Second Player of the Week at Covenant this school year!

Engbers, Cross Nab Covenant Player Of The Week Honors

Posted January 31, 2012 

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Freshman Bryant Engbers and senior Margaret Cross were named Covenant Players of the Week for Jan. 23-28. 

Bryant Engbers

It is Engbers’ first time being recognized with this honor. The freshman forward from Sioux Falls, SD had a career night against Piedmont. Engbers scored 24 first half points and 26 for the game in helping the Scots to a 91-78 win. Engbers’ previous career-high in points was 14. He then scored nine points and grabbed five rebounds in a 90-81 loss to Rust College. For the week, Engbers averaged 17.5 PPG and 6.0 RPG while shooting 56 percent (14-25) from the floor.

Margaret Cross

For Cross, it is her second time being named player of the week, but only her first in basketball. The senior from Southern Pines, NC was a two-sport star this season when she suited up for the Covenant women’s soccer team. Cross led Covenant in points with 15 in a 63-44 loss at home to Great South member Piedmont. She went 6-of-12 from the field and connected on three 3-pointers while picking up one steal and one rebound. For the season, Cross is the second leading scorer for the Lady Scots at 10.4 PPG while averaging nearly 30 minutes per game.

Click here for a complete list of previous player of the week winners.

Margaret gets her first Player of the Week for Soccer at her college and for the Conference - she has 4 of them for Basketball

Margaret Cross, Zach Smith Win Covenant Player Of The Week Award

Posted October 19, 2011 

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- Margaret Cross and Zach Smith have been named Covenant’s most-outstanding players of the week for the week ending October 15.  For Cross, it’s the first time in her career to be distinguished in such a way for her efforts on the soccer field.  Smith, meanwhile, wins the award for the fourth time this season.

Cross, a senior but first year player for the Lady Scots soccer team, had a hand in both of Covenant’s wins last week.  She began the week assisting Kara Lee’s game-winning goal on the road at Piedmont.  Prior to Wednesday’s contest, the Lady Lions had swept all conference opponents and boasted an impressive 12-0-1 record.  Three days later, Cross scored the game-winner herself just four minutes into the overtime period against LaGrange College.  It was her third goal of the season and helped the Lady Scots win-streak climb to five games.

Smith, sophomore runner for the men’s cross country team, led the Scots to a second place team finish at the Oglethorpe University Invitational last week.  His 8K time of 29:35.76 was good enough for fourth overall in the field of 65 harriers.  Smith has now led Covenant in the last four meets.

For the complete list of players of the week, visit the player of the week page.

DECATUR, Ga.- Nearing the end of the fall sports regular season play, the Great South Athletic Conference Player of the Week awards feature first time winners for this season. Erin McKinstry from LaGrange for volleyball, Brian Beckham of Maryville and Margaret Cross of Covenant for men's and women's soccer, respectively. The duo of Beth Burgess and Zach Smith of Covenant round out this week's awards for women's and men's cross country, respectively.

Earning her first volleyball award is McKinstry from LaGrange. She lit up the competition over the past week breaking a school record for assists in a match with 59 versus conference competitor Huntingdon. A few days later, McKinstry exploded with 56 assists against Toccoa Falls in a Panther victory. She currently is second in the GSAC with an average of 7.84 assists per match.

Beckham, reigning men's soccer Conference Player of the Year, is setting himself for a second straight honor with his performance last week. The senior from Knoxville, Tennessee registered the game winning goal in a 3-1 victory over conference foe Huntingdon. Beckham has anchored the Maryville College midfield all year, paving the way for a 2-0 start in GSAC play along with a 9-2-2 mark overall.

On the women's soccer side, Cross nabbed her first Player of the Week award after helping the Lady Scots earn conference wins. She assisted the game-winning goal to take down the undefeated Lady Lions at Piedmont early in the week before scoring the game-winner herself at LaGrange three days later. That goal- her third of the season- came in the fourth minute of overtime and helped the Lady Scots win-streak climb to five games. 

Freshman Burress lands herself as the top women's runner of the conference this week after anchoring the Lady Scots cross country team. Burgess finished second overall at the Oglethorpe University Invitational last week. The freshman ran the 5K in 21:10.09 (a 6:48.8/mi pace). It's the second time Burgess has led the Lady Scots this season. Covenant finished second as a team for their third straight event.

