12A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • March 4, 2015
Polk County Sports
WESTERN OREGON ROUNDUP
MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
WOU not satisfied with success Wolves end year
Western Oregon hopes to claim conference championship
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
Tourney Time
MONMOUTH — Western
Oregon’s men’s basketball
team has one conference
title to its name this season.
The Wolves aren’t ready to
stop there.
WOU enters the Great
Northwest Athletic Confer-
ence championship this
Thursday through Saturday
as the top seed, receiving a
bye into the semifinals
round on Friday in Billings,
Mont.
Western Oregon has
more at stake than just the
GNAC championship.
T h e
N C A A
ranked
W O U
fourth in
its most
recent Di-
vision II
West Re-
gion Poll
Thomas
on Feb. 25,
which determines the five
teams that will join the
GNAC, PacWest and Califor-
nia Collegiate Athletic Asso-
ciation tournament cham-
pions, who receive auto-
matic berths to the eight-
team regional March 13-14.
“I’ve been impressed
with the way we have han-
dled wins and success,”
What: Great North-
west Athletic Conference
Men’s Basketball Champi-
onship.
When: Thursday thr-
ough Saturday.
Where: Billings, Mont.
Of note: Top-seeded
Western Oregon will face
the winner of the Alaska
Anchorage/Central Wash-
ington matchup on Fri-
day night. The winner
advances to the confer-
ence
championship
game on Saturday. Both
the Seawolves and Wild-
cats defeated the Wolves
in their most recent
meetings. Follow the
Itemizer-Observer on Twit-
ter and on Facebook for
updates.
WOU coach Brady Bergeson
said. “To be a champion,
you have to be really good
at dealing with both success
and failure. They’re equally
important. This team is very
consistent in that way. They
approach games, practices,
film sessions and weight
training the same. I haven’t
been able to tell the differ-
ence after a win or a loss.
They’re just hungry be-
tween those lines. We still
haven’t played our best.”
Western Oregon closed
out the regular season by
defeating Alaska Fairbanks
75-60 on Saturday. Devon
Alexander scored a team-
high 19 points, Andy Avgi
added 17 points and seven
rebounds and Thomas
Lewis and Marwan Sarhan
scored with 12 and 10
points, respectively.
The victory was a bounce
back game from an 80-78
defeat to Alaska Anchorage
on Thursday, when the Sea-
wolves shot 55.8 percent
from the field.
Western Oregon enters
the GNAC championship
boasting one of the confer-
ence’s most prolific offens-
es, averaging 79.7 points per
game, good for third in the
conference. Avgi, Julian
Nichols, Alexander and Jor-
dan Wiley all average more
than 10 points per game.
Defensively, WOU held
opponents to 68.8 points
per game, second best in
the GNAC.
Avgi was named the
GNAC Player of the Year,
while Nichols received
Newcomer of the Year hon-
ors. Bergson earned Coach
of the Year honors, while
Wiley and Lewis Thomas
earned all-GNAC honorable
mention.
The Wolves will face Alas-
ka Anchorage or Western
Washington Friday at 7:30
p.m. The
winner
advances
to the
champi-
onship
game Sat-
urday at
7:30 p.m.
Wiley
B u t
WOU will face significant
challenges.
Both the Seawolves and
Vikings defeated Western
Oregon in their most recent
meetings.
Western Washington de-
feated WOU in Monmouth
73-50 on Feb. 19.
“The bad news is we’re
going to play one of two
teams that beat us the last
time we played,” Bergeson
said. “The good news is they
beat us the last time we
played. That does not sit
well with our guys.”
No matter what happens,
Bergeson said he hopes the
team continues to chal-
lenge itself. And, although
the Wolves have their eyes
on a bigger prize, Bergeson
hopes they don’t take this
chance for granted.
“We can’t forget that
these things aren’t given to
you,” Bergeson said. “It’s a
privilege to have the oppor-
tunity that we got. You al-
ways have to assume this is
a once in a lifetime chance.”
with home victory
Women’s basketball earns win
Itemizer-Observer staff report
MONMOUTH — A frus-
trating 2014-15 campaign
ended on a happy note, as
Western Oregon’s women’s
basketball squad beat
Northwest Nazarene 69-55
on Satur-
day. Four
WOU play-
ers score in
double fig-
ures, led by
sophomore
J o r d a n
Motter-
shaw with Mottershaw
20 points,
including 16 in the first half,
and senior Dana Goularte,
who added 18 points. Fresh-
man Sami Osborn recorded
a double-double with 14
points and 11 rebounds.
