Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 18, 1978)
sports By Randy Frank Of The Print Trailblazer enthusiasm and quick comebacks mean victory It was just another typical game for the world's best basketball team. Down by 13 at halftime, the Portland Trailblazers, the defend- ing NBA champions, were digging themselves even farther in-to the hole as the Boston Celtics have scored the first two buckets of the half and now own a 17 point lead, 65-48. Then, suddenly the Blazers were right back in the game as the man they call the "Enforcer", Maurice Lucas finally began finding the bucket for 14 third quarter points. Coupled with some strong defense, the team from Portland found themselves in the lead as they went on to win in overtime, 107-103. It is the ability to come from behind against impossible odds that has marked the Portland Trail blazers as the true champions of the NBA. This factor really became ap parent last summer during theNBA championship series when the Phi ladelphia 76ers grabbed a seeming ly insurmountable two game to no thing advantage. The fact was that only one other team had ever come from two games behind to win the title. The Trailblazers did it and set a record as they won it in four straight games. This season the Blazers would not be 33-6 and leading the Paci fic Division by seven games with out being able to come from be- hind. In the past couple of weeks, this factor has really become ap parent, as the Blazers have come from behind in six-out of their last eight contests. Mark Leroy signs with the Cornhuskers Wednesday, Dec. 28, the Blaz ers were playing the Detroit Pistons on the road and for the first time in the season, Bill Walton was mis sing from the lineup. Trailingbyasmany as 10 points, the Blazers came from behind as starters Maurice Lucas and Lionel Hollins scored seven points each in the closing minutes to lead Port land to victory. But perhaps the most famous game of the season was played on Jan. 3 when the Blazers were trail ing the Chicago Bulls by four points. With only 13 seconds left, the Blazers scored six straight points to win 99-97. Jan. 7 the Trailblazers were trailing the Detroit Pistons by eight points with about three minutes left in the ball game. The Blazers rattled off 11 straight points in the closing moments of the ball game towin 109-105. On Friday, Jan. 13, the Washing ton Bullets proved to be simply too much for the Blazers as they won, 102-93. However, the Bullets had at one time built up a 19-point lead and saw it slowly melt away as the charging Blazers closed the gap to within four points with 1:38 left to play in the game. The Blazers could come no clos er as it was at that point in the game that the sparkplug in the Blazers' comeback rally -- Hollins -- received his sixth foul and had to leave the game. With the season nearing the halfway point, there is a lot of talk about the possibility of Port land setting an NBA record for the best win-loss record or even more likely, a Portland dynasty. One has to remember that it never comes easy and that the mark of a true champion is that uncanny ability to win when win ning is next to impossible. Hoopsters show improvement Teamwork and high scoring made the difference as Clack amas' mens basketball team reg istered two wins last week. Saturday night, Dan Slick sunk 31 points to lead the Cougars to an 85-62 home win over Judson Baptist. Jeff Nilsen, a consistent performer;threw in 16 for the non league victory while Jim Coffman had 11. "I didn't really feel that we played a strong game," said Coach Len Tirrill, "We lacked consistency but we got the job done." "We played strong in some areas and in others we were weak. Part of the time we played well in the areas and part of the time we didn't," Tirrill said. "It's always nice to win but it just wasn't a sterling defeat." Preston Martin tallied 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to lead the win against Chemeketa 97-62 in Salem last Wednesday. Martin also held the Chiefs' 6'10" Keith Williams to eight points and nine rebounds. Slick, CCC's leading scorer,toss ed in 19 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Nilsen put in 24 points to carry the Clackamas offense. Photo by Brian Snook The Cougars literally smashed Judson Baptist here last Saturday, 85- 62. Jeff Nilsen (40) uses another Judson Baptist player as a lounge chair as Dan Slick attempts to assist in securing the ball for Clackamas. Slick led the Cougars in the rout with 31 points along with several assists and rebounds. Page 6 V » g Mark Leroy started out the new year right. On Jan. 1 Leroy, a CCC free safety, signed a letter of intent to the University of honors and was an honjl mention All-American. "Mt. Hood coaches original talked'to Nebraska about Mai Steve Maynard, a Clackamas teal mate, said. "Then Paul Fiskl (the defensive coach for Clal mas) called and said they want to see him." I The Cornhuskers have a red tation for impressive national ral ing along with excellent fam bl coaching staff and financial ing. They sent Leroy a til 11 and he was impressed with he saw. Together, with his fail he decided to sign with them.! "Mark wasn't even await« Nebraska was interested in hi] i Some other schools like the« ersity of Southern California] Mark Leroy with Cornhuskers Nebraska. Leroy received a full scholar ship to the Big Eight school and is presently enrolled there. While at Clackamas he earned All-League Washington State had confl him though," Maynard said. ■ According to Maynard; ffl felt that Clackamas was a god stepping stone and that becail he did well here he was able! go on to a major university, 1 Wrestlers take meet The Clackamas Community Col lege wrestling team picked up their biggest win of the season as they defeated Central Oregon Community College 33-18 Friday night keeping their undefeated string against Oregon community colleges alive. The Cougars, who have never lost to an Oregon community col lege, knew they faced a tough defaulted at 134 pounds with! pulled rib cartilage. Hewasinco] trol at the time. This loss turned out to bill critical as Clackamas battled! California school even through« the rest of the meet and los 28-19. Turning in good efforts wei Ron Geister, with a 6-1 decisil over Pete Barrazas at 150 poll« Rocky Schneider, 167 pounder, breaks down Brian Johnson enrol to his victory last Friday. battle against Central Oregon with former Cougar wrestler Joe Davis. They were rated as the team to beat in the race for the state title. However, Clackamas was not to be denied as Bill Bowers won the first match of the evening and the Cougars never looked back. The fired up Cougars turned on the most impressive team effort of the season. Putting the finishing touches on for the Cougars were 158-pounder Tim Jones, who pinned Kent Hill at 1:48 in the first round. Rocky Schneider also had a fall at the :50 second mark of the third per iod over Brian Johnson in the 167 pound weight class. The most impressive effort was turned in by Craig Wallace who battled Joe Davis point for point before losing on a controversial decision, 11-9. The controversy occured when Wallace apparently had a near fall over Davis but the referee was not in the position to see it. The Cougars also turned in good efforts on Saturday but in vain,as Clackamas lost to four-yearschools Sacramento State and Oregon Col-’ lege of Education. Against Sacramento State, the difference in the meet was in the very first match when Bill Bowers Tim Jones, with a major decisil at 158, and Craig Wallace fl Tim Paulson at 190. Jeff Burgsma battled last] yeal Community Colled California champion in the heavyifl class, Ken Harvuck. He losr 64 Harvuck went on and later beat j wrestler who was a three-tit U.S. Olympian by the idem score. Jel Another former Cougar, __ Harmon, eliminated Clackama® his victory over Graig Wallace gave OCE a 24-18 win. The meet was close all the way] as victories by Geister and Jones! kept the Cougars in contention until Harmon's victory in the next to last match. According to Head CoacH Riehl Taylor, it was a very good expel ience for the team because it showed them just how good they] could be. Next competition is against the! College of Idaho Friday night at | the gym. On Saturday, CCC hosts | the largest community college®! vitationai tournament on the West Coast. All the community college teams from Washington and Oregon] are invited, as are junior varsity teams from Oregon, Oregon State, Portland State, Pacific, Oregon Goll lege of Education and College of] Idaho. Clackamas Community College SI