Winning his third Men's Runner of the Week award, Smith continues to be a crucial asset to Covenant's cross country team. He led the Scots to a second place finish at the Oglethorpe University Invitational last week after finishing the race fourth overall. His 8K time of 29:35.76 (5:57.3/mi) was only 45 seconds off the individual race winner.

Margaret gets her Fourth "Player of the Week" award - and a post season award.!

Margaret Cross And Jessie Blankenship Gather NCCAA Post-Season Honors

Posted March 16, 2011

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- When the Lady Scots basketball team was beaten by King College in the NCCAA Mid-East region tournament last Friday night, Covenant’s 2010-11 campaign ended.  The team finished the season with a disappointing 5-21 record, one that most would agree was not at all indicative of what the year was all about.  The Lady Scots, under new head coach Corey Mullins, put a lot of time and effort into winning basketball games, time and effort that was not seen in the results.  Of Covenant’s 21 defeats, 7 came by 10 or less points.  In many of those games, the Lady Scots held a late lead but were unable to finish strong.  Other times, the Lady Scots out-played their opponents over the course of 20 minutes but failed to put together two halves.

After Saturday’s championship game, two of the Lady Scots leaders were honored for their commitments and accomplishments this season.  Junior guard Margaret Cross and freshman post Jessie Blankenship were announced as beneficiaries of the 2011 NCCAA Mid-East All-Region team.

Margaret Cross

Margaret, or simply “Mo,” earns the award for second team all-region after leading the Lady Scots in outside shooting.  She averaged 42.8% from beyond the arc and was ranked #10 in the nation for that percentage at the end of the regular season.  Cross added 296 points (11.4 per game) to her career total this season.  She currently has 632 points to her name as a member of the Lady Scots basketball program.

“I am so proud of how Mo has led us both on and off the floor,” commented Mullins.  “Mo is the right fit for this all-region team, both from a competitive prospective and for her heart for the Lord.  Mo has attracted a lot of attention from other teams because she is such a great shooter.  She has persevered through this season’s challenges and is very deserving of this award.”

Covenant Players Of The Week: 2010-11, Week 27: Margaret Cross And Taylor Oldham

Posted March 16, 2011

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The week twenty-seven honorees for Covenant’s player of the week award come from the women’s basketball team as well as the men’s baseball team.  Margaret Cross, in the Lady Scots final game of the season, scored 14 points, but more impressively, her efforts all year helped her claim a spot on the NCCAA Mid-East All-Region team.  Taylor Oldham, representing the male star of the week, wins the award for a big week that included 3 home runs.

Margaret Cross

Cross indeed capped off her stellar season with stellar minutes in the tournament semi-final against King College.  She went 5 of 12 from the floor against an opponent that, no doubt, had her at the top of the scouting report.  Cross was 4 of 7 from beyond the arc and grabbed 3 rebounds while taking 2 steals.  Her season average of 11.4 points per game alongside 42.8% from long range helped her earn second team all-region.

For the complete list of Covenant Players of the Week, go to thePlayer of the Week page.

Margaret gets her Third "Player of the Week" award - proud Dad!

Covenant Player Of The Week: 2010-11, Week Twenty-One: Margaret Cross

Posted February 2, 2011 

Margaret Cross

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The performance by the Lady Scots basketball team during week twenty-one was, simply put, remarkable.  Covenant began the week with a loss on the road to Huntingdon College (a loss which dropped its season record to 1-12), but subsequently turned things completely around.  During the two game home stand at the end of the week, the team came up with two big wins by way of utter domination.  At the forefront of this domination was Margaret Cross, winner of Covenant’s player of the week award for week twenty-one.

 
Through the first ten weeks of the year, the Lady Scots were all about defense.  The team was shutting down opponents and creating great opportunities for the offense but at the same time struggled to ever find a flow on the other end of the court.  That struggle ended abruptly on Friday when Cross, with her 12 first half points, seemed to remove the lid from the basket and paved the way for a 48% shooting night for the Lady Scots.  The very next day, she dropped 18 in the 73-53 stomping of Salem College.

