LB splits basketball league openers
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
 |
The Linn-Benton Roadrunners played their first league game Saturday against rival Lane Community College at LBCC.
LBCC earned a split with the men winning their game against Lane, and the women getting their first league loss.
With only a week of preparation the women’s team had the hardest night. Having to start their first league game with several players out, Lane proved to be a difficult team and won the game with a final score of 80-42.
The height of Lane’s players was hard for LBCC to overcome with six shots blocked by Lane.
“We didn’t have the preparation,” said Teresa Guerra, head coach of Roadrunners. “We’re definitely in one of the toughest leagues with Umpqua, Clackamas and Lane, and they’re all ranked in the top eight and we definitely want to be in one of those positions before NWAACC’s [Championships Tournament].”
Top players for the women were freshmen point guard Sam Sanders who lead the game for 3-pointers with 3, and top scorer for LB with 15 points. Also one of two sophomores on the team, Kalah Heacock tied Sanders for rebounds with 5 and was 100 percent on her free throws going 6 for 6.
LBCC’s men’s team had tough game but played strong and consistent throughout the game’s entirety, taking the game into overtime and winning against Lane 90-87.
Head Coach Randy Falk said, “I knew this would be a very well contested game.”
The lead in the men’s game changed 15 times and neither team got more than 6 points ahead. At the end of the second half the score was 76-76, causing overtime.
During overtime freshman guard Taylor Roos put LB into the lead with the first two points in overtime, then backed it up with another field goal and foul shot, making 5 points in less than 30 seconds. Roos scored 32 points throughout the game, while fellow freshman teammates Xavier Watson and Andrew Carter both had 16 points.
After the game Coach Falk said, “I like our competitiveness right now, we just keep hanging in there and hanging in there, and get stronger as we go along.”
As for the team’s goals Coach Falk has every expectation his team is going to the NWAACC Championship Tournament in March.
Next games for both men’s and women’s basketball are Wednesday, Jan. 15, starting at 5:30 p.m. with the women at LBCC against Southwestern Oregon Community College; and Saturday, Jan. 16, at 4 p.m. at Roseburg against Umpqua Community College.
Comment
Commenting is closed for this article.
