‘Yote Notes –
Feb. 11, 2003
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Mike Safford Jr.
– Sports Info. Director
msafford@albertson.edu
GENERAL
ATHLETICS NEWS:
C.A.A. BOOSTER CLUB DINNER SET FOR
THIS MONTH: The
next Coyote Athletic Association booster dinner is set for Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. in
the Simplot Dining Hall. Playoff basketball, along with the upcoming
spring sports season will be the topic. To RSVP, contact Dave Hahn at
459-5835.
"A WEEKEND OF
CHAMPIONS": The
2003 Spring fundraiser, centered around a big weekend of baseball - more
information to follow...stay tuned.
ALPINE
SKIING:
COMING UP: At USCSA Western Region
Championships, Steamboat Springs, Colo., Feb. 21-23.
COYOTES SWEEP CONFERENCE
CHAMPIONSHIPS: With solid results on Saturday at the final
Northwest Conference Qualifier, both the Albertson men's and women's alpine ski
programs clinched NWC championships for the first time in a decade. The
women's team dominated the race, easily beating second-place British Columbia
on Saturday, led by a second-place finish by freshman Cassie Marcial. The
men placed second, four seconds behind UBC. Tyler Maxwell had the top
'Yote finish in fourth place.
SUNDAY NOT AS PLEASANT: Conditions
at Schweitzer deteriorated on Sunday, canceling the men's race, and leaving the
women a 7th-place finish.
A MUCH NEEDED WEEK OFF: Ron
Bonneau's bunch will not compete this weekend in preparation for the Western
Regional Championship, slated for Feb. 21-23 in Steamboat Springs, Colo.
BASEBALL: Coyotes
head off to Bay Area for five games to open up the 2003 season
COMING UP: at San Francisco State (DH), Saturday, Noon (PST); at San Francisco
State, Sunday, Noon (PST); at Sonoma State, Monday (2/17), 1 p.m. (PST); at
CSU-Hayward, Tuesday (2/18), Noon (PST).
‘YOTES OFF TO CALIFORNIA TO OPEN SEASON: After an intense Fall Ball and
preseason training, the Albertson baseball team is set to finally kickoff the
2003 campaign – heading to Northern California for five games in four
days. The Coyotes are coming off a
42-20-1 season in which they finished third at the NAIA College World Series,
their fourth CWS appearance in the last five years.
SCRIMMAGE DOES NOT PROVIDE ANSWERS: The preseason schedule will
provide answers to a couple of the holes that the Coyotes must fill. Following an intrasquad scrimmage this
weekend, head coach Shawn Humberger is still hesitant to name starters as some positions – especially at
third-base, catcher, and in the outfield.
Freshmen Billy Arko (Mountain Home, Idaho / Mountain Home HS) and Nate
Freese (Vancouver, Wash. /
Skyview HS) will share time at third, with Derek Rose (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS)
and Jake McGrady (Boise,
Idaho / Borah HS) splitting time in left field. Right field could see three different players – seniors Rob
Reid (Boise, Idaho /
Cochise CC) and Nick Snow (Everett, Wash. / Cal Poly-SLO) and junior Josh
Orr (Winnemucca, Nev. /
Lowry HS). Behind the plate – the health
of players will determine whether seniors Todd Howell (Marysville, Wash. / Skagit
Valley CC) and Jay Schwandt (Oak Harbor, Wash. / Shoreline CC), sophomore Sage
Kendall (Parma, Idaho /
National American Univ.), or a position player will display the signs.
ROTATION FOR THE WEEK SET: The tentative rotation for the
California trip has junior Noah Grubenhoff (Selah, Wash. / Columbia
Basin CC) opening the season in a nine-inning game in the first of three
against San Francisco State. In the
night-cap of the Day-One doubleheader, junior Taylor Blair (Sacramento, Calif. /
American River CC) will make the start in a seven-inning game. Sophomore Matt Bergstrom (Hermiston, Ore. / Hermiston
HS) will take the hill on Sunday to close out the series, with juniors Mike
Moser (Arlington, Wash. /
Bellevue CC) and Brad Burrow (Taylorsville, Utah / College of Southern Idaho) slated to pitch
next Monday and Tuesday.
ALBERTSON PICKED TO WIN CASCADE CONFERENCE: The first-ever preseason poll
for baseball within the Cascade Conference was released last week – with
Albertson, the No. 9 ranked team in the NAIA preseason poll, receiving all five
first-place votes. The poll, which did
not include Region I foes British Columbia and Lewis-Clark State, saw Concordia
placing second (with four of the five second-place votes), followed by Western
Baptist, Oregon Tech, and Eastern Oregon.