 
For the week, Cross shot 11-17 from beyond the arc, a jaw dropping 65%.  The junior went 15-31 from the field but most importantly, she added a spark that has since helped the Lady Scots ignite in the second half of the season.

Margaret gets her Second "Player of the Week" award

Covenant Players Of The Week: 2010, Week Twenty: Sam Bowman And Margaret Cross

Posted January 26, 2011 

LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN -- The week off due to the irregular snow accumulation a short while ago had compounded life on Lookout Mountain, but things seem to be getting back in order as the men’s and women’s basketball teams resumed  their normal schedules at the beginning of last week.  As a result, player of the week honors are again set now in full force with a recipient from the male and female sides.  Sam Bowman and Margaret Cross, for their performances in the grueling, 5-game week, are the week twenty winners.

  

Sam Bowman

For the guys, the week meant a pair of games, one on the road against soon to be conference opponent Piedmont College, followed by one at home against visiting Rust College.  Sam left little doubt that he was the standout player of the week when he shot 17-25 from the floor, hit a 3-pointer, and added 3 free throws, totaling 38 points for the week.  All of this was a lot, but combined with his 20 rebounds which helped him average a double-double, it was quite a week for Sam.  “As Sam goes, our whole team goes,” commented Head Coach Kyle Taylor.   “It was nice to see him have a good game at Piedmont as he grew up around there, and he had many friends and family looking on.  Sam continues to be an unselfish player who makes the best of his opportunities as the defense allows.”

 

Margaret Cross

On the ladies side, there were three games this week, two of which were against the two leading teams in the Great South Athletic Conference and though neither game was won, there was an offensive bright spot found in Margaret Cross.  In her three games this week, Margaret (or simply “Mo”) was 10-29 from the floor,  8-16 from behind the 3 point line, and 5-6 from the free throw line as she accumulated 33 points over the week.  The 11 point/ game average was the best on the squad, and her 3-point accuracy has begun to return to where she left off at the end of last year, when she was one of the nation’s leaders.  “Having Mo on the floor putting up consistent numbers has been crucial to our offensive scheme this past week, and I look forward to seeing her gain confidence as the season continues on,” commented assistant coach Matt Duble.

Don't like Duke - but this is cool! This one is for you Margaret!!

Great Half-time preformance

This was at the halftime of a  Navy Basketball game.


Pay special note to the gradual response of the audience.


Click on the site below.

>target="_blank">http://blip.TV/play/Ae+9MJOSSA

Alabama has a Heisman Trophy Winner!

As an Alabama fan this makes me happy - but not as happy as tonight Margaret played basketball against Piedmont College and was perfect from the field shooting. At one point in the game she came in with the team behind by three and immediately scored five points to put Covenant ahead for good - a very important five points. She ended the game as the high scorer despite not starting the game.

She was 3 for 3 from behind the arc, 1 for 1 from 2 pt. range, and 2 for 2 from the line in a low scoring contest for a total of 13 points.

Ok so I am a proud Dad - what can I say!

New Motivational Poster

Sent to me by my Tall Son, Michael!

Margaret had 6 3's!

Lady Scots Rally From Behind But Come Up Short Against
Tennessee Wesleyan
November 18, 2009 - 21:46 — covstaff

Lookout Mountain, GA- In their first home game of the 2009-2010 season, the Lady Scots overcame an 18 point half-time deficit and took the lead over Tennessee Wesleyan with just over 5 minutes remaining. Sophomore guard Margaret Cross fueled part of the comeback with several clutch threes, one of which gave Covenant their first lead since early in the first half. Cross finished with a team high 18 points in her 24 minutes of play. Covenant's second half lead, however, was short lived as the Lady Bulldogs surged back in front on their succeeding possession and kept the lead for the remainder of the game.
"We responded well to our half-time adjustments" said Coach Smialek after the game. "Overall, the team played very hard and is continuing to improve. I'm confident that it will all come together soon." Covenant post player Erika Forland recorded her second double-double in as many games with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Brinkley Knowles added 17 points of her own.
The Lady Scots are now 0-2 on the year and will travel to Atlanta, GA this weekend for a small tournament at Emory University. Their next ho scheduled me game isfor Wednesday, December 2 at 5:30 against former rival Bryan College.

