‘Yote Notes – Nov. 22, 2004

Mike Safford Jr. – Sports Info. Director

msafford@collegeofidaho.edu

 

 

 

 

 

VOLLEYBALL: Two Coyotes named to All-Region Team

Albertson College senior Ashlea Thornton was one of 12 players named to the All-NAIA Region I team following last weekend’s regional tournament in Ashland, Ore.  Thornton led the ‘Yotes to an 18-8 record, leading the team with 3.92 kills per game.  Named to the honorable mention team was sophomore setter Erin Cherrington, who set a new school record by averaging 12.58 assists per game.  Southern Oregon earned the automatic berth to the NAIA Championships by defeating Northwest University in the regional final.

MEN’S BASKETBALL (4-1): Coyotes win Golden Rule title, embark on seven-game road trip, beginning at Weber State

 

LAST WEEK: hosted the 18th-Annual Duane Wolfe Memorial Golden Rule Shoot-Out – vs. Willamette (W 78-61), vs. No. 17 Westminster (W 66-54)

 

COMING UP: at Weber State, Tuesday, 7:05 p.m.; at Westminster, Wednesday, 7 p.m.; vs. Adams State (at Westminster), Friday, 7 p.m.

 

RADIO: All 29 Albertson men’s basketball games will be broadcast live on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the play-by-play, along with a simulcast via the Albertson Athletic Website.  Tuesday’s game with Weber State will also be broadcast in Odgen, Utah on 1660 KXOL-AM, while Friday’s game with Adams State will be broadcast in Alamosa, Colo. on 103.5 KSPK-FM.

 

COYOTES WIN THEIR EIGHTH GOLDEN RULE TITLE: Albertson College rallied from a 21-point second half deficit to win their eighth Duane Wolfe Memorial Golden Rule Shoot-Out title in the 18 years of the tournament – a 66-54 decision over No. 17 ranked Westminster.  The title evened the record between the Coyotes and Griffins in GRSO championship games to 2-2, as Westminster took home the crown in 2001 and 2003, with the ‘Yotes taking the 2002 and 2004 championships.  Willamette took the consolation prize, dispatching Concordia, 83-55.

         

TALE OF TWO HALVES: To say Saturday’s game with Westminster was a tale of two halves was right on the money – you would be right.  The visitors from Salt Lake City held Albertson to 6-of-25 shooting from the floor in the opening period, jumping out to a 35-16 halftime edge.  After the lead was built to 37-16, the ‘Yotes would respond in quick fashion – holding Westminster without a field goal for a nine-minutes stretch.  Dan McFaul (Moses Lake, Wash. / Big Bend CC) would record three steals and four points in a 20-0 Albertson run to cut the edge to one, then score the go-ahead bucket with 5:22 left, to give the ‘Yotes a 50-49 lead – a lead they would not relinquish.

 

LEAST POINTS SINCE: The 16 points scored by Albertson in the first half of Saturday’s championship game were the fewest amount of points scored by the Coyotes in a half in over 20 years.  The ‘Yotes scored just 15 points in the first half of a 43-36 victory over Western Baptist on Jan. 20, 1984, a game in which current head coach Mark Owen led the C of I with 15 points.  Last season, Albertson scored 18 points in a half on two occasions – vs. Boise State (trailed 51-18) and vs. Nevada (trailed 31-18).

 

FRIED HAS BIG WEEKEND: The ‘Yotes got a big lift this weekend from transfer Richard Fried (Middleton, Idaho / Boise State), as the former NCAA Division I player has his best weekend as a collegian.  The senior scored 13 points and had five rebounds off the bench on Friday against Willamette – elevating him into the starting line-up.  Fried did not disappoint, scoring 18 points and pulled down a team-high eight rebounds in the win over Westminster.  For the season, the 25-year-old is averaging 11 points and six rebounds a game, while leading the team with a 64-percent field goal percentage.

 

BROWN COMES THROUGH: Guard Derek Brown (Las Vegas, Nev. / Desert Pines HS) put a nagging hamstring injury behind him this weekend to help spark the ‘Yotes.  The junior had a solid all-around game on Friday, scoring five points, along with five rebounds and five assists.  He followed it up with a game-high 23 points in 40 minutes of action against Westminster, including nine points in a key 20-0 run early in the second half.  Brown is averaging a team-high 14 points and four assists through the first five games.

