‘Yote Notes – February 11, 2002

(To subscribe to ‘Yote Notes, contact Mike Safford Jr. at(208) 459-5681 or at  msafford@albertson.edu)

 

 

PLAYOFF TICKET INFORMATION:

 

MEN: The Albertson men’s basketball team has qualified to host a Cascade Conference post-season tournament game on Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets for that game will go on sale beginning Monday, Feb. 18 at 10 a.m. in the sports information office, located upstairs in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  Tickets will be sold on Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Season ticket holders have until Tuesday night to purchase their seats, before seats are sold to the general public.  Ticket prices are $6 for reserved seats, $5 for general admission, and $3 for students / seniors.

 

WOMEN: The Albertson women’s basketball team may host an opening round post-season tournament game on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at 7 p.m. – however, it will be based upon the outcome of games this weekend.  If the Lady ‘Yotes do host a playoff game, tickets will be sold on Monday and Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the sports information office, located upstairs in the J.A. Albertson Activities Center.  Ticket prices are $5 for adults, $3 for students / seniors – all seating is general admission.

 

MEN’S BASKETBALL:   20-11, 10-7 in CCC

 

LAST WEEK: defeated Southern Oregon (103-82), defeated No. 17 Oregon Tech (97-77)

 

THIS WEEK: host Eastern Oregon, Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

 

YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE, WELCOME THE “RUNNIN’ ‘YOTES!”: During the radio post-game show on Feb. 2, head coach Mark Owen peered into the future, talking of a major change in the philosophy of the Albertson men’s basketball team after being swept on the road.  Relentless full-court pressure defense, run-and-gun offense, a guard laden line-up – something that would either jumpstart the Coyotes, or see them fall further in the Cascade Conference race.  After 49 forced turnovers, 200 points, and two wins, Owen’s philosophy was a success – as Albertson responded at home, stopping Southern Oregon and Oregon Tech – and moving back into fourth-place in the CCC standings.

 

THE BATTLE OF FORMER TOP-TEN TEAMS: Injures this season have decimated both Oregon Tech and Albertson, both who began the season in the NAIA Division II’s top-ten.  However, it was the pressure defense that forced 27 Hustlin’ Owl turnovers and a Coyote second-half explosion, as Albertson stopped OIT, 97-77.  Balanced scoring was the key for the ‘Yotes as six players scored in double figures.  Despite winning the battle on the boards (53-38) and tying a national record by making all 21 free throws, Oregon Tech was handed their worst loss of the season (they had lost 84-65 at Evergreen).

 

20 WIN SEASONS NOTHING NEW FOR ALBERTSON: With the win, the Coyotes clinched their fifth-consecutive 20-win season, the 15th such season in the past 21 years of Albertson College basketball.  The ‘Yotes have won at least 24 games in each of the past three years.

 

SOUTHERN CAN’T GO 3-FOR-3: After holding the ‘Yotes to an average of 63 points in two earlier wins over Albertson, Southern Oregon looked for the trifecta on Friday night.  The emotion from the two earlier defeats was released, as Albertson pummeled the Raiders, 103-82.  The Coyotes forced 22 turnovers and shot nearly 57-percent from the floor in the win, a win Southern head coach Brian McDermott did not see, as he was ejected with five minutes left in the contest.

 

PLAYOFF PICTURE: All eight spots in the Cascade Conference tournament have been filled, all that remains is the jockeying for position.  With two wins over the weekend, Albertson (according to my calculations) has clinched a first-round home playoff game in the tournament, set to begin Feb. 20.  The ‘Yotes hold a game and a half lead on Warner Pacific for fourth-place heading into the final week of the season.  If the two teams finished tied (Albertson would have to lose to last-place Eastern Oregon and Warner would have to stop Northwest and CCC champ Evergreen), Albertson would earn the home date, due to scoring more points on the complicated Sempert Scale (rating the quality of conference wins), the second tiebreaker following head-to-head meetings (which the teams split).

