Gates, Leonard, Stone selected for TSWA enshrinement

The late Nick Gates is one of three TSWA Hall of Fame inductees in the Class of 2017, announced this week.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Seating at one press box is named in honor of one sports writer, and another co-wrote a book with the late Fred Russell. The third man spent 66 years at his newspaper. The trio of Nick Gates, George Leonard and Dean Stone are the newest members of the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s Hall of Fame and will be inducted July 13 during a ceremony at Cumberland University.

The late Nick Gates worked for the Knoxville News-Sentinel from 1971 until his death April 2, 2010. The press box at Smokies Park named the seating “Nick Gates Press Row’’ in his honor as an authority on Knoxville’s minor league baseball and hockey franchises. Gates also covered the University of Tennessee and high school athletics after turning down at least one SEC scholarship offer to walk on at UT to attend journalism school where he graduated in 1971.

Dean Stone worked for more than 60 years at The Maryville-Alcoa Daily.

Leonard, who died in 2001 at the age of 86, was assistant sports editor at the Nashville Banner for years and briefly was sports editor before retiring. Leonard covered both Vanderbilt and Tennessee and also covered the Nashville Vols for years. Leonard helped develop youth leagues in Nashville and co-wrote the book “Big Time Football” with Russell, a charter member of the TSWA Hall of Fame. Leonard also worked for The Associated Press, the San Diego Tribune and the Chattanooga Times.

Stone got his start in journalism as co-sports editor of the school paper at Everett High School in Blount County, where he played on the 1941 undefeated football team. Stone went to Maryville College before being activated from the Army Reserve to fight in Italy during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of Oklahoma, where he was assistant sports editor of the campus newspaper. He worked part-time for The Associated Press as a campus correspondent while working at The Maryville-Alcoa Daily Times during the summers. Stone became Sunday editor of the paper in February 1949 and became managing editor and sports editor of the paper five months later. Stone died in October at the age of 92.

Memphis' Lawson, Belmont's Maggard garner Player of the Week honors

Belmont's Darby Maggard earned TSWA Player of the Week accolades, posting 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in two games for the Bruins.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Memphis’ Lawson named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Memphis sophomore Dedric Lawson earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades on Tuesday, registering 22.0 points, 13.0 rebounds and 5.5 assists in a pair of contests for the Tigers.

The Memphis, Tenn., native posted 18 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists against Monmouth, hitting 5-of-13 shots overall and 7-for-9 at the foul line. He followed that with 26 points, 12 boards and four assists in an overtime victory at Oklahoma, playing 43 of the game’s 45 minutes versus the Sooners.

Lawson made 10-of-17 shots in the contest and all five free throws for his ninth double-double of the season, tied for most in Division I. He is averaging 20.9 points and 11.2 rebounds along with 3.7 assists per outing.

2016-17 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 17 – Matthew Butler, UT Martin
November 22 – Josh Robinson, Austin Peay
November 29 – Dedric Lawson, Memphis
December 6 – Evan Bradds, Belmont
December 13 – Garrison Mathews, Lipscomb

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Belmont’s Maggard earns TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont University’s Darby Maggard garnered Tennessee Sports Writer’s Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors on Tuesday, recording 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists in a pair of games for the Bruins.

The Larwill, Ind., native knocked down a season-high seven 3-pointers, including three in the fourth quarter, netting 23 points with eight assists in a 75-74 loss at Minnesota. The sophomore guard posted 15 points, six rebounds and four assists in an overtime victory over IUPUI.

Maggard leads the Bruins with 14.4 points and 5.7 assists per game in 12 outings this season.

2016-17 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 17 – Jada Smith, Union University
November 22 – Bella Taylor, University of the South
November 29 – Jada Smith, Union University
December 6 – Whitney Mitchell, King University
December 13 – Samantha Reeves, Christian Brothers

Lipscomb's Mathews, Christian Brothers’ Reeves named TSWA Players of the Week

Lipscomb's Garrison Mathews averaged 30.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in a pair of games for the Bisons to earn TSWA Player of the Week accolades.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Lipscomb’s Mathews named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lipscomb University’s Garrison Mathews earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades for games played November 28-December 4, averaging 30.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in pair of contests for the Bisons.

The Franklin, Tenn., native connected on 13-of-18 attempts at the foul line and finished with 25 points in a two-point overtime loss to Belmont. The sophomore guard followed that with a career-best 36 points against Morehead State, hitting 8-of-10 from 3-point range. Mathews added eight rebounds and three assists in the victory, coming within two points of the Lipscomb Division I-era record for points in a single game.

2016-17 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 17 – Matthew Butler, UT Martin
November 22 – Josh Robinson, Austin Peay
November 29 – Dedric Lawson, Memphis
December 6 – Evan Bradds, Belmont
 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Christian Brothers’ Reeves earns TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Christian Brothers senior Samantha Reeves garnered Tennessee Sports Writer’s Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week honors for games played November 28-December 4, posting 19.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.0 assists and helping the Bucs end a pair of long losing streaks.

The Somerville, Tenn., native hit a pair of 3-pointers and recorded 15 points and four assists in 27 minutes in a 67-66 victory over Harding University, ending a 13-game losing streak to the Bisons. She followed that with 23 points, eight boards and four assists in a 63-53 win over Union University, netting 16 points in the second half and 10 in the final period.

The victory ended a 23-game losing streak to the Bulldogs and also marked the first Top-25 victory for CBU since 2010.

2016-17 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 17 – Jada Smith, Union University
November 22 – Bella Taylor, University of the South
November 29 – Jada Smith, Union University
December 6 – Whitney Mitchell, King University