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Big b-ball coup Athletic department snags Shaq camp

Men’s Head Basketball Coach Sam Walker knows a thing or two about jump balls and jump shots. And clearly has a bead on how to jump on a chance, too.

When a buddy called him recently about hosting a boys’ summer basketball camp that will feature roundball star Shaquille O’Neal, he had a quick “Yes!” ready.

“He was looking for a rural area to have a camp at, and we were very glad to be the ones who could make such an oppportunity available to the young people in this area,” Walker said.

The 2001 Slam Magazine Basketball Camp will be here July 15-19. Of the nine Slam camps scheduled for the summer, only two feature Shaq—one in Thousand Oaks, California, and the other at A&M-Commerce.

For more information on the camp, call (212) 560-SLAM.

Walker successful in coaching debut

The first season of the Sam Walker era of Lion basketball ended with a heartbreaking double-overtime loss in the Lone Star Conference Tournament, but the Lions 17-10 campaign was a success.

The Lions finished third in the LSC South with a 7-5 record after being picked to finish sixth in the league’s preseason poll.

A&M-Commerce advanced to the LSC Tournament before falling 97-95 in double-overtime at Midwestern State.

Junior center Tyrone Palmer (6-9, Dallas/Madison) was named first-team All-LSC South as he finished the season as the team’s leading scorer with 19.9 points per game. He ranked fourth in the LSC and 33rd nationally in scoring.

Senior guard Fabian Pittman (5-11,Ruleville, Miss./Central) was named second-team All-LSC South after leading the Lions in assists (4.17 per game) and steals (2.28 per contest). He was ranked eight in the LSC in assists and third in steals.

Senior Robert Hamilton (6-3, Baton Rouge, La./Tera) ranked sixth in the league in steals (2.08 per game) and seventh in assist/turnover ratio (1.75).

Among the Lion highlights were the 75-65 victory over nationally ranked Northeastern State (Okla.) in Commerce in December; a 65-64 win at Abilene Christian in February on a free throw with 0.1 second left; and a stretch in the middle of the season where they won 11-of-12 games to earn a regional ranking. The Lions built a solid foundation for future squads, with Pittman, Hamilton and Joey Hadnot the lone seniors.

The Lions were honored as well to be selected to open next season at the Division II Tipoff Classic in Orlando, Fla., in November.

Basketball women qualify for tournament

The Lion women made history in 2000-2001. For the first time in more than 30 games, the A&M-Commerce women defeated West Texas A&M. And not just once, but twice! The Lions also advanced to the LSC Tournament for the first time since 1996 after posting an 11-16 record, 8-6 in LSC South action.

The history began on Feb. 3, when freshman Amy Putman (6-1, Hughes Springs) kissed a bank shot off the glass with 2.4 seconds to play in Canyon to down WT 71-70 at The Box. Putman earned LSC South Player of the Week honors for leading the Lions to their first-ever victory over the Lady Buffs.

And it didn’t take long for the second, as WT visited the Field House and was handed a 57-56 defeat by the Lions.

The Lions finished fourth in the LSC South after being picked dead-last in the loop and advanced to the LSC Tournament to face eventual tournament champion Midwestern State in the first round.

In addition to the victories over WT, the Lions swept Abilene Christian in the season series with a dramatic come-from-behind overtime win in Abilene to clinch a berth in the league tourney.

Junior Summer Sparnon (5-9, Roswell, N.M./Goddard) led the Lions with 15.4 points a contest, 10th in the LSC. She was named second-team All-LSC South.

She ranked fifth in the LSC in three-point field goal percentage (.363) and free throw percentage (.796).

Senior Jessica Douglas (5-4, Lone Oak) became the first Lion to play four years for Mancil and finished her season with 8.0 points and 2.3 assists a game. Douglas and forward Tarshanda Ferguson (5-11, Paris/Chisum) were the only seniors on the squad that built a base to launch from next season.

University spring sport seasons under way

The Lions have begun the spring sports seasons with men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s track and field underway.

The LSC Championships are set for April 16-17 for golf at the Firewheel Golf Course in Garland.

The LSC Track Championships are pegged for April 20-21 at Tarleton State in Stephenville.

One more Lion makes it to all-star play

A third Lion football senior was chosen to play in a postseason all-star game in January.

Offensive guard Darrell Bayer (6-3, 340, Rosenberg/Lamar Consolidated) was chosen to play in the Whataburger Cactus Bowl, the Division II All-Star Game in Kingsville on Jan. 12. He joined center Paul Simmons (6-4, 295, Lindale) in the contest.

Offensive tackle Tait Afualo (6-6, 320,

TXU promotes Dan Farell to presidency

TXU Electric & Gas has announced the promotion of Dan Farell (B.B.A. Accounting, ’72) to the presidency of the distribution divisions of TXU Electric Company and TXU Gas Company in Texas. Joining TXU in 1972, Dan has held numerous management positions in the company, including most recently serving as executive vice president of its distribution business unit. In 1995, after the company acquired Eastern Energy Limited in Victoria, Australia, Dan was made chairman of Eastern Energy and managing director of Texas Utilities Australia. He also served as director of the Victorian Power Exchange.

Jo Lynne Kizer remembered

Services for Jo Lynne “Jody” Kizer, 55, were March 4 at the First United Methodist Church of Commerce with Dr. Mike House officiating. Burial was in Sunset Hill Cemetery in Herington, Kan. She died following a battle with cancer.

Mrs. Kizer was born Sept. 16, 1945, in Junction City, Kan. to Harvey J. and Ruth Elizabeth Schmidt Riffel. She grew up in Kansas and later owned and operated the J Bar P Western Store in Herington, Kan.

She moved to Commerce in August 1985, and on April 28, 1990, she was married to Roger Kizer.

Mrs. Kizer began her employment at the University as a graduation advisor in the Registrar’s Office in January 1986. She transferred to the President’s Office as an administrative assistant in January 1989. She retired from the University in 2000 because of health reasons.

Long-time Alumni Office employee dies

Memorial services for Derylene Crawford, 74, of Commerce were Feb. 12 at First Baptist Church in Commerce.

Mrs. Crawford was born Sept. 26, 1926, in Dallas, the daughter of June Elwynn and Delphia Hatchell, both deceased. She married Boley Crawford on Jan 22, 1946, in Dallas. She moved to Commerce in 1957.

Mrs. Crawford had graduated from Krozier High School in Dallas in 1942. From 1946 to 1950, she attended East Texas State Teachers College, where she received her bachelor’s degree in English and her master’s degree in education. She taught for two years in the Desoto Independent School District. She was office manager for Alumni Records and Services at the University, retiring in January 1988 after 15 years there.

She was a member of First Baptist Church.