“We did a great job on the
glass at both ends of the
floor and we shared the ball
on offense,” Wolves coach
Holli Howard-Carpenter
said. “When we have four in
double figures, good things
happen."
The Wolves opened the
week with a heartbreaking
loss, falling 54-52 to Central
Washington on Thursday.
Goularte scored 20 points
and grabbed nine rebounds,
but WOU could not rally late.
Trailing 53-51, Goularte
had a chance to tie the game
with less than 10 seconds left
in the game, but missed one
of two free throws.
Western Oregon finished
the 2014-15 season 8-18
overall and 5-13 in Great
Northwest Athletic Confer-
ence play.
BASEBALL WINS THREE OF
FOUR: The Western Oregon
baseball team opened Great
Northwest Athletic Conference
play by taking three of four
games from Saint Martin’s. The
Wolves (8-12 overall, 3-1 GNAC)
swept the Saints on Saturday,
winning 4-0 and 3-2. WOU split
a doubleheader on Sunday,
earning a 7-3 win before drop-
ping the series finale 1-0. Sen-
ior Tim Rausch went a com-
bined 4-for-7 on Sunday, with
three RBIs and a home run.
Senior Garret Harpole also hit a
home run on Sunday. WOU
hosts Central Washington for a
pair of doubleheaders on Sat-
urday and Sunday. First pitch is
scheduled for noon on both
days.
SOFTBALL TO OPEN
LEAGUE PLAY: Western Ore-
gon’s softball team will host
Northwest Nazarene for a four-
game series Friday and Satur-
day. The Great Northwest Ath-
letic Conference foes will play a
pair of doubleheaders. First
pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. Fri-
day and noon Saturday.
P OLK C OUNTY W ORSHIP D IRECTORY
DALLAS
Calvary Chapel Dallas www.calvarydalla-
sor.com Currently meeting for worship and
verse by verse Bible teaching at 628 SE Jef-
ferson St. Worship service begins at 10 a.m.
on Sunday. Sunday school is available from
youth ministry and below to nursery. Wednes-
day evening cafe-style Old Testament study
starting at 6:30 pm. Come join us for a relaxed
study around a cup of coffee or drink. Mens
prayer is Saturday at 7:30 a.m. Womens Bible
studies are scheduled also, call for times. The
Pastor/Teacher is Larry King. Come join us
and be a part of God's family here in Dallas.
For more information call 503-831-1074.
Church of Christ - North Kings Valley Hwy.
Sunday Class 9:30 a.m. Worship Service
10:30 a.m. Sunday Evening Service 5:30
p.m. Thursday Evening Bible Study 7:00 p.m.
We are a Bible Based Church. Visitors wel-
come. For information call 503-420-4010. If
no answer, please leave a message and we’ll
return your call as soon as possible.
Dallas Alliance Church - 775 E. Ellendale,
Dallas, 503-623-2265, Email office@dallasal-
liance.org, Lead Pastor Jim Jamieson;
Youth/Children’s Pastor Lance Baker, and
Worship/Men’s Ministry Pastor Travis Reed;
Every Sunday: classes for all ages at 9:15
a.m., Morning Worship at 10:30 a.m., (Nurs-
ery provided for a.m. services); Tuesdays:
Youth Night 7:00 p.m. in Ediger Hall;
Wednesdays: Adult Prayer Meeting 1:00
p.m., Choir practice 6:45 p.m. Call for info on
current
Bible
Studies.
Web:
dallasalliance.org.
Dallas Church - PO Box 462, Dallas, OR
97338, 503-623-2711. Worship Gatherings:
Sundays 10am. Meeting at 450 SE Washing-
ton St., Dallas OR 97338. Atmosphere is re-
laxed, families & children welcome, come as
you are, current music & relevant teaching
about Jesus. Pastor: Ben Bauman. www.dal-
laschurch.org
Dallas Foursquare Church—Located at 976
SW Hayter St. on the corner of Washington
and Hayter. Worship Service: Sundays at
10am. Youth Group: Sundays 6pm to 8pm.
Pastor: Darrin Hausler. We are a multi-gen-
erational church with a heart for our commu-
nity. Our mission is to Love God and Love
People to Extend His Kingdom. For more info
call us at 503-623-8277 or visit us online at
dallasfour.com.
Evangelical Bible Church - 1175 S.E.
