The amplifier., December 01, 2008, Page 11, Image 11

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Tough season-ending losses overshadow
outstanding finishes as fall playoffs wrap up
■ C hristopher E rbin
Staff Reporter
With State titles in their
sights, the fall teams finished
what may have been the best
fall playoff season in school
history, sending five teams to
State.
Volleyball: Three Rivers
League Champs, Second Place
in State
A second place finish at
State would be a spectacular
end to the season for most
teams, but the Lions Volleyball
Team walked away as
State runner ups slightly
disappointed after falling one
victory short of defending its
State Championship title.
For the second straight
year, the Lions entered the
State Championships as less
talked about favorites, mostly
overshadowed by Jesuit's
dominance in the regular
season. However, unlike
last year when Jesuit was
upset by a surprise North
Medford squad, the Lions had
every intention of upending
fum it themselves, for their
-nd consecutive State title.
Unfortunately, it was not to
be for West Linn, as Jesuit
cruised its way through the
tournament, and battled past
the Lions 25-15,25-13,25-21
for their second State title in
school history.
"We played a team that
played their system better than
we played our system," West
Linn coach Carl Neuberger
The Varsity Volleyball Team celebrates on Senior Night, the Lions'
last home game of the regular season. The team honored the departure
of eight seniors, most of whom will go on to play in college.
said of Jesuit. Neuberger was
named this years Three Rivers
League Coach of the Year.
Over the course of the
two day tournament, the
team played some of its best
volleyball of the season, over
which they compiled a record
of 29-5 (12-0).
Many of the Lions
accomplishments at State may
be diminished by falling just
short, but the fact of the matter
is West Linn had another
Josh Oltman, senior, eludes a tackier in the first round playoff game
against Barlow. Oltman led the team in receiving, including a 60-yard
touchdown reception in the Lions 42-21 victory.
^
Photo by William Thompson
successful State run.
In the semifinals the Lions
took down a highly ranked
Sheldon team, 25-10,25-21,
25-18 to reach the finals. The
Lions cruised through the
semifinal thanks to a number
of kills from Alyssa O'Neil and
Caitlin McDonnell, seniors.
The Lions stopped Gresham
on many attacks, thanks to
the stellar defense of Danielle
Sargent, senior. Sargent's
defense dominated throughout
the tournament, and earned
her a featured article in the
Oregonian.
O'Neil and Kawasaki were
both named First Team All
State. Their volleyball careers
are far from over, as they will
be squaring off against each
other for the next four years.
O'Neil will play for Oregon
State University, and Kawasaki
will play for the University of
Oregon.
Seniors McDonnell,
Sargent, Brenna Kelly,
Stephanie Hutchinson,
Lindsey Wickert, and Betsy
Wilhelm all graduate in the
spring, and many will go onto
play collegiality along with
O'Neil and Kawasaki.
Football: Second Place
Three Rivers League, Second
Round of State
Amongst the confusion
and shock following the
football team's 12-10 loss
to Beaverton in the second
round of the State playoffs,
only one thing was certain;
this one was going to sting
for a while. For the second
consecutive season, the Lions
found themselves on the road
up against a high powered
offense with an opportunity to
reach the final eight of State.
This time however, instead
of being blown out by West
Salem, the Lions dominated
the Beaverton Beavers for three
and a half quarters, and led
10-0 with only two minutes
standing between them and
the quarterfinals.
Beaverton scored its first
points of the game with just
a minute and half remaining.
The extra point opportunity
missed wide right, and the
Lions held onto a 10-6 lead,
meaning the Beavers would
need a touchdown, and not
a field goal, to win the game.
After failing to run out the
clock, Beaverton got the ball
back with just under a minute
to go.
The Lions' defense held
steady, forcing the Beavers
into a fourth and ten situation
team and as a family this year
and had lots of fun." Reid
Adams, junior, said.
While it was a bitter end
for many of the seniors,
it should not be forgotten
that the football team had a
tremendous season, especially
considering the number of
injury obstacles they have had
to overcome.
A week earlier, the Lions
notched a home playoff victory
to move into the second round.
In the first round encounter
with the Barlow Bruins, the
Lions offense outshined the
Bruins star running back
Malcom Johnson, as the Lions
won a 42-28 shoot out. The
Lions, who had struggled
to stop the run in games
earlier this season, gave
up over 300 yards on the
ground to Johnson, but got
the stops when they needed
them. Despite Johnson's
big performance, it was not
The Girls’ Varsity Cross Country Team rallies before the State meet.
The team suffered injury and illness throughout the season, but
managed to pull off a 10th place finish at State.
around mid-field. With West
Linn students, staff and
parents waiting to storm the
field in celebration, the Beavers
highly scouted quarterback
Michael Dehaan connected
on a 12 yard pass to keep
Beaverton alive. The Beavers
drove all the way down field
and score to go ahead 12-10
with just seconds remaining in
the game. The Lions had one
last chance to pull ahead, but
failed when their hook and
ladder trickery resulted in a
fumble.
"We grew a lot, both as a
Photo by Christopher Erbin
enough to lift the Bruins past
the Lions.
Boys’ & Girls' Cross
Country: Boys: Three Rivers
League Champs, 3rd in State
Girls: Three Rivers Champs,
10th in State
The Boys Cross Country
team walked away with a
third-place team trophy,
marking the best finish at State
by WLHS in school history.
After finishing the race,
the Lions knew they had run
well but figured that they had
missed the medal podium.
Ian Sunns_____________ |
continued on page 12