10 Sports
The
Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007
Clackamas Print
Men hungry for NWAACC ‘shift
Mike Guidice
Sports Editor
Last Wednesday, the
Cougar men’s basketball
squad finished up an unde
feated league schedule by
beating Portland CC by a
final score of 89-63.
Like they have done mul
tiple times this season, the
Cougs regrouped from a sub
par first half, made the proper
adjustments and came out in
the second half strong, tak
ing control of the contest.
Steven Vaughan led the
team with 26 points, reg
istering another efficient
shooting night, going 11 for
13. David Cernin contrib
uted with 15 points and 10
boards, while Brian Freeman
cleaned the glass, finishing
with 12 boards.
Concluding the season
with an undefeated league
record is significant and not
easily accomplished, but
Head Coach Clif Wegner
knows now is not the time to
celebrate the achievement.
“I told them it was a great
accomplishment,” he said, know that the NWAA^j
“Then, I told them to put it tournament is a whole i^M
aside for the time being and season with high stakes iS
focus on what we still wanted a whole new level of int]H
a
to accomplish. There will be sity.
plenty of time later to reflect
“The team is focused anfl
and enjoy the achievement.” confident. They know the«
Next up for the number have to play hard and pH
one seed Cougars is a first well at the NWAACC i(fl
round match-up with Blue ney to be successful. T1H
Mountain CC tomorrow at will have to take their ga^B
2 p.m. The game will take up a notch,” Wegner said.^
The team will stick!
place in Kennewick, Wash.,
where the tournament will their style of play that I
been successful thus far fl
be held.
Clackamas faced Blue season. Wegner expects!
Mountain on the road early sophomore-laden group tol
this season and were dealt a able to lead by example f
defeat. They present a tough use their prior experience
challenge for the Cougs, and ' their advantage.
Coach Wegner knows what it
“No change in strata
will take to beat them.
we play hard; we play fl
- “It’s a team we played on we have fun. Winning i
the road in December and got natural outcome of do
beat, so our focus and deter those things well ... I exj
mination has been good,” it [players stepping up] |
said Wegner. “They are a of all the sophomores, es
very good team, and the key cially the ones who bi
for us will be defense and tournament experience to1
rebounding. Blue Mountain arena.”
is an excellent offensive
Look for full
ment coverage in
team.”
The Cougars enter the week’s sports section.
tourney riding a wave of Cities Wash., here come
confidence and success, but Cougars.
Photos by Sam Krause Clackamas
ABOVE: A look down the Cougars bench reveals big man Brian Freeman and guard Me
rice Ross. They are two of the sophomores who look to lead the team to an NWAACC
tournament success story.
LEFT: Cougars guard Maurice Ross rises up as he takes it strong to the hole, despite
being opposed by pair of defenders.
Wrestlers excel at Nationals; receive individual, team awan
This past weekend at the
NJCCA National Championship
in Rochester, Minn., the Cougars
took home their first team trophy
in 18 years, placing fifth.
It was also the first ever for
Head Coach Josh Rhoden, as it
was his inaugural season leading
the team.
The weekend saw a school
record six Clackamas wrestlers
named All-Americans. Sam
Schmitz and John Bates did the
best, placing third in their respec
tive weight classes of 149 and 285
pounds. Alex Bubb placed sixth
at 165 pounds, Derrick Bartiemay
placed seventh at 141 pounds,
and both Brian Jacobs (125) and
Seth Roy (157) finished in eighth
place in their weight classes.
- Compiled by Joe Elliot,
The Clackamas Print