COLLEGE BASKETBALL Clarke, Portis win top player honors
Coty Clarke and Bobby Portis shared the most outstanding player award presented Wednesday night at Arkansas’ men’s basketball banquet in Walton Arena.
Clarke, a senior forward from Birmingham, Ala., averaged 9.4 points and 5.6 rebounds with a team-leading 51 steals along with 81 assists. Portis, a freshman forward from Little Rock Hall, averaged 12.3 points and a team-leading 6.8 rebounds with a team-high 54 blocked shots.
Sophomore forward Michael Qualls and freshman center Moses Kingsley shared the most improved player award. Kingsley also won the “Iron Razorback Award” for his work in the weight room.
Portis won awards for being the team’s top rebounder and shot blocker, and Clarke won the “Hog Award” for his strong all-around game.
Junior guard Ky Madden won awards for leading the team in assists (91) and free-throw shooting (82.1 percent). Senior guard Kikko Haydar won awards for academics and community service; senior guard Fred Gulley won the Coaches’ Award for his defense and toughness; and senior guards Rickey Scott and Mardracus Wade shared the “Heart of a Razorback Award.”
- Bob Holt
Pennell completes UCA staff
University of Central Arkansas Coach Russ Pennell has hired Matt Scherbenske to round out his men’s basketball staff.
Scherbenske served as video coordinator at California last season under Mike Montgomery, who retired earlier this month. He’s also worked at The Citadel as its director of basketball operations.
Director of basketball operations Joey Moon is the only staff member remaining from interim coach Clarence Finley’s staff.
- Jeremy Muck
GOLF UALR women 4th, ASU 7th in SBC Tournament
UALR’s women’s team shot 927 and finished fourth Wednesday at the Sun Belt Conference Tournament at Steelwood Country Club in Loxley, Ala.
Junrio Sophia Berglund tied for fifth with a 9-over-par 225, which included a 3-over 75 in the final round. It marked the second consecutive season she has finished among the top 10 in the conference tournament.
Arkansas State shot a final-round 323 and finished seventh with a three-day total of 955.
Maci Arrington led the Red Wolves, finishing tied for 12th at 229 (73-77-79). Marie Couffignal tied for 17th at 235 (79-76-80). UCA women third at conference tournament
Central Arkansas’ women’s golf team dropped to third Wednesday after the second round of the Southland Conference Championship at High Meadow Golf Club in Magnolia, Texas.
UCA followed its opening-round 304 with a 308 for a 612 total. Lamar leads the tournament at 603, and Oral Roberts is second at 608.
Sarah Brown shot 76 Wednesday and remained in fourth place at 150. Kendra Mann is tied for for fifth at 151 after shooting 77.
The final round is today.
Conference honors UCA’s Angles
Central Arkansas’ Pep Angles was named golfer of the month Wednesday by the Southland Conference.
Angles was the medalist at the Ole Miss Reunion Intercollegiate on Tuesday with a 3-under-par 141. He also tied for 11th at the Jim West Intercollegiate after shooting 4-under 212.
TENNIS Missouri tops Arkansas women
Missouri defeated Arkansas 4-0 in the opening round of the SEC Women’s Championship on Wednesday in Columbia, Mo.
Missouri (8-20) won the doubles point, then won three consecutive singles matches to clinch the victory against the Razorbacks (13-16).
MISCELLANEOUS SpectacUALR will honor Stephens
UALR’s sixth annual SpectacUALR will honor Betty Jo Stephens, a pioneer in women’s athletics at UALR.
The event will take place Oct. 9 at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock and will include silent and live auctions with all proceeds directly impacting UALR’s current athletes. Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Stephens was inducted in the UALR Athletics Hall of Fame in 1993 and has been connected to the school’s athletic program since the late 1960s.
After playing tennis for Little Rock Junior College during the 1950-1951 season, Stephens returned to what was then called Little Rock University in 1967 as a physical education teacher. She went on to become a tennis coach, swimming coach and volleyball coach. She also was the first coach of the school’s women’s basketball program, leading the team in 1969-1973.
“Betty Jo Stephens is the matriarch of women’s athletics at UALR,” Athletic Director Chris Peterson said.
Stephens eventually became an associate professor of physical education at UALR and was the women’s coordinator in the athletic department.
Tickets for the event are $75 and will go on sale this summer.
More information on the event is available by contacting Leah Thorvilson at (501) 569-3393 or by email at lmthorvilson@ualr.edu.
Sports, Pages 21 on 04/17/2014