Image provided by: West Linn High School; West Linn, OR
About The amplifier. (West Linn, Oregon) 1921-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 2011)
Sports February Girls' Basketball Team hopes to stay in TRL top three A lison F ieldhouse Ending the preseason at 7-2, the West Linn Girls7 Basketball team headed into league with the momentum of a five game winning streak. On the road, they defeated both Lake Oswego and Lakeridge in their first two league games. "We've been road warriors and we need to carry our intensity from non-league play into league play,77 Glen Lee, head coach, said. In their first league game, the Lions faced Lakeridge and won 39-21. The team was down 8-15 at the end of the first quarter, but scored eight points to end the half 16-15. The second half displayed the Lions' defensive potential, as they only gave up six additional points to the Pacers. 7/We started out sluggish as it was our first game after break,77 Lee said. The team won its second league game against Lake Oswego, 50-28. The game went back and forth, but West Linn was able to hit some key shots that helped them keep the lead throughout the game. The Lions faced some of their toughest competition in the second week of league, including Oregon City and Clackamas, two of the top three teams in the state. On paper, Oregon City and Clackamas are their toughest competition, according to Lee. In its third league game against Oregon City, the Lions lost 41-74. Their next game, at which they wore pink jerseys, warm-ups and shoelaces to support breast cancer, they lost 39-60 to “We are our toughest competition. We are a young squad and for many it’s their first time playing at the varsity level so we need to make sure we are focused. ” -Glen Lee, Head Coach the next game, the team continued with a 39-31 win against Lake Oswego. 77We are our toughest competition,77 Lee said. /7We are a young squad and for many it7s their first time playing at the varsity level so we need to make sure we are focused.77 The lions lost for the second time to Oregon City in their eighth game, 46-71. Following this loss, the team played against Clackamas for the second time and lost 47-60. In their tenth league game, the team lost to Canby, 59-67. The team's main concentration is currently league games, but in the back of their minds is their TRL standing. This year, all teams have the opportunity to make playoffs, but the top three teams from the TRL will automatically advance to the 32 team bracket. Photo by Rachael Woolley "Since we play everyone Hayley Bigoni, senior, attempts a free throw during the Lions' Jan. in our league three times, 14 Breast Cancer Awareness night against Clackamas. The team wore we will know every pink jerseys, warm-ups and shoelaces in support of Breast Cancer team like the back of our Awareness. They lost 39-60. hand," Julia Boyd-Helm, Clackamas, a game which league game against Canby, sophomore, said. "If by was a lot closer than the winning 60-44. In their chance we don't make the score indicated, according sixth game the lions faced top three in league, we still to Lee. Lakeridge for the second have a chance of playing in They played their fifth time and won 50-33. In playoffs." Deep Snowboard Team sets sights high for State S eah P ebler _____________ The Snowboard Team is led by its depth of upperclassmen and features the emerging talent this season, according to head coach Graham Peterson. Some of the key boarders returning to the slopes are Nick McMillen, Andrew Brown, Joshua Gertlar, Trevor Harris, Kyle Holmes and Drake Edwards, seniors. "1 believe that this is the largest team that I have coached. I also think that we have the best coaching staff that we have ever had," Peterson said. "I'm happy to say that we are stronger than ever before." In Peterson's opinion, the coaches have been able to incorporate the young riders into the mix as well. He believes that the four year learning process can contribute to much of the development of a young snowboarder. "We are lucky enough to start developing freshman and work with them through the years, this process keeps our team stocked with good riders," Peterson said. On the girls' side of the board there is talent to be seen as well. "I am really excited for the girls this year. We have a bunch of freshmen girls who just joined and Kylie Steele, who is a senior, just joined too and I think she's going to do pretty Three Rivers meet of the season. Some highlights included both the boys and Photo by Nancy Steele, Picture This Photography Trevor Harris, senior, shreds the slopes in a recent meet at Mt. Hood Meadows on Jan. 22. The team united for a strong showing, earning first in both the boys and girls banked slalom competition well," Edwards said. "And as always, Gabby Estey is going to be leading the pack as far as competitions g°-" On Jan. 22, the team competed in their first girls side placing first in the banked slalom competition. Michael Foushee, freshman, earned first in the boys snowboard cross, with Estey coming in second on the girls side. The team's second meet took place on Jan. 30. Foushee and Holmes finished 1,2, respectively, in the boys halfpipe, leading to the lions earning first place in the team halfpipe competition. Estey, junior, placed fourth in both the half pipe and snowboard cross last season at the State competition. For the riders, everything is geared towards their preparation for the State meet. "Ultimately everything is building toward State," Peterson said. "At State we face the toughest competition, therefore a success at the state level is the ultimate measure of our riders' skills." "Snowboarding is really fun, but when it's done with a group of fun people that's when it's the best and I think that's the kind of attitude we all have," Edwards said. State is a compilation of what each rider has achieved throughout the season, and the builds upon the knowledge and experience of the slopes that the riders can gain. "For us, success has two elements. First, how we do in competition, and second, the experience that each rider walks away with at the end of the season," Peterson said. Dance team progresses toward state competition continued from page 11 "Our amazing coaches (Wilcox), Angie Sharpe, Ka- rissa Hanno and Shammra Smith truly inspire us not only as a team, but also as individuals with their combined background ex perience and knowledge," Zaayer said. "They have our best interests in mind and have taught us that hard work and integrity will have benefits beyond the dance team." The first competition was held on Jan. 29 at Canby High School, where the team placed second overall. They fell short of first place Parkrose by 1.61 points. "This placing has mo tivated us to continue on with hard work and dedi cation for the upcoming competitions and the final State competition in mid- March," Johnson said. Competitions continue every other weekend start ing Feb. 19 until the state meet on March 16 at the Memorial Colliseum.
