Two of the winningest coaches in Lee basketball history will be honored Thursday evening when the Flames host Brewton Parker College in a Southern States Athletic Conference doubleheader. The ceremony will be held during halftime of the men’s game. Women’s play is slated for a 6 p.m. tip.
Last Saturday (Feb. 4) Lee women’s coach Marty Rowe directed his fourth-ranked Lady Flames to a 71-41 victory over Emmanuel College.
It was Rowe’s 219th win since taking over the program nine years ago. He surpassed the 218 triumphs accomplished by coach Jack Souther during his 10 years as the leader of the Lady Flames.
“I’m happy to be a part of the Lee tradition and to be able to add to it,” said Rowe after the win at Emmanuel. “He (Souther) is truly what Lee athletics is all about. He’s the reason I have such a great job and our girls are taken care of so well. There is no better guy to be around and he is one of my heroes.”
Rowe has his 23-1 Lee club perfect (15-0) in the SSAC and in the midst of a 14-game winning streak. Brewton Parker is 7-7, 12-11 and a loser to the Lady Flames on Jan. 1, 61-53.
Defense and balance on the offensive end has been the name of the game for the Lady Flames this season. Rowe’s unit is the top defensive club in the SSAC, holding opponents to an average of 48 points per game. They are also No. 2 in opponent’s field goal shooting, 32 percent. Senior Kally Eldridge is No. 4 in the conference in steals (2.54) and sophomore Karley Miller is No. 4 in blocked shots (1.50).
Senior Angela Spann and sophomore Hollie German paced the evenly-balanced offense, both average 14 points per game. Junior Mary Jackson is at 9.4 and Eldridge 8.8. Depth has also played a role in the success of the 2011-12 squad. Nine Lady Flames average double-figure minutes per game.
COACH TOMMY BROWN will pit his Flames against an always dangerous Brewton Parker men’s club. Lee won 78-70 in Mount Vernon. Currently ranked No. 17 by the NAIA, the Flames are 16-5 overall and third in the SSAC standings with a 10-4 mark. The Barons are 6-7, 8-14 and would like to help solidify a spot in the upcoming SSAC tourney.
The Flames are knocking down 39 percent (8th in the NAIA) from 3-point range and are holding opponents to just 28 percent from behind the arc. Brown’s crew has canned 169 treys this season, averaging over eight per contest.
Alex Wells has made 50 3-pointers and Ryan Westbrooks 44 treys. Westbrooks continues to come off the bench and pace the team in scoring, 16.8. Wells is at 12.6 and Tyrone Caldwell is at 10.7. Duran Blue (9.9) and Steve Bennett (9.6) are closing in on the double-figure mark. Josh Henley (7.1) and Johnny Godette (6.1) are the rebounding leaders.