Although the season came to a premature end for both of Lee University's basketball programs this month due to the COVID-19 pandemic leading to a cancellation of the NCAA Division II national tournaments, the Flames and Lady Flames continue to receive recognition for what they accomplished in 2019-20. Monday brought news of the Lady Flames' Marty Rowe being one of eight finalists for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's D-II national coach of the year award - Drury University's Molly Miller was the winner - and senior guard Abby Bertram receiving honorable mention for the WBCA All-America D-II lineup. This season was Rowe's 16th leading the Lady Flames, and it finished with a 24-6 record - the program's best as an NCAA member - and included the No. 1 seed for the South Region in the NCAA tourney and a season-high national ranking of No. 5 for Lee and a Gulf South Conference coach of the year honor for Rowe. Bertram was an All-GSC and All-South Region honoree who had per-game averages of 14.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.5 steals. For the Lee men, senior and former Central High School standout Ryan Montgomery made the All-South District first team for the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the organization said Monday. Montgomery averaged 18.1 points and 5.9 rebounds per game this season, receiving All-GSC first team and Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-South Region second team recognition. He helped the Flames win 22 games - their most in NCAA play - and earn two notable firsts with a GSC tournament victory and a national tournament berth. Lee also learned Monday that its spring sports season, with those teams' NCAA national championship events already canceled, is officially over as the GSC decided to cancel all of its spring competition. For Lee, that means baseball, golf, softball, lacrosse, tennis and track and field are done for 2019-20.
Tennis
* What was to be the 13th edition of the annual DecoTurf tournament for high school tennis teams has joined the list of Chattanooga sports events canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic. A release from the Chattanooga Tennis Association announced the decision Monday.
Contact Marty Kirkland at mkirkland@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6478.