Arts, Leisure and Sports
For the fourth time in school history the Liberty Flames men’s basketball team will take part in March Madness. And the National Gridiron League and the Virginia Iron Horses are coming to the Berglund Center this spring as announced last year – but later than first promised.
The National Gridiron League and the Virginia Iron Horses are coming to the Berglund Center this spring as announced last year – but later than first promised. NGL commissioner Joe McClendon says logistical issues has pushed the indoor football league’s first season back to early May instead of late March. The first Iron Horses home game against the Indiana Firebirds is now scheduled for May 18th – instead of March 31st. McClendon did say today that the team and head coach Jermaine Hampton should arrive in Roanoke as early as next week to start promoting the league. McClendon spoke last July on a stop in Roanoke:
Image: LU Athletics Facebook
(from Liberty.edu) For the fourth time in school history, Liberty is going to the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed Flames defeated the No. 1 seed Lipscomb 74-68 to claim the ASUN Championship. (The Flames are heard in Roanoke on our sister station WPLY 610am and 101.1fm)
Liberty is the first league team to win the ASUN Final in its debut tournament since the 1997-98 season. The Flames (28-6, 14-2 ASUN) now have tied their school record with 28 wins on the season. Liberty’s Lovell Cabbil Jr., Caleb Homesley and Scottie James were named to the ASUN All-Tournament team, while James was also named the ASUN Tournament Most Valuable Player.
The “Flashback Friday” lineup for Dr. Pepper Park off South Jefferson Street has been announced and many of the favorites return – like the tribute bands for Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty and Led Zeppelin. But Dr. Pepper Park president Waynette Anderson is also excited for a first-time group that honors the late Prince, “Dean Ford and the Beautiful Ones,” on May 10th. Dr. Pepper Park again kicks off a new season with the all-comers Star City Cornhole Tournament on April 27th. Hear a complete in-studio conversation with Waynette Anderson below:
The Northside Vikings overcame first half turnovers and held on against a quicker opponent in Phoebus to win its first-ever class 3 state boys high school basketball title this afternoon – 60-to 58 for long time head coach Billy Pope. Two Casey Draper foul shots at the end sealed the deal for Northside. Pope had lost three previous state title games with Northside dating back to 1992.
A gesture made by Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs forward Jesse Schwartz described as being “racially inappropriate” that was directed towards Al Graves – a black player on the Quad City Storm – means Schwartz has been now suspended by the team and the SPHL for the rest of the season and any playoff run. A league statement says while Schwartz has apologized, “the SPHL will not tolerate incidents of this nature.” The gesture led to an on-ice fight towards the end of the Saturday night game in Moline, Illinois. Dawgs head coach Dan Bremner:
Hear our complete and latest update from head coach Dan Bremner – starting with the Schwartz suspension – below: