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LSU Men's Basketball Slips Past Bama 72-70
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Alabama men's basketball 10-game home win streak over LSU came to a crashing halt in front of a sold out crowd in Coleman Coliseum in the final seconds of last night's game 72-70.
"I am proud of our team tonight (Saturday)," commented head men's basketball coach AVERY JOHNSON. "I thought we gave a maximum effort. They were emotionally into the game. We executed our game plan, but unfortunately we caught a couple of bad breaks there at the end. There was an offensive rebound by (Tim) Quarterman, what a great defensive stop, be we didn't get the rebound. We missed free throws here and there and a little bit of poor execution when we needed it there at the end of the game."
With just over 33 seconds remaining in the game, Quarterman made a put-back layup to give the Tigers a two-point 72-70 lead. A game-tying layup was missed with seconds to go, but at least a tie-up with LSU defenders gave Bama another chance. The Tide controlled the jump ball with 17.1 seconds remaining. A timeout was called, then senior RETIN OBASOHAN had a second chance at a layup to send the game into overtime. Unfortunately, he missed that one too and the Tigers were able to get the rebound to end the contest.
Obasohan had 20 points on night, along with five rebounds and four assists. It was his seventh 20-point game of the season. ARTHUR EDWARDS put in 17 points, with RILEY NORRIS adding 10 to complete the double-digit scoring. JIMMIE TAYLOR had eight points, SHANNON HALE added seven, JUSTIN COLEMAN and MICHAEL KESSENS with three each and with two points DONTA HALL finished the scoring.
Norris led with 10 rebounds, followed by the five from Obasohan, four from Edwards and Hall, three from Taylor, Hale and Kessens the then the one from BRANDON AUSTIN.
Johnson continued, "We won our share of close games this year, unfortunately we did not win this one. But I am just proud of our team. There is no surrender in us. We are going to get back to work (Sunday) and play with a lot of energy on Tuesday night, especially feeding off such a great crowd that we had tonight. I am really proud of our guys and they are going to win some more of these close games and I am going to make sure I do a better job of helping them in those situations."
Alabama's record falls to 10-8 overall, 1-5 in the SEC. LSU improves to 12-7, 5-2 SEC.
Johnson continued, "We won our share of close games this year, unfortunately we did not win this one. But I am just proud of our team. There is no surrender in us. We are going to get back to work (Sunday) and play with a lot of energy on Tuesday night, especially feeding off such a great crowd that we had tonight. I am really proud of our guys and they are going to win some more of these close games and I am going to make sure I do a better job of helping them in those situations."
Alabama's record falls to 10-8 overall, 1-5 in the SEC. LSU improves to 12-7, 5-2 SEC.
Alabama forward Riley Norris said, "As a competitor you want to win in everything you do. I give LSU credit, as they made plays down the stretch when they needed it. Like coach said, 'we're going to shake this off and get back to work tomorrow' (Sunday)."
Next up for the Crimson Tide are the Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols come to town on Tuesday, January 26th, with the game scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
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Bama's Quanesha Burks Sets Another Record
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
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Bama's Quanesha Burks Sets Another Record
Alabama track & field junior long-jumper QUANESHA BURKS has set another record. The holder of the school outdoor long jump record has now added the record for the indoor long jump to her already impressive resume. Burks claimed the title at the Birmingham CrossPlex on Saturday with a jump of 22-0 1/4 (6.71m) in leading the Crimson Tide men's and women's track & field teams to a good day in the inaugural Conference Clash. Of the six evens won by Bama, four were in the field events.
With that incredible jump, Burks breaks a March 29, 1986 record set by Bama's FLORA HYACINTH. The previous record was 21-3 1/4 (6.48m). She has also tied the top spot in that event for the Birmingham CrossPlex facility record.
In addition to Burks, five others stood out for Bama. Scoring for the Tide were freshmem STACEY DESTIN, WILL HERRSCHER and RACHAEL REDDY as well as juniors KYLE FELPEL and VANESSA CLERVEAUX.
