Sports – Page 67 – The Western Howl

By: Jamal Smith 
Sports Editor

This season has been full of trials and tribulations for the women’s basketball team. With an overall record of 4-22 and 3-15 in GNAC conference play, the Wolves’ season has been a tough one.

Western looked to bounce back after losing two of their last three games in the game against Central Washington University (CWU) on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, but inevitably fell short 46-61.

Freshman Kaylie Boschma (G) had six rebounds, two assists, and a steal to go with her game-high 16 points. Sophomore Sydney Azorr finished with nine points, two boards, two assists, and a steal.

CWU jumped out to an early 9-2 lead in the first quarter, but with the lights-out shooting from Boschma, the Wolves clawed their way back into the game, scoring eight consecutive points to take a 10-9 lead.

Western’s lead, however, was short lived, and the Wildcats stopped the Wolves from scoring for the remainder of the first quarter to take a 16-10 lead into the second period.

All the momentum now belonged to CWU; the Wolves couldn’t find the back of the net and the Wildcat’s shots kept falling resulting in a double digit lead which reached as high as a 19 point CWU advantage.

With the cards stacked against them, the Wolves came out of the break with a never-say-die attitude and began chipping away at the Wildcats’ lead. Boschma hit two jumpers to start the Wolves’ comeback and Azorr hit two big shots from distance to bring the Wolves within 7 points of CWU.

In the final quarter, Boschma sunk a layup to bring the score to 34-39 with 8:03 remaining in the game. Just when the pendulum had swung in the Wolves direction and it looked like Western could pull off the amazing comeback, the Wildcats started draining shots from beyond the arch.

CWU hit five three-pointers in the final minutes of the game to provide a cushion which the Wolves could not come back from.

Western finished the game shooting 17-of-44 for a shooting percentage of 38 percent.

The final game of the season is on Saturday, Feb. 27 against Seattle Pacific University. Come cheer on the Wolves for senior day. The tipoff is at 2 p.m. in the New P.E. Building.

The Western Howl

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From PAC to GNAC

By: Alvin Wilson 
Staff Writer

Alex Roth is a third-year business major and basketball player who came to Western for a second chance.

As a guard for the Wolves, Roth averages 10 points per game, with an average of 43 percent from the field, 44 percent from the three-point line, and 73 percent from the free throw line.

Roth started his college career playing basketball for Oregon State, but after contracting a rare nerve disease in his shoulder, he was forced to stop playing.

He decided to transfer to Western after being contacted by a coach who believed he could be useful to the Wolves.

“My main motivation for coming to Western was a second chance to play the game I love,” said Roth. “I was contacted by Coach Shaw with the opportunity to continue playing, so I thought I’d give it a shot here.”

He said his favorite thing about Western is its size and proximity to Salem, where his family lives.

“I love the size of the school and the fact that my friends and family can come to my games,” said Roth.

“So far the biggest difference between both schools is obviously the school size,” he continued. “On the court, though, the biggest difference is the size and speed between PAC-12 and GNAC players.”

Changing schools after two years can be a difficult transition for some to make, but Roth said it hasn’t been difficult for him, saying, “Overall, the transition has been very easy. My teammates, coaches and members of the Western Oregon community have welcomed me with open arms, and I thank everyone for that.”

Roth said his role for the Wolves is different largely because he was injured for two years at OSU, and there’s more opportunity for him to improve here.

“When it comes to my role on the team, I like Western much more due to the fact that at Oregon State I was injured for two years and not playing, but now I have a chance to compete and battle for a top 5 team in the country,” he said.

Roth is optimistic about the current season. Western is currently at the top GNAC and is also ranked No. 1 in Division II.

“We want to win every single day, and hopefully that ends with a national championship victory,” said Roth.

The Western Howl

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Wolves get devoured by Seawolves

By: Jamal Smith 
Sports Editor

Coming off a heartbreaking 61-62 loss on Thursday, Feb. 4 to the University of Alaska Fairbanks Seawolves, the women’s basketball team looked to climb up the GNAC standings with an upset over the No. 2 ranked University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) on Saturday, Feb. 6.

