RGV Roundup: Hanks on team that made NAIA title game

Sophomore defensive end Joseph Hanks and his third-ranked Lindenwood University Lions came up three points short of securing their first ever national title in football on Saturday. Despite leading 14-8 at halftime, Lindenwood fell to top-ranked Sioux Falls 25-22 during the 2009 NAIA National Championship game played in Rome, Ga.

Hanks, a 6-foot-1, 248-pounder from McAllen Memorial, played in the game but didn’t register any stats. He is listed on the depth chart as the No. 2 defensive end for the Lions. Hanks lead the team with four sacks heading into the game. He finished with 24 tackles on the season — 17 solo and 5 1/2 for losses. Lindenwood finished the year at 13-1 overall.

BASKETBALL

Former PSJA High star Ty Gough is putting together a highlight reel at Dallas Baptist University this season.

The 6-10, 255 pound junior forward has had the top rebounding effort in four of the Patriots’ eight games thus far and also has pitched in the best scoring performance in two of those. Following Saturday’s 93-75 victory over the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, Gough is leading the team in rebounds (9.1 avg.) and is second in scoring, netting just under 16 points per outing.

Following Saturday’s contest, the Division II Patriots (4-4) will take time off for the holidays. They will not return to the hardwood until Dec. 30 when they play host to Abilene Christian. Dallas Baptist competes in the Heartland Conference.

Gough transferred from Texas State to Dallas Baptist after last season.

The University of Texas-Pan American women’s basketball team currently features two Valleyites — Bianca Torre of Harlingen South and Andrea Garza of McAllen High. Torre, a 5-5 freshman guard who has started in all but one game, is leading several individual categories through the Lady Broncs’ first dozen outings. Her top highlights include scoring average (11.6), assists (46) and steals (26). Torre is also second in 3-point field goal percentage, making 27-of-75 attempts. She is 18-of-21 at the free thrown line.

Torre lead the way with 12 points and seven assists during the Lady Broncs’ 61-60 loss to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Saturday.

Garza, a 5-11 sophomore forward, has played in 10 games for the Lady Broncs and is tied for fourth in rebounding (35), hauling in over three per game. She contributed six points and four rebounds in the loss to the Lady Islanders.

GOLF

Sharyland’s Luis Limus currently is competing for the University of North Texas men’s golf team. A sophomore, Limus tallied 453 strokes in six rounds of play during the Mean Green’s four-tournament fall schedule. His best single-round score was a 72 carded at the University of Arlington’s Waterchase Invitational in September. UNT recently concluded its fall slate with its best finish of the season, sharing fifth-place at the Herb Wimberly Intercollegiate tournament in October in Las Cruces, N.M.

Michael A. Pullen is a former sportswriter in the Rio Grande Valley. His column runs every Tuesday. College news can be reported to him via e-mail at rgvroundup@yahoo.com.