BAY AREA OPPONENTS: The ‘Yotes open up the season with a three-game
series at San Francisco State. The Gators (2-0-1) swept a
doubleheader from Bethany College this weekend – which saw the team outscore
its opponent, 43-9. The NCAA Division
II member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association went just 18-38
last season, but returns slugger Rich Daly, who is 7-for-11 so far this season. It is the first meeting between the two
teams. Monday, Albertson will try again
to play its first-ever game with Sonoma State. The Seawolves (8-1-1), another CCAA team, returned home from a
six-game series at Hawaii Pacific, winning 5-of-6 games. First-baseman Tom Everidge is 22-for-39
(.564) at the plate so far this year, with three homers and 18 RBI. SSU went 38-24 in 2002. The trip finale will be a single-game at Cal
State-Hayward. The Pioneers (4-2) opened the season with a
sweep of Whittier College, but lost 2-of-3 at Redlands this past weekend. Caleb Cooper has been the hot bat, hitting
11-for-22 in the first six games, to go along with 13 RBI. It is the first-meeting between Albertson
and CSU-Hayward.
ON THE AIR: The Coyotes are currently in negotiation with KIOV 1450-AM to broadcast
a limited amount of regular-season games on the radio. Furthermore, all first-games of home
doubleheaders will be broadcast live via the internet at www.collegeofidaho.edu/webcam/Athletics.asx
with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action.
The first scheduled internet broadcast is slated for February 28 against
Whitworth.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE COYOTES: For game stories, statistics,
and information regarding the Albertson baseball program, head to the official
site Coyote baseball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/baseball.htm.
MEN’S BASKETBALL (9-6, 16-12): Trip
to Oregon may hold playoff key; ‘Yotes split weekend home set
LAST WEEK: Lost
to Warner Pacific, 76-73; defeated No. 13 Cascade, 79-69.
COMING UP: at Oregon Tech, Friday, 9 p.m. (MST); at Southern
Oregon, Saturday, 9 p.m. (MST)
COYOTES SINCH UP PLAYOFF SPOT:
The postseason for the Albertson men’s
basketball team became reality last weekend, as the Coyotes clinched one of the
eight berths into the Cascade Conference post-season tournament. In all, five of the eight teams have sewn up
spots (Oregon Tech, Concordia, Cascade, Albertson, Warner Pacific), with both
Western Baptist and Evergreen needing a win to also advance. The top four teams at the conclusion of the
regular-season will host first-round playoff games on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The regular-season champion, along with the
tournament champion receive automatic berths to the NAIA Division II national
tournament, set for March 12-18 in Branson, Mo.
NO. 13 AN UNLUCKY NUMBER FOR
T-BIRDS: A seven-game win streak and a
No. 13 national ranking followed Cascade College to Caldwell on Saturday night,
but the T-Birds left with a black-eye, as the ‘Yotes spoiled the visitors
parade, 79-69. After a see-saw first
half, Albertson opened the second half on a 28-9 run, with the lead ballooning
to 59-37 with ten minutes left. Joe
Green (Pocatello, Idaho / BYU-Idaho) provided some spark for the
Coyotes, scoring ten points, pulling down six rebounds, and handing out six
assists. The win was doubly important
for Albertson, because it gives them the season-series edge over Cascade.
HARPER’S PERFECT NIGHT: Saturday was a big game for Andy Harper (Idaho
Falls, Idaho / Columbia Basin CC), as the junior set a new single-game
record for three-point percentage.
Harper scored 22 of his game-high 25 points in the second half, making
all six of his field goal attempts in the second stanza. On the night, he was 5-of-5 from outside the
arc, becoming the first ‘Yote to hit at least five three-pointers in one game
without a miss (the old record was 6-of-7, set back in the late 1980s). Over the past seven games, Harper is
averaging 20.1 points a game, while shooting 46-percent (23-for-50) from
three-point land.
THE ULTIMATE WARRIOR: The pain that is plaguing the body of senior Eric
Hare (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico / West Valley CC) was alleviated
for one night on Saturday, coming through with a big effort off the bench in
the win over Cascade. One night after
failing to score for the first time in 61 games in a ‘Yote uniform, the “Aztec
Warrior” came off the bench and scored 16 points and grabbed ten rebounds in
the upset win – his eleventh double-double of his career.
