SPORTS
THE PRINT
February 15,1989
Page 10
Cougars drop two out of three
Photo by Jillian Porter
Clackamas spohomore Jeff Hoffman is amongst the leaders
in every area this season for the Cougars. His strong play
inside, and desire to win has made him a winner.
Hoffman all-around
player for Cougars
By Mark A. Borrelli
Sports Editor
The struggling Clackamas
men’s basketball team continued
its downward slide last week by
losing two out of three league
games, dropping their league mark
to 4-7, and tying for fourth place
with Lane Community College.
The week started out well for
Clackamas when Lane came to
town February 6. Trev Kiser got
the Cougars off on the right foot,
opening the game with a pair of
three pointers to give Clackamas
an early lead. They coasted into
half-time with a 36-29 lead, but
almost let it get away in the sec­
ond half.
Lane charged out of the locker
room and scored the seven points
needed to tie the ball game. The
gamp stayed close the rest of the
way, and the Cougars couldn’t
shake the Titans. The game was
tied with 1:55 left in the,game,
when Todd Spencer turned into a
hero for the Cougars.
With the game tied at 55,
Spencer drilled a three pointer,
his first of the night, to give the
Cougars a 58-55 lead. That took
the air out of the Titans sails, and
Clackamas eased to a 62-55 vic­
tory.
Jeff Hoffman and Trev Kiser
lead the Cougars in scoring, each
chipping in 16. Nate Pyatt added
15 points and 18 rebounds.
The next stop for the Cotigars
was at cross town rival Mt. Hood.
Clackamas played exceptionally
well in this game, committing only
five tumovere. But the Cougars
ran into a familiar problem: bad
officiating.
Mt. Hood came out smoking
behind their talented guard James
Coles. Coles poured in jump shots
from all over the court, and helped
send the home town Saints into
the locker room with a42-31 half­
time lead.
Clackamas came out in the
second half playing inspired ball.
The Cougars fought hard to get
back into the game, tying it up
with 6 minutes to play at 76-76.
That’s when the officials took the
Cougars right out of the game.
The officials missed several calls,
and failed notice when Trev Kiser
was thrown out of bounds by a Mt.
Hood player. The Clackamas bench
was outraged :about this non-call,
and was issued a technical foul for
protesting.too loudly. Then Coach
Royce Kiser was hit with two quick
technical fouls and was ejected
from the game.
The loss of their coach took
the Cougars right out of the game
froni that point on. Mt. Hood
went on a scoring spree en route
toa 90-86 victory.
.
Jeff Hoffman poured in 23
. points and Trev Kiser added 21 in
a losing cause. James Coles lit up
the Cougars all night and finished
with a game high 31. '
With the tough loss at Mt.
Hood the Cougars needed a break,
but they didn’t get one. They were
home to entertain the leagues
number one team, Umpqua.
The Cougars had to go into
the key match-up without their
coach, who was suspended by the
Clackamas athletic department for
being hit with two technical fouls
at the Mt. Hood game. So before
the game started, Clackamas al­
ready had an obstacle to over­
come.
As if facing James Coles a few
night ago wasn’t enough, the
Cougars were faced with Umpqua’s
high scoring guard Anthony Stew­
ard. The flashy guard rained jump
shots from everywhere but the
parking lot.
Steward exploded for a game
high 37 points to lead his team to
an 88-77 victory. Umpqua jumped
out early and held a 50-39 half­
time advantage: Clackamas clawed
back in the second half, but were
never able to get over the moun­
tain as’ they dropped their second
straight game.
Jeff Hoffman again led the
way for Clackamas, tallying 29
points and ten rebounds.
The Cougars are 4-7 in league,
and tied with Lane for the fourth
and final playoff spot. The Cou­
gars will be at Chemeketa tonight,
before closing out the regular
season at home Saturday against
SWOCC.
Cougars
crush PCC
keep playoff
hopes alive
hard at the time. He is so likable
by Staci Beard
to work with,” stated Kiser.
Staff Writer
A few high marks have al­
An early season knee injury
may have made Jeff Hoffinan some ready been achieved by Hoffman.
what tentative on the court, but A game at Lower Columbia pro­
his steady play still shines through. duced a game high of 34 points. A
Hoffman shows a toughness tournament also at Lower Colum­
that comes from within. One that bia saw Hoffman make the all-
coach Royce Kiser feels helps to star team. But the biggest high­
light is hopefully still to come.
Clackamas 102, PCC 86
provide leadership for the team.
“My goal is just to have an
The Clackamas men’s basket­
“Jeff leads mostly by example.
He has a mental toughness. He overall good season and help the ball took their show on the road in
works hard, which makes him a team to win and go as far as we can a makeup game at Portland
good person for others to watch in the playoffs,” explained Community College. The Cougars
came out red hot and built a 54-45
and learn from. He never never Hoffinan.
Hoffman’s basketball career half time advantage. They didn’t
lays down,” explains Kiser.
Hoffman feels his leadership started in the fourth grade. He let their host hang around for much
hasn’t been too evident. “I have used to play with Todd Spencer longer however, putting them away
shown some but not enough. Iwill andanolder brother. He has been early in the second half on their
need to show more leadership as playing ever since. Before begin­ way to a easy win in a game that
,we get closer to the playoils,” stated ning his career at Clackamas, he they had to have. Nate Pyatt scored
was a member of the David Douglas 25 points, and Trev Kiser pumped
Hoffman.
Rebounding and scoring have High School varsity squad for two : in 7-9 three pointers to also finish
the game with 25. Richard Rush­
shown to be Hoffman’s easily seen years.
“We played in the state tour­ ing led Portland with 27 points.
assets for the team. Hoffman last
year lead the NWACC Southern nament and made it as far as the the Cougars are now tied with
Division in rebounding with an fourth position, but we ended up Lane Community College for
average of ten rebounds a game. in seventh place,” Hoffman re­ fourth place, each team has a pair
, of games left, Clackamas will be at
But his hard work behind the scenes marked.
Hoffinan hopes for more Chemeketa tonight, and will close
arc not seen by the fans.
He has had to face the added basketball in his future, but at a * out the regular season at home
Saturday against SWOCC. The
task of changing positions. This bigger school.
‘T want to go to a bigger col­ top four teams in the southern
year Hoffman is at guard wing,
which has made him work on his lege and play basketball. Right division make the playoffs, so for
now I am open to where I want to Clackamas to make the playoffs
quickness;
they need at least a split of the
“I need to get faster sb I can go,” states Hoffman.
Kiser also feels that Hoffman next two games., Should Clacka­
guard the quicker people and
improve my defense,” said has a future in basketball. “I really mas and Lane be tied at the end of
hope a division one school picks theyear, they would have a playoff
Hoffman.
“I have to make myself chew him up. He has the type of quali­ gameto determine the fourth place
him out sometimes. When he ties and athletic ability that the finisher.
makes a mistake he is working so big schools are looking for.”
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