I love it when people predict that Alabama will beat Auburn!

Tim Tebow - a discussion.

As a Alabama fan I agree with Jeff and what he says below. My caution to a young boy and picking heros is not to pick a hero that is alive. You do not know how he will turn out over time. Tim Tebow is trying to live out the gospel - love that. I even pray that he never falls morally. He is my brother in Christ after all.

I just hope in God's providence that humility will happen in the SEC championship game when he plays against the University of Alabama - Roll Tide Roll!

Jeff Robinson
September 29, 2009

For nearly four years, Tim Tebow has presented a dilemma in my home. He is an all-American quarterback, perhaps one of the two or three best players ever to play the college game. He is, as we say in my rural Georgia hometown, "tougher than pig iron," often battering his body and willing his troops to victory like Aragorn at Helms Deep. Opposing players see Tebow in the huddle and shudder. He plays every down as if it were his last. I really like that.

But, herein lies our dilemma: he plays for the Florida Gators, the national champions, and my family has for decades bled the red and black of the Georgia Bulldogs, my alma mater's entry in the toughest sports conference in America. For us, the operative equation goes something like this: Dawgs plus Gators equals mortal enemies. But here is my recent problem: Tim Tebow is my brother in Christ. He shares the Gospel, undertakes missions work, and seeks to live a Godward life with the same tenacity that he displays when it is third-and-goa

l on the opponent's one-yard line. Tebow wears eye black emblazoned with John 3:16 and he plays football the way a Christian should: smash mouth, grit-and-gunpowder, all out all the time, to the glory of God. It is exceedingly difficult to root against such a brother. Tebow's full story is available here.

Last season, after Florida suffered its lone defeat of the year, Tebow publicly shouldered the blame for the loss. In a memorable post-game press conference, he pledged to apply every ounce of his strength toward winning the remaining games. Florida won 10 straight (steamrolling our beloved Bulldogs along the way), its final victory coming in the national championship game against Oklahoma. Florida's streak began with Tebow exhibiting a concise summary of biblical manhood - tenacious humility. And Tebow's tenacious humility became the tracks upon which the streak rode. Last weekend, Tebow suffered a concussion against Kentucky, but I suspect he'll be back very soon. He's not the game-missing kind.

Recently, my oldest son asked me if it would be okay if he adopted Tim Tebow as a hero so long as he maintained his primary allegiance to a certain team from Athens, Ga. (where, incidentally, head coach Mark Richt, a vibrant follower of Christ, is also a wonderful example of biblical manhood). I didn't have to think very long. "Absolutely," I told him, wondering if I had really just signed off on such a request. This dilemma has stretched me; it has made me pray for the grace to live in accord with the difficult imperatives of Romans 12, which is always a good thing. In the same manner as Paul admonished believers to imitate him insofar as he imitated Christ, I want my boys to be like Tebow because he is a very clear and winsome example of what biblical manhood should look like in a young man.

One does not have to delve very deep to find a vibrant and orthodox faith living within college football's brightest star. This past summer, Tebow was asked about his commitment to stay pure until marriage. Could it be true? "Yes," he told a cynical media corps, without blinking. Tebow believes the Bible teaches that sex is the exclusive privilege of a man and woman within the bonds of marriage. He said so without blinking, later admitting that he does not date. And so authentic was his answer and so authentic has been his walk before a watching public, the usually snarky fifth estate received the answer without the customary ridicule. "How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word." (Ps. 119:9)

Tebow is unashamed of Christ and all the implications that come from following Him. He is willing to endure mockery and ridicule for Christ because, as he recently told ESPN in an interview, living for Christ is life and death. And football? Well, he told ESPN, it is just a game and it is by no means ultimate; Christ and the Gospel are.

This is what biblical manhood does. Biblical manhood carries out assigned tasks with diligent effort to the glory of God. It walks unashamedly with Christ and risks alienating the city of man on issues such as sexual purity because it lives with a greater city in view. It lovingly, humbly, and with biblical tenacity, leads and protects those placed under its care, manfully shouldering the blame and repenting when it fails. Biblical manhood enjoys the good gifts God has given while worshiping the Giver as the supreme treasure. And it pushes fathers to teach their sons that love for the body of Christ trumps affections for their favorite football team.

