Last Games

In addendum to the previous post - what a week!

The week has just started, but feels like it should be over. With the holidays approaching, many of us have said "Today feels like it ought to be Friday (or Saturday)." However, it is only Tuesday.

A large portion of that of course because we are planning our vacations. But also, because of basketball games at Martin Methodist on this past Monday and Tuesday night.

Below I mentioned that this is my final week as a member of the RedHawks' Athletic Department staff. To say the least, it has been one heck of a ride with a great swan song duet.

On Monday, Dec. 18, the men's basketball team rewired the electricity in the Curry Christian Life Center with an 83-72 upset over No. 4 Faulkner University. This was the program's highest upset since joining the NAIA. In addition to that, Kirk "Bam-Bam" Newnham scored his 1,000 career point. The lone four-year senior was severely injured in January 2005, cutting short his best season of his career. Averaging 13.5 points per game, he was on pace to score at least 350 points, however finished with just 257 through 19 games. Had the season been completed in 2004-05, Bam would have passed 1,000 last season and pushed for the school record this season, unofficial set at 1,267 (as far as I've tracked down so far).

That is not to say that Bam will not score 266 points in the remaining games of this season's soon to be magical run.

The victory puts the men's team even at 6-6 on the season, with four of their six loses coming to teams at least receiving votes in the Top 25 poll. They are also on an amazing three game win streak.

Tonight (Tuesday, Dec. 19), the women's team improved to 9-2 on the season, continuing their best start in NAIA history, with a 71-60 upset of No. 16 Georgetown College. MMC's three starting guards combined for 47 points, as the RedHawks out rebounded the Tigers 49-29, collecting 34 defensive rebounds.

So, the MMC Athletics portion of my life begins it's close to the tune of "Over Rated!", the chant that echos through the CLC, lingering until both teams host nationally ranked Trevecca Nazarene teams on Jan. 4, 2007 for the TranSouth Athletic Conference opener.

Hopefully, as I turn to cover the fastest growing county in Alabama, the RedHawks will sore into the spring, hearing their fans recite the chant over-and-over again.