The Clackamas print., March 07, 2007, Page 10, Image 10

10
Clackamas Print
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
NWAACC: Freeman named
Continued from NWAACC, Page 1
Round two found Clackamas matched up against
the reigning NWAACC champion, the Highline CC
Thunderbirds. Coach Wegner knew the team would
have to step up and play better than they did in their
first round game in order to be successful against a very
athletic group who returned four starters from last year’s
championship team.
Unlike their previous game, Clackamas got off to a
poor start and quickly found themselves down early.
Western Division all-star guard Morris Anderson led
a balanced Highline attack that was able to get CCC’s
Freeman into early foul trouble. Freeman was whistled
for his third foul with almost nine minutes remaining in
the first half. But instead of panicking, the team resorted
to a zone defense, and Vaughan and company were able
to step up and fill the void that Freeman left.
Ross also came up clutch and was able to tie the
game at 34 by calmly sinking a three as time expired in
the first half.
&
IW* ' * T«-
p
K1
’
Ifi —
Zi
'
Mt
W
□L. j / \ v
> •
k
\
..¿fa,
••••• x. -
»
.... -
__________________________________ .____ MAI
In the second half, the game see-sawed back and
forth as the teams exchanged blows in an emotionally-
charged setting. Vaughan led the team on offense most
of the half, but Freeman tied the game at 69 when he
scored inside with under a minute left. Clackamas got
a chance to end the game in regulation, but just barely
missed as Alex Brock’s long three-pointer rimmed out
at the buzzer with the crowd on their feet.
Things continued to go back and forth in overtime
with Freeman, Vaughan and Cemin matching buckets
with Highline’s talented trio of the aforementioned
Anderson, Western Division MVP Derrick Webb, and
Vaughn Gaines. One extra period was not enough to
decide the outcome, as it concluded with the score tied
at 75.
The second overtime began with Clackamas running
out to an early advantage, but saw Freeman foul out in
the closing seconds with the game still in doubt.
“I was pretty mad [about.fouling out], but I had con­
fidence in our team. It was never a question if we were
gonna win. I knew our team was gonna take care of
business, and we did,” Freeman said after the game.
The Cougars held on to defeat the Thunderbirds by a
final score of 87-86 in what was by far the most excit­
ing and intense game of the tournament. The heart of the
team showed, and the effort they exerted was apparent
to everyone in attendance, especially Coach Wegner.
“It was a tremendous college basketball game. It was
the kind of game where no one should have had to lose
... We knew they weren’t going to give it up easily; we
would have to grab that trophy out of their hands with
every scrap and bit of determination, toughness and
poise ... It was a tremendous effort by our kids, and I
couldn’t be more proud of how we played.”
Vaughan finished with 30 points on 9-12 shooting
and nine rebounds. Cemin had 17 points and seven
boards, while Freeman finished with 19 points and 17
boards, despite playing limited minutes.
In Saturday’s semis, Clackamas took on Walla Walla
CC. This game featured much more than just Walla
Walla’s hideous yellow and black-striped warm-up
pants. In a sensational match-up of big men, Brian
Freeman opposed the Eastern Division MVP, six-foot-
six-inch Curtis Carlson.
From the outset, the Cougars utilized their post game,
regularly feeding Freeman and Vaughan with little resis­
tance from the defense. Clackamas grabbed seemingly
every rebound in the first half and was able to maintain
a near double-digit lead most of the first half.
Walla Walla’s coach became irate and called a time­
out at one point, giving his team an intense tongue-lash­
ing, demanding that they step up and rebound. Their
lack of success inside was evident as Freeman had a
double-double even before the first half concluded.
As is generally the case in postseason play, the
opponent didn’t give
up and Walla Walla
got themselves back
in the game, getting
within two at one
point in the second
half.
Clackamas
responded only as
champions
know
how. With key buck­
ets by the big three,
Cemin, Vaughan and
Freeman, the Cougars
were able to put a
final run together and
grab the victory by a
final score of 75-65.
Walla
Walla’s
All photos by Sam Krause Clackamas Print
TOP LEFT: Diminutive guard JR Morgan comes off the bench
and immediately makes his presence known as he dives for
a steal and gains posession for the Cougs.
TOP RIGHT: Maurice Ross drives the lane and attacks the rim
as the defender pulls back in hopes of not commiting a foul.
Ross proved to be extremely durable as he played much of
the tournament after dislocating one of his fingers.
ABOVE: Nathaniel Germaneri gains posession of the ball and
looks to push it ahead to the streaking Luke Defrees.
RIGHT: JR Morgan finds himself in a rather precarious situ­
ation as he attempts to claim the ball. Teammate Luke
Defrees also gets low as he tries to gather in the loose ball.
Carlson finished with 34 points and 11 rebounds,
ing four from long range. Despite these number
only shot 13-33 from the field, and when compar
Freeman’s 36 points on a 14-19 shooting night, the!
ter player clearly got the victory in the match-up. I
Freeman also came up with 18 big boards and vl
presence on D, blocking three shots and altering col
less others. Luke Defrees was solid off the bench«
ting three-pointers at will, and Ross accounted for J
boards and five dimes. Vaughan, who Coach Wei
said “has the heart of a lion,” chipped in with 10 p|
and nine boards, and, once again, the victory was al
team effort.
After the win, the chant of “we going to the ‘si
could be heard resonating off the walls of the lcfl
room and into the hallways of the venue. The teamlv
confident, but in no way content with what thejli
done thus far.
Next up for Clackamas: the NWAACC champio«
final vs. the Bulldogs from Bellevue CC.
Sunday night, the script went similarly to the pre
ous contests. Clackamas led the majority of them
half, imposing their will on the Bulldogs. Freed
was a force inside, Cemin and Nick Eldridge stroMc
from the perimeter, and Vaughan out-worked peofl
all facets of the game. In the second half, as if ofl
things got tighter.
j
... Continued on Pai