Go Dawgs, but God bless you brother Tim. Thank you for giving my sports-crazed son a snapshot of Christ and a reminder of the supremacy of the Gospel.

You can find this article here.

Tired of watching the NBA?

Watch this!

See more funny videos and TBT Videos at Today's Big Thing.

Two Videos from last weekend's Tournament Wins

An article about the weekend is found here.

Basketball and Life

I have been watching a lot of basketball - not as much as driving up and down the interstate - but none the less a lot of basketball. And it has been great. Not TV, but live college basketball with all of the excitement imaginable. It makes it more exciting when your daughter is playing! More about that is another post soon.

I just read a very interesting article about another female basketball player, just a few years older than MArgaret but younger than Katie who has been criticized. Candace Parker, who is many of my daughter's favorite female athlete, recently got pregnant. Read this well written article.

Parker Deserves Support, Not Censure, for Embracing Motherhood 

By Colleen Carroll Campbell
Posted: Saturday, February 14, 2009


ARTICLE
St. Louis Post Dispatch
Publication Date: February 12, 2009

Last month in California, 33-year-old unemployed single mother of six, Nadya Suleman, gave birth to octuplets conceived through in vitro fertilization and promptly hired a publicist to field the torrent of interview requests and book-deal offers headed her way. That same week, a group of middle-aged single mothers in New Jersey was the subject of a fawning profile in The New York Times that celebrated their decisions to intentionally create fatherless families. And just last week, 60-year-old Canadian Ranjit Hayer enjoyed celebratory headlines when she gave birth to twins conceived through IVF, becoming a first-time mother at an age when most women are doting on their grandchildren.

It was in this context of unconventional motherhood that St. Louis-born WNBA star Candace Parker recently announced her pregnancy. Parker probably figured the news would be non-controversial, given that the fresh-faced Los Angeles Sparks forward and Olympic gold medalist is happily married to Sacramento Kings forward Shelden Williams. Both earn more than enough to support a family: Parker alone reaps millions on and off the court as one of the most celebrated women athletes in the world.

But Parker's pregnancy was not greeted with the same approval and tolerance that many of today's child-bearing sexagenarians and single mothers by choice enjoy when they form their families. Instead, Parker was blasted by fans and pundits for becoming a mother at age 22. Critics bemoaned her selfishness in putting maternal ambitions ahead of her team's 2009 season prospects. Others lamented her foolishness for starting a family when she should be living a strings-free existence oriented around her glamorous career.

Not long ago, a 22-year-old woman was considered plenty old enough to marry and bear children. But in today's era of prolonged adolescence and commitment phobia, high-achieving women like Parker often face ridicule and scorn for defying the feminist conventional wisdom that marriage and motherhood are second-rate pursuits best delayed until middle age. Young mothers frequently are accused of forfeiting a hard-won feminist privilege: the right to spend their 20s single-mindedly pursuing sexual license, success and self-fulfillment without the hassles of a husband and children.

For her part, Parker told the Los Angeles Times that she wanted her children to grow up witnessing the athletic career of their young mother rather than arriving after it ends. Although she believes she can return to basketball as a mother, Parker said, "The biggest thing for me is not a matter of if or when [I return] but of coming back with a good balance in my life."

Parker's view of motherhood as "a blessing" that will "make me a fuller, happier person" is not as unusual as the media hoopla over her pregnancy suggests. As The Wall Street Journal recently reported, the National Center for Health Statistics has released data showing that the mean age at which American women bear their first babies decreased for the first time since the collection of such data began in 1968. The decline in age among first-time mothers was slight -- from 25.2 years in 2005 to 25.0 years in 2006, the latest year for which numbers are available -- but the biggest uptick in first-time births was found among women in their early 20s.

The reasons behind that uptick vary from mother to mother. But the ones Parker cited surely motivate many young women, as does the desire to avoid the trials of infertility and single motherhood often experienced by women who awaken late to their longing for children. Rather than being criticized, Parker ought to be applauded for bearing her child in the stable context of a marriage and daring to trade some of her youthful freedom for the grown-up reward of committed family love.

