‘Yote Notes – November 26, 2001
(To subscribe to this newsletter, email Mike Safford Jr. at msafford@albertson.edu)
GENERAL NEWS:
NEXT BOOSTER CLUB MEETING: The next CAA Dinner is scheduled for next Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. It will be held in the Hendren Room of the Simplot Dining Hall, the same building the previous meeting was held. It will once again be a dinner meeting ($8.00 at the door), with an opportunity to talk with head coaches Mark Owen and Reagan Rossi.
SOCCER SCHOLAR-ATHLETES: Four Albertson soccer players have earned NAIA All-American Scholar-Athlete awards for the 2001 season. Both seniors Brian Davies (3.54 in Spanish, from Waitsfield, Vt.) and Ineke Wanders (3.69 in Politics, from Caldwell) earned their second Scholar-Athlete award. Juniors Kristi Dalsoglio (3.73 in Education, from Boise) and Coe Michaelson (3.75 in Spanish, from East Wenatchee, Wash.) earned their first honor. Last season, 25 Albertson student-athletes earned NAIA Scholar-Athlete awards.
BASKETBALL SEASON TICKETS: A special thanks goes out to the over 600 Coyote fans that purchased basketball season tickets over the past two months, including 45 first-time ticket holders.
THIS WEEK: at Bud Presley Classic, hosted by Menlo College – vs. La Verne, Friday, 9:00 MST, vs. Menlo or Southern Oregon, Saturday, 7 or 9 p.m. MST
LAST WEEK: defeated Pro-Hoops Australia (86-84), defeated Cal-State Stanislaus (87-72), defeated Northwest Nazarene (99-86)
‘YOTES OFF TO BEST START SINCE TITLE TEAM: By extending its winning streak to four games last week, the men’s basketball team is off to its best start since the 1995-96 season. That season, the ‘Yotes opened the season by winning its first eight games, and 11 of the first 12. The squad capped the season with a 31-3 record and won the NAIA Division II national championship.
NOVEMBER “REIGN” ON OPPONENTS: The nine wins in the month of November are the most any Albertson team has recorded in the opening month in school history. During the 1999-2000, and 2000-01 seasons, the ‘Yotes won seven early games. With a win Friday against La Verne, the squad could post their tenth November win – a record that may never be equaled.
SHAW TO HAVE SURGERY: The official word from the doctors was not good news – All-American Ty Shaw (Nampa) has a torn ACL in his right knee. The senior is scheduled to have surgery on the knee later this week, with hopes of a full recovery. The chances of Shaw returning to action late in the season, however, are slim.
“ONE NIGHT ONLY”: Saturday’s Canyon County Showdown was a festive occasion for all 2,800 fans in attendance, and a happy night for Albertson fans. The ‘Yotes dominated their neighbors to the east from the outset, grabbing a 29-9 lead just eight minutes into the game. Despite a pair of spirited Northwest Nazarene rallies, the ‘Saders could not get closer than seven. Kris Cox (Provo, Utah) led six Albertson players in double-figures with 17 points, with Tennison Tripple (Pocatello) adding 15 points – improving to 21-for-21 from the line on the season.
THOMAS “EN FUEGO”: Nampa native Jon Thomas (Nampa) had the shooters bug last week, recording back-to-back career highs against CSU-Stanislaus (14 points) and Northwest Nazarene (16 points). The junior hit 10-of-14 shots from the field, including 7-of-9 from three-point range, and all three of his foul shots.
BIG MEN CHALLENGED AND RESPOND: With Ty Shaw out for the season, head coach Mark Owen challenged Mike Homik (Hamilton, N.Z.), Eric Hare (San Miguel de Alleude, Mexico), and Justin McCarthy (Boise) to step up to the plate inside. And boy, did they ever. Homik (14 points, nine rebounds vs. NNU, 11 points, nine rebounds vs. CSUS) and Hare (13-8 vs NNU, 19-12 vs. CSUS) had huge games against both NCAA Division II schools last week, playing against tall, athletic posts from both teams. McCarthy was a spark off the bench late in the CSU-Stanislaus game, dishing out two key assists in the final five minutes.
