Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2009)
10 Mardi# Lions upend top ranked Lakers, finish second in TRL M ax H ays Staff Reporter Since losing its first league game to Oregon City in early January, the Varsity Boys' Basketball Team has won nine out of 10 and has reeled off seven wins in a row, beating previously top ranked Lake Oswego in the process. They entered the game against LO in third place with a 7-2 record in Three Rivers League play behind Oregon City and Lake Oswego. The Lions were in need of a big win in order to keep their place near the top of the standings and pulled out the big win in convincing fashion. The game was a defensive battle from the start, with the score at only 7-5 with the Lions leading after one quarter of play. They kept up the defensive effort the entire game giving up only 36 points, their best defensive game this season. "We played very well defensively. We got out on their shooters and packed the middle to slow down their big m en," Eric Viuhkola, head coach, said. Even though the Lions made only 10 field goals in the game, they did a good job of drawing fouls and made 20 free throws during the game, helping them to a 44-36 win. The team was Underriner, junior, and Ryan Barnes, senior, added nine points apiece. The team beat Lakeridge earlier in the week, 81-71. Jeffery Bush, junior, led the at the end. We took ill advised shots and turned the ball over too much," Viuhkola said. The team was led by Barnes who scored 14 points, and Gray and Bryce Baker, senior, who both scored 11. After Oregon City lost to LO, the Lions will finish in second place behind LO and will have a better seed in the State playoffs. "I've really enjoyed coaching these guys, especially after about a third of our league games when the team really came together and started playing as a team," Viuhkola said. Lions eliminated by top ranked South Eugene J ennifer S itton Staff Reporter Johnel Gray, senior, catches a pass during the Lions’ home game against Lakeridge. The Lions won the game 81-71 which helped catapult them into a second place finish in the Three Rivers League. Photo by William Thompson led by Johnel Gray, senior, who scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while Michael Lions with 22 points and Gray had 19 points in the high scoring affair. Intramurals fly high with rise in popularity M ark C hipperfield They followed up the big win against LO with a blowout win against Putnam, winning 70-44. Josh Oltman, senior, lead all scorers with 22 points and was followed by Barnes who had 15 points. After being ranked as high as ninth in the Associated Press Poll, the Lions hosted Clackamas in a very important game. If the team was able to beat Clackamas they would be in first place in the TRL, but the Lions couldn't hold off the Cavaliers in the fourth quarter and ended up losing 47-50 in a heartbreaker. "We gave the game away The league started in 1998 Staff Reporter when over 100 students tried out for the school basketball It is a late winter night, the team the year after West Linn lights are on, and two teams won the state championship. are ready to play some ball at In this basketball league the Rosemont Ridge Middle for the commoner, another School gym. One of the best successful year has just drawn kept secrets in the school is the to a close. intramural basketball program People from all types of for which anyone can sign up basketball backgrounds partake in doing their best LeBron James, Cleveland Cavalier small forward, imitations. Nico Varela, Michael Schwartz, senior, catches the ball in the low senior, post while Ian Markstaller, senior, heavily defends along with him. Despite the efforts of both teams, the intramural Schlitt, was game resulted in a draw. Photo by Nico Varela a co-captain of the junior- and, for many, the best part senior division second place • is that there are no tryouts or team. Schlitt started playing evaluations of talent. intramural basketball this "The atmosphere is laid year after he quit the school back, but partially competitive basketball team. Varela at the same time. You can try is a four year intramural as hard as you want and still veteran who had only played have fun. Games are always recreation basketball before fun to play and w atch/' high school. Alexander Schlitt, senior, said. " These boys make new This year eight teams, four friendships, learn to how consisting of underclassmen compete, win, and lose and and four consisting of respect each other," Jamie upperclassmen, met once or LeVeque, math teacher, said. twice a week to run the clock. LeVeque has been the commissioner of the program since 1998. He is the one who organizes the whole league, making the teams and schedule. Games like the match up between teams six and seven on Feb. 5 are representative of the league. With 15 seconds left, Varela drained a half court granny shot to tie the game only to have the other team come back and win the game on a free throw. "That was a big moment for me. It is definitely something I will remember for a long time. Only in the spirit of murals could this event take place," Varela said. The program has seen a spike in popularity with the student body over the past couple of years because of the entertainment of the games. Brianna Ruiz, senior, has attended the majority of the games over the past two years. She is one of the fans who now flock to intramural games to catch a glimpse of the action. "The players are very entertaining and funny. My friends play and it's better than sitting at home," Ruiz said. It is too late to sign up for this season. Check the Roar next fall for registration information. Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury. The team won the game 57-43 without Maleike. The next Friday, the Lions lost to Lake Oswego 29-38, with Elise Miller, starting sophomore point guard, out due to illness. During their last league game of the year, the Lions played Rex Putnam and celebrated senior night. Ashley Bruser, Sachie Hopkins, Avary Kolasinski, Brittany May and Hannah Schumaker, seniors, were The Girls' Varsity Basketball Team lost to number one ranked South Eugene on Feb. 27. The Lions didn't come out very strong and didn't even score until there was two minutes left in the first quarter. The score at halftime was 14-37 in favor of the Axemen. In the second half, the Lions played even with the Axemen, tying in the third quarter and losing by one in the fourth. The final score was 44-68 to propel South Eugene to the final eight teams where they will face the Jesuit Crusaders at the Chiles Center at the University of Portland. The Lions celebrated a first round playoff victory at home on Feb. 24 over the Grant Generals. The team took a quick 16-14 lead in the first quarter. They continued to stretch out the lead throughout the first j half, but let up a bit in the Karly LeVeque, freshm an, drives second to a final score of past a Grant player in the Feb. 24 first 44-29. round playoff game. The Lions beat Of the 14 girls who the Generals 44-29 to advance to the played in the game, 11 of second round of playoffs where they them scored. The three faced undefeated South Eugene. Photo courtesy of Patti O'Mara leading scorers were sophomores including Amy honored for their hard work Christensen who had seven and dedication to the program points, Elise Miller who also over the last four years. had seven and Jennifer Sitton "This year will definitely be who scored six. my most memorable season The team finished off because we had a much more league with a strong second close knit team than we have place finish and a 9-3 record. had the last three years," May Their only league losses came said. "It's weird to think that to number one ranked Oregon I'll never play at West Linn City and Lake Oswego. again." The team started out slow, The team suffered a blow with the game tied at half in the first minute of the time. They ended up winning Lakeridge game on Feb. 69-43 in a game that was 10, when Andrea Maleike, closer than anyone would starting sophomore guard, have expected. received a season-ending