 

BALANCE THE KEY: A four guard line-up and quick substitutions has proven to be the remedy for the downward spiral the team was in a week ago.  Tennison Tripple (Pocatello, Idaho / Lane CC) and Jon Thomas (Nampa, Idaho / Gem State Academy) were inserted into the starting line-up, and both had a pair of great games this weekend.  Tripple led Albertson with 20 points in the win over Southern, and added 16 more against OIT.  The senior hit 7-of-10 treys over the weekend.  Thomas had ten points Friday and 13 more on Saturday in his first two collegiate starts.  The junior has scored in double-figures in his last four games, averaging 13 points a contest.

 

ROBERTSON EYEING EIGHTH: Scoring 38 points this weekend, Neal Robertson (Richland, Wash. / Columbia Basin CC) now sits just five points shy of moving into eighth-place on the all-time scoring list.  The senior, who tallied a game-high 25 points in the win over OIT, now has 1,055 points in his career, just short of the 1,059 scored by Rob Smith from 1995-99.

 

“THE BIGS” MAKE MOST OF THEIR TIME: With the new line-up, only one true big-man is on the floor at any given time.  For Eric Hare (San Miguel de Alleude, Mexico / West Valley College), Mike Homik (Hamilton, N.Z. / West Valley College), and Justin McCarthy (Boise, Idaho / Boise HS), it means less playing time.  Hare saw the bulk of the minutes in the paint, scoring 15 points with nine boards on Friday, and adding 11 points and seven rebounds on Saturday.  Over the past two weeks, the self-proclaimed “Aztec Warrior” has averaged 14 points and ten rebounds.  Homik logged just 29 minutes over the weekend, but played big in those limited moments.  The “Kiwi” went 9-of-12 from the floor, averaging 12 points and five boards in the two wins.  The odd-man out was McCarthy, who saw his playing time cut from 15 minutes a game down to four, but still recorded a bucket on each night and had three rebounds.

 

SENIOR NIGHT: Albertson will honor seven seniors on Saturday night in its regular-season finale against Eastern Oregon.  For Kris Cox (Provo, Utah / BYU-Idaho), Dave Webb (Boise, Idaho / Treasure Valley CC), Ty Shaw (Nampa, Idaho / Columbia Basin CC), Neal Robertson, Tennison Tripple, Mike Homik, the game culminates two years of excellence in the classroom and on the hardwood.  For reserve Devin Link (Grangeville, Idaho / Grangeville HS), the game means something more – the completion of four years in the Coyote basketball program.

 

MORE ON THE EASTERN GAME: The Mountaineers (5-18, 2-15) sit alone in the cellar of the Cascade Conference, having won just once in their past 16 games.  However, the Coyotes won’t look past Eastern, as Albertson struggled for 40 minutes in La Grande three weeks ago, before winning late, 71-67.  The road has been woeful for Art Furman’s club, as EOU is searching for its first road win of the season, having dropped all 11 prior contests away from Quinn Coliseum.  Trevor Exline (12.0) is the only Eastern player averaging in double-figures, as the Mountaineers are just 6-39 against Albertson since 1982.

 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Team - Scoring Average (81.9 3rd in CCC), Scoring Defense (76.9 – 7th), Field Goal Percentage (.457 - 6th), Three-Point Percentage (.368 – 4th), Free Throw Percentage (.763 – 1st), Rebounds (35.2 – 4th), Rebound Margin –2.8 – 9th), Turnovers (12.9 – 1st).  Individual: Scoring Average (Neal Robertson– 17.5), Field Goal Percentage (Mike Homik - .597), Three-Point Percentage (Tennison Tripple - .415), Free Throw Percentage (Tennison Tripple – .950), Rebound Average (Eric Hare – 7.1), Assists (Kris Cox - 98), Steals (Kris Cox - 48), Blocked Shots (Mike Homik - 36).

