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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 31, 2018)
SPORTS Saturday, March 31, 2018 East Oregonian Page 3B LeBron passes Jordan with 867th straight double-digit game By TOM WITHERS Associated Press CLEVELAND — Still chasing championships, LeBron James caught — and passed — Michael Jordan on one list. James broke Jordan’s NBA record by scoring at least 10 points in his 867th straight regular-season game, a streak the Cavaliers superstar could make nearly untouchable by the end of his brilliant career. James entered Friday’s game against New Orleans sharing the mark with Jordan, one of his boyhood heroes. But with one of his patented two-handed dunks midway through the first quarter, James moved ahead of Jordan, whose streak stretched from 1986 to 2001. James finished with 27 points as the Cavs avoided dropping in the standings with a 107-102 win over the Pelicans. After breaking Jordan’s mark, James was handed the ball and he received a standing ovation from the sellout Quicken Loans Arena crowd, which included pop superstar Justin Timberlake. James last failed to score in double digits on Jan. 5, 2007, against Milwaukee. In the time since, he has won three NBA championships, left Cleveland for Miami and returned, and established himself as one of the best players in league history. At 33, he’s playing as well as ever and next month he’ll head into the playoffs attempting to reach his eighth straight NBA Finals. James never set out to break Jordan’s mark, but by staying healthy and being consistent, he moved himself to the top of another statistical list. And with the end of his career seemingly years away, James is poised to re-write history some more. “It’s not like I set out to say that I want to be the No. 1 in scoring 10 points, double digits or consecutive games or whatever that and whatnot,” James said. “But any time like a statistical category comes up and I’m able to accomplish some- thing like that, I mean it’s pretty incredible. It’s been like 11 years that I’ve been able to accomplish this feat so I’ve been able to take care of my body, that’s one, and I’ve been around some great teammates and coaches and two organizations that have allowed me to be who I am, so that’s two. “And just going out and playing for the joy of the game.” To put James’ double- digit scoring mark in perspective, Kareem Abdul- Jabbar, the NBA’s career scoring leader, scored at least 10 in 787 consecutive games. Among current players, Houston’s James Harden has done it in 257 games — 410 behind James. Rugby club undergoes leadership change East Oregonian AP Photo/Rick Bowmer Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, rear, hugs Jaylen Brown (7) after Brown scored the winning 3-pointer against the Utah Jazz during an NBA basketball game Wednesday in Salt Lake City. The Celtics won 97-94. The NBA sets another 3-point record By TIM REYNOLDS Associated Press MIAMI — Another year. Another record. The NBA’s 3-point craze is not slowing down. For the sixth consecutive season, NBA teams have combined to set a league- wide 3-point record. Last season’s number was 23,748, and No. 23,749 of this season came on Friday night. The league is more than 8 percent ahead of last year’s pace, and 25,000 makes this season is very possible. So clearly, the reliance on the 3-pointer is not going to lessen anytime soon. “I think it’s a trend for a while — but at some point it has to peak,” said Cleveland forward Kevin Love, one of the many NBA big men who has no trouble making 3s, and that’s a big reason why the totals are soaring. “Every position, 1 through 5, is now shooting 3s. You see that as such a weapon. It makes the game fun, makes it inter- esting. There’s definitely a lot of spacing out there and it’s wild to see.” Thing is, that peak isn’t visible. Out of 30 teams, 19 are either on pace to set — or have already set — fran- chise records for made 3s this season, and a couple others are within reasonable striking distance. There are shooters now all over the league. Only four seasons ago, the total of NBA players who made at least 100 3s was 57. This year, that total is going to be close to doubled. Across the NBA this season, 91 percent of players have attempted at least one 3-pointer and 81 percent of players have made at least one. Rookies are making them; Utah’s Donovan Mitchell had 172 enter Friday and is closing in on the record for a first-year player, that being 185 by Portland’s Damian Lillard. Also making them are 7-footers; eight guys listed at 7-0 or taller will likely get to the 100 mark by the end of the season. And the league as a whole is actually getting better at them. Accuracy from 3-point range has gone up about 1.5 percent over the last three seasons, definitely one of the reasons why scoring per game is higher than it’s been at any point in nearly 30 years. “We all like to get out there, shoot a lot of 3s, spread the