LOOKING FOR SUN IN CALIFORNIA: After a nice two week respite from the luggage carts, the Coyotes return to the road this week, traveling to Northern California for the Bud Presley Classic, hosted by Menlo College. Albertson, who won the tournament last season, will face the University of La Verne (2-1) in the opening round. The ‘Yotes will meet either the host school, or Southern Oregon on Saturday.
CONFERENCE STANDINGS: Eastern Oregon (1-0), Albertson (9-1), Western Baptist (7-1), Warner Pacific (6-2), Oregon Tech (5-2), Southern Oregon (3-1), Cascade (5-4), Northwest (3-3), Evergreen (2-3), Concordia (2-4).
ON THE AIR: All 32 Albertson regular-season games will be broadcast live on 1490-AM KCID. Mike Safford Jr. will call the play-by-play, beginning 15-minutes prior to tip-off. Friday’s game vs. La Verne is scheduled to tip-off at 9:00 p.m. MST, with Saturday’s game to be played at either 7 or 9 p.m. MST.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm
THIS WEEK: host Lewis-Clark State, Tuesday, 7 p.m.; at Great Falls Classic – vs. Great Falls, Friday, 6 p.m.; vs. Westminster, Saturday, 6 p.m.
LAST WEEK: lost at University of Utah (93-45), defeated Whitman (60-49), defeated Great Falls (74-63)
CASCADE CONFERENCE RULES CLASSIC: The Cascade Conference flexed its biceps last weekend at the Best Inn and Suites Lady ‘Yote Classic, as both Eastern Oregon and the Lady ‘Yotes won both of their match-ups with Great Falls and Whitman. With the wins, Albertson improves to 4-0 in the Thanksgiving weekend tournament that began in 2000.
HOW TO SPELL CONSISTENT – HENRICHS: In Albertson’s three games last week, junior Megan Henrichs (Preston) was a consistent force in each game. Against the University of Utah – which might be the best team the Lady ‘Yotes program has ever faced – Henrichs led the way with 16 points and seven rebounds. For the week, she hit 17-of-28 shots from the field, including three treys, averaging 14 points and six rebounds.
THOMPSON ADJUSTING WELL TO NEW ROLE: The past three years, Jeannie Thompson (Everett, Wash.) looked to pass first, then shoot. With her four running-mates from last season gone, she now has the opportunity to look for the basket. In the tournament last weekend, the senior recorded back-to-back double-doubles, scoring 19 points and a career high 16 rebounds vs. Whitman, and adding 16 points and 12 rebounds vs. Great Falls. Thompson was the only Albertson player named to the All-Tournament team.
ORGANIZED CHAOS: The preceding term may be a good way to describe the Coyotes play during the tournament last weekend. Despite the two wins, Albertson struggled with turnovers for 40 minutes in each game – 32 turnovers against Great Falls, 29 turnovers against Whitman.
QUEEN OF THE SWAT: It may be early in the season, but it is safe to say that transfer Kristen Bailey (Fountain Green, Utah) is well on her way to shattering the blocked shots record. The junior has recorded at least two blocks in 5-of-6 games this season, and leads the Cascade Conference in the category (2.2 per game).
LAST HOME GAME OF 2001: It is hard to imagine, but yes, Tuesday’s tilt with Lewis-Clark State is the final women’s basketball home game of 2001. The match-up with the sixth-ranked Warriors (5-2) will be the final time fans can catch the Lady ‘Yotes in the Activities Center until Cascade Conference play opens up on January 4.
ON THE ROAD: Albertson begins a month-long, eight game road trip on Friday at the University of Great Falls Classic. Head coach Reagan Rossi was dealt a trump card this week, learning that she will be facing host Great Falls in the opener, instead of Montana State-Northern, as originally scheduled. The Lady ‘Yotes will meet Westminster on Saturday. Albertson will travel to five states (Washington, Oregon, Montana, Utah, and California) as part of the trek.
CASCADE CONFERENCE STANDINGS: Albertson (4-2), Eastern Oregon (3-1), Concordia (3-3), Western Baptist (3-3), Southern Oregon (2-2), Northwest (2-4), Cascade (1-6), Warner Pacific (0-3), Evergreen (0-6)
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm