Sports

Volume 22, Issue 14

Men’s Basketball coming together?

By Jason Stuebe

     It had been a long month for Prairie Stars Men’s Basketball. A long month for the players, a long month for the fans, and a frustrating month for Head Coach Kevin Gamble and his staff.
     Between November 16 and December 21 the Stars fell in 11 straight contests, the lowest of lows in the two and a half year history of the team.
     After a 59-57 home loss against Indiana Wesleyan Gamble was simply frustrated. “We don’t shoot the ball, we don’t take care of the ball,” said Gamble, “We’re going to struggle if we keep making these middle school mistakes.”
     It was in that nail-biter loss that UIS shot only 36.8% from the field, almost an unheard of number for the talent that UIS has.
In the eyes of Gamble the talent is there its just not being harvested for whatever reason.
     Over the holiday break UIS went on the road to face Brescia where the Stars were held to only 40 points in the entire game as they fell 65-40.
     Though the game was bleak a few bright spots emerged in the form of Brian McMillien, Aaron Leonard and Michael Griffin who all stepped up when UIS big men Antonio Puckett and Johnny Tate had relatively cool shooting. McMillen led UIS in scoring with 13 points while Leonard and Griffin had six a piece.
     The team then traveled to Joliet to face the University of St. Francis, a game which many would call “relief” as they defeated the Saints 58-55 and broke that pesky 11-game skid.
     UIS’ Tate returned to form in the win leading the game with a double-double 15 points and 10 rebounds while Joe Miller had 11 points and Colin Crull put seven on the board while nabbing five rebounds. The Stars improved their field goal shooting gitting 46.2% of their shots to fall in the hole, though the outside game continued to leave a lot to be had with only 18.29% shooting.
     “We’re improving every game, our biggest problem has been putting the ball in the hole,” said Gamble.
     But as they all say, it’s a clean slate and a new season as conference play begins and Gamble and Co. know what is in store for them.
     With the American Midwest Conference wide open according to most pundits it could come down to whoever can trip up perennial favorites McKendree, Columbia, and Missouri Baptist and UIS could be setting itself up to be the rainy day on their respective parades.
     “We don’t want to predict where we’re going to be at. We just want to play hard and start playing as a single unit,” said Gamble.
     UIS opens conference play at Hannibal LaGrange tomorrow, January 13 and opens their home conference schedule against rival McKendree on January 22 at 3:00 p.m.

Women’s Basketball finding a rhythm

Jason Stuebe

     It’s no secret that basketball around here has been gloomy at best lately. The UIS women, however, have seen light at the end of the tunnel and are looking to a fresh start for American Midwest Conference play which began Tuesday night.
     “The girls have been up beat and we should match up well against most conference opponents,” said Head Coach Wanda Nettles.
     Nettles was quick to point out, however, that there are a few things, namely the inside game, that needs to be worked on to get the women over the “hump” and play winning basketball again.
     “We have got to start making our two-footers and lay-ups and improve on that if we want win,” continued Nettles.
     The Stars closed out their pre-conference play going 2-2 against four ranked opponents including a near upset of Olivet Nazarene University at the confines of the UIS Assembly Closet.
     The Women started their semester break by snapping a dismal seven-game losing streak beating Judson College in a 63-62 nail biter. With 1:56 remaining, freshman LaTrice Nettles took a feed from Chikayla Moss down court and popped a three putting UIS on top 63-60.
     Judson’s Nikki Schmidt hit a jumper with :48 seconds remaining to pull Eagles within one but could not put a play together in the final seconds.
     The Stars were led by Zabrina Harper, who began what would be a happy holiday season on the court for her, knocked down 28 points and six rebounds while Moss contributed 15 points and 8 boards. Collectively, the Stars shot 39.4% from the field, 20% from outside the arch, and 61.5% from the line.
     UIS then faced Olivet Nazarene at home falling to the Tigers in a 112-109 heartbreaker. Harper tied the game at 109 a piece with 1:09 left but then fouled sending the Tigers to the line and on top for good. Desperation fouls in the final seconds proved futile for the Stars as the Tigers hit three out of four in the final minute.
     The Stars were led again by Harper, who garnered her first double-double of the season with 46 points and 18 rebounds and Ashley Barton who had a double-double of her own with 23 points and 10 rebounds. The Stars shot an above par 43.9% from the field but a lackluster 10% from three point range while nailing 84.6% of the shots from the charity stripe.
     The Women wrapped up their three-game home stand with an 84-79 win over Grace College. UIS maintained a balanced attack with four players scoring double digits. Harper again led the Stars with 26 points and 10 rebounds. Joining her in the scoring parade was Nettles with 14 points, Barton with 12, and Moss with 11. Barton also pulled down seven boards.
     The Stars had one of their better shooting performances shooting 40.9% from the field, 39.1% from three-point land, and 80.8% from the line.
     UIS finished pre-season play in a rematch against ONU this time playing at the Tigers’ home court in Bourbonais, IL. Though the venue changed, the result remained the same with UIS falling 120-98 in another fast paced game.
     The Stars were led again by, you guessed it, Harper with 33 points and seven rebounds, while Chikayla Moss had 26 points and 5 rebounds, and Latoya Jackson, who notched her first double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
     UIS opened conference play last night at Williams Baptist college and hold their conference home opener against Hannibal LaGrange January 18.