-- Colleen Carroll Campbell is an author, television and radio host and St. Louis-based fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Her website is www.colleen-campbell.com.

9.80 APG 3.8 EFF + 21.67
Born: Apr 19, 1986
Height: 6-4 / 1,93
Weight: 175 lbs. / 79,4 kg.
College: Tennessee
Years Pro: 1

Color me STUPID

Do you ever have the right intentions but make a stupid mistake in the process? Yesterday, 6 1/2 hours of driving later, I realized my mistake.

My plan was to surprise Margaret by coming to one of her home game to see her play. It is the rare weekend that I do not have a Sunday obligation. We didn't tell her - but I did call about half way to Chattanooga about 3:30 PM (the game was at 5:30 PM) and ask her what she was doing. She said working on a paper. Trying to keep the secret, I assumed that she was in her room about to go down the the gyn to warm up. She was in the bus going to Bristol, VA. So we rushed here, eating in the car, rushing to save time to arrive at 5:28 PM to an empty gym. We probably passed her going the other way.

Morale of the story: Rushing to get somewhere on time is admirable, but make sure you are going to the right place is preferable!

By the way, Covenant won 90 - 57 beating Virginia Intermont College. Mo said it was a great game with Covenant pressing the whole first half. I wish I could have seen it. It would have only been a 3 hour and 45 min. drive verses a 6 1/2 hour drive to the Hampton Inn in Chattanooga! So sports fans you have seen the basketball player inadvertently make a basket for the other team, not you know about the fan who was a on time for the game but at the wrong gym.

We laughed, went to Cracker Barrel for dinner and talked to Mo on the phone after the game. Lynn and I had a great time talking on the way over and today we will take our time on the way home after spending some time with Margaret! I hope we do not get lost on the way home (Joke!)

What a Shot!

I was listening to this game on the radio on the way home from having dinner with Oliver at Wingate. The Davidson announcers were going crazy. They said the Chattanooga coach just shook his head and kept looking at the goal when he was walking to the locker room at halftime - as if to say, "Did he really do that?"

 

Alabama is behind at halftime

But I am cheering hard! Behind 17-10.

hours later...

Alabama got a lead and then Tim Tebow took over with great skill - should be Heisman Trophy winner again.

Florida wins the SEC Championship 31-20. Now it is on to the BCS SUGAR BOWL for Alabama.

Prefect regular season for the Crimson Tide, let's see if we can end the year with a win and make it a 13-1 year!

Iron Bowl Win - not just a win but a

When you grow up in Alabama, the IRON BOWL is a big, BIG game. It gives bragging rights for a whole year. Auburn has had bragging rights for over 2,500 days with 6 straight years of wins. 

My family was all Auburn fans. Bruce and Karen went to school there and all the rest picked a the War Eagles. I decided early on (2nd grade) I would cheer for the winners. 

If you live in the state you must take sides, unless you are a Tennessee fan or a Georgia alumni. I know there are few of those fan around this year!

There have been rough years like "punt, Bama, punt" which was a game that Alabama was dominating but had 2 punts blocked and returned for touchdowns in the 4th quarter to ruin a great season. The final score was 17-16 Auburn.

12 wins, no losses, #1 in the country. A great season for an Alabama fan like me. It was fun yesterday with Oliver & Sean watching the whole game.

Roll Tide!

So I will enjoy a 36-0 thrashing of Auburn! Roll Tide!

I hope I will be just as happy after next weeks game!

This does not get boring! Alabama 32 - Miss. St. 7

Oliver and I were driving back from Margaret's basketball tournament in Pikeville, KY and got text message updates from Margaret. Her team travel bus had satellite TV and she was watching the game. For the longest time it was 2 to zero Alabama. (Safety on a blocked put - see picture) Then 7 to 5 Mississippi State. Then 12 to 7 the Crimson Tide. We got home and looked on the computer and to our relief it was 32 to 7 Alabama. Roll Tide! Alabama is still #1 in the country and in 2 weeks plays arch rival Auburn for a perfect regular season.

We also thought that LSU had lost to Troy, a little University in Alabama but we found out that they scored 30 points in the 4th quarter to win. I think that last week's gave against LSU took a lot out of both teams.