Chargers clinch another championship
Andy Donovan
March 4, 2013
Filed under Sports
The University of Alabama-Huntsville men’s basketball team defeated bitter rival North Alabama on the road Saturday, securing their fourth straight regular season conference championship.
The Chargers travelled to Florence on Saturday looking to exact a bit of revenge on conference nemesis UNA after being defeated by the Lions at home just five weeks earlier. The game also had conference championship implications, with both teams residing at the top of the conference standings. The Lions jumped out to an early lead behind a boisterous home crowd and led by as many as 12 points with under three minutes remaining in the first half. In a key stretch for the Chargers, Ronnie Mack hit two of his four triples, and Wayne Dedrick added one of his own to cut the deficit to 36-33 at the half. UAH continued their momentum into the second half and took a 41-38 lead with 16 left to play. They would hold on to that lead en route to a nail-biting 70-67 victory. Jaime Smith led all scorers in the contest with 21 points. Zane Campbell, Mack, and Dedrick joined him in double figures.
UAH knew entering the contest that if they were victorious they would secure themselves at least a share of the regular season conference championship with Christian Brothers University. However, as the Chargers climbed on the bus to head back to Huntsville they were notified that West Alabama had knocked off CBU, which meant that UAH had just clinched its fourth consecutive regular season championship. This feat has never been accomplished in UAH basketball history, and marks just the second time in GSC history it has been done. It is a wonderful testament to the successful careers of seniors Xavier Baldwin, Jaime Smith, Zane Campbell and Brett Wester. The quartet has amassed an impressive record of 102-20, as well as three NCAA tournament berths and two Elite Eight’s during their time at UAH.
The Chargers can next be seen in action on Saturday when they take on Shorter in their last regular season home game of the year. Saturday is Senior Night so get there early and come support this year’s senior class. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
