Athletes Beyond Bartow: Fields leads Rhodes to NCAA Championships, locals impact college hoops progr
Kingston’s Spencer Fields placed third at the 2017 NCAA D-III South-Southeast Regional and led his Rhodes College team to a runner-up finish this past Saturday The Lynx earned a bid to the NCAA Championships this Saturday in Elsah, Illinois and Fields, who was already the Runner of the Year from his conference, earned NCAA All-Region honors.
Meanwhile, Cartersville’s Katie O’Connor leads Western Carolina into the Southern Conference Championship Tournament this weekend and eight local college basketball players contributed with their respective programs this past week on the hardwoods.
NOTE: This past week's football edition of 'Athletes Beyond Bartow' will be published separately.
CROSS COUNTRY
SPENCER FIELDS — Rhodes College (Jr., Kingston, GA, Darlington HS)… finished third individually (21:24.1, 8K) and led the Lynx to a runner-up finish at the 2017 NCAA D-III South-Southeast Regional Championship in Newport News, VA. Christopher Newport University finished just eight points ahead of Rhodes with Emory placing third. The second place team finish advances the Lynx to the NCAA Championships this Saturday at the Principia North Farm Course in Elsah, IL. Fields, who was named the Southern Athletic Association conference runner of the year, ran a personal best in the NCAA Regional — one minute and six seconds faster than any other race this season. He averaged 4:52.7 mile time in the race. He was one of five Rhodes runners to earn NCAA All-Region honors.
VOLLEYBALL
KATIE O’CONNOR — Western Carolina University (Sr., MB, Cartersville HS)… recorded 10 kills, a defensive dig, and three blocks in a 3-1 home win over Wofford last Friday. She then added a career-high 21 kills (.677 attack percentage), a dig, and four blocks in her career final home game which was a 3-1 loss to Furman. The Catamounts (10-17, 5-9 Southern Conference) conclude the regular season Wednesday and Friday with matches at UNC-Greensboro and The Citadel. WCU will then host the SoCon Championship Tournament that begins Friday, November 17.
WRESTLING
HUNTER QUINN — Emmanuel College (Soph., 157 lb., Cass HS)… went 3-1 and placed third at the Hokie Open Freshmen/Sophomore Division at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, VA November 6. The Lions compete next at the Georgia Open at Emmanuel College this Saturday.
BASKETBALL
RYAN DAVIS — Francis Marion University (Jr., G, Cartersville HS)… averaged 28 minutes and six points per game on 33 percent shooting as the Patriots defeated Catawba and Lenoir-Rhyne in their opening games at home last Friday and Saturday. Davis averaged 3.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists in the two games. FMU (2-0) plays at Georgia Southwestern Monday night, at Columbus State Wednesday and at Augusta this Friday.
A.J. MOSBY — Alcorn State University (Sr., G, Cartersville HS)… averaged 11.5 points per game in 27.5 minutes per game and was a starter as the Braves opened the 2017-18 season on the road with losses at LSU Friday night and at Creighton Sunday night. Against LSU, Mosby had 15 points on 7 of 13 shooting from the field and was 1-of-3 from behind the arc. He also added four rebounds, four assists, and five steals in the two games. ASU (0-2) plays at Northern Iowa Monday night before playing at Baylor Friday and at Central Arkansas Sunday afternoon.
ELIJAH ROBINSON — Emmanuel College (Sr., F, Excel Christian Acad.)… scored 25 points on 9-of-20 shooting and was 3-of-10 on three-pointers as the Lions lost their season opener in overtime at University of North Georgia 102-92. He played 27 minutes off the bench and had 10 rebounds and a steal. Robinson, who is battling a minor, nagging injury did not play in a 95-86 loss at Georgia College Saturday. Emmanuel (0-2) plays at Coker College Tuesday.
DARIUS THROWER — Truett McConnell University (Soph., G, Excel Christian Acad.)… had four points, one rebound, and one assist in twelve minutes of a 85-57 home win over Columbia International University last Tuesday night. He added two points, one rebound, and two assists Saturday in 13 minutes off the bench as the Bears pounded Crown College, 100-63. TMU (5-0) opens Appalachian Athletic Conference play Tuesday night at Milligan (TN) College and hosts conference foe Montreat College (NC) Saturday.
COREY TOBIN — Reinhardt University (Sr., G, Cartersville HS)… Tobin has started four of five games for the Eagles and is averaging more than 27 minutes per game. He is averaging 15.8 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. He scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds, with an assist and two blocked shots during an 82-71 loss at Voorhees College (SC) last Monday and did not appear in last Tuesday’s 120-79 home win over Selma University. NAIA Reinhardt (3-2) plays an exhibition Monday night at NCAA D-I Tennessee State University in Nashville and has home Appalachian Athletic Conference games Thursday and Saturday against Point University (GA) and Milligan College (TN).
CARROD WATSON — University of North Georgia (R-Soph., F/C, Woodland HS)… started and averaged seven points, 5.5 rebounds, and had one assist and one steal while averaging 13 minutes in the Nighthawks’ first two games of the season last Friday and Saturday. He scored 11 points in a 102-92 overtime win over Emmanuel College and UNG also lost to 2nd-ranked Queens University (NC) at the Georgia College Bobcat Crossover Classic. North Georgia (1-1) hosts Belmont Abbey College Wednesday night in their only game this week.
HAKEEM WINTERS — Point University (Jr., F, Cartersville HS)… scored two points in only nine minutes off the bench last Thursday night during an 84-66 home win over Pensacola Christian College. He then added one point and one offensive rebound last Saturday in an 89-75 loss at Voorhees College (SC). Point (3-2) plays at St. Andrews University (NC) Tuesday night, at Reinhardt University Thursday, and hosts Bluefield College (VA) this Saturday.
RUDY WINTERS — Columbus State University (Jr., G, Excel Christian Acad.)… was a starter and scored nine points with three rebounds and one steal in the Cougars’ season-opening 84-67 exhibition win at home over LaGrange College last Wednesday. CSU plays in the Albany State Rams Rising Invitational Friday and Saturday where they will face Montevallo and Albany State.