 

CONFERENCE STANDINGS:

 

 

Conference

 

Overall

TEAM

W

L

PCT

 

W

L

* Evergreen

15

1

.938

 

22

5

* Western Baptist

12

4

.750

 

23

6

* Oregon Tech

11

5

.688

 

21

8

* Albertson

10

7

.588

 

20

11

* Warner Pacific

8

8

.500

 

16

14

* Cascade

7

9

.438

 

16

14

* Southern Oregon

7

9

.438

 

11

15

* Concordia

6

10

.375

 

12

17

Northwest

3

13

.188

 

6

22

Eastern Oregon

2

15

.118

 

5

19

 

* Have Clinched Post-Season Berth

 

ON THE AIR AND INTERNET: 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.  Catch Saturday’s game and all playoff action on the ‘Home of the Coyotes.’  If you cannot find a radio or are outside of the KCID listening area, log on your computer to www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mbasketball/profiles/0102/AthleticsLive.asx to listen to the game live via the internet.

 

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/mensbasketball.

 

 

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:     17-9, 10-4 in CCC

 

LAST WEEK: defeated No. 23 Western Baptist (56-52), lost to Southern Oregon (83-72)

 

THIS WEEK: host Cascade, Friday, 7 p.m.; host Concordia, Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

 

HAZY PLAYOFF PICTURE, AT BEST: The five-team logjam at the top of the Cascade Conference standings will make this weekend’s games meaningful for all.  With the Lady ‘Yotes upset of Western Baptist, and loss at Southern Oregon, Albertson sits in a tie with Concordia for fourth-place, and a tie for the final home playoff berth in the six-team tournament.  To cut a long, tiebreaker story short, following the first tie-breaker (head-to-head meeting), the next criteria is record vs. CCC teams in descending order (Albertson is 0-2 vs. Eastern, 2-0 vs. Western Baptist, and 1-1 vs. Southern Oregon). 

BIG WIN AT WESTERN BAPTIST: Things were stacked against the Lady ‘Yotes last Thursday at Western Baptist – the Warriors had won 11 straight games, had not lost at home since last season, and found themselves ranked No. 23 in the NAIA Division II poll.  Did that matter to Albertson?  The Coyotes used a late 7-0 run to erase a Western lead with three minutes left, and upset the Warriors 56-52, finishing off a season sweep.  Both teams shot poorly on the night (around 30-percent), and the rebound battle was a deadlock, however, Albertson outscored WBC 20-12 at the foul line, which proved to be the difference.

 

FIRST HALF WOES AT SOUTHERN: Two nights later at Southern Oregon, Albertson ran into a first half rut they could not dig themselves out of.  The Coyotes hit just 6-of-28 shots in the opening half, falling behind 41-23 at the break.  Although they cut the lead to ten midway through the second half, they could not get closer, falling 83-72.  The win was the fifth-in-a-row for Southern, who moved into second-place in the CCC standings, with just one game remaining at Western Baptist.

 

HENRICHS INJURES HIP: Partway through Saturday’s game at Southern, forward Megan Henrichs (Preston, Idaho / Preston HS) sustained an injury to her hip flexor, an injury that limited the junior to a season-low 16 minutes of action.  Her availability for games with Cascade and Concordia this weekend is questionable.  Henrichs had ten points and six rebounds in the win over Western Baptist.

 

BAILEY ONCE AGAIN DOMINANT: A key in the Lady ‘Yotes win at Western and the comeback at Southern was post Kristen Bailey (Fountain Green, Utah / Snow CC), who once again showed the Cascade Conference that she is the most dominant player in the paint.  Bailey tallied 24 points and nine rebounds in the win at WBC, along with two free throws and a key basket during the Coyotes late surge to victory.  The junior scored 18 points and pulled down 15 rebounds in the loss to Southern, her tenth double-double of the season.  She leads the CCC in both rebounding (9.5) and blocked shots (70).

 

THOMPSON CLOSING IN ON RECORDS: Another solid weekend by Jeannie Thompson (Everett, Wash. / Everett HS) inches her closer to a pair of career school records.  The senior had 11 points and nine rebounds in the win at Western, including three free throws in the final minute to sew up the victory.  Thompson followed it up with a 22 point, ten board night at Southern, her ninth double-double of the year.  With two regular-season games, and at least one playoff game remaining, Thompson needs just 25 points to become the fourth Lady ‘Yote to eclipse the 1,000 point barrier.  She also needs just 13 rebounds to become the all-time leader in boards – which would be her fourth career record (games started, assists, steals).

