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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 13, 1999)
Sports 6 Wednesday, January 13, 1999 IT ie CI ac I< amas P rìnt Gut-check time for streaking Cougar squad because we had an off night shoot ing. !'We had some players step up and Not very many people around the have some huge games for us." Northwest knew what to expect with the Tonight marks the first matchup be Clackamas men's basketball team. tween Coach Wegner's new team and The only thing they knew was that it his former team. Wegner coached the Mt. Hood would be good. Saints to the playoffs last season be They were: right. The Cougars [2-0, 12-4] are running fore accepting the head coaching role over competition as of late and at Clackamas. "I know all of the players on are only getting better. On Saturday, Clackamas, led by that team," said Wegner. "They haven't been playing new Head Coach Clif Wegner, played one of its best games of the great basketball lately but year—defeating Linn-Benton 84- Tonight: they told me they wanted to 68. Mt. Hood win this game more than any The Cougars' winning formula other game. They'll be is a simple one: one of the top Time: pumped up so it's going to be coaches in the Northwest direct a dogfight." 8 p.m. ing the best shooting squad in the Mt. Hood [1-1, 6-10] is one Saturday: game behind the Cougars in Northwest equals wins. Last Wednesday, the Cougars' the Southern Region stand Lane put their precision shooting on ings. display against the Portland Pan Time: This Saturday is gut-check thers—winning 106-83. time for Clackamas. 8 p.m. Sophomores Billy Bright and Lane visits Randall Gymna Cody Eckman led Clackamas sium for a game, the top with 22 and 18 points, respectively. Abe ranked Titans, don't plan on losing. Smith knocked down 16 points, David "I don't like to think ahead too Cohen dropped in 15 points while Jared much," noted Wegner. "If we beat Price and Tony Edgerton each scored 12. Mt. Hood, though, it should set up Edgerton, Bright and Cohen each re quite a showdown. It could really de corded rebound numbers in double fig termine who's the top team in the Southern Region." ures. In all, the Clackamas offense is aver The defending Southern Region aging a blistering 91.3 points per game Champions have been flawless with while holding opponents under 80 a 15-0 record this season. points on defense. In the year's first Horizon Air Coaches' Poll, Clackamas was ranked "We played good defense on Satur day," said Coach Wegner. "We needed it #8 in the Northwest. JOHN THORBURN Sports Editor JOHN THORBURN / Clackamas Print Clackamas guard Cody Eckman stretches towards the rim against Portland Community College in the Cougars' 106-83 victory. Cougars win and win and win ... JOHN THORBURN Sports Editor The Clackamas women's bas ketball program doesn't know how to lose. Heading into its 1998-99 cam paign, the Cougars didn't get much respect. The defending Southern Region Champions weren't picked to repeat, they weren't even picked to finish #2. The Cougars are earning re spect, however, and they're doing it the old-fashioned way. Clackamas [2-0,12-5] sits atop the Southern Region standings along with the Umpqua Timberwomen [2-0, 16-0]. For the Cougars to win their second-straight title, a near per fect season is almost necessary. Clackamas got a big scare this past weekend, escaping Albany with a 63-62 victory over Linn- Benton. "Linn-Benton has got a pretty good team this year," said first- year Head Coach Jim Martineau. "They haven't been too successful in recent years, but they're going to win some games this winter." Clackamas has relied on a suf focating defense and a well-bal anced offensive attack. Four Cou gars are averaging in double fig ures with Sophomore Nichole Hayden leading the team with a 16.1 average. When Hayden had a difficult night on Saturday, her teammates stepped up. "We've had some players really stepping up their games these last few weeks," said Martineau. "We'll need play like that from this team all season to contend for the title. "Noelle Johnson had a good night for us. The stats don’t really show it but she stepped in and re ally played some solid basketball for us." One player that has given the Cougars a boost is Sophomore post, Rachel Hudson. Hudson is averaging 13 points per game after seeing limited ac tion as a freshman last season. "Rachel has been a real pleas ant surprise for us," noted Martineau. "She's helped us out of some tight spots. She's turned into one of the better posts in our league and that's going to help us out tremendously down the stretch of the season." Last Wednesday, the Cougars avenged a 1998 loss to Portland Community College with a 71-46 victory. Melinda Freeman led Clacka mas with 15 points while Hayden and Hudson each recorded 12 points. Hudson also grabbed 12 rebounds to complete the double double. Tonight, the Cougars face off Gridiron days of Clackamas football JOHN THORBURN / Clackamas Print Reserve post, Katie Krupicka, pleads her case to the officials after being called for a foul In last month's Lower Columbia Red Devil Invitational. The Cougars [2-0, 12-5] finished third in the tournament. against the Mt. Hood Saints at 6p.m. The Saints [1-1, 5-9] upset heavily-favored Chemeketa a week ago but suffered a 25 point loss to Umpqua this past Saturday. "Mt. Hood is a dangerous team," noted Martineau. "They're a rollercoaster team that can beat you or roll over for you. We have to play our best to avoid getting upset." On Saturday, the Cougars host Lane Community College at 6 p.m. The Titans [0-2, 7-9] are still searching for their first win in the Southern Region. Both games should be a good tune-up before traveling to Roseburg to take on the top- ranked Umpqua Timberwomen next Wednesday. It was the decade of disco. The grass was a little greener, the stands were lined with specta tors. It was the era of Clackamas Community College intercolle giate foot ball. That's right, foot ball. Many, if not most, stu dents are not aware of the gridiron days of Cougar football. It began in 1971 and last until 1977 The sport that allowed young players to extend their careers just two years longer than high school met its demise due to economic problems. That's right, the sport of foot ball just became too expensive. In its days of glory, NWAACC football consisted of 11 schools— the nearest at Mt. Hood Commu nity College. See The Box, page 7
