LADY BARONS BASKETBALL

Five members of Brewton-Parker College's Lady Baron basketball team are hoping their careers end at the national championship.

As the regular season draws to close, Coach Tommy Dalley and his team are hoping recent victories will push the team back into the NAIA's national rankings.

They also hope to close the season by setting a Brewton-Parker record, for having back-to-back seasons with 20 wins.

The team has a record of 19-9 (7-6) and is guaranteed of playing at least two more games. A win in either game will secure the team record.

Brewton-Parker's women during the season had climbed as high as No. 19, but fell out when injuries led to a four-game losing streak.

The team closed out its home season recognizing five seniors who have played their final game in Parker Gymnasium.

Seniors closing out their careers are Keisha Hilliard of Savannah, Ga.; Starla Mahaffey of Lawrenceville, Ga.; Sasha Evans of Lawrenceville, Ga.; Coach Dalley; Joy Smith of Wrens, Ga.; and Tasha Anderson of Griffin, Ga.

All are members of the team that last year traveled to Jackson, Tenn., and participated in the NAIA national championship.

With a little luck, Dalley and his team might again be competing in Oman Arena.

Impressive outings against Emmanuel and North Georgia colleges have the Lady Barons in a position of fighting for national recognition.

Brewton-Parker rolled past Emmanuel 56-34 in the final women's basketball game scheduled for Parker Gymnasium.

Joy Smith and Tameka Oliver led the offensive scoring attack.

Smith, a senior forward from Wrens, Ga., had 15; and Oliver, a junior forward from Savannah, Ga., added 10.

The Lady Barons traveled Saturday to Dahlonega, Ga., to face an NAIA team nationally ranked at No. 5.

Brewton-Parker battled North Georgia and ended up taking a 58-64 loss.

Toya Rogers and Lucinda Lessington led the offensive charge.

Rogers, a sophomore guard from Vidalia, Ga., had 16; and Lessington, a junior guard from Sylvania, Ga., added 14.

The Lady Barons close their regular season with a Feb. 25 battle against Georgia Southwestern and will then head back to Dahlonega for the GACC tournament being held Feb. 27-March 3.

Brewton-Parker College's Tameka Oliver, a junior forward from Savannah, Ga., drives past a defender from Emmanuel College in the Lady Barons 56-34 victory.

Recognitions recently acknowledged the careers of five Brewton-Parker College Lady Barons seniors. Coach Tommy Dalley presented gifts to the seniors prior to their final home game. The seniors are, from left, Keisha Hilliard of Savannah, Ga.; Starla Mahaffey of Lawrenceville, Ga.; Sasha Evans of Lawrenceville, Ga.; Coach Dalley; Joy Smith of Wrens, Ga.; and Tasha Anderson of Griffin, Ga.

BARON BASKETBALL

Season-ending battles is preparing the Brewton-Parker College men's basketball team for the upcoming conference tournament.

Coach Steve Barker guided his team this past weekend to a 92-82 victory over North Georgia College and State University.

Derrick Green, a senior point guard from Macon, Ga., led the Barons scoring attack with 34. He also snared 10 rebounds.

Alister Wilson and Maxi Rios also scored in double-digits.

Wilson, a senior post from Wurtulla, Australia, had 14 points, and Rios, a freshman guard from San Nicolas, Argentina, scored 10.

The Barons are 16-12 (7-9) on the season and are going through sessions to prepare for the Georgia-Alabama-Carolina Conference tournament, being held Feb. 27-March 3 in Dahlonega, Ga.

Competition at the GACC tournament will be intense with four teams listed in the NAIA national poll.

Southern Polytechnic is ranked No. 6 with a record of 23-3 (12-2); Faulkner, last year's national champion, is this year ranked No. 16 with a record of 20-7 (14-1); Auburn University at Montgomery 17-7 (12-3) and Georgia Southwestern 19-10 (11-5) both received honorable mention status.