 

WHAT THE WEEKEND MEANS: Two wins this weekend, and Albertson is assured at least a home playoff game – against whom, that’s to be determined.  The road begins Friday night against Cascade College, a team that has been struggling to say the least.  The Thunderbirds (3-23, 2-11) have dropped nine games in a row, including a 70-42 decision to Albertson last month in Portland.  Cascade ranks last in eight Cascade Conference team categories, and does not rank higher than sixth in any of the 19 statistical categories compiled by the league.  Transfer guard Amani Muhammad (12.5 ppg) has been the lone bright spot for the T-Birds, who have lost all three prior meetings to the Lady ‘Yotes.  It will be a ton tougher on Saturday, as Concordia hopes to spoil the first half of the “Senior Night” doubleheader.  The Cavaliers (18-9, 10-4) have been ranked as high as No. 19 in the national poll this year, and are riding a four-game win streak.  Concordia defeated Albertson in January, 69-64, forcing the Coyotes into 32 turnovers.  Post Amanda Tweedy (14.2 ppg, 9.0 rpg) and guard Niecee Madrigal (12.8 ppg) are both potential All-Conference players.

 

FINAL GAME FOR SENIORS: Saturday’s tilt with Concordia is also the final regular-season home game for the two Albertson seniors – Jeannie Thompson and Jan Marchiano (Martinez, Calif. / College Park HS).  Between the two, the seniors have played in a combined 195 games in a Lady ‘Yote uniform.

 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS: Team - Scoring Average (67.3 - 5th in CCC), Scoring Defense (60.7 – T-1st), Field Goal Percentage (.397 - 4th), Three-Point Percentage (.279 - 7th), Free Throw Percentage (.687 – T-3rd), Rebounds (46.0 - 1st), Rebound Margin (+6.9 - 1st), Blocked Shots (110 - 1st), Turnovers (20.6 – 3rd).  Individual: Scoring Average (Jeannie Thompson – 14.3), Field Goal Percentage (Kristen Bailey - .495), Three-Point Percentage (Heidi Goicoechea (Burley, Idaho / Burley HS) - .317), Free Throw Percentage (Krystal Thacker (Elko, Nev. / BYU-Idaho) - .756), Rebound Average (Kristen Bailey - 9.5), Assists (Three players tied - 48), Steals (Andra Peterson (Boise, Idaho / Borah HS), Jeannie Thompson - 36), Blocked Shots (Kristen Bailey - 70).

 

CONFERENCE STANDINGS:

 

 

Conference

 

Overall

TEAM

W

L

PCT

 

W

L

* Eastern Oregon

12

2

.857

 

19

3

* Southern Oregon

11

3

.786

 

15

9

* Western Baptist

11

4

.733

 

21

10

* Concordia

10

4

.714

 

18

9

* Albertson

10

4

.714

 

17

9

Northwest

4

10

.286

 

6

22

Cascade

2

11

.181

 

3

23

Evergreen

2

13

.133

 

4

25

Warner Pacific

1

12

.077

 

5

23

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Clinched Post-Season Tournament Berth

 

CATCH THE LADY ‘YOTES ON THE NET: Both women’s games this weekend will be broadcast live on the Albertson athletic website.  Albertson College freshman Jordan Komoto will handle the play-by-play duties on Friday night against Cascade, with Mike Safford Jr., the “Voice of the Coyotes,” bringing Saturday’s big match-up with Concordia to the internet at 5:25 p.m.  Albertson women’s basketball can be heard at http://www.collegeofidaho.edu/asx/womenBBall.asx.