TOUGH NIGHT VS. WARNER: As good as things were on Saturday, it was the
complete opposite on Friday night, as Warner Pacific ended the Coyotes
five-game win streak with a 76-73 victory.
Albertson held a 71-68 lead late in the game, but the visiting Knights
ended the contest on an 8-2 run, the clincher coming on a bucket with 15
seconds remaining. The ‘Yotes had two
separate chances to tie or take the lead, but both attempts failed. Andy Harper was one of four Albertson
players in double-figures, scoring 19 points, while Tom Perkes (Spokane,
Wash. / Big Bend CC) recorded his eighth double-double of the year –
scoring 17 points and pulling down 11 rebounds.
BROWN PROVIDES SPARK: The Coyotes did receive some spark on Friday night
from freshman guard Derek Brown (Las Vegas, Nev. / Desert Pines HS),
who hit both of his three-point attempts as part of a ten-point night. Brown also had four rebounds and two steals
in the loss.
RECORD BOOK: In looking back over the first 28 games of the
2002-03 season, the Coyote record book will see some familiar faces amongst the
single-game, single-season and career record pages. Besides the school record Andy Harper set on Saturday, Eric Hare
also equaled a mark this year – becoming the fourth player to make
seven-or-more field goals without a miss (7-for-7 vs. Montana-Western on Nov.
16, 2002). In the single-season ranks,
Tom Perkes will rank among the top-ten all-time in points scored, scoring
average, free throw attempts, and free throw percentage. He currently is second all-time in free
throws made in a season with 149, 23 charity tosses behind Todd Williams
school-record set in 1994-95. Joe Green
will also have one of the ten best season’s in steals, while both Andy Harper and
Jon Thomas (Nampa, Idaho / Gem State Academy) are among the
top-ten in three-pointers made and attempted.
Thomas also has cracked the career book in both three-pointers made
(seventh) and attempted (fifth).
AMONG THE CONFERENCE’S BEST: As a team, the Coyotes continue to top the Cascade
Conference and the NAIA Division II in free throw percentage at a .778
clip. The ‘Yotes also lead the CCC in
field goal percentage (.484).
Individually, Tom Perkes tops the CCC and ranks No. 8 in the NAIA in
free throw percentage (.871 percent), along with placing No. 3 in the CCC field
goal percentage (.577), and No. 5 in both scoring average (19.1 ppg) and
rebound average (7.3 rpg). Joe Green
also ranks in the conference top ten in four categories – third in
assist-to-turnover ratio (2.58), fourth in three-point percentage (.427), fifth
in steals per game (2.25), and seventh in assists per game (4.1). Three players rank in the top-ten in one
category – Eric Hare in field goal percentage (No. 8 at .532), Andy Harper in
three-pointers made (No. 3 with 63), and Jon Thomas in three-pointers made (No.
6 with 53).
THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD: A long stretch of two-lane blacktop stares the
Coyotes in the face this weekend – as Albertson plays its final three regular-season
games on the road. The trip opens up on
Friday night in Klamath Falls against No. 7 ranked Oregon Tech. The first-place Owls (11-3, 23-3) were the
No. 1 team in the NAIA Division II for much of the season, before losing three
consecutive games. However, OIT got
back on the right foot Saturday night, stopping Southern Oregon, 73-60, giving
head coach Danny Miles his 700th win as Owl head coach. The solid Hooter starting five is led by
Player-of-the-Year candidates Kevin Baker (14.7 ppg, 7.7 rpg) and Todd Matthews
(11.2 ppg, 8.7 apg). OIT dominated play
in Caldwell earlier this year, stopping the ‘Yotes, 85-66 – running their
record all-time vs. Albertson to 20-32.
Saturday, it will be the 42nd meeting between the ‘Yotes and Southern
Oregon, and the rubber-match of this years series. The Raiders (3-11, 7-19) sit in last-place
in the Cascade Conference, but just one-half game out of the final playoff
spot. Head coach Brian McDermott has
seen his team lose six-straight, but gets solid production out of his backcourt
duo of senior Zac Olson (17.8 ppg) and T.J. Caughell (14.9 ppg). Southern won the first game this year via
forfeit (Albertson won the game on the court 87-76) at the CCC Tip-Off
Tournament, while the Coyotes dominated the return match-up in the Treasure
Valley, 91-69. The ‘Yotes hold a 31-10
all-time edge in the series with the Raiders.