Howe, Dallas 503-623-2331. Senior Pastor
Jerry Franz, Visitation Pastor Allan Wiebe,
Youth Pastor Nathan Ensz. Sunday: Worship
*8:00 a.m.; *10:45 a.m.; *6:00 p.m.; Sunday
School 9:30 a.m.; High School Youth Group
7:15 p.m.; Thursday: Jr. High Youth Group -
7:00 p.m.; 2nd & 4th Tuesday: MOPS *9:00
a.m.; Wednesday: AWANA - 6:30 p.m.;
Prayer Meeting & Bible Study 7:00 p.m.;
Thursday: Bible Studies *9:15 a.m. (women);
*7:00 p.m. (men & women) *Nursery care
provided.
Faith Evangelical Free Church - 2290 E. El-
lendale Ave., Dallas, 503-623-8034; Senior
Pastor Al Perkins, Associate Pastor Ed Sutter,
Worship Pastor Ted Kitzmiller, Youth Pastor
Aaron Swank, Children’s Director Debbie
Davies. Sunday School 9:00 a.m.; Sunday
Worship 10:30 a.m., Sunday High School
Youth Group 7:00 p.m.; Wednesday Jr. High
Youth Group 7:00 p.m. Please call or visit our
website for information about other meetings.
www.faithfreechurch.org
First Baptist Church - 245 S.W. Church St.,
Dallas, 503-623-5189; Church Office Hours:
Mon, Tues, Fri. 9 am - 4 pm and Wed 5 pm -
7 pm; Pastor Rick Bratton; Sunday School
9:30 a.m., Worship 10:45 a.m., Wednesday
Bible Study 6-7 p.m; Everyone Welcome!
First Christian Church - Joyfully Worship-
ping & Serving 1079 S.E. Jefferson Street,
Dallas, 503-623-2569. Senior Pastor - Gary
Ivey and Pastor Darren Anderson. “Live Wire
Worship” with Praise Team - 8:30 a.m., Adult,
Youth & Children Sunday School - 9:30 a.m.,
Morning Worship - 10:30 a.m. (Nursery pro-
vided), Men’s Bible Study - Thursday, 8:30
a.m. Christian Women’s Fellowship - 2nd
Tuesday, 1:00 pm (Sept through June).
Please call church office for information about
other meetings.
First Presbyterian Church - 879 S.W. Lev-
ens Street, Dallas, 503-623-3397. Pastor
Sandy Larson invites you to come and share
with us. Worship 10:30 a.m.; Adult Sunday
School 9:00 am; Men’s Breakfast & Bible
Study Tues. 7:00 a.m.; Handicapped acces-
sible. Bloodbank 4th Monday of even num-
bered months. Indoor Play Park.
Grace Community Church - 598 E. Ellen-
dale Ave. PO Box 69, Dallas, 503-623-4961.
Senior Pastor-Dave Bertolini, Pastor of Wor-
ship & Discipleship-Ryan Bucher, Pastor of
Youth & Young Adults-Ben Potloff. Sunday
Worship: 1st Service-9:00 a.m. with Kids,
Youth, & Adult Sunday School running con-
currently. 2nd Worship Service-10:45 a.m.
with Kids Worship running concurrently. Nurs-
ery provided during both services. Office
open Tuesday-Friday for office hours visit our
website at www.graceindallas.org. All are wel-
come!
Living Hope City Church - 1156 SE Hol-
man, Dallas. Family Worship 10:30 am.
www.livinghopecitychurch.org
Equipping
Center & Offices 186 SE Mill St., Dallas. For
more information call 503-623-6890.
Living Word Faith Fellowship - 830 SE
Shelton Street, Dallas, 503-623-9062. Pastor
Joan Siewert. Sunday Worship 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday Worship 7:00 p.m. Prayer Meeting
Thursday 6:00 p.m. Children's Sunday serv-
ice 10:00 a.m., nursery provided. Men’s fel-
lowship second Saturday of month breakfast
at 8:00 a.m. at Murphy’s Restaurant, Dallas.
Pastor Lavern Siewert in charge of men's fel-
lowship. Call for additional information. Web-
site: www.proclaimhim.org
Salt Creek Baptist Church - 15075 Salt
Creek Road, Dallas, 503-623-2976. Senior
Pastor David Curtis. Pastor of Student Min-
istries, Russ Richmond. Sunday School 9:30
a.m. Sunday morning Worship 10:50 a.m.
Nursery provided for worship services.
Classes for all ages. Wednesday King’s Kids
6:30 p.m. Wednesday Middle School & Sen-
ior High Youth 6:30 p.m. Please call for infor-
mation about other meetings.