 

NICE B-DAY FOR HUMPHREYS: Having to play a basketball game on your birthday must be tough – but for Coyote post Steve Humphreys (Reno, Nev. / Lassen CC), he made it look easy.  The senior scored a career-high 22 points, to go along with ten rebounds, as Albertson posted a 78-61 first-round win over Willamette on Friday night.  Humphreys scored eight of the first ten Coyote points on his 23rd birthday, while registering his second career double-double.

 

ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Earning a spot on the five-person All-Tournament team were C.J. Stuvland of Willamette (25 points in win over Concordia), Brandon Erlandson of Concordia (averaged 20.5 points per game in two games), and Shane Humpherys of Westminster (averaged 18 points per game in two games).  The Coyotes were represented by Rich Fried (averaged 16 points and seven rebounds in the two games), and E.J. Costello (Pleasanton, Calif. / Chabot CC) who scored 17 points in the win Friday against Willamette.

 

OWEN THIRD COYOTE COACH TO 100 WINS: With the victory at Point Loma Nazarene on Nov. 13, Albertson head coach Mark Owen became the third Coyote men’s basketball coach to reach the 100-win plateau.  In his five years at the helm, Owen has 102 wins in 145 games – joining Marty Holly (423 wins) and Dick Carrow (179 wins) in the club.

 

GREEN MOVING UP ASSIST CHART: One week after breaking the career steals record, Joe Green (Pocatello, Idaho / BYU-Idaho) has made a move on the all-time assist list.  Green has recorded 26 assists in the ‘Yotes first five games, giving him 338 dishes in his career, good enough for fifth-place on the career list.  The senior is just five assists away from fourth-place (held by Bart Stepp), and is just 56 assists away from second-place.  Mark Owen, Green’s mentor, holds the all-time record with 631 assists from 1983-86.  Incidentally, Green recorded 11 more steals this weekend – giving him 218 for his career.

 

‘YOTES RANKED #21 TO START SEASON: Fresh off their Round of 16 finish at the NAIA Division II national tournament, the Albertson men’s basketball team was ranked No. 21 in the preseason NAIA Division II Top-25 poll.  The ‘Yotes were one of four Cascade Conference teams in the group – Oregon Tech (No. 1), Southern Oregon (No. 16), and Western Baptist (No. 34). 

 

PRESEASON RANKINGS BECOMING FAMILIAR: For the fourth consecutive season, the Coyotes have been ranked to start the season.  Last season, Albertson began the year No. 12 and ascended as high as No. 3 in the nation.  During the 2002-03 season, the ‘Yotes began at No. 15, fell out of the poll, then rebounded for a second-round appearance at the NAIA tournament.  The 2001-02 team began the year at No. 8, but injuries plagued the team, as it failed to get out of the Cascade Conference tournament.  The last team not to be ranked to start a season was the 2000-01 club, Mark Owen’s first as head coach, a team that eventually advanced to the Elite Eight of the NAIA Tournament.

 

SEVEN GAME ROAD TRIP LOOMS FOR ALBERTSON: Riding a four-game win streak, the Coyotes will face their toughest stretch of the 2004-05 season over the next month.  Albertson will play seven consecutive games away from Caldwell – with the first five games against opponents at least one classification higher than the NAIA Division II.  Why not play the best of the group first, as the ‘Yotes meet Weber State in the Dee Events Center on Tuesday.  The Wildcats (1-0), an NCAA Division I club from the Big Sky Conference, are one year removed from an NCAA Tournament berth.  Joe Cravens club is led by post Lance Allred (11.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg), one of two starters back from last years 16-15 club.  WSU defeated Albertson 79-49 last season in Ogden, evening the all-time series between the schools at 2-2 – dating back to 1951.  Wednesday night will be a rematch of sorts, as the ‘Yotes take on Westminster, just four days after the heated GRSO title game.  The No. 17 ranked Griffins (6-3) showed why they are one of the teams to beat in the Frontier Conference – playing tough defense and having the uncanny ability to knock down the three-point shot.  Shane Humpherys (17.2 ppg) and Jared Ruiz (13.2 ppg) will have to have good nights against the Coyotes, who took a 12-11 series edge with the win on Saturday.  After spending Thanksgiving Day in Salt Lake City, the ‘Yotes will face their 125th different opponent since the 1950-51 season, meeting Adams State for the first time.  The Grizzlies (0-1) are an NCAA Division II team from the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, out of Alamosa, Colo.  ASU opened the season with a 72-67 loss at home to Eastern New Mexico on Saturday night.  The Grizzlies are led by 6-8, 240 pound forward David Mitchell (17 points, eight rebounds on Saturday), the lone starter back from last season’s 17-9 club.

