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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 2017)
Polk County Sports 12A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 29, 2017 WESTERN OREGON ROUNDUP Men’s basketball improves to 6-0 Itemizer-Observer staff report BELMONT, Calif. — West- ern Oregon University’s men’s basketball team im- proved to 6-0 after defeating Holy Names 76-65 on Friday and Notre Dame De Namur 87-48 on Saturday. Ta n n e r Omlid had 15 points, 10 re- bounds, f o u r blocks, three as- sists and two steals Omlid against Holy Names. Vince Boumann added 12 points. The Wolves held Holy Names to 38.3 percent shooting from the field. Ali Faruq-Bey led WOU against Notre Dame De Namur with 19 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Omlid recorded 11 points, four re- bounds and four steals, and R i l e y Hawken a n d Demetrius Faruq-Bey Tr a m m e l l each added 10 points. Western Oregon opens Great Northwest Athletic Conference play on the road. The Wolves play at Simon Fraser Thursday at 7 p.m. and at Western Washington Saturday at 7 p.m. WOU's next home game is Dec. 7, when the Wolves host Port- land Bible College at 7 p.m. BETTINSON EARNS HON- ORABLE MENTION: Western Oregon senior volleyball player Alisha Bettinson earned an all- GNAC honorable mention on Nov. 22. Bettinson, a four-year starter with the Wolves, became the first WOU player since the university joined Division II to finish her ca- reer with more than 1,000 k ills and 1,000 digs. WOU fin- ished the 2017 season with a 7-20 Bettinson mark overall and a 3-17 record in league play. WOU SOCCER TO HOLD ID CAMP: Western Oregon Uni- versity’s women’s soccer team will host a Winter ID camp on Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Those in attendance will take part in a series of games and drills designed to show- case abilities and give players a chance to meet and work alongside members of Western Oregon’s women’s soccer team. The camp is open to female players in grades 9-12. The cost is $75. Space is lim- ited to the first 50 participants. For more information: Luke Babson, assistant soccer coach, babsonl@wou.edu. LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer file Western Oregon University’s men’s basketball season improved to 6-0. Wolves: Host Saint Martin’s Dallas Continued from Page 11A Changing the culture was- n’t a simple process. “We wanted a more posi- tive atmosphere. That was the No. 1 thing we focused on,” Howard-Carpenter said. “Secondly, we didn’t want to be OK with being mediocre. That was a big part of it. Fi- nally, we focused on the work ethic.” Part of that meant getting current players to buy in. Part of it also meant piec- ing together the kind of ros- ter Howard-Carpenter want- ed. “We had slower progress than we wanted, but we don’t have the resources or the scholarships to bring in a whole new squad and start from scratch,” Howard-Car- penter said. “But for me, I’d rather do it the right way than take shortcuts. W e ’ v e passed on recruits I k n o w could have helped us because Miller t h e y weren’t a fit for our pro- gram.” Jasmine Miller is one of two seniors on the roster who have played for Howard-Carpenter all four seasons. The biggest key to build- ing the program has been buying in early and never wavering, even as losses mounted, Miller said. “It’s been a journey,” Miller said. “We started from the bottom to get here. It’s nice to see all that work we started putting in four years ago pay off.” As Howard-Carpenter slowly built her roster, the Wolves began shaping up like she imagined. “The new people we’ve brought in, they don’t know the history of West- ern Oregon,” Howard-Car- penter said. They’re com- ing to just play and win. For Sydney (Azorr) and Jasmine, for them to see some success is a testa- ment to them staying the course and understanding the process.” That patience and dedica- tion seems to have started to pay off, but bigger tests loom. The Wolves open Great Northwest Athletic Confer- ence play at home against Saint Martin’s Thursday at 7 p.m. and Seattle Pacific Sat- urday at 2 p.m. Wester n Oregon was picked to finish eighth in the conference in the preseason coaches’ poll. “We have to come in like we’re not 4-0,” Miller said. “We have to look at each opponent and know they are as good, if not better, than the one that came be- fore.” This season represents another step in building WOU’s program. But this season has the potential to be a big step for- ward. “Sometimes, when you get used to the losses, they kind of roll off your back,” Howard-Carpenter said. “Having some wins, they want to have that feeling over and over again.” Continued from Page 11A E h l e r ’s e x p e r i e n c e coaching also made him an attractive candidate, Lar- son said. “He has been working with a few different bas- ketball programs over the years and comes to us with rave reviews,” Larson said. “He’s a great fit for Dallas.” After being named coach, Ehlers began the process of getting to know players. Ehlers inherits a team that has four seniors and four juniors. “Most of the schools have three to four weeks of summer ball in June,” Ehlers said. “It’s a chance to try some new sets and get to know the girls and their strengths.” While Dallas may lack height, the team's speed will be an advantage, Ehlers said, as will a new philosophy on offense, one predicated on adap- tation and changing on the fly. “We set up a play, but if we can find an opening by changing it, that’s what we’ll do,” Ehlers said. The Dragons open the season at North Salem Wednesday (today) at 6:45 p.m. The team’s first home game is Friday at 7 p.m. against Reynolds. “We’re really excited to get this going,” Ehlers said. “It’s hard to judge yourself practicing against your teammates, but we get a good test on Wednesday (today).”