ports
Netters ready to start season
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Cougs to do well, turnovers
must be kept to a minimum.
Shot selection must be good,
too, because CCC won’t get
too many missed shots.
“We’ll be very fast,” said the
freshman Wiliams. “Our suc
cess wil depend on how well
we rebound.”
“We’ll be as quick as
anyone,” added Tirrill, the
coach’s nephew. “If we handle
the ball well, we’ll be tough.”
Other team members who
could play key roles include
Mark Schroeder, sophomore
guard from Gladstone; Randy
Worseck, swing man from
Tigard; Jeff Newton, 6-0 guard
from Clackamas High School
and Len Northcutt, freshman
guard from Newberg.
The Cougars have warmed
up for this year by playing prac
tice: games against Dillinger’s
and Claudia’s, two of the
West’s finest semi-pro teams.
CCC lost both games, but their
performance against Claudia’s
may be an indication of how
good the Cougs can be.
Clackamas lost 92-83, but
Claudia’s team includes ex-
Portland Trailblazer Greg Smith
and ex-Portland State stars
Willie and Charlie Stadumire.
It is difficult to forecast just
how well Clackamas will per
form. Keys to the season will
probably be Murphy and Slick.
Murphy has been injured most
of the fall and Slick is learning
how to play better defense. If
Murphy can stay healthy and
Slick continues to improve on
defense, the Cougars will be
tough to beat.
Dan Slick and Tom Tirrill, the Cougars only returning starters, square off in a recent
practice.
Photo by Greg Kienzle
an Slick Silent but super
■Mark McNeary
■ports Editor
■ season Dan Slick led his
I in scoring with a 20.4
I per game average. He
■the all-conference first
■ his freshman year at
las, and, what’s more,
kill had one more year to
Berthe Cougars.
Well that year is here and not
Jis Slick back but he is
■ After playing in a sum-
| league which included
I of the Pacific Ten con-
|e’s better players, Slick
■proved greatly.
Bnhas improved a great
■Coach Len Tirrill said,
■overall strength has in
land he is a lot more
than he was last year.
|Dan can be the best
tyer in the conference if he
>o be, and he keeps im-
j”
■also feels he has im-
■ but cites his jump shot
Bajor addition.
Blink I’ve improved,” says
■ “I played basketball all
summer and my jumpshot is a
lot better. I lifted weights so I’m
naturally more physical.”
Not only has Slick’s physical
game improved but his at
titude, one of extreme com
petitiveness, also adds to his
overall game.
“No doubt about it, he is
very competitive,” said Tirrill of
the 6’4 sophomore from
Tigard. “He wants to win badly
and expects a lot out of him
self, but he is also very
coachable. Dan is always
willing to do what should be
done and I would say he is en
joyable to coach.”
Slick is working for the
possibility of major college play
but is hesitant to commit him
self just yet.
“I would like to go on and
play for a major college,” said
the personable forward, “but
I’m not committing myself yet.
I’m just waiting for a good op
portunity.”
Of course Slick would love to
go on and play basketball for a
bigger school but the question
of whether or not he is good
enough still lingers. Coach
Tirrill thinks he is.
“There is no question that
Dan is one of the best ever to
play at Clackamas,’’ Tirrill said.
“I’m sure he has the potential
to play at a larger school. If he
plays up to par, maybe even a
major university.”
“Dan is an excellent shooter
and scorer and is consistent
from fifteen to twenty feet out,”
Tirrill said. “I think that that
mixture of talent and attitude
will get him somewhere.”
Slick also feels his attitude is
a good one.
“I just go out and play my
game and try not to put
anybody else down,” he said.
“But with this years’ team there
won’t be any need to put
anybody down. We are a lot
better team than last year, both
off the bench and otherwise. ”
Slick is not the type of player
who slaps others on the back
for every little accomplishment
nor is he the type who is always
criticizing, but Tirrill feels he is
an adequate leader on the
team.
“Dan has always given one-
hundred percent and as a result
he expects the rest of his
teammates to do likewise. This
sometimes creates the im
pression •
that
his
en-
couragement may be a little
negative but that simply isn’t so.
He only does this because of
his overwhelming intensity and
aggressiveness. I would say
that the way Dan plays is
leadership enough for any
team,” Tirrill said.
There are a few other retur
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Page 7
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ners on the team and because
of this Slick doesn’t see a need
to have to lead all the time.
“Sure, I try to lead because
I’m a sophomore,” he said “but
there are some others who will
lead when they have to.”
Needless to say Dan Slick is
a man of few words and much
talent. Tonight Slick will once
again put that talent to work for
the Cougars as they play host
to a rough and ready Mt. Hood
club.
“We are definitely going to
win,” Slick said. “They talk a
lot but talk’s cheap.”
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