Area sports notes: Lee's Ryan Montgomery a 'Dark Horse Dunker' candidate

basketball scoring during match in arena basketball tile / Getty Images
basketball scoring during match in arena basketball tile / Getty Images

Lee University senior basketball star Ryan Montgomery from Central High School in Harrison is one of 16 players nationwide entered in the 2020 "Dark Horse Dunker" online-voting competition for a spot in the College Slam Dunk Championship on the night of April 2 in Atlanta, televised by ESPN. Three previous winners representing under-the-radar programs from all levels of college basketball have won the overall national dunk title. First-round voting at DarkHorseDunker.com began Tuesday and ends next Tuesday at 1 p.m. EST. Eight candidates will move on to Feb. 19-26 voting for four semifinalists, who will compete Feb. 27-March 5 to determine the final two. The winner will be decided March 6-13. Highlights for each player are on the website.

Baseball

* Lee junior Logan Workman from Soddy-Daisy was chosen baseball pitcher of the week in the Gulf South Conference for his seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts and one hit allowed in an eventual 2-1 home win over Saint Leo. The 6-foot-4 right-hander has 15 strikeouts in 12 innings this season for the Flames (5-1), who hope to host West Georgia in a three-game GSC series Friday evening and Saturday.

* The Bryan College baseball team met Brescia from Kentucky in Belmont's stadium in Nashville late Tuesday night and won 8-4 with a seven-run third inning that started with four walks. Wade Weinburger had a two-run single and scored in that inning, and Zach Shield had two hits in the game for Bryan (5-0).

Track & Field

* Lee's Christian Noble ran the fastest time in NCAA Division II this indoor track and field season in finishing fifth in the men's elite 3000-meter race last weekend in the Camel City Invitational at Winston-Salem, North Carolina. His 8:05.86 beat several pro and top Division I runners. Also for Lee, Celine Ritter was second out of 71 finishers in the women's mile and Chloe Flora was fourth of 69 in the 3000, both in Division II provisional national qualifying times, and Caleb Eagleson was fourth with a provisional in the men's 5000. Caleb Campbell was second in the 200, Jonah Mayes was fourth with a Lee-record high jump and sixth in the triple jump and Deborah Rubin was sixth with a school-record women's weight throw.

* Cleveland State sophomore cross country standout and cheerleading captain Sadie Lane from Ringgold High School signed paperwork Tuesday to continue in those sports plus track and field at NAIA member Missouri Valley College. A first-team NJCAA Academic All-American, she will receive academic as well as athletic financial aid. "I am beyond proud of Sadie," interim cross country coach Lindsey Beck said in a Cleveland State release. "She works incredibly hard in all she does and is an amazing teammate and leader."

Golf

* The NAIA's sixth-ranked Dalton State women golfers finished third Tuesday in their first 2020 tournament, the Coastal Georgia Winter Invitational at St. Simons Island. The Lady Roadrunners shot 619 for 36 holes, one stroke behind the host team. No. 3 junior college Eastern Florida State won with a 612. DSC's Katelyn Skiffen was fifth individually and all-tournament at 152, and Hannah Gasaway was seventh at 153. Isabel Rijos tied for 18th at 158.

Lacrosse

* Lee goalkeeper Caleigh Smith was the GSC women's lacrosse defender of the week and Brittney White was freshman of the week for their play in the Lady Flames' season-opening 20-10 defeat of Mars Hill. White had four goals, an assist and 24 of Lee's 27 draw controls. Smith, also a freshman, allowed only three second-half goals at the back of a pressuring defense that yielded just 12 shots on goal for the game.

Boxing

* The Red Bank Boxing Club is hosting warm-up bouts Saturday at the Henry Luken Sports Facility, beginning at 2 p.m. Ten teams from four states will be represented, and admission costs $7, $5 for students and nothing for ages 12 and younger. For more details call Skipper Fairbanks at 877-4113.

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