MacDonna fills in as athletic director

By Heather Shaffer

While UIS administrators are searching for a new athletic director, Paul MacDonna will serve as interim athletic director.
MacDonna said that the athletic department will continue to maintain the integrity of all of the athletic programs.
He said that the goal of the athletic department is to graduate students. “They are students first and athletes second,” he said.
MacDonna said the athletic department wants to maintain or raise the current graduation rate of 80 percent.
Throughout the semester, MacDonna said he will help support the Intercollegiate Athletic Commission in their review of the Task Force Report that was issued about the UIS athletic department last year.
Since UIS is hosting the Region Five Men’s and Women’s Tennis Tournament and the Women’s Softball Tournament, MacDonna said the athletic department is already beginning to make plans for the events. He said that they are hoping to make the events more memorable for all of the athletes.
MacDonna is originally from Harrisburg, Ill. His family moved to Decatur, Ill. when he was in high school.
In 1990, MacDonna came to UIS to finish his bachelor’s degree. In 1993, he was hired as assistant sports information director.

Stuebe’s Sporting Goods
Remember 2004?

By Jason Stuebe

I’m sure all of you have been inundated by a countless number of top-ten lists of the past year. From top-ten fashion fads to top-ten nipple slips, 2004 provided us with many memories, both good and bad. With that in mind, I thought I would offer my own top-ten list, so without further ado here it goes.
10. Notre Dame Fires Willingham
In a move that broke precedent and raised concern over the fate of African-American coaches in NCAA D-1 ball, the Irish fired Ty Willingham with two years remaining on his contract.
9. The Golden Girls: U.S. Women’s Softball
It’s no secret that I have an odd fetish for women’s softball, but this appearance by Jenny Finch and Co. is more than deserved. Team USA Softball breezed through 9-0 allowing only one run (by Australia) and won their third straight Olympic gold becoming the real “Dream Team.”
8. Boobgate
What more can someone say that hasn’t already been said about the greatest wardrobe malfunction in all of human history?
7. Peyton Manning Breaks Marino’s TD Record
Even though I think Peyton Manning is the least intelligent person to have a mic thrown in his face – boy if he can’t wing a football. Fighting adversity in the bout with San Diego, Manning threw his 49th touchdown of the season to force the game into overtime and ultimately a Colts victory.
6. Phinally Phil at Augusta
It had been a long time coming, but Phil Mickelson finally earned a green jacket and golf immortality. Everyone expected Phil to never win the Masters, much in the same way that Elway was to never win a Super Bowl or Earnhardt Sr. a Daytona 500. But Mickelson’s fate was sealed with an 18-foot birdie putt on the last hole that he sunk with dramatic ease.
5. Father Like Son: Junior Wins the 500
In only five years Dale Earnhardt Jr. did what took his legendary late father 20 years
to accomplish: win the Daytona 500. Dominating the race, Jr. slipped past Tony Stewart with 19 laps remaining and cruised to victory in “The Great American Race.”
4. Birdstone Denies Smarty Jones
Smarty Jones was supposed to win the Triple Crown. He was the best horse since
Affirmed in 1978 to have a shot and he fell short by mere inches. Coming down the stretch, the 2-5 odd Jones appeared to have it until a 36-1 Nick Zito-trained thoroughbred named Birdstone rallied alongside and pulled away to victory making me a rich and very happy man for one day (Best $20.00 bet I ever made).
3. Greece Finds A Purpose: 2004 Olympiad
Amid concerns that facilities would not be complete or fall at the hands of terrorists, the Olympics celebrated its homecoming without a hitch. Opa!
2. Basketbrawl, Anyone?
In probably the most shocking, if not absurd, moment of 2004, fans and players converged in one of the grossest displays of barbaric behavior this side of hockey. With fines, lawsuits, criminal cases, and suspensions flying, the effects of that cold November night will reverberate for years to come.
1. BoSox to Cardinals: Slama-Lama-So-Long
Sure, that line has been overplayed but I couldn’t resist. Not only did Boston defeat the Evil Empire in the ALCS, they went on to sweep St. Louis in four games breaking the Curse of the Bambino and evoking emotion out of nearly every fan of Major League Baseball, minus the dozen or so million residents of N.Y.C.