floor and try to move the ball as much as you can,” Houston coach Mike D’An- toni said. “Everybody is more or less the same ... with the same outline. Just get it done in different ways.” The first season where the NBA combined to make 15,000 3-pointers was 2009- 10, and that seems like ages ago. The 20,000 plateau was broken just two seasons ago, and barring something very unusual this season’s total will top 25,000. Love knew the 3-point pace was higher than ever. But he didn’t think the record would be set this early, and that the previous mark would be obliterated. “Wow. Wow. Wow,” Love said, upon hearing the numbers. Wow is right. The single-team mark is also about to fall, and then get left in the dust for good measure. Houston, which is quite obviously flourishing in D’Antoni’s free-flowing system and has the league’s best overall record, hit 14 3s on Friday night — including a game-winner to beat Phoenix 104-103. The Rockets now need only five more to break the single-season mark that they established ... you guessed it, last season. It was only two years ago that Golden State became the first team to make 1,000 3s in a season — and the Rockets are on pace to get near 1,300 this season. Hossler leads at Houston Open as Fowler, Spieth chase Associated Press HUMBLE, Texas — Beau Hossler was steady while better-known players faltered down the stretch Friday at the Houston Open, leaving him with a one-shot lead heading into the weekend. The 23-year-old Hossler shot a 4-under 68 for a two-day total of 11-under 133, good enough for the second 36-hole lead of his rookie season. He shared the lead with Dustin Johnson at the halfway mark at Pebble Beach before falling out of contention. Hossler opened with a bogey but didn’t drop another shot the rest of the day, finishing with a wedge from 114 yards to inside 3 feet to save par on the tough par-4 18th. He said patience will be key as he seeks his first PGA Tour victory. “The reality is I’m 11 under par. More than likely 18 under is going to win the tournament unless the condi- tions are tough, so there’s a long way to go,” Hossler said. “It’s not like I can go shoot even par and win the tournament. But I’m looking forward to the challenge of the weekend.” Rickie Fowler was tied with Hossler before he hooked his drive into the water on 18, leading to bogey. He shot 68 to join Sam Ryder, Abraham Ancer Tim Warner/Houston Chronicle via AP Beau Hossler hits an approach shot on the 18th fair- way during the second round of the Houston Open at the Golf Club of Houston on Friday. and Nicholas Lindheim at 10 under. Jordan Spieth’s putter heated up before his momentum stalled with a missed 3-footer on the 16th hole. He shot 67 and was two shots back as he seeks his first win of the season on the eve of the Masters. Spieth lost in a playoff in Houston in 2015 and went on to win the first of his three major titles the following week at Augusta National. “From where I was three days ago, my goal (is) accomplished for the week already,” Spieth said. “So at this point anything else is icing on the cake. It was a round that could have been really special. But I don’t have to (shoot) 8 or 9 under. I feel like my game’s in form, and that’s really cool. I’m having a lot of fun out there.” Phil Mickelson took the biggest step backward on 18. He was bogey-free for 17 holes and 8 under for the tournament before he found the water twice and made triple bogey. Twenty-two players were within three shots of the lead. Paul Dunne of Ireland, who finished his first-round 64 on Friday morning, was 9 under after a 71. Henrik Stenson and Matt Kuchar were among the dozen players at 8 under. Hossler, from Mission Viejo, California, first showed off his game to a national audience when he briefly led the 2012 U.S. Open while still in high school. He went on to star at Texas and is now based in Dallas, where he frequently practices alongside Spieth at Trinity Forest, which will host the AT&T Byron Nelson in May. Spieth also played at Texas, although the two were never teammates. “He’s been working really hard on his game,” Spieth said. “We played a practice round this week, 15 holes. He was playing really well. It’s no surprise that he’s (on) top. He’s not afraid of being on top, either, so he’s one of the guys who’s a strong contender this weekend. We weren’t able to play together at Texas, but when I left they had a stud taking over.” For Hossler, the Houston Open will be a tune-up for Augusta National only if he claims the $1.26 million winner’s check on Sunday. Before the tournament, he had little reason to think that would be possible. He’d broken par just once in his previous 10 competitive rounds before Thursday, and his practice sessions weren’t pretty. “I actually told my caddie on the range yesterday (when I was) hitting the ball all over the place and not making solid contact, I was like, it’s funny,” Hossler said. “I’ve played some really good golf like