Local College Roundup: Singleton-Bates, McKever named to preseason PBC team

AUGUSTA, Ga. — The Peach Belt Conference announced that Francis Marion’s Shannon Singleton-Bates and Lander’s Shannon McKever were named to the women’s basketball preseason All-Conference team Monday.

Singleton-Bates was named an honorable mention All-American in 2009 and first team All-Conference. A returning junior, Singleton-Bates led the highest-scoring team in the nation with 13 points per game and in rebounding with 5.1. She reached double figures in 24 of 32 games and had six games of 20 or more points. She helped lead the Patriots to the 2008-09 PBC regular-season championship, a
No. 14 national ranking and a second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

Former South Florence standout McKever was one of two players seleced from Lander. McKever was named the 2009 PBC tournament MVP and was second-team All-Conference last year after averaging 13.5 points and nine rebounds per game. McKever scored in double figures 22 times and had 11 double-doubles.

FMU golfers tied for 11th
SAPPHIRE, N.C. — Francis Marion shot a first-round 293 team score and is tied for 11th place, while Kentucky carded a 279 to occupy first place after the opening round of the Hummingbird Intercollegiate. 

FMU is only seven strokes out of third place in the 18-team field. The Patriots are currently tied with Appalachian State and Radford.

Ciaran McKenna and Kenneth Svanum led FMU with even-pars 71 and they are tied for 17th position in the individual standings. Matt Jackson (75) is tied for 61st place, while Christopher Couch (76) is tied for 75th place and Michael Asay (80) is tied for 96th position.

Crook named Coker Athlete of the Month
HARTSVILLE — The Heritage Community Financial Services Athlete of the Month for October is Coker men’s soccer player Mike Crook.

Crook was the offensive leader for the Cobras in October, scoring two goals on just three shots.

The senior captain has helped lead the Cobra men to their best season in more than 20 years, with a 10-5-2 record.

Patriots to tackle Falcons in PBC tournament
FLORENCE — Fifth-seeded Francis Marion will travel to play at Montevallo today at 7 p.m. in a first-round match of the Peach Belt Conference men’s soccer tournament.

Francis Marion ended its regular season with an 11-4-3 overall record and a 4-2-2 PBC mark.  The Falcons (9-6-1, 5-3-0) finished one spot ahead of the Patriots in the conference standings thanks to a 2-0win over FMU in Florence on Oct. 3.

Cobra men prepare for Anderson
HARTSVILLE — The Cobras are seeded fifth for today’s Conference Carolinas tournament, their highest seeding in school history, and will play nationally ranked Anderson at 7 p.m.

The Cobras lost their only contest against the Trojans back on Oct. 24, 2-0.