Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 2002)
IO_________ Sports WcdNEsdAy, FebRUARy 1?, 2002 The CL ac I camas P rìi I Cougar men devour Umpqua ing sole possession of first ph in the Southern Division. The C< I gars travel to Salem to fight w I Chemeketa (15-8, 4-5) and tl I NICK BARRON Business Manager After their defeat to Lane on Feb. 2, their first loss in over a month, Clackamas’ men’s basketball team had something to prove. The Cou gars did just that Saturday, Feb. 9, overpowering Umpqua, 87-52. Clackamas put on what was per haps their best defensive showing in the first half, forcing the Timbermen to turn the ball over eight times. The Cougars, who rank only 13th in the Northwest Athletic Association of Commu nity Colleges in defense, flew to the basketball with more energy than is typically shown by Clacka mas on the defensive end of the court. Perhaps the reason behind the Cougars’ increased force on de fense was the lack of playing time given to guard Marvin Noble, who did not start for the second game in a row for undisclosed reasons. Noble is the engine that drives the Clackamas offense, but with the NWAACC leader in assists riding the pine, the Cougars were forced to take their defense to the next level. Clackamas’ Michael Kuebler, who failed to score in the first half, was unable to set himself up for his trademark jumper as the ab sence of Noble caused the shoot ing guard to create his own shot. Despite the lack of offensive power, the Cougars were able to outmatch Umpqua in every aspect of the game, and in the end Clacka mas had made their statement to the rest of the NWAACC. “We came back to play today. We got a loss (to Lane), but we showed them that you can’t beat us,” Cougar freshman Russ Schneider said after Saturday’s game. Mat Tondreau put on one of his best performances of the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Another as tounding Cougar performance was put on by Evan Kieling, who fin ished the night with 12 points, 15 rebounds and eight blocked shots. Kuebler ended up with 13 points play hosts to Southwestern Oreg I (18-5,8-1) on Feb. 16.Clackama I currently tied with Southwest® for the division lead, but if I Cougars beat both Chemeketa al Southwestern, they would ret® the league lead. “This is a huge week for us, al we’re going to be very focusel Wegner said in reference to I team’s preperation. ‘ Kuebler reiterates his coacl sentiment, stating: “You gotta t< it a game at a time. Going ill D< Wednesday, it’s probably going r i: be our biggest game of the yt E and it’s gonna be a champions! I 'SÉ game next Saturday.” With a one-sided win under till belts, the Cougars seem poised I pounce their opponents this we I a week that Clackamas hopes v I end in them sitting atop the di| sion standings all by themselv SALENA DE LA CRUZ/ Clackamas Print Clackamas' Matt Tabisz drives to the basket during the Cougars' 87-52 blasting of Umpqua CC In Randall Hall last Saturday. Tabisz scored 12 points during the win as Clackamas kept pace with Southwestern Oregon CC atop the NWAACC's Southern Division standings, each school with an 8-1 division record. and seven rebounds, as Matt Tabisz scored 12 in the Clackamas victory. Cougar coach Clif Wegner, downplayed his team’s loss to Lane, saying: “I wouldn’t make too much of the loss at Lane. It was a tough situation, emotionally, for everybody. That was just a game that we had to get through, but we got through it. We didn’t play well and we were distracted, and I didn’t do a very good job either, but I had to get through it too.” Wegner was speaking in refer ence to various issues that have influenced his team, such as the death of his father and a virus that has affected the health of the Cou gars. Regardless of the adversity Clackamas has faced as of late, Coach Wegner believes his team is back on the right track. In looking to the road ahead, Wegner is preparing his team for what could result in Clackamas hold- SALENA DE LA CRUZ/ Clackamas P The Cougars' Michael Kuebler guards the Inbound pass during Clackamas' win over Umpqua CC at home on Saturday, Feb. 9. T----- —S----- ’t-----3----- - -^«8» ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■' - Hiking By Nick Barron It seems that at this time every year, nature desires to tease us with one or two weekends of gor geous blue skies, blinding sun shine and temperate temperatures. During these fleeting days, people emerge from their places of ' hibernation and enjoy numerous activities. The tennis courts are re discovered, with handfuls of indi viduals scurrying about in vain at tempts at finally nailing that back hand. Rollerbladers sail down side walks, basking in the glow of the once-forgotten sunlight, their legs fully healed from last summer’s cuts and bruises. As for myself, I took this past weekend’s respite from clouds and rain in stride. Those golf clubs that were collecting dust in the garage, I grabbed them on Saturday with the zeal of Bagger Vance and headed to the Clackamas campus. I found the ground still soggy from months of endless precipitation and the grass higher than most of the roughs at any country club. But with the mild weather and no money in my wallet for a driving range, I shrugged off the condi tions of my make-do course and went to work on my swing. * The last time my hands clasped a golf club was last September, so I decided to take it easy at the start and grabbed.the pitching wedge. From the wedge to the seven iron, I discovered one thing: The slice that began to haunt me at the end of last summer was still there, forc ing me to realize that the weather still wasn’t suitable for golf. So on Sunday, I chose to take a nice hike in the foothills of the Cascades. Armed with candy bars (for energy, of course), Doritos (more energy boosters) and potato salad (I just like potato salad), I set off with friends in search of the perfect way to spend a Sunday af ternoon. The hike began well enough with my body full of en- ergy and the warm breeze keeping me cool. I was enjoying Mother Nature’s bounty, delighting in the flowing creeks and inhaling the* fresh air. I felt like Kit Carson, On and on we trekked, our lungs losing their ability to create oxy gen and our legs failing to sup port our torsos. Finally, a break was in order, which meant time for an energy boost via a Kit-Kat. My feet at this point could have drawn sympathy from a pincushion and my spirit more resembled Al Gore’s post-election than it did a 19th cen tury explorer’s. After the candy bar had been devoured, our crew set off with aching feet for the ride back to cifl lization. The sun continued I beam down upon us as we walk I and discussed the possibilities I making another hike next weekei I but despite our hopes for anotl I hike, we all knew they were ji I hopes. The calendar idar still real rea$ February, and we still live in (f I egon. I But for now, my feet will c/- will co I tinue to rest and wait to 1 be usi I That pesky slice in my golf swi I will remain in the dark. Sometin I hopefully sooner than later, tl sun will hide behind gray clou I no more and I will be forced to w( I off the winter fat. I