 

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/wmensbasketball.htm

 

 

ALPINE SKIING: (Men – 2nd in NWCSC, Women – 3rd)

 

LAST WEEK: at Northwest Conference Qualifier #4, Schweitzer Mountain (Men – 4th and 6th place finishes, Women – 3rd and 3rd place finishes)

 

UP NEXT: week off, preparing for West Regional Championships, Bogus Basin, Feb. 21-23

 

A STRUGGLE IN THE PANHANDLE: Substandard racing conditions and the injury bug led to a not so pleasant weekend on the slopes for the Albertson ski team, as both squads failed to place in the top-two in both slalom events at Schweitzer Mountain.  Kira Marsh and Melodie Buell paced the Coyote women, who were more than 20 seconds behind front-running Whitman in the team event.  On the men’s side, things were worse – as head coach Ron Bonneau put it, “Today (Sunday) was one of the team’s worst outings in years.  There is definitely a lack of focus.”  Albertson finished fourth out of 12 teams on Saturday, and just sixth on Sunday.  Sam Elias was the only Albertson competitor to finish higher than 24th place on the weekend, finishing Saturday’s run in seventh, and finishing Sunday’s run in 15th.

 

OFF TO REGIONALS: Even though things are not going as planned, the Coyotes have qualified both their men’s and women’s teams to the Western Regional Championships, where the top 18 teams will vie for spots at the USCSA Championships in New Hampshire next month.  Albertson will host the regional event at Bogus Basin, giving the Coyotes a definite advantage on knowledge of the giant slalom and slalom courses.

 

SNOW REPORT: at Bogus Basin – no new snow, 60-61 inch base – perfect for racing

 

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/ski/default.htm

 

 

BASEBALL:    0-0

 

THIS WEEK: at Westmont, Friday, 3 p.m.; at Westmont, Saturday, 10 a.m.; vs. Occidental, Saturday, 1 p.m.; vs. Sonoma State (at La Verne), Sunday, Noon

A RETURN TO DOMINANCE?:A year after missing out on the NAIA College World Series for the first time since 1997, the Albertson College baseball program has rededicated itself with an attitude and competitive force to show the nation that they are a force to be reckoned with.  2001 may have been an off-year, so the critics said, but 2002 offers a “Return to Dominance.” Although in many senses, last season’s 43-18 record would be successful, five consecutive losses to Western Oregon put a damper on the parade of then first-year head coach Shawn Humberger.  A four-game mid-season sweep by the lame-duck Wolves (now a member of the NCAA Division II), and a 15-5 loss to the same squad in the Regional Championship, ended any hopes of a fourth trip to the CWS.  Despite losing two players to major league camps, another five starters to graduation, Albertson has reloaded with a fervor to rekindle the flame.

THE PITCHING STAFF: For Humberger, the first question to be answered will be the starting rotation.  NAIA All-American Jason Stefani was drafted by the L.A. Dodgers following the 2001 season, and both David Kuiper and Mike Kraemer have graduated.  In all, the trio started 35 of the ‘Yotes 61 games last year. The Coyotes return reliever Chris Rennaker (9-1, 3.60 ERA), who led the staff in wins last year, along with starter Chris Eggleston (7-3, 3.61 ERA) – two of five senior pitchers on the squad.  The others – Nick Williams (2-0, 3.30 ERA), Ben Frank (4-1, 3.92 ERA) and Eric Jensen (0-0, 6.33 ERA) – will be looked upon to give not only innings, but guidance to the youngsters on the club. “As far as pitching, losing three starters will be difficult,” said Humberger.  “However, Williams emerged at the end of last year and was one of our top-two pitchers down the stretch.  Rennaker and Eggleston were solid all year, and Frank was a big surprise for us.  We also will look for quality innings from Eric Jensen out of the pen.” Humberger is hoping for big things from redshirt sophomore Taylor Blair.  Blair, who missed all of 2001 with an elbow injury, teamed with the former ‘Yote Stefani in junior college, as perhaps the best 1-2 duo in California.  Others in the mix include true freshmen Andrew Hall and Matt Bergstrom, both who had impressive high school careers, and returner Chris Empio (1-2, 6.66 ERA). “Blair pitched well for us in Canada last summer and in Fall Ball and Empio got great experience as a freshman and has improved his velocity,” stated the second-year coach.  “What will be key is the development of Hall and Bergstrom – they will have to give us quality innings as the season goes on.”

