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Sports Page 8 Clark Atlanta University Panther January 30, 1991 Basketball By ANTHONY GEORGE III SPORTS EDITOR The lady Panthers started slowly, cranked up during the middle, then fell apart during the close of the game against Savannah State at Vivian Henderson gym. CAU trailed 21-4 early in the game. Junior Kellie Wyatt led a scoring spurge for the Lady Panthers as they closed Savannah State’s lead to 56-53 with seven minutes remaining in the game. But Savannah State’s center Mable Sanders scored 12 points in three minutes, as the Tigerettes buried the Lady Panthers 75-58, Jan. 16. Sanders made 13 of the 15 shots she attempted, and finished as the games leading scorer with 29 points. “Sanders is a tremendous player.” said Elmer Mixon, head coach. “When we double teamed her, she would just pass the ball to the open man. We just didn’t have anybody who could stop her.” During the lady Panther’s run late in the first half, and early in the second, they were able to slow Sanders down. Center Sharon Guilford and Wyatt sparked the team during that period. Guilford scored a quick four points, narrowing the Tigerettes lead to 21-1 1. Then Wyatt took over, as she scored 15 straight points with a barrage of 3-pointers and jump shots as she kept her team in the game. A pivotal play in the first half was the last play of the half as Guilford grabbed a rebound and scored at the buzzer, as the lady Panthers trailed 35-26 at halftime. Guilford sprained her right ankle on that play, and was lest most of the second half of the game. Wyatt led the lady Panthers in coring with 22 points. Spotlight MEN ■* The Panthers got off to a quick 19-4 lead and never let up, as the Panthers defeated Savannah State 104-86 at Vivan Henderson Gym Jan. 16. Guard's Tito Parker and Dalton Greene buried the Wildcats early as they made five of six 3-point shots they attempted. Center Dwight Huggett banged in the inside to score 14 points to go along wiht his 13 rebounds. After the quick start of the Panthers, Savannah State and CAU traded baskets, as the . Panthers had a 53-39 lead at halftime. Savannah State rallied during a four-minute stretch as they outscored CAU 10-2, narrowing the Panthers lead to 42-37 with 2:56 remaining in the half. But Greene and Huggett took over at that point, as they scored the remaining 11 points in the half. Green swiped the ball from Savannah State’s guards twice, which led to free throws. Huggett rebounded a missed 3-point attempt by James Martin, and dunked off the miss shot. He also got an offensive rebound with the time running out in the half and scored a layup, giving the Panthers a comfortable 14-point cushion at halftime. The second half belonged to the Panthers, as they went up as many as 21 points late in the second half. This is the Panthers fourth straight win, and keeps them in first place in the conference. Dalton Green led all Panther scorers with 27 points. BRIEFLY: The Lady Panthers lost for the 13th time in 14 games when they loss to Morris Brown 58-55 Saturday. CA U Has A Ball In A laska By WILLIAM H. BLACKBURN Staff Writer If winning isn’t everything, then Clark Atlanta University Panthers’ December basketball journey into the Northwest can be chalked up as successful. Despite compiling a 1 -4 record on their winter escapade, the Panthers learned a great deal playing hours away from home. “This was a different experience for all of us,” said forward Dexter Brown. “Our win-loss record was secondary to how we matured on the trip.” After playing arch-rival Morehouse to a double overtime thriller, the team hopped a next day flight to Seattle and the lesson was about to begin. <W Suffering from jet-lag and exhaustion, the Panthers squandered away a game that they easily could have won. ‘When we got to Seattle, we ate, then slept up to game time,” Brown said. “That is not our normal pre-game routine.” Having lost two consecutive games, the Panthers traveled to the blistering cold of Alaska. Though the players and coaches packed wisely for the cold, they were not prepared for the warm welcome that they received. “Everybody thinks Alaska is full of igloos and bobsledding teams with dogs, but it had populated cities like everywhere else,” said guard Argent Steele. “The people there were very friendly,” said freshman guard Tito Parker. However, the two Alaskan teams that the Panthers faced were not quite as courteous and for good reason. Alaska-Anchorage was a Division II pre-season top 10 team, but had fallen on hard times coming into the game with a record below .500. Playing one of the best 4-5 teams in the division, the Panthers were subdued twice but not without a valiant effort. “Anytime you go to Anchorage and play that type of team, you can expect a hard fought game,” said Kevin Moses, Sports Information Director. “The team learned a lot and can use this