Take 5 with Coach Beadles

SAGU has two road games this weekend

Head Coach asked about team's progress, and future

WAXAHACHIE, Texas  --  Both the men's and women's basketball teams from Southwestern Assemblies of God University are on the road for their next two games as the regular season begins its final 10-game stretch drive.

They are 400-miles away, in Hobbs, New Mexico, to face the University of the Southwest on Saturday afternoon. After returning, they will be in southeast Dallas on Monday, February 6, to take on Paul Quinn College.

Lady Lions head coach Arlon Beadles stopped long enough to answer his weekly Take 5 package of questions, which are:

Q1) The Lady Lions have won 5-of-their-last-7 games. That’s a huge turnaround since their long skid earlier in the season. What are some of the reasons?

AB) We are handling full court pressure much better. Plus, Kassy Cox has given us another great rebounder.

Q2) The young backcourt has made strides in ball control and in running the offense. Plus, you have started and played most every guard on the roster. What has triggered their development?

AB) We work hard every day on a variety of cuts, moves and fundamentals of getting free from opponent’s double-teaming our guards.

Q3) The injury to senior forward Gabby Bruner opened the door for Kassy Cox to get extended playing time. Are you surprised to see her responding so well?

AB) Gabby continues to recover. We list her as day-to-day as she is still not at full speed. I knew Kassy was a good rebounder from seeing her play in pick-up games last spring.

Q4) The team has two road games this weekend, a long trek to Hobbs, New Mexico on Saturday, then a game on Monday in Dallas against Paul Quinn College. What are those teams like?

AB) USW (University of the Southwest) is much better than their record. They are playing so close in games, and are capable of winning more. At home, they can present problems in defending them.

Paul Quinn has five very good athletes who are a challenge to beat, and they play together very well. Because of their athleticism and quickness, it creates a real battle for us, and they are always tough for us at their place.

Q5) SAGU has risen from 13th place to 8th over the month of January. How do you hope the final weeks will progress in terms of that ascension continuing?

AB) I’d really like to see us going up to fifth or sixth in the league standings. To do that, though, we’ve got to sustain the way we’re playing. We must keep playing hard and working together. The goal is to be playing your best basketball entering the Red River tournament (first weekend in March).

BONUS Q: Patriots or Giants in the Super Bowl?

AB) The Giants. I love Eli (Manning).

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 469-658-2847.