdown: Treme, a soph., rallied from behind in her No. 4 singles match to win and give Elon a 5-4 victory over Campbell (2/16).She won 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. Thomas Time Troy Adams The Pendulum It was a career night for Mike Thomas on Wednesday, Feb. 17, when Elon faced Charleston South ern. It was the end of one career, the beginning of another. How did Thomas handle it? Fittingly, he gave a career- best performance. “I was excited,” Thomas said. “I have a lot of great memories. I wasn’t sad it was over. I was ready for it.” But Charleston Southern wasn’t ready for him. Thomas, play ing in his lOOth game as a Fightin’ Christian, scored a career-high 22 points in his final game in Alumni Gym. He also posted a career-best six steals. Thomas finished the se^on as Elon’s leading rebounder, aver aging 5.4 boards a game, while con tributing 9.3 points per game, also. In his junior year, Thomas started all 27 games for the Fightin’ Christians. He finished fourth in scoring (7.8 ppg) and second in rebounding (6.1 rpg). He tied a ca reer high with 14 rebounds in an 84- 70 win against Mississippi Valley on Dec. 6, 1998. He also added another 12 points in that game for a double-double. He scored 18 points against Coastal Carolina, 17 vs. Charleston Southern and 16 vs. Pres byterian. And he just got better. Not only did Thomas lead Eion in rebounding this season, but he filled a big leadership role. With the loss of fellow seniors Clint Walker and Deva Lee to injury, Thomas had to step everything up. He scored 17 points at Color ado, 21 at Radford. He grabbed 11 boards in that same game, another 10 vs. UNC-Asheville, 10 at Coastal Carolina, and seven at Stanford and William & Mary. In his four years of Elon bas- 'I was blessed. All the praise is due to God.* —Mike Thomas “I was blessed,” Thomas said. “All the praise is due to God.” Thomas is thankful for his basketball experience at Elon, but is ready to move on, he said. He doesn’t see basketball in his future and wants to pursue his teacher’s certificate. “I really want to be led spiri tually in what I want to do,” Tho mas said. Thomas leaves behind a very successful Elon baskeball career. In his sophomore year, he led the team in rebounding on 14 occassions. He had a double-double with 16 points and 13 rebounds against Wingate on Jan. 4, 1998. But he only got better. ketball, Thomas has won a South Atlantic Conference chamionship, played in the NCAA Division II Regionals (vs. Elizabeth City State, 3/6/97), and faced some of the nation’s top teams in both Div. I and Div. II. “It’s a blessing from God,” Thomas said. “I got a chance to play both. I got the best of both of them.” Thomas came to Elon as a McDonald’s All-American nomi nee in high school. He earned All- District honors as well. He had chance to go elsewhere, but luckily Elon is where he landed. “I was led to come here,” Thomas said. “I’m glad I came. It was meant to be.” Admirable exits Basketball season is over. To many, that simply means it’s time to start cheering for another sport. But what about to those that made their living on the court? What does if feel like to those who have lived their entire life on the hardwood? What does it mean to those that have to say goodbye to something that has been an every day part of their college experi ence, to something that has be* come a facet of life? “All good things come to an end,” senior basketball player Kim Johnson said. Troy Adams The Pendulum adamt5g0@elori.edu ‘I've learned a lot from it.” Johnson, along with teammates Jodie Hallet and Mary Parker Coleman will be playing in their final game to- day. Mike Thomas and Deva Lea from the men’s team already have. “(Basketball) gave me a lot of discipline,” Thomas said, had to learn to manage my time. And it brought excitement and competi tion.” ' Thomas and Johnson capped their careers with prize perfor mances. Hallet and Parker went out strong as well. Thomas had career-highs in points (22) and steals (6) in his final home game as a Fightin’ Chris* tian. Johnson made a clutch steal and nailed four free throws down the stretch to give the women a79* 71 win over High Point and end a lO-game losing skid in their final home game. ^ Hallet had a season-best 17 points in the game> and Coleman netted six points herself. Lea could not play in his final game, sidelined by an injury early in the season. These seniors will take has* ketball for what it was and apply what they learned to life. “There’s lessons to be learned in losing and winning,’’ Thomas said. “It shows you how to work as a team. Hard work equals success.” And all [five of these se niors have been successful—on and off the I court. Saying goodbye will be tough, but they know it’s not the end, but rather a new beginning. ‘‘‘Your team is your family/* Johnson said. '‘My team feels that way. There is nothing we wouldn’t do for each other. ’I'm OK with (being fin ished). I’ve got a lot out of basket* ball» a lot more than just plays and having a good time.”, These players will take ev erything they’ve done and accom plished and apply it to life. Loy alty, trust, discipline and social skills. It’seven more a testament to these seniors, knowing that they realized it would all come to an end, what role basketball played in their lives, but yet they still gave it their all. That is the sign of true cham pions and well-rounded players, people and graduates. ^ This Week in Campus Recreation Athlete of the Week ustin Sardi - H.R. H.S. Sardi won the Hardee's Hot Shot contest and will rep resent Elon at the Big South Conference tournament this weekend. Team of the Week Charlie's Angels Charlie's Angles cruised to an opening week victory and established them selves as the team to beat in women's in tramural basketball. Game of the Week Down South Riders vs. White Shadow Sunday Feb. 28 @7 p.m. Two of the top intramural basketball teams battle for playoff seadings and bragging rights in this showdown. Both teams feature quick guards and strong interion play. There is not truth to the rumor that Coolidge will be start ing for White Shadown. Compiled by: Peter Tulchinsky, Dir. of Campus Rec. & Troy Adams, Sports Editor
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Feb. 25, 1999, edition 1
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