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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 1989)
SPORTS THE CLACKAMAS PRINT November 29,1989 Page 7 Merrill's abilities keep Cougars hopeful by Mark A. Borrelli Sports Editor If the Clackamas Cougars men’s basketball team is to be successful this season they will have to rely on leadership and scoring from their returning players. One person that will be relied on to carry a big leadership role is so phomore guard Troy Merrill. Merrill, a guard from Canby High School, will be the Cougar’s biggest offensive threat this year. Last year in limited action Merrill turned in some solid performances. His coach and his teammates alike are hoping that Merrill can turn in a solid year and help them make the play-offs. . “We’ve got a very good team this year. We haven’t put every thing together yet, but when we finally mesh together we will be that much better. We’re improv ing everyday,” said Merrill. Last year’s early loss to Lane in league play-offs left a sour taste in Merrill’s .mouth. This year he hopes to help guide his team to the regional 'championships in Bellevue. “We’re going to make the play offs and get to Bellevue,” stated a very confident Merrill. “I want to bring this team leadership and toughness-whatever it takes to of high school. Obviously thp win.” classes are harder, but the transi The weakest part of this sea tion from high school basketball son’s Cougar team is its size. to college ball was the hardest of Clackamas could have problems all. battling the boards with some of “The college game is just a the league’s bigger teams. dramatic change from high school. “We’re a small team, but we’re It’s a lot harder than high school. scrappy. We have a lot of talent. A lot of people who come to We need to maintain our inten Clackamas were the starters of sity, play solid defense, and hit the their high school basketball team boards hard,” said Merrill. and everything centered around Coaching also has a lot to do with the success of a team, and "Fan support is Merrill feels that the Cougars are something that we fortunate to have a great one. “CoachKiser is a great coach. always got in high He always gets the most out of a school, but never player; he never lets anyone lay get at Clackamas. down. He’s helped my game a lot. He gives you a lot of freedom to The fans don't know work, but at the same time he what they're missing, keeps your structure,” said Mer because college ball rill. Merrill began his basketball is the best game career at an early age under the tutelage of his father, and hopes around."__________ to carry on to OSU next year where them. In college, you’re just an he hopes to study physical ther equal and atreated the same as apy. In his free time he enjoys everyone else,” said Merrijl. playing basketball, studying, and Another change that Merrill being with friends. has noted since leaving Canby is Becoming a good student as the lack of fan support. well as a quality athlete at the “Fan support is college level is a transition that something we always had in high Merrill had to make coming out school and never have at Clackamas.' Clackamas Sophomore guard Troy Merrill hopes to do anything possible to help get his team to Bellevue, and a regional Championship. Cougars disappointing at tournament United Parcel Service Work in your hometown for the holidays! UPS wants you to help deliver good cheer. We are looking for enthusiastic individuals to help our drivers pick up and deliver parcels. Employment is for approximately 2 weeks during Christmas break through the 22nd. Earn $7.00 per hour for up to 6 hours a day Help UPS deliver a special holiday season to « your friends and neighbors! i For more information contact CCC Career 1 and Job Development Center, or call 240-6668 by Mark A. Borrelli Sports Editor The Clackamas men’s basket ball team has gotten off to a slow start. The Cougars dropped 2 of 3 games in a pre-season tournament at Lower Columbia. Clackamas got a great star t as they got the tournament rolling by cruising to an easy 102-80 vic-, tory over Yakima Valley. The Cougars jumped out of the gates early and grabbed a 56-35 half time advantage. It was all down hill from there, as the Cougars eased to the 22 point win. Troy Merrill led Clackamas .with 26 points. Todd Spencer scored 13, while Jason Taylor and Brett Neisland each added 12 points. “In the first half we played really well. In the second half we didn’t play very well, we didn’t play very good defense,” said Coach Royce Kiser. The play of Merrill, and the tenacious board play of the Cou gars according to Kiser were-keys to the game. “Troy played really well, and we really hit the boards offensive boards welL” Clackamas 85, Clark 91. The Cougars dropped their. t firstgameofthetournamentwith tough loss to the Clark College Penguins, 85-91. The contest was I close throughout as Clark led by I only 4 (40-36) at the half-time 4 | J f break. Clackamas rallied in the second half, but could never quite overcome the Penguins. Todd Spencer was the big gun for the Cougars as he tossed in 33 points. Jason Taylor added 17 in the losing effort. Clackamas committed only 10 turnovers in the game, but were out rebounded 40-34 and that proved, to be the difference. “Were didn’t hit the boards very well, but we used this tourna ment as chance for everyone to play. We used 10 guys in the Clark game, and 11 people scored in the Yakima game. We want to get a look at everyone right now,” said Kiser. Kiser’s mood was less than genial, as the Cougars lost a game they should have won in their tournament finale. A three point bomb by Shoreline with 9 seconds to play lifted the Samurai’s to a 96-93 victory. Coach Kiser was less than pleased with his team’s perform- ‘ ance against the Samurais. “That’s'a poor team that just beat us. Points mean nothing if you let the opponents score more. thanyou. Unless we play smarter, unless we learn how to play bas- . ketball, we’re in for a long sea son,” said Kiser. Kiser was fumed by the performance of his squad in the tournament. “We fast break well, but we., have no judgment what-so-ever when it comes to setting it up. We don’t execute our offense well at, alL We don’t go to the defensive boards well, we’re too worried about going down to score. Until we learn how to do these things, were not going to be a very good basketball team,” steamed Kiser. The Cougars will be in action tonight when they host Willam ette’s JV team. Photo by Mark A. Bonwli Back at practice, the men's basketball team is hard at work, getting ready for their league opener in Janurary.