WIVH-* unmv VKHSfflK
SI AC ROUNDBALL
Atlanta schoo
v/ ? m.hh if! *nu nMuiMinuiniiiiii linn w ,w w
M i*. a - ? - 1 la '? * i ?*?*?*.< * *->?* ??? A ?<. >*K', r . J ,?f ,"77 ?>% \l!1
The SIAC scramble for regular season
titles could very well involve all three Atlanta
based schools ? Clark/Atlanta and Morris
Brown in the East Region and Morehouse Col
lege in the West Region.
Going into the final month of the season,
the top teams have very little breathing room.
Here's a look at how things are stacking up
around the league.
EAST REGION
ClarK/ Atlanta is on a roll having won six
of seven league games. The Panthers have dis
covered the path of consistent winning by getting
more of an even distribution of points offensive
iy
James Martin (19 ppg, 3.6 steals a game) is
still the guy to watch, but he has very capable
help with the addition of guard Dalton Greene.
Greene ranks among league leaders in three
point field goal percentage (.407) and free throw
percentage (.762).
CAU has also done a better job as a team in
terms of field goal shooting (49.1 percent) and
rebounding (winning the battle of the glass by an
average of 7.8 caroms a game). Argent Steele
v has come through as one of the SIAC's top dish
out artists, averaging 4.3 assists a night
Morris Brown has emerged as a serious
contender because of added and more accurate
firepower. The Wolverines are the league's sec
ond best shooting squad, canning 49.2 per cent
of their shots from the floot Kirt Baker (19.5
ppg) and Leroy Gasque (15.5 ppg) are major
contributors inlhat area ? both are shooting
better than 59 percent from the field.
Marcus Haynes (14.8 ppg) has continued to
give MBC an outside threat and along the away,
Royce Turner has elevated his game. In MBC
wins over Fort Vblley (89-74) and Albany State
(115-112 in four Oft), Turner had 51 points, 14
rebounds, seven steals, eight assists and three
blocked shots. Ali Baarqar controls the attack as
the trigger man who leads the SIAC with 6.6
assists a game.
Fort Valley State was holding its own,
which is more than most folk expected this yean
The Wildcats have Julius Fritz (24.6 ppg) which
means they always have the potential to score
i lots of points.
However, Fritz doesn't have to do it all on
his own anymore and that has made Valley a
more formidable opponent. The presence of
Kevin Simmons (19.1 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 1.8 blocks a
game) and David Eaker (16.6 ppg) have given
the 'Cats some inside punch which is reflected in
their league-leading 50.S percent field goal
shooting in the SIAC's team stats.
Paine College is experiencing some trying
?limes. Larry Washington is one of the league's ~
better performers at 19.3 ppg. But the Lions
haven't scored enough points (69 ppg), haven't
shot well (41.6 per cent field goal accuracy) and
have taken a beating on the boards. Lions oppo
nents outrebound PC by an average of almost 11
boards a game.
Albany State has one of the conference's
most productive performers in Michael Bivens
? 18.2 ppg, 10.1 rpg plus 47 blocks in 17
games. Rubin Harvey has mastered the art of
. rejecting enemy shots. He leads the conference
in that category with 69 blocks in 18 games.
Savannah State has had its problems this
season. Their 42. 1 percent field goal accuracy
hasn't helped matters any. However, Chad
Faulkner has produced very nicely, averaging
17.1 ppg.
WEST REGION
LeMoyne Owen can always be counted on
to accumulate points in mad dash fashion. Within
the conference, they score 95.6 ppg, but they
also allow 94.3 ppg. However, they are beyond
the .500 mark, indicating that they know how to
get the best out of their fast-paced styled ~
Paul Wooten and Anthony To^ert form the
foundation for this team. Wooten scores 20.8
ppg, hands out 4.6 apg and is a chief thief at 19
steals per contest Tolbert contributes 17.5 ppg,
and leads the S1AC in field goal percentage
(?633).
Allen Perry provides solid help in the
rebounding department with 8.9 caroms a game,
while John Boyd is ranked among the S1AC
assists leaden, avenging 4.9 a game.
Morehouse hasn't always looked like the
team that was picked to win the national title this
?? season. However, the MaroonTigers realize that
any thoughts of going back to the Elite Eight will
have to start with a conference tournament win.
They're in the hunt for sure. And that's the
way it will stay. Harold Ellis will see to it per
sonally. Ellis is the circuit's top gun at 25.7 ppg.
There are times when Ellis takes total control.