Head coach DAN WATERS stated, "This was a tremendous event to be a part of. Anytime you can get this many talented athletes and teams at one meet,
it's going to be exciting because anything can happen. I think we
learned a lot about ourselves this weekend, which is beneficial this
early in the season. Obviously we had some really great results,
highlighted by Quanesha's record-breaking performance. She's continued
to work hard following last year's outdoor success, so this is
well-deserved for her. But we also had some misses in a few events that
were unexpected. A meet of this caliber really challenges your entire
team."
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National Championship Celebration
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Amelia B. Barton
Saturday, January 24th was a day of parades, speeches, food and fun with fellow Crimson Tide football fans. It was laughter, memories, reflection on this season just ended and even a brief mention of the future.
Mostly, though, Saturday was a day of allowing Alabama Crimson Tide fans to show their love to a team that battled back, and as head coach NICK SABAN said, faced "12 elimination games" following the loss to Ole Miss in this same town. The team that the other football conferences wanted to see fail had risen from the ashes of destruction to the pinnacle of the mountain once again, proving the Crimson Dynasty lives!
Everyone kept the speeches brief, from the college dignitaries to the trophy-presenters to the team captains and right up to the head coach himself. But it was all heart-felt. Anyone listening to Nick Saban on Saturday shouldn't doubt where his "football heart" is.
The Voice of the Crimson Tide, ELI GOLD, did his usual excellent golden-throated announcing job introducing all the dignitaries, team captains, the team and Saban. Gold spoke of how remarkable this senior class was, posting a 50-6 record over four seasons, an SEC record and one that also ties the NCAA four-year record. He pointed out, too, that this class has been part of three Southeastern Conference championships, four New Years bowl appearances and two national championships.
Yes, the University of Alabama now has its 16th National Championship in football. And this one championship for this particular team was the one stressed by Nick Saban. One only had to listen to the emotion along with the words to tell the head coach was filled with pride and love for this group.
Eli Gold introduced the team captains one by one, briefly telling a little something about each one. He stressed what an honor it was to be voted a team captain by your own team mates.
Eli Gold introduced the team captains one by one, briefly telling a little something about each one. He stressed what an honor it was to be voted a team captain by your own team mates.
Quarterback JAKE COKER was the first of the four Tide captains to briefly speak. He thanked everyone for coming out, then said, "...I've never had so much fun playing football in my life, and ya'll (the fans) have been the biggest part of that, and I can't say how much I appreciate ya'll coming out. Thank ya'll for this year and thank ya'll for everything.
Next up was linebacker REGGIE RAGLAND, who said, "If it wasn't for my team mates this year I wouldn't have had the year I had. They supported me through the good times and the bad times. They know I had a lot of bad times, and if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be where I'm at now. Roll Tide."
Center RYAN KELLY was next and thanked everyone for coming out. He said, "You know, I'm very fortunate that I can always call this place my home. It's because of all the people in the stands today, all the fans who made playing here so special, all the guys who are standing behind me (the team) who are truly brothers to me, all the coaches who have put so much work into making us into men. So, I'd just like to say thank you for everything so far. It's been an incredible opportunity and Roll Tide."
Then came running back DERRICK HENRY who immediately thanked everyone for coming out. He said, "I love these boys...love our brothers. It's been a fun year. It's unbelievable. You know, God's been good to us. Plus won the SEC two years in a row, the national championship, me bringing Alabama the second Heisman Trophy and it's been unbeliveable...the coaches, the team, the nutritionists, the trainers...it's just an unbelievable year. God's been very good to us. I've been very fortunate. Roll Tide."
Eventually it came time for Saban to speak. He was presently the national championship trophy and then addressed the crowd.
Saban thanked the fans for coming out, the dignitaries and the usual greeting...including "braving the cold" and the conditions of the morning. He said that this kind of spirit, though, "exemplifies what the University of Alabama stands for, and that kind of spirit characterizes what this team was all about this year.
