The Clackamas print., January 21, 1998, Page 6, Image 6

Wednesday,
Jan. 21, 1998
Clackamas stakes title claim early
JOHN THORBURN
Sports Editor
Even
$
though
we've
played the
tougher
part of our
schedule,
we can't
sit back in
these next
few weeks
and expect
to win
Karen
Twain
Head
Coach
The Clackamas women's basket­
ball team is off to their best start
in history.
After struggling towards the end
of preseason play, the Cougars
have lived up to their number one
ranking in December.
Clackamas cruised to its fourth
consecutive victory over Linn-
Benton on Saturday, 76-55, run­
ning its record to a perfect 4-0
league record, 13-3 overall.
In a game that saw Clackamas re­
serve players seeing more game
time than the starters, the Cougars
blazed out to a 40-24 halftime lead
on only 42.9% shooting.
Sophomore Michelle McKinney
JOHN THORBURN / Clackamas Print
scored the game's first six points
en route to leading the team with Jamie Davidson and the third-ranked Cougars had the second-ranked Umpqua Timberwomen on
17 points. Nichole Hayden re- their heels in their 66-63 upset of the defending NWAACC champions.
corded 10 points, while three Cou­ 23 at the half while shooting 55.6%
In a game that saw one Clacka­
The Cougars received stellar
gars collected 9 points each.
for the game.
mas player come home with 12 performances from Robbie Nix
"We've had great performances
"Chemeketa is always a tough stitches under her eye, the Cougars [19 points] and Nichole Hayden.
by everybody the team lately," said place to play," said Twain. "The battled to a 79-68 victory.
The win over the second-
Head Coach Karen Twain. "We're girls just played awesome and it
"SWOCC is always a tough place ranked Timberwomen shook the
playing real well together right was just a total team effort. I know to play," added Coach Twain. "It's Southern Division and the Cou­
now."
it sounds like a cliche but there a pretty crazy place to watch a gars have been on top since.
The Cougars are coming off of wasn't one individual that can be game."
Clackamas shared first place
tremendous wins over some of the singled out. Everybody is gelling
Nix led all scorers with 21 points with Mt. Hood before the Saints
toughest teams in the Northwest.
really well."
on 9-18 shooting while going 3-4 were defeated by Umpqua on
Last Wednesday, Clackamas
On Saturday, Jan. 10, the Cou­ from the line.
Saturday.
traveled to Salem to face off gars traveled to the rowdy gym of
McKinney finished with 13 while
"The first half of the season is
against the seventh-ranked Chiefs Southwestern Oregon Community defensive specialist Melinda Free­ just about over," said Twain.
of Chemeketa Community College. College [SWOCC] in Coos Bay.
man recorded 10 points despite "Welve. already; played the
The Cougars' last
needing stitches under her ey'e.
tougher part of our schedule and
encounter with their
"I always can expect Robbie to we have the next three games at
rivals from the south
give us an awesome game and she home. After that, we start the
was in last year's
always does," said Twain. second half and play everybody
Southern
Region
"Michelle's really come back to top again so a lot of things are go­
playoff game that sent
form this year and has become a ing to happen in the next few
Clackamas to the
real leader on the court and weeks. We're playing real well
Northwest Athletic
Melinda is out there sacrificing her though."
Association of Com­
body for the team."
Clackamas faces the Panthers
munity
Colleges
On Wednesday, Jan. 7, the Cou­ of Portland Community College
[NWAACC] Tourna­
gars opened up league play against [1-3, 4-13] tonight at 6 p.m. The
ment.
a familiar foe.
Lane Titans [1-3, 9-8] come to
The undersized
Last March, Clackamas lost the town Saturday while the rival
Chiefs couldn't match
NWAACC Championship to the Mt. Hood Saints [3-1, 8-8] visit
the towering Cougars
Umpqua Timberwomen.
Randall Gym next Wednesday
as Clackamas rolled
The defending champions came
"Even though we've played the
to an 83-59 victory.
into the game undefeated behind tougher part of our schedule,"
Sophomore Robbie
the incredible play of sophomore added Coach Twain, "we can't sit
Nix led the team with
Sarah Coleman.
back in these next few weeks and
13 points on 6-10
Coleman and the Timberwomen expect to win."
shooting from the
[3-1, 17-1] soon found themselves
field and 1-2 from the
far away from the safe confines of
line.
their home in Roseburg as they
Sophomore reserve
were locked into a see-saw battle * Portland State-bound Robbie
player Denise Bean
with the explosive Cougars.
Nix was given the Southern Re­
turned in the best per­
With Clackamas leading by a gion Player of the Week award
formance of her ca­
small margin heading into the sec­ for her performances against
reer with 12 points
ond half, the Timberwomen went SWOCC and Umpqua
and five rebounds
on a tear, jumping out to an 11
while sophomore
point lead.
Jenny Hansen added
Clackamas regrouped quickly,
Sophomore
Jenny
Hansen
has
provided
the
10 points.
however,
and escaped with an elec­
Clackamas led 38- offensive spark that has pushed the
trifying 66-63 victory.
Cougars' record to a perfect 4-0 league
A/WA4COHortronA/r
TOP 8
COACHES POLL
Rankings and records as of January 11.
Women's Southern Division Standings
School
Clackamas
Umpqua
Mt. Hood
SW Oregon
Chemeketa
Portland
Lane
Unn-Benton
League
Season
4-0
3-1
3-1
2-2
2-2
1-3
1-3
04
13-3
17-1
8-8
11-7
13-6
4-13
9-8
3-12