Shuckers promote Topp to head coach

Towson's West, Dangerfield named Phil Steele All-Americans

Pro basketball

Shuckers promote Topp to head coach

The Bay Area Shuckers named assistant coach Bob Topp their new head coach Monday. Topp, a longtime coach and nationally recognized shooting coach, brings experience at the middle school, high school, community college and professional levels. He takes over the Atlantic Coast Professional Basketball League team after the resignation of Pete Corriero last week three games into its inaugural season. "With the majority of our schedule left to play, we wanted to act quickly, and we're happy that we have our best option right here on our staff," Shuckers general manager John Wolfe said. I'm excited to get a quality, experienced coach like Bob to be our next head coach." As the national director for Shot Doctor Basketball Camps Inc., Topp has led shooting camps since 1997. Previously, he worked shooting camps for Buzz Braman, a noted NBA shooting coach. In the 2005-06 season, Topp was the assistant women's coach at Anne Arundel Community College. That team went from five wins in the previous season to 19 wins, a spot in the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III national tournament and the No. 6 ranking in the country in NJCAA Division III for free-throw percentage. Topp has taught physical education and coached since 1990 at Annapolis Area Christian School, where he also serves as middle school athletic director. His basketball teams there have won eight championships, including four in nine years as girls varsity coach. "Pete Corriero has put down a good foundation for a solid team," Topp said. "Having assisted him, I know that I can continue to run a system of play that is already established for the players. The team is improving every week, so I look forward to taking us to the first of many wins this season." The Shuckers' next game is at 7 p.m. Jan. 7 against the Manhattan Pride at Annapolis Area Christian School.

Towson football

West, Dangerfield named Phil Steele All-Americans

Towson freshman tailback Terrance West (Northwestern) and junior safety Jordan Dangerfield were selected to Phil Steele's Football Championship Subdivision All-America teams. West, the Colonial Athletic Association Offensive Rookie of the Year, was chosen to the first team, while Dangerfield earned a spot on the third team. West, a first-team All-Colonial Athletic Association honoree, is one of the leading candidates for the Jerry Rice Award as the top FCS freshman. The award will be presented on Jan. 6 in Frisco, Texas. A first-year freshman, West helped the Tigers to a 9-3 record and the Colonial Athletic Association championship in 2010. The Tigers, who had a 1-10 record in 2010, were the most improved Division I team in the nation and earned their first-ever FCS playoff berth. The second-leading rusher in the CAA, West ran for 1,294 yards (6.7 yards per carry) in 11 games. He ranked 12th in the FCS by averaging 117.6 rushing yards per game and led the FCS with 29 touchdowns, including at least two touchdowns in each of the final eight games of the year. Despite missing two games with an injury, Dangerfield led the Tigers with 93 tackles in 10 games. Averaging 9.3 tackles per game, he ranked seventh in the CAA. He was second among CAA defensive backs with 93 tackles. For West, this is his fourth All-America honor. He was previously honored as a first-team All-American by The Sports Network and the Walter Camp Foundation. He was also named to the FCS All-America second team by the Associated Press.

—From Sun staff and news services