"You know, I've said it many times how much I love this team. The togetherness that this team had was something special and unique...and I think they accomplished what they did because they traded 'I' and 'me' for 'we' and 'us', and there was no selfishness on this team. And everybody helped everybody be accountable to do what they needed to do so that we could improve and accomplish something of significance that can create a memory for the rest of all of our lives."
He then went on to explain that those memories were for the players, coaches, the fans, the people who support the program and everyone.
He then spoke of the hard work and sacrifice made by this team and how the fans should appreciate it. Saban said all should really appreciate facing "12 straight elimination games, after the Ole Miss game. The resiliency, the competitive character that this team showed in being able to do that...and even coming from behind in a national championship game I think really shows the spirit that made this team something special. And I hope everybody appreciates that.
"So, I hope we all remember this team not only for the skill that we have, the great players that we had, the great coaching job that our staff did, but you also remember this team for the heart that they played with and the character they showed as competitors in winning this championship that I think is really the most special of all...because of what this team was able to accomplish.
"So, this celebration is really not about all the other championships we won, or how many we won, or how many we won in the last seven years. This championship and this day is for this team...and what they were able to accomplish and what they were able to do. So, we are here to show gratitude for this team, this group of guys and all that they did to make it an exciting year for all the fans and all of us as coaches and it will give us a memory that will live even beyond our lives."
He then referenced the Walk Of Champions and the championship plaques representing all the championship teams of seasons past. He mentioned how those players had a "memory for a lifetime" but that their "legacy lives on forever" and all of the Alabama fans are able to enjoy that memory created by them. Then he said, "That's something that this team accomplished that will happen too."
He then offered a personal thank you to the administration, the fans, all who supported this team, the players and coaches "who worked so hard to make this experience and this season such a special one."
Saban then concluded, "But with every thank you goes an obligation...something that we owe you...and we owe you a special thanks as a team for all your support, all the spirit you provided, but we've also given you a memory that you can remember for the rest of your life...and hopefully a program that you can be proud of in terms of what we've accomplished, but also in what we'll accomplish in the future. So, thank you very much, and Roll Tide. Thank you."
Saban was of course interrupted a few times with cheering and applause as he spoke, and received a rousing Roll Tide and cheers and applause when he concluded.
It was a great season. It was a great celebration.
Numerous recruits, some of which were commitments, showed up for the celebration. Spotted were Gordo's five-star Ben Davis, Carver-Montgomery five-star Mack Wilson and Torrance, California five-star Mique Jarez, all linebackers. Others there were wide receiver commit Tyler Simmons, Noxubee Country five-star defensive lineman Jeffrey Simmons, West Point four-star offensive lineman Scott Lashley and Starkville four-star defensive lineman Kobe Jones.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Kent Gidley
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Kent Gidley
Photo Credit: RollTide.com/Amelia B. Barton
Photo Credit:RollTide.com/Amelia B. Barton
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Tide Women's Tennis Shake The Quakers 5-0
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Meet Texas This Afternoon
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The Penn Quakers traveled to Alabama yesterday and got all shook up, losing to the 15th-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide women's tennis team 5-0. The event kicked off the 2016 dual match season in the ITA Kick-Off Weekend.
Head coach JENNY MAINZ said, "Our crowd was tremendous today. It really creates an exciting, electric aura throughout the facility. Our fans definitely give us a competitive advantage here at home."
Bama winners were JOANNA NENA SAVVA, DANIELLE, ANDIE DANIELL, ERIN ROUTLIFFE and NATALIA MAYNETTO.
Bama moves into tomorrow's championship match against 40th-ranked Texas at 2 p.m. CT. The winner will earn a berth in the 2016 ITA National Women's Team Indoor Championship, hosted by the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin scheduled February 5th through the 8th.
Mainz continued, "We played the big points well today. We were successful on the 30-30s and the deuce points, which tells me that we did a great job of playing decisive tennis. I don't think we necessarily have to play bigger or play better tomorrow (today) against Texas, be we just have to continue to play decisively."