THE DEFENSE: D.J. Eberlin (.250, 10 RBI) returns for his final stint as the Coyotes backstop.  Not noted for his bat, the senior was again the best defensive catcher in the Cascade Conference last season, throwing out nearly 50-percent of would-be base stealers – for the second consecutive season.  Freshman Aaron von Lindern and junior Jay Schwandt will back Eberlin up. Surrounding the deep pitching staff is an experienced infield, with three returners who earned All-Conference accolades last year.  Patrolling first base is senior Scott Freeman (.381, 8 HR, 51 RBI), who touts the highest batting average of any ‘Yote returner.  Shortstop Patrick Gonzalez (.338, 2 HR, 34 RBI) made a nice jump from the junior college ranks last year, while junior Darren Uranga (.326, 7 HR, 35 RBI) has started 112 games over the last two seasons, makes the move from third-base to second-base.  The Coyotes look for transfer Todd Howell to replace the shoes of All-American Casey Macomb – taking the call at third-base. “Eberlin is one of the finest defensive catchers in the Pacific Northwest, and above that, we have as good a middle infield as we have ever had,” said Humberger.  “I would put the two up against a lot of Division I middle infields.  Our biggest question mark is infield and catching depth.  We will be relying on freshmen to step up and push our starters.” The toughest shoes to fill, however, will be in the outfield, where two-time All-American Branden Florence roamed.  However, another fellow All-American in Scott Skeen (.368, 5 HR, 60 RBI) returns, along with transfers Cory Acklus and Dustin Garcia.  Acklus comes to Albertson from Division I Alabama-Birmingham, where he was a starter, while Garcia lights up the basepaths with his speed. “With Skeen, Acklus, and Garcia – we have speed and arm strength at all three outfield positions,” replied Humberger.  “We also moved Josh Orr (.311, 1 HR, 22 RBI) to the outfield as well – he had quality at bats last year – and the addition of local product Rob Reid gives us good depth in the outfield.  

ON HITTING: Although pitching is a strength for Albertson, the Coyotes will still have to put runs on the board to win, and Humberger knows they can.  “Offensively, we haven’t shown the power numbers like we have done in the past.  This team will not hit 100 home runs like other Coyote teams have, but we will swing the bat.  Garcia gives us a true lead-off hitter, and hopefully Jack Mitchell (.331, 8 HR, 58 RBI) will be back in his designated hitter role after having his season cut short last year.”

THE SCHEDULE: The 2002 schedule is as difficult as it gets in the NAIA.  The Coyotes have seven games scheduled with preseason No. 1 Lewis-Clark State, along with seven games with British Columbia, who tout one of the most sought-after players by major league teams.  Throw in games against Azusa Pacific, The Master’s, and a twinbill at NCAA Division I Utah – and it is safe to say the ‘Yotes will be tested come regionals. “We have very good depth in our rotation, and a pair of lefties in our pen,” Humberger said.  “With one, if not our best defensive team ever, a great defensive catcher, and speed in the outfield – we will compete in every game, no matter the competition.  I expect 2002 to be another great year for Coyote Baseball, in a long line of great teams that have taken the field for Albertson College.”

OFF TO SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: The annual exodus to California begins at the end of the week, as the Coyotes are slated to play five games in four days.  Albertson opens the 2002 season against Westmont College (1-5), with games scheduled for Friday and Saturday.  The Warriors struggled to a 16-28 record last year, and have had trouble with a young pitching staff (7.66 ERA) and the bats (.262 avg.) through their first six games.  The ‘Yotes nightcap on Saturday’s doubleheader is against Occidental (2-1), who has had to deal with the death of freshman shortstop Greg Davis, who was killed in an auto accident in January.  The NCAA Division III Tigers mustered only a 13-24 record in 2001.  Sunday, Sonoma State (10-3), the defending California Collegiate Athletic Association champions, meet the Coyotes.  The NCAA Division II Cossacks are one of the premier college baseball teams in the state.  In all, this week’s opponents for the ‘Yotes have a combined 22 games under their belt, prior to Albertson taking the diamond.

 

INTERNET BROADCASTS: Although no broadcasts are scheduled for California, it is the Albertson athletic department’s hope to have each home game at Simplot Stadium this season carried live on the internet.  Stay tuned to the Albertson athletic website for more information – with the home opener scheduled for March 10 against Whitworth.

 

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.collegeofidaho.edu/athlete/baseball.htm