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Men Fall Twice to End Regular
Season Play
By
Mark Brockett
 It
was a tough week to say the least for the UIS men’s basketball
program. The team was defeated on the road against Williams
Baptist, 91-81, and was outplayed in the UIS gymnasium (The
Assembly Closet) by Missouri Baptist, 89-74. The team has now
suffered four consecutive losses in the American Midwest
Conference.
In the game with Williams Baptist, the game was tied up at 38 when
the first half was completed. However, a 53 point second half
effort by Williams Baptist did in the Prairie Stars. In the game,
Senior Randy Thomas led the team with 20 points and had 5 rebounds
and 3 steals. B.J. Bone, another senior, contributed 19 points
with 7 rebounds. Imo Akhibi chipped in with 13 points.
In the final game of the regular season, the team celebrated the
two year careers of Bone and Thomas, who have their eligibility up
after this season. In the game, the leadership of both individuals
was clearly evident on the floor. With their contributions, the
team had 5 players in double figures. However, the game did not
show the same type of result. The Spartans of Missouri Baptist
shot 58.3 percent for the game and led 44-34 at the half. Missed
opportunities in the second half doomed the the Stars and couldn’t
break the barrier.
A bright spot in the game was the play of Sophomore Michael
Griffin, who led the team with 17 points and had 4 rebounds, 3
steals, and 2 assists. Griffin had a positive outlook.
“Despite all of the things that we have gone through this week, we
are still a team and we just need to work even harder to prepare
for the tournament,” said Griffin.
The loss puts the Stars at an overall record of 12-15 with a 5-7
record in the conference. The Stars will play Hannibal LaGrange in
the first round of the American Midwest Conference tournament.
Depending on the outcome of Hannibal LaGrange’s game versus
Columbia, the team will either host the game on the 9th or will go
on the road.
Women’s Basketball
Ends in Defeat
By Mark
Brockett
The UIS women’s
basketball team ended their season this past week with a first
round American Midwest Conference tournament loss to William
Woods, 91-75. The team will not be eligible to participate in
the NAIA national tournament.
Coming into this game,
head coach Wanda Nettles had high expectations for her team. “I
think it will be a really good game,” said Nettles. “We match up
well with them and we should fare well. Coming off the win (over
Missouri Baptist on the 28th) helps give us momentum going into
the tournament and this game. If everyone comes to play, I think
we’ll do well in the tournament overall.”
Despite the efforts of
Kelly Beyer, Myeshia Jones, Latoya Jackson, and Jessica Lay, who
were in double figures in scoring, the team trailed by 14 at
halftime and couldn’t erase the deficit. Beyer had 14 for the
game, including 3 three point baskets, and led all scorers in the
contest.
The team finishes their
season with a record of 10-21. Luckily, the team does not lose any
players to graduation. Unless transfers occur, the same team will
be on the court, with other possible additions, next season.
Sports
Briefs
Intramural 4x4 Futsal
(indoor soccer without the walls) and Intramural 6x6
Indoor Volleyball entries are due tomorrow, Thursday,
March 11, in the CRS Office by 11pm. Play will be on Saturdays
and Sundays after Spring Break beginning March 27. All
participants must be at least 18 years old or a UIS Student for
either intramural sport team. UIS Students with a valid i-card
and Rec Center Members play for free. All Non-Rec Center
Members/Non-UIS players must pay the $10 sport fee and sign a
waiver form for either intramural sport team. There can be only
one current or last year’s intercollegiate soccer/volleyball
player from any college or university per respective roster.
IM Futsal teams consist of a minimum of 4 and a
maximum of 8 players with no more than two Non-Rec Center
Members/Non-UIS players per roster. IM Volleyball
teams consist of a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 players with
no more than three Non-Rec Center Members/Non-UIS players per
roster.
Session C of the Toning &
Conditioning Fitness Class will meet on Mondays and
Fridays from 12:10-12:50 pm in the UIS Gym after Spring Break
beginning March 22 through April 23. Amy Giles teaches the class.
The fee for the 10 classes is $8 for Rec Members and $20 for Non-Rec
Members. Register and pay fees at the CRS Office.
The UIS
Intramural 5x5 Basketball League concluded with the
championship game on Sunday. The 2:30 p.m. match up pitted the
Deuce Ballers against Canadian Masterpiece Theatre. The Deuce
Ballers came away with a 63-34 win to take the Intramural
Championship. Congratulations to co-captains Joseph Bartletti and
Tim Goode and their teammates Nick Bartletti, Alban Kaculi, Jason
Price, Nathan Turner, Joseph and Josh Utterback, and Matthew
Wallace. Thanks to everyone involved for making this another
successful season of UIS Intramural Basketball.
The UIS
Intramural Badminton Doubles League crowned its winner
Sunday after the Championship Match. Indo-Pak defeated Raja’s
Team 15-10, 15-5 to take the IM Championship. Congratulations to
Waqas Abbasi and Raju Patil who comprise the winning team and
thank you to all participants for making this another great UIS
Intramural Badminton League.
The UIS
Women’s Club Soccer team is holding a club meeting on
Thursday, March 25 at 9pm in the Student Center located in the
Student Life Building. The club always welcomes any new student
talent interested in joining the club to play competitive soccer.
At this meeting club members will be discussing spring scrimmages
against local high schools, team pictures, fall 2004 game
schedule, website and soccer pamphlet suggestions, and other
miscellaneous items. If you are already a club member, be sure to
attend this important meeting. If you are interested in joining
the club or wanting to see what the club is all about, please come
to the meeting as well.
Send an Email to
RecSports@uis.edu if you want
to be on the 2003-2004 Campus Rec Sports News List
to receive up-to-date information about future events and
activities. Or go to your UIS e-mail account and click on “Public
Folders>All Public Folders>UIS>Announcements” then click on
“Student or Campus” (depending on your status) to read the e-mail
announcements sent out by UIS RecSports.
For more information, contact the
Campus Recreational Sports (CRS) Office located in
the Fitness Center (SLB 118) or call 206-6658. |
