Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1977-1989 | View Entire Issue (March 1, 1989)
SPORTS THE PRINT March 1,1989 Page 7 Spencer adds to Clackamas1 hope for the future by Mark A. Borrelli Sports Editor After a disappointing season that saw the men’s basketball team just miss the playoffs, the Cougars have hope and enthusiasm for the future. The late season emergence of freshman point guard Todd Spencer has given Clackamas reason to be optimistic about next season. Spencer, a graduate of David Douglas High School, is one of the many rising stars on the list of Cougars expected to return next season. Spencer’s sparkling play in the second half of the season helped Clackamas win five of their his basketball shoes and head to Clackamas. “Clackamas has a really good basketball program, and I wanted to go somewhere where I would be able to play,” said Spencer. With scorers like Trev Kiser, Nate Pyatt, and Jeff Hoffman, Spencer hasn’t really been relied on to be a scorer, but he has been the man to get the ball into the hands of the shooters. Even though Spencer’s favor ite player is Larry Bird, it should be Magic Johnson, because he was the Magic Johnson of the Cou gars, leading his team in assists and finishing Ilin the NWAACC in assists with a 5.7 average. “Passing, dribbling, and get ting assists are my strong points right now. I need to work on my free-throw shooting,” said Spencer. Spencer’s emergence as a team leader helped the Cougars put together some of their best per formances of the season. They finished 7-7 in league, and tied for fourth before losing to Lane in a fourth place playoff game. “We were really coming to gether as a team in the last eight games. We stopped letting little things bother us, and we were able to settle down and cut down on the turnovers,” said Spencer. The mid-season rally by the last seven games, putting them in playoff contention before eventu ally losing to Lane in the fourth place playoff game. Spencer got started playing basketball at an early age and has been going strong ever since,. “My dad got me started play ing basketball in the fourth grade. I just love to play the game, and I have been playing ever since then,” commented Spencer. Spencer had an outstanding basketball career at David Douglas, playing two strong years of varsity basketball and being named first team AIl-Mt. Hood Conference his senior season. One of Spencer’s most memorable moments came from his senior year at David Douglas. “Getting to the State tourna ment in the coliseum was a memo rable moment. We played West Linn and lost to them on a last- second shot I played a pretty good game, but it was tough to lose like that,” said Spencer. After a successful high school career Spencer decided to pickup photo by Julie Freshman point guard Todd Spencer's brilliant play during the last half of the Cougars' season has given Clackamas reason to be optimistic about next year. Drennen Cougars* loaded gun I by Luis Perez I Staff Writer J J. Drennen simply loves bas- [ ketball. That love for the game is I infectious not only to her team- I mates, but also to those who watch I her play. The Clackamas women’s bas- I ketball team has unlimited po- Itential. They finished second in ■ league play this season and are peaking at the right time, right before the playoffs. J.J. is a big part of their success, using her deadly outside shooting to pre- ivent opponents from sagging in on the post players. I “J.J. is a very good offensive I threat,” said her coach Phil Garver. l“We have really counted on her for that outside shooting.” Garver continued to sing the ■■praises of the Freshman forward ■ from Wilson High School by say- ■ ing that, “I think she’s gaining a lot more confidence against the other teams... she’s a good shooter ¡and she penetrates well.” I™ I" While J.J. loves to pass the ball to her teammates Pam (Pem- ber) and Alicia (Stephenson), her coach will allow her to shoot in any game situation. ■ “J.J. can shoot whenever she wants to. She definitly has a green light,” Garver said. Drennen has used that green light to average 14 points a game while shooting 49 percent from the field, a very high percentage ■considering the many difficult shots ■she takes. She has also averaged ■5.4 rebounds per game, which is ■incredible considering that with ■’ember and Stephenson around ■there are few spare rebounds ■available. Drennen is understandably op timistic about the Cougars’ chances for post season glory. “We have a lot of dedication; everybody wants to win,” she said. “If Phil {Garver) is not available we’ll hold practice by ourselves.” As long as she can remember, evetyone has called Jennifer Jill Drennen J.J., a name she likes. The Drennen family has always been committed not only to bas ketball, but to education as well. Her father started the girls’ bas ketball program at Markham Grade School, where he was J.J.’s coach. Following her eighth graae year, he built a basketball court in the back yard so she could prac tice. “He’s worked with me every summer in the back yard,” re marked J.J. The support of her parents is the main reason that Drennen became such a good player. “My parents live for basketball; they love it. My dad hasn’t missed one of my games since my freshman year,” she said. Drennen had an outstanding high school career. She started as a sophomore, was second team all-P.LL. .as a junior, and by her 1 senior year was first team all-P.LL. while averaging 15 points a game and receiving an all-state honor ablemention. Drennen’s coach at Wilson knew Phil Garver and recommended that Drennen at tend Clackamas. “I really like Phil. I love Phil’s coaching philosophy,” Drennen said. Drennen is a dedicated stu dent. Her warm smile and her easygoing personality seem at odds With the seriousness she applies to both basketball and her schoolwork. She carried 16 cred its during fall term, a heavy load for an athlete who spends so much time practicing. She plans on continuing her education at a four- year school, hopefully in Oregon, and someday hopes to be a juve nile corrections counselor. Like some of her friends she is criminal justice major, which explains a long standing campus mystery. “That’s why we’re called the ‘partners in crime’,” J J. remarked. I I I I Cougars fell short this year, but with almost all of the freshman planning to return next season hopes are high that next year’s team will be successful. Spencer hopes to step in next year and direct his team to a successful season. “My goals are to come back to Clackamas next year, try to be a team leader, and do anything it takes to makeour team a winner,” remarked Spencer. With basketball season over, Spencer now has a lot of time to do other things. “Basketball is my hobby. I like to play a lot of rat ball, hang around with friends, and party,” said Spencer. Spencers career goals are to be a teacher and a coach, much like his current coach Royce Kiser. “He’s a great guy and a great coach,” Spencer explained. Spencer hopes to move on to a four-} ear school after one more year, and ten years down the road sees himself coaching an AAA high school team, married, and to have had a chance to play college basketball on the division one level. Spencer’s hard work, dedica tion, and tough guy attitude will certainly lend itself to wfyat should be a successful Cougar team next year,withTodd Spencer manning the controls. EUROPE, ASIA, THE USA: YOU GET TO CHOOSE WHERE YOU'LL SERVE. We guarantee it! Once you’ve completed your advanced train ing in the Army and are ready for your first assign ment you’ll go where the Army promised you you’d go—no ifs, ands or buts. You get it guaran teed in writing. Places like Germany, Korea or the continental United States. You’ll know where you’re going and why. It’ll give you an edge on life now and in the future. Talk it over with an Army Recruiter. ARMY BE ALL YOU CAN BE photo by Jillian Porter Drennen’s play this year has helped her team be successful. centimeters Colors by Muriseli Color Services Lab