Lee signs nationally 16th-ranked runner and more regional sports news

Assorted Sports Equipment on Black
Assorted Sports Equipment on Black

The up-and-coming Lee University running program keeps coming up with new achievements. Most recently coach Caleb Morgan has signed Christian Noble of Fort Vernon High School in Fortville, Ind., the 16th-ranked boys' cross country runner in the nation. Even his name sounds perfect for the Christian school in Cleveland. Noble has covered five kilometers in 14 minutes, 55 seconds and qualified for the prestigious Foot Locker national meet in San Diego. That competition will be televised live on ESPN on Dec. 12. "Christian could have gone to school literally anywhere in the country," Morgan said in a Lee release. "For him to be part of our program next year is an honor. He will have a huge impact on our cross country team as well as the track." Noble, planning to major in art with a graphic emphasis, said he was "looking at Indiana, Purdue, Illinois State and Colorado" before Lee got his attention. "When I took my visit to Lee, I was very fond of the Christian atmosphere that Lee has," he said. "It gives you that home feeling."

Basketball

* Lee University gave the Bryan College women's basketball team its first loss in 10 games this season Monday, 75-70, largely on the strength of a 24-16 second quarter. Lee, an NCAA Division II member, improved to 3-2 by downing the NAIA Division II Lady Lions, who got 17 points apiece from Cheyenne Shaver and Erisha Talley. Talley was 6-of-7 from the field and Shaver hit five 3-point shots, blocked six shots and grabbed seven rebounds. Lee's Anna Woodford had 15 points and 11 rebounds while Haris Price had 14 points, four steals and four assists. Erin Walsh also scored 14 points for the Lady Flames, with four 3s, and Christina Johnson had 10 rebounds.

* Marcel Hawkins scored 21 points and Jordan Bowling had his sixth consecutive double-double as, not coincidentally, Dalton State won its sixth consecutive men's basketball game Monday with an 85-66 defeat of visiting Morris College. Bowling, who had 14 points with 14 rebounds, earlier in the day was announced as the Southern States Athletic Conference player of the week for the second time in a row. That was for his 18 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks and two steals in last week's 66-63 win over Campbellsville, which had administered the second of the Roadrunners' two defeats. Also Monday for DSC, Corey Hawkins scored 16 points, Deshawn Ruffin tallied 14 and Zach Dean made three steals. Ryan Jenkins led Morris with 14 points; Khaliq Williams had 12 plus 10 rebounds.

* The Atlanta Metropolitan men's junior college basketball team had three guys score at least 20 points Monday night but still fell short of streaking Chattanooga State, 96-84. That was after the Chattanooga State women, also coached by Jay Price, rose to 8-2 with a 72-66 victory. Mia Collins scored 21 points, Sydney Sims scored 15, Melva Sheppard had 14 rebounds and Teondra Crawford had 12 assists for the Lady Tigers. For Price's Tigers (11-3), Brandon Shingles and Joe Gordon scored 21 and 16 points, Larry Spicer had 13 points and seven assists, Develyn Williams had 11 rebounds with 12 points and DaV Moore had 11 points despite foul trouble.

Softball

* Howard University softball coach Lauren McCoy had high praise Monday for early signee Monica Thompson. From a recruiting video of the Chattanooga Lady Storm and Ooltewah High School pitcher, McCoy "saw a level of intensity and a level of focus that impressed me, and being a pitcher myself, I tend to be a little bit harder on my pitchers," the coach said. "Her mechanics are great and she throws with a lot of power, and she's a double threat - she can hit. And she's an impressive young lady." McCoy said she will have a "seasoned" pitching staff in 2017 with a senior, two juniors and a sophomore but still thinks Thompson as a freshman "will throw a significant number of innings" for the Washington, D.C., school.

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