Virginia State Invitational t
19), but the accuracy told the story. The
Lady Pirates converted 75 percent of
their foul shots, while VSU managed just
42.1 percent, hitting 16 of 34.
Hampton had five women score in
double figures in the finals. Jackie
McWilliams, tournament MVP, finished
with 17 points, five rebounds and four
steals. Thelka Blue added 15 points and
six rebounds and Candace Tillman con
tributed 11 points (including seven of
nine shooting from the foul line). Angela
Faulk (nine rebounds) and Wendy Good
win chipped in with 10 points each.
Virginia state benefitted from some
stellar play by Chris Richardson, who
totaled 19 points and 15 rebounds. Ruthie
Miles (16 points, nine rebounds), Jackie
Carter (13 points, six rebounds) and
Anita Taylor (12 points, 14 rebounds)
provided ample support for Richardson.
Hampton reached the finals by
dumping St Paul's, 78-52. Faulk led the
attack with 13 points while McWilliams
and Blue tallied 12 points each. Tillman
chipped in with 10 points.
TOURNEY
UPDATE
The SI AC men's tournament
returns to Atlanta this year, but
with a slightly new twist. The
league tourney will be played at
the Alexander Coliseum at Geor
gia Tech University, March 7-9.
The championship finals will be
aired lived on March 9 at 8 p.m.
by Black Entertainment Televi
sion.
The winner gets an automat
ic berth to NCAA Division II play
offs. Best bets to make the Final
Four are: Clark/Atlanta Universi
ty, Morehouse College, Morris
Brown College and LeMoyne
Owen College. Morehouse is the
choice to win it all. Clark/Atlanta
OThe darkhorse pick.
For ticket information, call
the SIAC office at 404/659-3380.
- Photo byDonald Sang
Harold Ellis Is eager to take
Morehouse back to the Division II
playoffs In *91.
Ample evidence of that was provided in games
vs. Albany (a 95-87 win) and North Alabama
(105-100 loss). In that two-game span, Ellis
poured in 64 points, collected 17 rebounds and
had four steals. y
Stewart Watkins has continued to improve
his defensive play in the post. He has 51 blocks
in 20 games.
MHes College has a serious love affair with
the three point shot. The SIAC's top rated
offense (96.4 ppg) has attempted far more tres
than anyone in their conference ? 430 to be pre
cise. The second most attempts have been
launched by LeMoyne Owen, 290.
Anthony Watson is one of the beneficiaries
of this long distance approach. Watson tops the
league in threes made per game (2.9) and is
among S1AC leaders in three point shooting (40
percent).
But the Bears have also done a solid job
around the glass. They are the top rebounding
squad in the conference (48.9 a game) and are
No. 2 iif rebounding margin at a ? 4.3 caroms a
game. Paul Beaty is one of the top lead guards
around (4.4 apg).
Alabama A&M is not the same kind of
team it has been in re&nt seasons. The Bulldogs
work hard on the boards thanks to Frederick
Gemons and Johnny Perry. Demons (17.6 ppg)
gets 9.6 rebounds a night and Perry picks off car
oms at a rate of 8.4 per contest
But in?he final analysis, the Dogs have fall
en on hard times because of poor shooting ?
41.5 percent from the field is the lowest in the
conference.
Itakegee has Gary Hunt, one of the most
lethal scoring forces in the league. Hunt (20.8
ppg) has gotten support from Alvin Wimberly, a
60.7 percent field goal shooter who averages
14.3 ppg and 7.8 rpg.
The Golden Tigers are the SIAC's tops in
three point shooting (39 percent as team). Dennis
Martin (48.6 percent) and Anthony Walker (41.3
percent) are ranked first and second in three
point shooting accuracy.
. IZTT -Zack Monday
The Trojanettes blasted their way to
the championship game by virtue of their
70-36 drubbing of Morris Brown. Miles
and Taylor scored 17 points each for the
victors. The key to VSU's victory was
their ability to shut down the MBC
offense, holding the Lady Wolverines to
just eight points in the first half.
Morris Brown rebounded to win the
consolation game for third place by best
ing St Paul's, 55-52,
Kimberly Lewis led the Lady
Wolverines with 20 points and 13
rebounds. Sharon Harris added 14 points
and Telicia Davis had nine rebounds for
the game. N^C controlled the game
because they controlled the boards, outre
bounding St Paulvs by a 52-40 margin.
The top offensive performers for St
Paul's were Daphne Trusty (22 points, six
rebounds), Michelle Nhambure (14
points). Sylvia Howard and Angela Ram
sey came through with solid work on the
boards, grabbing 11 and nine rebounds
respectively.
-Steve Zimmerman