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By MATTHEW CROSS mcross@leader.net
Wednesday, February 09, 2000 Page: 1B
WILKES-BARRE – Wilkes University guard Chad Fabian paced back and forth
along the three-point arc Tuesday at the Marts Center with 25 seconds left and
the score tied.
He eluded a couple of Lycoming College defenders who tried to foul him for
20 seconds, then he decided to penetrate and create a shot for himself or a
teammate.
As he charged, the Warriors defense converged on him and Fabian jumped in
the air. Then he noticed teammate Kevin Walsh standing alone near the basket.
With one second left on the clock, Walsh buried the three-foot jumper and
Lycoming’s hopes of winning the Middle Atlantic Conference championship – all
in a single stroke.
Wilkes (16-5, 8-3) eked out the 84-82 victory and preserved its one-game
lead over King’s, Scranton and Allentown in the league standings. Lycoming
(14-7, 6-5) dropped virtually out of the race with only three games left in
the regular season.
Five Colonels scored in double figures, including Fabian, who had 18
points, and Brad Sechler, who hit five three-pointers and finished with 15
points.
Lycoming’s Brian Lindsey also had five threes. He finished with a game-high
23, and his teammate Rasheed Campbell added 22.
The Colonels know that while their victory against Lycoming was big, the
conference is far from decided. And with all that is at stake, they refuse to
let down their guard.
This season, for the first time, the regular season winner of the MAC
Freedom League receives an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Only seven or
eight at-large bids are expected to be given to runners-up in the 32 Division
III conferences, which explains why coaches place such an emphasis on league
games this season.
“Five losses could win the league this year,” said Wilkes coach Jerry
Rickrode. “But I don’t think we’re going to lose. We got the ugly one out of
our system tonight.”
The Colonels led the entire game and even had a 19-point lead early in the
second half. But they turned the ball over 10 times late in the game and let
Lycoming crawl back.
“It felt like we were treading water, and the water kept getting higher
and higher,” Fabian said.
With just 29 seconds left, Wilkes sophomore Greg Barrouk committed his
fourth turnover of the game when Warriors guard Jason Black stole the ball
near mid-court and drove in for the easy layup. That tied the game, 82-82.
Wilkes held on for the win, though, and now faces road games at FDU-Madison
on Saturday and Allentown next Wednesday before coming home for the final game
of the year against Drew.
“This just shows what we are capable of,” Fabian said. “We can come out
flat tonight and beat second-place Lycoming. If we come ready to play, who
knows what we can do?” Call Cross at 829-7127. Women’s Basketball Wilkes
University 59 Lycoming College 58
WILKES-BARRE – Katie Watkins scored 14 points to lead Wilkes University to
a come-from-behind upset against Lycoming College.
Jill Ronkowski and Allison Pikulski each added 11 points and Lauren Elwood
scored 10 for the Lady Colonels (9-11).
Jenalynn Boos led all scorers with 18 points for the Lady Warriors (13-7),
who led by 10 at halftime. King’s College 56 Drew University 42
MADISON, N.J. – Joanne Polakoski scored 20 points as King’s College rallied
to defeat Drew University.
Fran Monte added 13 points for the Monarchs (18-2).
Maureen Mahlman led Drew (6-13) with 10 points.