Seventh-Day Adventist Church - 589 SW
Birch, P.O. Box 450, Dallas 97338-0450. 503-
623-5872. Services on Saturday: 9:30 A.M.
Sabbath School Bible Study for all age
groups. 10:50 A.M. Worship Service. Office
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9 to
Noon. Pastor: Lary Brown
St. Thomas Episcopal Church - 1486 SW
Levens St., Dallas (at the corner of Levens &
Cherry) 503-623-8522. Email: stthomasdalla-
sor@gmail.com 10:00 a.m. Worship with Holy
Eucharist. Sunday School and Nursery Care
available during worship. Sundays 1:30-3:00
all ages FREE singing lessons. St. Thomas
Episcopal Church 1486 SW Levens Dallas.
Call Rebecca 503-559-5205 with questions.
The Episcopal Church and St Thomas Wel-
comes you —please join us.
Trinity Lutheran Church - 320 SE Fir Villa
Rd, Dallas, 503-623-2233. Pastor - David
Pederson. Adult Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship Service 10:00 a.m.; Kids Church
during 10:00 a.m. Worship. Youth Group
HS/MS 11:30 a.m. Sundays. Free Medical
Clinic 1st & 4th Saturday of each month.
www.dallastlc.org. Catch us on Facebook.
United Methodist Church – A church with
Open Hearts, Open Minds & Open Doors.
565 SE LaCreole Drive, Dallas, 503-623-
2481. Pastor-Rev. Quinton Kimbrow. Worship
Service 10:55 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m.
Child-care available. Handicap access. All
are welcome! Email: dallasumc@qwestof-
fice.net Website: www.sites.umcdallas.com
Valley Life Center (Assemblies of God) -
1795 S.E. Miller Ave., Dallas, 503-623-4116.
Pastor Chris Barker, Children’s Director,
Crystal Barker, Sunday Morning Service
10:30 a.m., Wednesday Family Night 6:30
p.m. Please call for more information or visit
our website at www.valleylifecenter.com
FALLS CITY
Falls City Christian Church 233 S. Main
Street, Falls City, Oregon 97344, 503-787-
3104 Sunday Service: 10 am; Website:
www.fallscitycc.com
Falls City United Methodist Church - 242
N. Main Street, Falls City, 503-851-3213.
Pastor Rebecca Strader. Morning worship
Sunday 9:20 am. All denominations are wel-
come. www.fallscityumc.org
Mountain Gospel Fellowship - 303 N. Main,
Falls City, 503-787-8037. Sunday School
10:00 a.m., Worship Service 11:00 a.m.,
Wed. Dinner 6:15 p.m. Everyone welcome
just as you are. Join Us!
Seventh-Day Adventist Church - 205 N.
Main, Falls City 97344, 503-787-3907. Pastor
Lary Brown. Sabbath School Sat. 9:30 am-
10:40 am; Worship Service 11 am. Commu-
nity Service Center (Food Bank) third Wed. of
each month, noon-3pm.
INDEPENDENCE
Buena Vista Community Church - 11355
Church St., Buena Vista. Independence. Sun-
day School 9:45 a.m., Morning Worship 11 a.m.
First Baptist Church - A warm, friendly church
that cares about you! Located at 1505 Mon-
mouth St., Independence (across from Central
High School); 503-838-1001. Senior Pastor
Michael Parks. Sundays: Worship Service 11
am Wednesdays: AWANA 7 pm (during the
school year). Thursdays: Youth Group
6:15pm. Join us for small groups and life groups
throughout the week. First Baptist Church has
ministries for children, youth, adults, families
and seniors, throughout the week. Check us out
at www.independencefirstbaptist.com
Life Center Foursquare Church - 437 D
Street, Independence, OR Phone: 503-838-
6507. Pastor Larry Gratreak. Worship Service
and Sunday School starts at 10:30 a.m. Men’s
studies /Women’s studies /Home Fellowships
available throughout the week. Call for more
information. You are welcome! Find us on
Facebook.
St. Patrick Parish, Catholic - 1275 E St., In-
dependence. 503-838-5801. Father Henry
Guillen Vega Masses Sat., vigil 5 p.m.; Sunday
9:30 a.m. (English), 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. (Span-
ish); Weekdays Mon, Tues, Wed, & Thurs.
