Friday, January 15, 2010

It's going to be a long season.

Jordan Highland (left) out reaches a Lane CC post for the hoop, and Jamie Mayhew (right) drives to the net against SWOCC.

Every year 16 out of 34 teams make it to the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Championship Tournament in March, for a chance at northwest basketball supremacy.

There are high expectations by coaches and players, for Linn-Benton's Roadrunners to make it to the 2010 NWAAC's tournament for both men's and women's teams. And although the men's team is on track, winning their first two league games. The women are facing unexpected obstacles this season, and losing their first two.

Prior to league the men have been winning most their games, and according to head coach Randy Falk, "The more you win the more confidence your team will have."

However both the men's wins were in overtime, and that is something the team is trying to avoid.

"We're trying to make it a tradition here at Linn-Benton." Said coach Falk, commenting that he has taken his team to the NWAACC's tournament for the past two years and plans on making it three.

"If we keep playing like we do and play hard, we're going to get there." Said freshman guard Taylor Roos who is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to his free throws; making 16/19 for the first league game and 10/11 in the second game, sealing the win.

The women's team however is having an almost opposite season when compared to the men.

Losing their first two league games to Lane CC and Southwestern Oregon CC. The Lady Roadrunners are having a tough time finding a balance with an entirely new team, with only one returning player, sophomore guard Kalah Heacock.

"It's hard because we don't have that team chemistry coming into the season, but we try and it's been hard with all the injuries; every time someone is in, someone else is out." Said Jamie Wilson, who was the game's top scorer against SWOCC with 22 points.

Besides being a young team, the Roadrunners don't have a full bench like most of their competition. Which forces some players to play a full game against opposition that has fresh bodies coming off the bench, resulting in a tired and fatigued team.

Despite the odds being against the Lady Roadrunners, the team still has high hopes of making it into the NWAACC tournament in March.

"Our final goal is the NWAACC's tournament, and we're are definitely in one of the toughest leagues with Umpqua, Clackamas and Lane. They're all ranked in the top four and we definitely want to be in one of those positions before NWAACC's [tournament]." Said women's head coach Teresa Guerra who remains positive during a rocky season.

If the men can control the game in the beginning instead of mainly in overtime, and the women can find some more fresh bodies; it should be an exciting season for both teams as they attempt to take LBCC to the top, for victory and bragging rights.

LBCC is currently tied for first with Chemeketa in league, while the women remain tied for third against Portland CC.

Who: Men's and women's LBCC basketball
What: NWAACC Championship.
When: March
How: Hard work, teamwork, and a little luck.
Why: To be top community college basketball team in the northwest.

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