1000 AND COUNTING

by Albert Greene
Courier Staff

Of all the Monmouth College basketball players to ever put on a uniform, only 19 have reached 1000 points for their career. You can now add one more to that list as Senior Anthony Beaird reached that mark.

Last week at Glennie Gymnasium, the Fighting Scots basketball team faced off against rival Knox College.

Although Monmouth lost a heartbreaker in what could be considered one of the greatest Monmouth-Knox basketball games ever, Anthony Beaird still found a way to shine.
Beaird, a senior from Coal Valley Ill., scored only three points against Knox, but that three put him at 1000 points for his career.

Beaird shares that spot with only 19 former MC basketball players, some of whom include, Roger Sanders, MC's current baseball coach, and Steve Glasgow, a 2002 graduate, and son to head coach Terry Glasgow.

Beaird, who is averaging 13.0 points per game this year, already holds the MC record for most three pointers made in a season and career and is considered by his teammates the best pure shooter in the whole conference.

Beaird, who is usually a pretty soft spoken guy, is much honored to reach 1000 points. "It feels pretty good. The 1000 point club is great honor,"

Beaird attributes his shooting and playing success solely to his father. "A lot of my success comes from practice and coaching from my dad. He would get mad at me if I was shooting wrong or if I was shooting too far out. He is always the guy I go to when I need some help on my shot."

Although he knew he could come into Monmouth and make a difference, reaching 1000 points was not always on his mind. "When I first got here that was totally not on my mind, but when I found out that I was going to be playing a lot, I was thinking it was a possibility."

Although the Scots aren't exactly having the season they want, Beaird knows he has to stay positive. "I just to love to play basketball so that keeps me pretty motivated." He also recalls his best memories as a player here so far, "Playing in front the big crowds during the Knox games are the best, there is nothing like it" says Beaird.

The Scots, who will face Lawrence on Jan. 27, are looking to turn things around in conference play; but Beaird knows that will be hard, as Lawrence is one of the toughest teams in the conference.

"Even though Chris Hebeler (MC's point guard), probably wants me to say Lake Forest, I will say Lawrence. They are well coached and are very good at both ends of the floor."

Second grade was when Anthony Beaird started playing basketball, and he certainly has advice to give other little kids starting to play. "Just always work hard and don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something. You always miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take."