Prairie Star of the Week

     We love it when athletes make our jobs easy and UIS’ Zabrina Harper has done just that. What with leading the Stars in scoring and garnering back-to-back double-doubles in the Stars’ last four outings it was a pretty easy pick for our Prairie Star of the Week.
     The 5’10” senior out of West Peoria has been on a rampage as of late and according to Head Coach Wanda Nettles it could have happened a lot sooner.
“She could have done this last year,” said Nettles, “She can be on any All-Tournament team or All-Conference team…she can be whatever she wants to be. She can determine her own destiny.”
     Harper has laid the ground work for what could be a phenomenal conference season, not only for her, but for the team if her performances continue like they have since the beginning of the semester break.
     Scoring 28 points in a 63-62 win over Judson, 46 points and 18 rebounds in a loss to Olivet Nazarene, 26 points and 10 rebounds against Grace, and 33 points in the ONU rematch, to say Harper is the reigning queen of the hardwood is an understatement.
     Harper is leading UIS in scoring this season averaging 19.0 points again all the while performing on the defensive end leading the way with 28 steals.
     The UIS Sportswriters and Broadcasters Association congratulates Miss Harper by way of the first Prairie Star of the Week for 2005.

Campus Recreational Briefs

Informal Open Recreation Hours for 2004-05
The Rec Center (Fitness Center and Gym) open rec hours are Monday-Thursday 8am-11pm; Friday 10am-8pm; Saturday 10am-4pm; and Sunday 2-8pm. These hours are subject to change during campus vacation periods or scheduled events. Participants wishing to use the above facilities must submit a valid i-card upon entering the Rec Center. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Weekend Hours are: Saturday, January 15 from 10am-2pm; Sunday, January 16 from 4-8pm; and Monday, January 17 from 4-8pm.

Fitness & Instructional
Registrations are now being accepted in the CRS Office for the following classes. Participants must be at least 18 years old or a UIS student to participate:

Toning & Conditioning will be taught by Amy Giles on Mondays and Fridays from 12:10-12:50 pm in the UIS Gym. There are three sessions of varying length: Session A: January 21-April 29 (no class March 14-18 or Friday, March 25); Rec Center Members (student and non-students with a valid i-card) pay $20; Non-Rec Center Members pay $60. Session B: January 21-March 11; Rec Center Members pay $12; Non-Rec Center Members pay $36. Session C: March 21-April 29 (no class Friday, March 25); Rec Center Members pay $9; Non-Rec Center Members pay $27. Registration deadline is 1pm on Thursday, January 20.

Fencing will be taught by Dr. Larry Livingston on Wednesdays in the UIS Gym from 12:10-12:50pm beginning January 26. The deadline to sign up is 1pm Tuesday, January 25. UIS Students and Rec Center Members with valid i-cards who receive priority in registration pay $5 for the 6-lesson session. UIS Community Non-Rec Center Members & Non-UIS (must sign waiver form) pay $15.

Intramural Sports
Entries are now available from the Campus Recreational Sports Office for the IM 5x5 Basketball and IM Badminton Doubles Leagues. Participants must be at least 18 years old or a UIS student to participate.
UIS Students and Rec Center Members with a valid i-card play for free. Non-Rec Center Members & Non-UIS (must sign waiver form) pay $10 per entry.

IM 5x5 Basketball team entry forms are due in the CRS Office by 11pm Monday, January 24. Teams will consist of a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 12 players. No more than 2 Non-Rec Center Members per roster. Only 1 present or last year’s intercollegiate basketball player allowed per roster. League play will be on Saturday and Sundays beginning January 30 in the UIS Gym.

IM Badminton Doubles play begins the week of February 7 in the UIS Gym. League play will be scheduled according to players and facility availability. Only one Non-Rec Center Member per roster. Participants may enter 1 women’s or men’s doubles team and 1 co-rec (mixed) team. Deadline to enter is 11pm on Monday, January 31.

Spring 2005 Milers' Club
The UIS Milers' Club is “up and running” through Sunday, April 24. This 15-week activity promotes cardiovascular fitness through unstructured recreational activities in which participants choose when and where to exercise. A 150-mile goal (10 miles a week) is the minimum, but participants are encouraged to set a higher goal if they wish. You may choose walking, jogging, biking, or other measurable distance exercises. Participants are required to turn in weekly exercise slips on Mondays to the CRS Office so that the staff can make a progress chart. The Milers' Club is a free activity but you must sign up by registering at the CRS Office with a valid i-card.

Weight Training Clinics
Free weight training clinics on the use of the fixed weight machines or free weights in the Fitness Center are available on an appointment basis. Form, technique, and a basic weight training program will be discussed. Call Karen Willard at 206-7902 to set up an appointment that fits your schedule.

Ski Trip
The annual weekend Ski Trip to Cascade Mountain and Devil’s Head in central Wisconsin is Friday-Sunday, February 11-13, 2005. Check the website for further information.

HOW CAN I LEARN ABOUT CAMPUS REC SPORTS NEWS?
(1) Send an Email to RecSports@uis.edu to be included in the 2004-2005 Campus Rec Sports News List to receive personal up-to-date information about future events and activities. (2) Click on “Public Folders>All Public Folders>UIS>Announcements>Campus” on your UIS e-mail account and read the e-mail announcements sent out by UIS Campus Rec Sports. (3) Check out the website at www.uis.edu/recsports/. (4) Contact the Campus Recreational Sports (CRS) Office located in the Fitness Center (SLB 118) or call 206-6658.