ON THE AIR: Listen to both games (Friday vs. Oregon Tech and Saturday vs. Southern Oregon) live on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action. The pregame show begins at 8:50 p.m. For those outside the Treasure Valley, the games can also be heard via the Albertson athletic website at the following address: www.collegeofidaho.edu/webcam/Athletics.asx.
CORPORATE SPONSORS: The ‘Yotes would like to thank the 2002-03
corporate sponsors of Albertson basketball – Pioneer Title, Hewlett-Packard,
U.S. Bank, Caldwell Transportation, Curt & Hall Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep,
Jackson Oil, Nagel Beverage, Re-Max Realty, United Oil, Wendy’s, Intermountain
Community Bank, Chevrolet of Caldwell, S.S.I., Paul’s Market, Wells Fargo Bank,
Best Western Caldwell Inn, Idaho Lottery, and Hopkins Financial Service.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE
COYOTES: For game stories, statistics,
and information regarding the Albertson men’s basketball program, head to the
official site of Coyote basketball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm.
CASCADE CONFERENCE HOTLINE: For up-to-date scores from the Cascade Conference,
call the Cascade Conference Hotline at (208) 459-5135. Each night, scores and updated standings are
posted on the Conference Standings page within the Albertson men’s basketball
website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mbasketball/stats/standings.htm.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (8-7, 14-15): Weekend split has Lady ‘Yotes on the
outside for home playoff game
LAST
WEEK: Defeated Warner Pacific, 70-56; lost to
Cascade, 79-59.
COMING
UP: at Oregon Tech, Friday, 7 p.m. (MST); at
Southern Oregon, Saturday, 7 p.m. (MST)
LADY
‘YOTES ON OUTSIDE LOOKING IN AT HOME PLAYOFF GAME: With just three games remaining in the regular-season,
the up-and-down Albertson women’s basketball team now has the daunting task of
trying to earn a home playoff game. By
losing three of their last five outings, including two games at home, the Lady
‘Yotes now sit in fifth-place in the loop – a half-game out of a home playoff
date. What makes the task of moving up
the CCC ladder even greater – Albertson must end the year with three
consecutive road games, against the top three teams in the league.
ALL
THE TEAMS SET, NOW THE SHUFFLING BEGINS: The eight teams which will participate in the Cascade Conference
post-season tournament have been determined, as both Northwest and Evergreen
were eliminated from playoff contention.
What happens now is a two-week mad scramble for seeding – the top-four
teams earning a home playoff game. For
Albertson, the Coyotes do hold head-to-head tiebreak advantages with both
Concordia and Western Baptist, both tied for sixth-place.
NO
WARNER MAGIC THIS TIME: In the first
meeting between the clubs, Warner Pacific seemingly did everything right down
the stretch in an overtime win against Albertson. On Friday, it was the Lady ‘Yotes turn. The Coyotes jumped out to a 17-8 lead in the first six minutes of
the game – leading by as many as 21, and coasted to a 70-56 victory over the
Knights. Kristen Bailey (Fountain Green,
Utah / Snow CC) scored 13 points, to go
along with 11 rebounds and seven assists, while Krystal Thacker (Elko, Nev. /
BYU-Idaho) chipped in with ten
points, four rebounds, and four assists.
KARREN
A PLEASANT SURPRISE: Coming into the season,
head coach Reagan
Rossi was looking for some depth at the forward
position behind All-Conference selection, Megan Henrichs. However, when Henrichs injured her knee
during the preseason, the Lady ‘Yote skipper turned to transfer Lindsey Karren (Brigham City, Utah / Salt Lake CC) – and she has done the job adequately. The junior recorded her sixth double-double
of the season against Warner Pacific, leading the team with 14 points and 12
rebounds. Karren has 12 double-digit
rebound games, averaging 8.5 boards a game – good enough for No. 8 in the CCC.
CASCADE
MAKES IT 2-FOR-2: An uninspiring Coyote
effort, coupled by an above-average outside shooting night by the Cascade women
paved the way for a 79-59 Albertson loss to the T-Birds on Saturday night. The Lady ‘Yotes gave their chances to a zone
defense against the worst three-point shooting team in the league – and watched
as Cascade buried 9-of-22 treys on the night.
Kristen Bailey led Albertson with her 29th career double-double, scoring
19 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, and blocking seven shots. It was the eighth consecutive game, and the
11th in 12 outings that Bailey has recorded double figure rebounds.