experience towards the teams in the S1AC.” Coach Robert Pritchett agreed that the trip would be used as a learning tool. “We scheduled this trip to the West Coast to gain exposure,” Pritchett said. “In the next few years if we remain healthy, we will be one of the top teams in the nation.” In addition, the trip gave the team a chance to. see the sites of Alaska. “We had a chance to tour the University of Alaska,” Steele said. “Nobody on the team had ever visited Alaska, and some may never get an opportunity to return.” When the Panthers traveled to Alaska- Fairbanks, the team obtained more than frequent flyer discounts. They also picked up a 15-point win, and a couple of fans. “Playing more than 5,000 miles away from home is a very lonely feeling,” Brown said. “So when a couple of Alaskans cheer for you it’s sweet music to the ear.” Having learned the tune, the Panthers expect to do a little Alaskan dance around the SIAC with a little more rhythm during the second half of the season. Highlight Reel By ANTHONY GEORGE III Sports Editor Because of the Chrismas Holidays and registration, the Panther did not cover several of the basketball games Clark Atlanta University played. Here is a synopsis of all the games you mav have missed, men and women. MEN Dec. 4: The Panthers loss to Morehouse 109-108 in two overtimes in the second annual King Cobra Classic. The first overtime was caused by freshman guard Tito Parker’s 3-point shot at the buzzer. In the second o.t., Morehouse’s Harold Ellis scored the winning basket with no time remaining on the clock. James Martin lead the Panthers with 33 points. CAU played their next nine games away from home and the immediate five in the Northwestern United States. Dec.5: The Panthers lost a close game to Seattle Pacific 72-67. Martin,Greene and Parker lead the Panthers with 13 points. Dec. 7: The Panthers defeated University of Alaska at Fairbanks 94-79. Greene lead the Panthers with 19 points. Dec. 8: In the rematch game, the Panthers fell to UAF 92-87. Greene lead the Panthers with 21 points. Dec. 10: The road weary Panther took their worst loss of the season 80-64 to University of Alaska at Anchorage. At this time the Panthers had a 4-6 record. The Panthers loss could be attributed to poor shooting, as they shot only 36 percent from the field. Dwight Huggett lead the Panthers in scoring with 14 points. Dec. 11: In the rematch game against UAA, the Panthers were more competitive, but lost 66-58. The Panthers lead 33-28 at halftime, but could not stop UAA in the second half. Jimmy Smith lead the Panthers with 17 points. Dec. 18: Out of Alaska and into Alabama did not produce a win. CAU lost their fourth consecutive game of the season to Alabama State 97-84. Greene scored 29 for the Panthers. Jan. 3: The new year did not bring a win, as the Panthers fell to Troy State 107-95. Martin lead the Panthers with 20 points. Jan. 5: CAU jumped out to an early lead and relinquished it, as the broke a five-game losing streak^with a 86-75 win over Savannah State. Martin lead the Panthers with 21 points. CAU rolled to an 86-68 win over Albany State. CAU finished their road swing at 3-6. Martin lead the Panthers in scoring with 24 points. Jan. 12: Playing their first home game in over a month, the Panthers rolled over Lemoyne Owen 125-97. CAU broke only lead 50-46 at halftime. Greene lead the Panthers with 28 points. Pantherette Recap Lady Panthers WOMEN: Dec. 3: The lady Panthers were blasted by South Carolina State 87-36. Clark Atlanta University shot a miserable 18 percent from the field, in contrast to South Carolina State’s 58 percent. Kellie Wyatt led the lady Panthers with 11 points. Dec. 4: The lady Panthers lost to Spelman 57-55 at Georgia Tech. Even worse, the lady Panthers lost to a team that is playing their first year of college athletics, and is without a mascot. After the game, first-year head coach Elmer Mixon said, “We played hard, but we didn’t make some important shots. But we did work hard, and we didn’t give up. After a while, we will win some games.” The lady Panthers are 0-6. Wyatt lead the lady Panthers with 16 points. Dec. 10: The lady Panthers started slowly against Talledaga but lost their seventh straight game, 67-61. Wyatt lead the Panthers with 16 points. Jan. 5: The new year did not promise a win for the struggling lady Panthers as they loss to Savannah State. Jan. 11: Playing their second consecutive game away from home, the lady Panthers lost to Albany State "51-42. Wyatt again led the lady Panthers with 16 points. Jan. 12: The nine-game losing streak finally ends as the lady Panthers defeated LeMoyne-Owens 43-36. Wyatt had her best scoring performance of the year with a 26 point effort. Jan. 14: Florida Atlantic defeated defeated CAU for the second time this season with a 82-51 win. The Panthers trailed by 5 points at halftime, but were outscored 50-24 in the second half.