Final Fall Sports (and First) Basketball Update

Hope you're a good holiday season so far. Here's how your favorite basketball teams are doing in "D-II South Nation" going into the Christmas break. But first...

Here's one last (belated) look at the fall sports...on D-II South Sports...

Flagler volleyball, just having finished its first season in the Peach Belt Conference, reached the Final Four of the NCAA Division II tournament, only to lose to West Texas A&M 3-1. The Saints finished the 2009 season at 36-9. Thanks to the strong performances from its men's soccer, as well as its volleyball program, Flagler currently sits in the top 40 of the first Learfield Director's Cup standings for D-II schools at No. 36.

The University of West Florida women's soccer team falls on penalty kicks to Cal State Dominguez Hills. Click here for the details.

And now, turning to basketball...

Women

Gulf South Conference: The West Division clearly holds the balance of power here, as all eight teams currently have an overall record of .500 or better going into the holiday break. Delta State (No. 3 in the WBCA D-II poll) and Arkansas Tech (No. 24) both share identical 10-0 marks as of Christmas Eve. On the other hand, West Florida is the lone team in the East Division to have a winning record, as the Lady Argonauts sport a 7-4 overall mark.

Peach Belt Conference: Two-time defending tournament champion Lander goes into the Christmas break as the lone unbeaten team in the PBC at 7-0. Preseason favorite--and defending Southeast Region champion Clayton State is off to yet another solid start at 7-1, as is Francis Marion at 9-1. The Laker women are undefeated in PBC play at 2-0. That's good for first place in the West Division. The surprise team thus far is newcomer Montevallo, whose Lady Falcons sport a 7-2 mark.

SIAC: To no one's surprise so far, Fort Valley State (5-0, 3-0) currently rules the roost in this league, as the Lady Wildcats have racked up wins over Miles, Stillman, and Claflin, as West Georgia and Florida Tech in non-conference play. But Benedict (4-2, 2-0) and LeMoyne-Owen (3-2, 2-0) may have a say as to who'll come out on top between now and the end of the regular season.

Men

Gulf South: The two teams that played each other in last season's GSC tournament title game have 22 wins between them going into Christmas. Defending tourney champion Arkansas Tech (11-0) is off to its best start as a GSC member, as the Wonder Boys are ranked fifth in the latest NABC Division II poll. Runner-up Valdosta State (11-2) started the season at 8-0 before losing back-to-back games to Columbus State and Tampa, respectively. The No. 15 (NABC) Blazers have since won three in a row.

Peach Belt: While Augusta State (9-0 and No. 3 in the NABC poll) has surprised no one in getting off to a fast start so far, the biggest surprise has to come from the state of Alabama. Montevallo has very quietly gotten off to a 10-0 start in its inaugural PBC season. The Falcons are currently ranked No. 19 nationally. UM, though, will get its first real test on Jan. 2, as they play host to the Lander Bearcats in their first-ever PBC game. Francis Marion (8-1) and Georgia College & State University (6-1) have also gotten off to impressive starts.

SIAC: Stillman (5-0, 4-0) has been the surprise team in the SIAC so far, as one of the Tigers wins have come against NCAA Division I Alabama A&M, among other teams. As an added bonus, the Stillman are ranked No. 23 in the NABC poll. It's the first time the Tigers from Tuscaloosa, Ala. are nationally ranked. Benedict (3-2, 2-0) is the only other unbeaten team in SIAC play going into the Christmas break.

Have a very Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year, from D-II South Sports!