MCCONATHY BECOMES STATE’S WINNINGEST COLLEGE HOOPS COACH
NATCHITOCHES — The NSU Demons defeated Sam Houston State 84-73 in their regular-season finale Saturday as Demons coach Mike McConathy became Louisiana’s career collegiate wins leader.
The victory was No. 573 for McConathy in 30 years, the last 14 at NSU (221 wins) after 16 (with 352 wins) at Bossier Parish Community College. He passed Grambling legend Fred Hobdy, a Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame member who won 572 contests in 30 seasons before retiring in 1986.
The win came as Northwestern staged its Demon Basketball Centennial Celebration, with lettermen and the 100-man All-Century Team, along with 21 honorary captains, introduced during timeouts in the game.
McConathy's milestone was commemorated moments after the final buzzer as NSU athletic director Greg Burke unveiled a banner to be hung in the arena celebrating the record-setting triumph. Dozens of former players joined the current Demons on the court congratulating their coach.
MOORE HITS THREE HOMERS AS BPCC SWEEPS ANGELINA
Former Benton standout Ross Moore hit three home runs as Bossier Parish Community College Cavaliers swept Angelina College 14-10 and 8-2 in a Region 14 baseball doubleheader Saturday in Lufkin, Texas.
Moore and Jacob Stockton both had two-run homers in the first game. JT Rhoades went 3-for-4. Airline product Chase Daughdrill, Matt Martin, Josh Rodriguez and Preston Gray had two hits apiece, including doubles. Former Airline star Lance Jones had a double. Another Airline product, Cole Hesson, went six innings to get the win.
Moore hit two home runs and had five RBIs in the second game. Daughdrill went 3-for-4 with a double. Martin had a triple and a single. Gray and Zach Howell both doubled and had two hits. Reid Peavy went seven innings to get the win.
BPCC (14-9) returns to action Wednesday against Northeast Texas Community College in Mount Pleasant, Texas.
TECH MEN, WOMEN SET FOR WAC TOURNAMENTS
RUSTON — The Western Athletic Conference co-champion Louisiana Tech Bulldogs will be the No. 1 seed in the upcoming league tournament, while the Lady Techsters earned the No. 5 seed on the women’s side for the event which begins Tuesday at the Orleans Arena in Las Vegas.
Mike White and the Bulldogs, who tied Denver for the league crown, earned the No. 1 seed over the Pioneers based on the tiebreaker scenario which ultimately came down to the NCAA RPI’s of the respective teams.
Tech (26-5, 16-2 WAC) earned the program’s first ever WAC regular season title this year and the Bulldogs will be attempting to win their first ever WAC Tournament crown. The Bulldogs advanced to the championship game of the 2012 WAC Tournament last year before falling to New Mexico State.
Tech will open the tournament Thursday when it plays the winner of Tuesday’s game between the No. 8 seed San Jose State and the No. 8 seed UTSA.
Teresa Weatherspoon and the Lady Techsters avoided having to play Tuesday after they earned the fifth seed with its 69-51 win over Denver in Saturday night’s regular-eason finale. Tech will face the No. 4 seed UTSA Wednesday at 10:30 p.m.
Former Benton star Lulu Perry scored 12 points for the Lady Techsters’ in their 69-51 victory over Denver Saturday.