this.” After founding the East Oregon Sasquatch Rugby Club in 2009 and coaching the team ever since, Eric Gabriel is stepping aside. Gabriel recently announced that he has stepped down as head coach of the Sasquatch to focus on building up a youth program and co-ed flag rugby. After 10 years, Gabriel just felt it was time to move on to a new challenge. “It was good timing,” Gabriel said in an email. “We were heading into our 10th year and I had good solid coaches to take the program over. ... So the stars were aligned with good coaches to take over the high school program and for me to begin the youth flag program, which will assist in continuing the growth of rugby in the county.” Taking over as the head coach of the Sasquatch Club is Chris Perkins, who most recently served as the assistant coach to Gabriel. Perkins played rugby in college at Western Oregon University and played with the Corvallis Rugby Club among others before moving on to coaching at Western Oregon and the East Oregon Wendigo Girls Club. Chris’ brother, Craig Perkins, will serve as the head coach of the Wendigo Girls Club team. Craig also brings a lot of experience as a player and a coach, playing collegiately at Western Oregon University as well as the East Oregon Silverbacks Rugby Club, among others. He has also served as an assistant coach for the Sasquatch since 2012. “Both the boys and girls programs are in very capable hands and look for good things moving forward,” Gabriel said. For more information on the Sasquatch and Wendigo Rugy Clubs visit the club Facebook pages. BRIEFLY Pendleton baseball program holding youth camp at Bob White Field PENDLETON — On April 13 the Pendleton Buckaroo baseball program will be holding its annual youth camp at Bob White Field. The camp will run from 9 a.m. until noon at Bob White Field for ages 10-14 and at Phelps Field, which sits behind the left field fence of Bob White Field, for ages 5-9. The cost is $40 and registration can be found online at BuckarooBaseball.com. The camp will be led by Pendleton High School coaches and players and they will be instructing campers on defensive fundamentals for all positions, offensive fundamentals that includes facing live hitting, and drills campers can take home with them. Attendees need to bring their own glove, cleats and tennis shoes, baseball or sweat pants, and batting gloves. Catchers should bring their own gear, while bats will be available for hitting if attendees do not have one. For more questions contact Pendleton coach TJ Haguewood by emailing TJ.Haguewood@Pendleton.k12. or.us. Pendleton Golf holding annual fundraiser PENDLETON — The Pendleton High boys and girls golf teams are holding their 24th annual Reggie Brown Memorial Fundraiser on April 7-8 at the Pendleton Country Club. The fundraiser is a 36-hole golf event comprised of teams of four with a three net best-ball round on Saturday and a scramble on Sunday. Both days a delicious lunch will be provided at the club, and Sunday also includes a raffle and auction for golf packages from great courses such as Astoria CC, Walla Walla CC, Columbia Edgewater CC and more. The entry fee for members is $100 and $140 for non-members, and all players must have a valid USGA handicap to participate. Non-players can also assist the fundraiser by simply making a donation in the amount of your choice, sponsoring a hole for $100 or providing an item for the raffle or auction. All proceeds benefit the PHS golf program. Last year, the fundraiser brought in enough money to offer a $1,500 scholarship to two PHS golf team members, as well as increase financial support for the teams throughout the season. To sign up, call the PCC Pro Shop at 541-443-4653. BMCC’s Slater earns NWAC Academic Excellence honor PENDLETON — Blue Mountain Community College dual athlete Miah Slater earned a NWAC Academic Excellence Award for her work in the classroom during the winter term. Slater, a sophomore from Elgin, finished winter with a 4.0 GPA for the third time in five terms as a student at BMCC. Slater excelled in her studies while competing on BMCC’s women’s basketball team in the winter. She also is the starting first baseman on the softball team in the spring. According to the NWAC, in order to qualify for the academic honor the student-athlete must be a sophomore while having a minimum of 36 credits earned with at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA. Big River Men’s League starting soon UMATILLA — The Thursday night men’s golf league at Big River Golf Course is set to begin on April 12 and there is still time to register. To participate, golfers must be members of the Big River Men’s Club, which is a $45 cost and can be done by visiting the Big River clubhouse. To join the league, fees of $200 must be paid at sign-up to cover costs of payouts to winners and the 16 weeks of play. Deadline for entry is April 5. Any questions should be directed to Megan Olson by calling 541-922-3006.