BAILEY REACHES THE 200
PLATEAU: With nine blocks last weekend, Kristen Bailey moved past
the 200 block mark for her career – sitting now at 208 swats for her
career. With 123 rejections this
season, the senior needs just 12 blocks to eclipse what was the single-season
team record (not individual, but team), set last year. Bailey is currently on pace to break the
career record for rebound average (set by Alyson Pincock from 1999-01) – she
has averaged 10.0 boards per game during 58 outings over the past two years,
ahead of Pincock’s mark of 9.7. In her
career, Bailey is fifth all-time with 581 rebounds and seventh all-time with
749 points.
NEARING
1,000: Two months ago, the final three games on the
road were the projected date and time for when guard Heidi Goicoechea (Burley, Idaho / Burley HS) was to break the 1,000-point mark in her
career. Those estimates have proven
true, as the junior heads into weekend play with 975 career points, needing 25
more points to become the fifth player in school history to score 1,000 points,
and 37 points to move into fourth-place in all-time points. She also ranks No. 5 in all-time steals with
104, No. 6 in assists with 187, and No. 7 in all-time rebounds with 434.
CONFERENCE
LEADERS: As a team, the Lady
‘Yotes lead the Cascade in blocked shots (174), along with ranking second in
rebounds per game (42.8), rebound margin (+4.8), and free throw percentage
(.708). The team ranks fourth in the
scoring categories – scoring offense (68.3), scoring defense (66.3), and
scoring margin (+2.0). Individually,
Kristen Bailey ranks among the top-ten in five different categories – No. 1 in
both blocked shots (123) and defensive rebounds (228), No. 2 in rebound average
(10.6), No. 6 in field goal percentage (.482), and eighth in scoring average
(13.9 ppg). Heidi Goicoechea leads the
loop in free throw percentage (.863), ranks fifth in three-pointers made (55),
and ninth in scoring average (13.3 ppg).
Also among the leaders are Krystal Thacker – No. 2 in free throw
percentage (.850 and Dani
Cotterell (Nampa, Idaho /
Nampa HS) – who ranks No. 5 in three-point percentage (.344) and No. 6 in
three’s made (54). Lindsey Karren,
along with being in the top-ten in rebounds, ranks No. 2 in Cascade
Conference-only games in field goal percentage (.521).
TOUGH
ROAD AHEAD FOR LADY ‘YOTES: The
Caldwell Transportation Bus has been warmed up and is ready to go for the final
two road trips of the 2002-03 regular-season.
Trip one is this weekend, as the Lady ‘Yotes make the trek southwest to
meet Oregon Tech on Friday night.
The Owls (11-3, 17-8) are not your typical first-year program, having
won nine of their last ten games, including a 68-55 win over Albertson in
Caldwell last month. Head coach Tom
Loney has seen his squad receive votes in the past four NAIA national polls,
along with all but securing a home playoff date. Jaime Stanford (15.5 ppg, 6.9 rpg) has been the go-to player all
season, leading the conference in field goal percentage (.574). Post Pam Frei (11.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg) had a
dominating game against the Coyotes in their first meeting, while guard Katya
Spiecker (11.5 ppg) is one of the top three-point specialists in the loop (60
treys, .405 percentage). OIT leads the
all-time series, 1-0. Saturday night,
the Lady ‘Yotes head over the hill to No. 22 ranked Southern Oregon in Ashland. The Raiders (13-1, 16-8) sit alone atop the
Cascade Conference, having won 11-of-12 games, including a 98-92 overtime win
at OIT last Thursday. Southern has two
of the top scorers in the league in guard Sara Marks (16.9 ppg, 5.0 apg, 3.1
spg), who had 36 points against OIT, and forward Kara Magee-Arick (15.5 ppg),
who set a school record with nine three-pointers in the 92-66 thrashing of
Albertson last month. The Raiders have
won 8-of-9 meetings with the Lady ‘Yotes in Ashland, including a 75-62 victory
in the 2002 Cascade Conference championship game. Southern leads the all-time series, 11-7.
RADIO AND INTERNET BROADCAST INFORMATION: Both weekend games (Friday vs. Oregon Tech and Saturday vs. Southern Oregon) are scheduled to be broadcast live on KCID 1490-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action, beginning at 6:55 p.m. (MST) on both nights. The games can also be heard live on the Internet at www.collegeofidaho.edu/webcam/Athletics.asx.
MORE INFORMATION ON THE LADY
‘YOTES: For game stories, statistics,
and information regarding the Albertson women’s basketball program, head to the
official site of Lady ‘Yote basketball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm.
- ALBERTSON -