‘Yotes Notes - December 10, 2001
(To subscribe to ‘Yotes Notes, email Mike Safford Jr. at msafford@albertson.edu or call (208) 459-5681)
GENERAL ATHLETIC NEWS:
THANKS FOR A GREAT GOLDEN RULE: A special thanks goes out to the more than 3,000 fans who attended the 15th Annual Duane Wolfe Memorial Golden Rule Shoot-Out last weekend. Also, kudos go out to the 71 sponsors who helped make the tournament a success, to the Wolfe family for putting on the event, and to Fine Host for their catering of the hospitality room.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: 6-3
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: No games played
THIS WEEK’S GAMES: at Warner Pacific, Friday, 8:30 p.m. (MST)
LADY ‘YOTES CANCEL TWO GAMES: Despite the way the media portrays collegiate athletes, those who take the court and field at Albertson College are definitely student-athletes. Head coach Reagan Rossi took that to heart with finals week coming up, as the squad cancelled a pair of road games in Walla Walla, Wash. Friday’s game with Whitman could not have taken place under any circumstances, as the Missionaries had only four healthy players. With icy roads and a long drive over the Blue Mountains, the Lady ‘Yotes were not going to make a trip to play just one game against a Walla Walla College team that lost 127-29 to Northwest Nazarene.
CONFERENCE PLAY BEGINS SATURDAY: With the 13-day layoff, Albertson can first focus on the numerous tests ahead, one of them Saturday’s Cascade Conference opener at Warner Pacific. The Knights (1-7) are led by first-year head coach Katy Steding, a current WNBA player. Things have been tough on Warner, managing to score more than 60 points in just two games. The two teams split a pair of games last year, with Warner taking a 73-63 decision in Portland, and the Coyotes winning 83-44 in Caldwell.
CASCADE CONFERENCE PREVIEW: From an outsiders view of the 2001-02 Cascade Conference, there is definitely two tiers to the league. On one side is Concordia (5-5), the preseason favorite, along with Albertson, Southern Oregon (3-3), Western Baptist (6-5), and an upstart Eastern Oregon (4-1) team. The bottom half of the conference has Northwest (2-10), Warner Pacific, Evergreen (1-10), and Cascade (1-11). The key for the teams in the upper echelon is to take care of business at home, beat the lower half on the road - then battle the other four teams.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm
MEN’S BASKETBALL: 10-4
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: Hosted 15th Annual Duane Wolfe Memorial Golden Rule Shoot-Out - defeated Lewis-Clark State (96-84), lost to Westminster (82-77 in overtime)
THIS WEEK’S GAMES: No games - next action vs. Concordia, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.
‘YOTES DROP GOLDEN RULE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Some streaks were on the line last Saturday as Albertson met Westminster College for the championship of the Golden Rule Shoot-Out. A third-straight win over the Griffins, a fourth-straight GRSO championship, a 7-0 record against the Frontier Conference, and a 14th-straight home win. However, the visitors from Salt Lake City ruined any celebratory plans, stopping the ’Yotes 82-77 in overtime to claim victory and take the winners’ trophy back to Utah. Albertson held a 67-64 lead with just two seconds left in regulation, but Brad Willden, who torched the Coyotes for 24 points, nailed a fade-away three-pointer with less than one tick on the clock to send the game to the extra session. In overtime, Westminster scored the first two baskets and were never headed. The loss ruined a nice performance by senior Mike Homik (Hamilton, N.Z.), who tied a career high with 26 points, but converted just 6-of-12 free throws.
HARE “EN FUEGO” VS. LC-STATE: Behind a breakout performance from junior transfer Eric Hare (San Miguel de Alleude, Mexico), Albertson defeated Lewis-Clark State, 96-84. Hare was 11-for-13 from the field, scoring 26 points. He was equally dominant on the boards, grabbing 18 rebounds - the highest Albertson total since Ty Shaw (Nampa) pulled down 20 boards vs. Evergreen last year.
UPDATE ON SHAW: Things look to go a little different than planned for senior Ty Shaw. Instead of knee surgery that had been scheduled for last week, the All-American is working with Albertson alum Kevin Halsey and the staff at Rehab Authority, trying to strengthen the remaining ligaments. A return to the court looks to occur possibly after the start of the new year, but Shaw hopes to be ready for next week’s conference opener.
OFF FOR FINALS WEEK: Albertson will take the entire week off and dedicate time to studies. The ‘Yotes will return to the court next Tuesday, opening Cascade Conference play at home against Concordia.
CONFERENCE STANDINGS: Western Baptist (11-1), Oregon Tech (8-3), Albertson (10-4), Cascade (8-5), Warner Pacific (7-4), Southern Oregon (4-3), Eastern Oregon (3-1), Evergreen (4-4), Concordia (4-6), Northwest (4-7)
ON THE AIR: All 32 regular season men’s basketball games can be heard live on 1490 KCID-AM with Mike Safford Jr. calling the play-by-play. A return to the internet for the broadcasts looms in the future, especially with the launch of a student-run internet radio station. Stay tuned for more information.
OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.htm