 

MORE INFORMATION ON THE COYOTES: For game stories, statistics, and information regarding the Albertson men’s basketball program, head to the official site Coyote Basketball: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm.

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (2-4): Albertson blasts former coach, to host Caldwell Best Western Inn and Suites Lady ‘Yote Classic

 

LAST WEEK: vs. Concordia-Irvine (W 71-47)

 

COMING UP: host 6th-Annual Caldwell Best Western Inn and Suites Lady ‘Yote Classic – vs. No. 6 Dominican, Friday, 7 p.m.; vs. Westminster, Saturday, 4 p.m.

 

RADIO AND INTERNET: All nine women’s CCC road games will be broadcast live this season on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the action.  In addition, all home games (along with the nine CCC road tilts) will be broadcast live on the internet, courtesy of the Albertson Athetic Website, with students Jordan Komoto and Jake McClean calling the play-by-play.

 

CORMAN WELCOMED BACK RUDELY: Last Thursday, Albertson College welcomed back the basketball coach that built Lady ‘Yote hoops into a national power.  His former squad then reminded him of what his old Albertson teams do to opponents in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  Todd Corman, in his first year at Concordia-Irvine, had to watch as the Coyotes used a 19-2 second half run to defeat his Eagles, 71-47.  Albertson got a huge game from senior post, Kasey Hooter (Nampa, Idaho / Walla Walla CC), scoring 20 points and securing 13 rebounds in the rout.  It was the fifth double-double in six games for Hooter.  Kim Strunk (Twin Falls, Idaho / Twin Falls HS) added 17 points in the victory.

 

GAME OF RUNS: The win was a testament of momentum swings.  Albertson jumped out early, taking a 25-10 lead just eight minutes into the contest.  However, after Concordia switched to a zone defense, the Eagles rallied back, cutting the margin to 29-28 at the break.  The ‘Yotes would do the same in the second half, switching to a zone that would limit Concordia to just two field goals over the final ten minutes of the game – leading to the 24-point margin of victory.

 

LEADING THE NATION: Kasey Hooter has been a dominant force on the glass thus far this season – as she currently leads the NAIA Division II with 75 rebounds and a 12.5 board per game average.  Hooter has recorded double-doubles in five of the six games this season – while averaging a team-high 16.8 points per game.  She also is among the nation’s leaders in field goal percentage, having made 47-of-73 shots this season, for a .595 percent clip.

 

COYOTES TO HOST TOURNAMENT: After a one-year hiatus, the Albertson women’s basketball team will once again host a Thanksgiving weekend tournament.  The sixth-annual Best Western Caldwell Inn and Suites Lady ‘Yote Classic welcomes a pair of 2004 NAIA Division II national tournament teams, along with an up-tempo NAIA Division I squad. 

 

HISTORY OF THE LADY ‘YOTE: The tournament was known as the Ste. Chapelle Lady ‘Yote Classic during its first two years (1996 and 1997), before the Caldwell hotel took over as the title sponsor during the 2000 season.  Last year, the tournament was not held, due to scheduling conflicts with potential teams coming to town.  In all, 11 teams have made the trip over Thanksgiving to the Treasure Valley, with Albertson holding a 8-2 record in tournament games. 

 

FORMER CHAMPIONS: In 19967, Montana-Western dominated the Coyotes in the title game, taking home a 62-34 victory.  Albertson would then take command of the tournament, winning three consecutive titles – a 73-51 win over Pacific Lutheran during the 1997 season, an 86-70 win over Great Falls during the 2000 season, and a 74-63 victory over Great Falls during the 2001 season (title shared with Eastern Oregon).  In 2002 the streak was broken, as George Fox topped the ‘Yotes, 71-58, to take home the championship.

 

NOTE TOURNAMENT TIMES: Friday’s schedule has Westminster meeting Eastern Oregon at 5 p.m., with the Albertson-Dominican game to follow.  Saturday’s schedule has Eastern meeting Dominican at 2 p.m., with the Albertson-Westminster game to follow.

 

A LOOK AT THE OTHER TEAMS: Albertson opens up tournament play on Friday against Dominican University, from San Rafael, Calif.  The Penguins (3-0), ranked No. 6 in the NAIA Division II preseason poll, advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in last season’s national tournament.  DU is led by two-time All-California Pacific Conference selection Katie Christensen and Cal-Pac Newcomer of the Year, Catherine Gravelle.  The meeting will be the first for the ‘Yotes against the Penguins, but Albertson is a perfect 8-0 against teams from the Cal-Pac.  The Lady ‘Yotes will have a rematch with Westminster in Saturday’s 4 p.m. matinee – as Albertson upset the Griffins 79-70 in Salt Lake two weeks ago.  The loss has hurt Westminster (2-5), setting them into a four-game losing streak – including losses to Point Loma Nazarene, Cal Baptist, and Azusa Pacific.  The Griffins are led by post Shalee Fackrell, who is averaging a lofty 28 points per game – including 35 points in the loss to Albertson.  The Lady ‘Yotes hold a 4-2 all-time edge in the series.  Rounding out the tournament is Eastern Oregon, who opened the season with a rout of Bethany (91-58), but dropped a tough 83-79 decision to Concordia-Irvine on Saturday night.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LADY ‘YOTES: For up-to-date statistics, stories, and information about the Albertson women’s basketball team, head to the official website for the Lady ‘Yotes – www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm.  For updated scores and standings from the Cascade Conference women’s basketball season, head to www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wbasketball/stats/standings.htm.

 

CROSS COUNTRY: ‘Yotes end season with solid performances at NAIA Championships

 

LAST WEEK: individuals at NAIA National Championships

 

COMING UP: Indoor Track and Field season

 

‘YOTES MUD IT AT NATIONALS: Training for the conditions that the Albertson College cross country team saw at the NAIA Championships in Louisville, Ky. last weekend would have been at a local dairy farm.  The quagmire that was Tom Sawyer State Park after two days of constant rains hampered the course and the 515 runners competing.  According to head coach Pat McCurry, the conditions were as tough as he has seen in his days as a competitive runner.

 

MEN’S RACE: The mud hurt the chances of top Albertson hopeful, David Flueckiger (Herisou, Switzerland / Va. Commonwealh U.), who is more conducive to running on a track.  The sophomore persevered, however, finishing in the top-100 – settling for 94th-place out of 259 runners.  Joining him on the course was true freshman Tyler Hopper (Caldwell, Idaho / Caldwell HS), who placed 200th – but was happy about finishing ahead of the other three NAIA Region I at-large runners (two from LC-State and one from Evergreen), something he hadn’t done all season.

 

FINAL MEN’S RESULTS: Virginia Intermont took home the team title, while three Region I teams finished in the Top-10 (Simon Fraser in fourth, British Columbia in sixth, and Eastern Oregon in seventh).  The top Cascade Conference individual, Eric Griffiths of Eastern, finished sixth in the 259 man field.

 

EDWARDS STRUGGLES AFTER POOR START: The first 1,000-meters of the women’s championship race did Coyote women’s All-Star Shannon Edwards (Sherwood, Ore. / Eastern Oregon U.) in.  After slip-sliding her way toward the back of the field, the junior paced hard to attack, rallying for a 112th-place finish in a field of 256 runners.  Disappointing to her was the fact that of the five at-large runners from the NAIA Region I, Edwards placed fourth.

 

FINAL WOMEN’S RESULTS: Once again, Simon Fraser dominated the women’s race, taking home their second-consecutive NAIA women’s championships.  British Columbia finished third, while Eastern Oregon (No. 16), Lewis-Clark State (No. 17) and Northwest (No. 20) all had good races.

 

ABOUT CROSS COUNTRY: Cross country is a bit different than most sports – similar to golf, where the lowest score is the best.  Teams compete in races, with the top-five times on a squad counting toward a team score.  The place a runner finishes in the race equals that many points (third-place is three points, 12th is 12 points), with the team with the fewest points (the squad with the highest finishers) winning the team event.