9am, Saturday 7 p.m. (Spanish). Evergreen
Nursing Home; Holy Days 9 a.m. (Eng) & 7
p.m. (Eng/Span). Sacrament of Reconciliation:
Sat 3:30-4:30 p.m. or by appointment. Reli-
gious Education: RCIA Mon 7:00-8:30 p.m.;
Mid-High & High School Grades Mon 7:00-
8:30p.m.; Grades 1-4 Tues. 7:00-8:30 p.m.
WOU Campus Ministry: Mass Sun. 5:00 p.m.
at 315 N. Knox St., Monmouth followed by a
social hour.
MONMOUTH
Christ The King Christian Church - Meets
at 959 Church St. W., Monmouth 7:00 pm
Saturday Night. Christ The King Christian
Church is a conservative, contemporary,
charismatic Biblical Church. At Christ the
King we learn: the truths of the Bible, how to
live Biblical truths, how to please God, and
how to be a blessing to all people. Come
and join us as we learn and grow together.
Everyone is welcome. Wally Wildman, sen-
ior pastor. For more information call 503-
623-2262. www.ctkmonmouth.com
Christ’s Church Methodist and Presbyte-
rian United - Come care and share with us.
412 Clay Street West, Monmouth, 503-838-
1724. Pastor Rebecca Strader. Worship
Service 11 a.m. Call for information on small
groups.
Church of Christ - 127 N. Heffley St., Mon-
mouth, 503-838-2360. Minister - Dan
Brewer, Youth Minister - Jon Siegrist. Sun-
day School 9:45 a.m., Worship Service
10:45 a.m., Sunday Evening Service 6 p.m.,
Wednesday Service 6 p.m.
Faith Lutheran Church - 200 Monmouth-
Independence Hwy., Monmouth (the church
with the lighted cross on the “S” curve).
School Year Schedule: Sunday School &
Adult Bible Class 9:00 am; Divine Service
of Holy Communion 10:30 am. Pastor Dal-
las C.R. Dubke. www.FaithLutheranMon-
mouth.org; 503-838-3459. Everyone is
welcome!
Heart to Heart Church - 191 N. Monmouth
Ave., Monmouth (across street from WOU).
Pastor Jim Miller. email: Jim@h2hchurch.com.
Sunday School for children and adults 10:00
a.m; Worship Service 11:00 a.m.; Prayer &
Praise 6:00 p.m.; Seekers Night - Monday
6:00 p.m.; Children & Adult Bible Study -
Wednesday 7:00 p.m.; Seven Cities Wor-
ship Service Friday 8 p.m.; Everybody wel-
come. Information: church 503-838-0537.
www.h2hchurch.com
Monmouth Christian Church - 959 Church
Street W, Monmouth, OR 97361; Office:
(503) 838-1145; Fax: (503) 838-1162; Email:
mcc@mymcc.cc; Website: mymcc.cc; Lead
Pastor: Sean Bitzer; Pastors: Ulysses Vela,
Mary Weinbender, & Seth Halligan; Sunday
Worship Service: 10 am, English & Spanish;
children’s programming for birth to 6th
grades also available. Momentum (7th & 8th
Grades) meet Tuesdays 6:30-8:00 pm MCC;
Join us this Sunday in person or live online
at www.mymcc.tv.
New LIFE Ministries – we’re growing in
Polk County! CHILDREN'S CHURCH NOW
AVAILABLE! We are a God-loving, Bible-be-
lieving, non-denominational church body.
This church is a little different, in that it’s not
just a church service, but is all about being
a “service church”. We strive to seek out
and serve the needs of the community. It is
our hope that God will use us to make a dif-
ference. Come join us! We meet at Ash
Creek School, 1360 N 16th Street, Mon-
mouth every Sunday morning at 10:00-11:00
am. Our minister is Marion Seick. Feel free
to call us at (503) 871-5207. Please come
visit and worship with us this Sunday!"
Praise Assembly 189 Monmouth Ave, Mon-
mouth, 503-837-0300. www.praiseonline.net.
Sunday Services & Children’s Services 9:30
am & 11 am. Combined Service starting June
16. Tuesday evening Celebrate Recovery
meeting at 6:30 pm.
St. Hilda's Episcopal Church 245 Main St.
W., Monmouth, 503-838-6087, sthildas
church.org Sunday Eucharist - 10:00 am fol-
lowed by Fellowship. Children's Sunday
School & Adult Bible Study 9:00 am.
Wednesday Worship at 8:00 am and 7:00
pm. Nursery care provided. Call for periodic
small groups and celebrations. All are wel-
come!