 

NEXT UP, TRACK AND FIELD: Cross country is not the only running sport that Albertson College will be competing in this year.  Over the winter, a select number of Coyote runners will race a limited indoor track and field schedule – considering the Jackson’s Track at the Idaho Center is one of the premier venues in the Northwest.  This spring, the ‘Yotes will compete in a full track and field schedule – with David Flueckiger one of the favorites to win the Cascade Conference 1,500-meter championship.

 

MORE INFORMATION: Updated information on the 2004 cross country team, including meet-by-meet results and top times, can be found on the Albertson cross country official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/xc.htm. 

 

SWIMMING: Coyotes show improvement, but lose dual meet with Seattle University

 

LAST WEEK: at Seattle University (Men lost 102-13, Women lost 94-10)

 

COMING UP: at Northwest Invitational, Tacoma, Wash. – December 3-4.

 

COYOTES FALL TO SEATTLE: Facing an NCAA Division II program that was a former NAIA powerhouse was a tough test for the first-year Albertson swimmers.  Knowing the going would be tough heading in, the ‘Yotes did not focus on the scoreboard in their dual with the Redhawks – instead trying to make improvement on their times from their first meet on Oct. 30 at Puget Sound.  Although Albertson swimmers did not defeat a Seattle swimmer on the afternoon, the Coyotes made strides in times – hoping to catch an elusive provisional qualifying time for the NAIA national meet.  

 

ABOUT THE COACH: A familiar face is the head coach of the Coyote swimmers.  Mike Shines is the first head coach of its new intercollegiate swim program, having served as the Director of Aquatics and swim instructor at the J.A. Albertson Aquatics Center on the Albertson campus for the last eight years. He has also served as the institution's strength coach for the past 12 seasons.

 

MEET RESULTS: Although the Albertson men lost 102-13, some marked improvement was noted.  Chris Sherman (Boise, Idaho / Centennial HS) had two solid swims, knocking off 12 seconds in the 200-free (2:11.12) and three seconds in the 100-fly (1:07.37).  Rory Newell (Laguna Beach, Calif. / Laguna Beach HS) improved four seconds in the 100-free (56.36), while Blake Bower (Boise, Idaho / Timberline HS) finished the 50-free in 24.32, less that two seconds off an NAIA qualifying time.  On the women’s side, all seven swimmers that competed in the 50-free swam faster than they did three weeks ago, with Sara Bates (East Wenatchee, Wash. / Eastmont HS) recording a 29.33.  Bates also had a solid swim in the 100-breast (1:25.63).

 

HOW SWIMMING SCORING WORKS: Outside of invitational meets (multiple teams), the Coyotes will compete in dual meets against Seattle University and Lewis & Clark College.  These short-course duals will have 13 events taking place.  Scoring for these events are based on how many lanes are utilized in an event.  If six-or-more lanes are used, relay finishes will receive 11-4-2 points (11 for first, 4 for second, 2 for third), with only the top-two relays from each team receiving points.  Individual races will receive 9-4-3-2-1 points, with the top three on each team scoring points.  If five-or-less lanes are used, the top relay receives seven points, while in individual races, first-place receives five points, second receives three, and third one (with only the top-two finishers on a team scoring).  At the end of the meet, the points are tallied, with the squad with the most points posting the win.

 

HOW THE ‘YOTES GET TO NATIONALS: For Albertson swimmers to qualify for the NAIA Championships, it is a bit different than most sports.  Prior to each season, the NAIA posts provisional times in each individual event or relay that competitors or teams must best to be eligible for nationals.  If a relay or individual passes that time, they are eligible to compete in the national meet.  To view the qualifying standards, go to http://www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/swim/standards.htm.

 

DOWN THE ROAD: December 4 and 5, the Coyotes will take aim at the Northwest Invitational, the oldest collegiate swim meet in the Northwest.  Albertson will compete against Pacific Lutheran, Puget Sound, Lewis & Clark, Pacific, Willamette, Whitman, and Whitworth in Parkland, Wash. during the two day event.

 

MORE ON THE COYOTE SWIM TEAM: For more information on the Albertson swim team, including meet results and top times, head to their official website at www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/swim.htm.

 

- ALBERTSON -