UAA had dominated the GNAC conference, coming into the game in first place with a record of 12-1. Western on the other hand, was positioned at the bottom of the GNAC, but a victory would have moved the Wolves up from the bottom spot.

Although the Wolves hung in there for the first half of the first quarter, the Seawolves built an early lead and crushed Western’s hopes of an upset, winning 77-42.

Senior Emily Howey (C) led the Wolves in scoring with eight points and had six rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 23 minutes of play. Senior Michelle Bromagem (G) had six points and junior Launia Davis (G) and freshman Kaylie Boschma (G) each scored five points.

From the opening tipoff, the Seawolves swarmed the Wolves on defense and showed why they belong at the top of the GNAC. UAA took the early lead but the Wolves hung in there, only trailing by five points or less with five minutes to play in the first quarter.

Western tried to keep pace with UAA but costly turnovers and the Seawolves stifling defense proved to be too much for the Wolves to handle and the score got out of hand.

The first half ended with UAA up 38-13. Western shot a dreadful 6-of-27 from the floor in the first half, including going 0-for-7 from distance.

In the second half, the Wolves’ shots started falling and they finished the second half shooting 9-of-23. Unfortunately, the Seawolves continued their red-hot shooting and increased their lead.

Western finished the game shooting 30 percent (15-for-50) from the floor.

The Achilles’ heel for the Wolves this season has been coughing up points from turnovers. This game was no different with the Seawolves scoring 26 points off of 22 Western Oregon turnovers. In contrast, the Wolves only scored two points off of 15 UAA turnovers.

Up next, the Wolves hit the road on Thursday, Feb. 18 to face Northwest Nazarene University. Western is looking for revenge against the Crusaders who edged the Wolves 63-51 last month. The next home game is on Thursday, Feb. 25 against Saint Martin’s University.

The Western Howl

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Snoozer Bowl 50

By: Jamal Smith 
Sports Editor

The Super Bowl is the epitome of an American tradition. In fact, there is nothing more American than the Super Bowl, with the exception of the fourth of July. What makes the Super Bowl so special is that the event transcends the sporting world and becomes a global phenomenon. That’s why it saddens me to say that Super Bowl 50 was a letdown.

According to Sports Illustrated, Super Bowl 50 raked in 111.9 million viewers to become the third most watched television event in U.S. history. Many people tune in just for the commercials and some for the half time show.

The big game had all the makings of must-see television. Two teams, the Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos, battled each other on the biggest stage in the world for the Vince Lombardi trophy.

My main problem with the game itself was the lack of offensive firepower from both teams. Some football fans appreciate defense, and there is a saying that defense win championships, but let’s get real, the game was downright boring.

Let me break down some of the game’s statistics. First, neither team was able to score a touchdown through the air. There were no spectacular plays (except for a 61-yard punt return), and there were no moments that made you jump out of your seat.

Of course Broncos fans were ecstatic over their 24-10 victory, but for the fans that just wanted a good game, it had to be disappointing. The game was never close, there was no drama, there was no excitement; Super Bowl 50 just fizzed out.

Part of what made the game so disappointing was the low score. The 34 combined points in this year’s Super Bowl was the lowest since the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots 17-14 in 2008. In fact, according to ESPN, there were only two other Super Bowls in the past 40 years with a lower combined score.

Maybe I had too high of expectations, but I can only sit through a game so long when all you see are three-and-outs. Near the end of the game and the Panthers down by two scores, the CBS announcers desperate to create drama said, “can the Panthers score two more times?” The answer was no.

I wasn’t the only person who thought the game was boring. Aspiring Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump posted this message on his official twitter account: “So far the Super Bowl is very boring – not nearly as exciting as politics – MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

For me, the highlight of the game wasn’t the game itself, but rather the Puppy-Monkey-Baby Mountain Dew commercial and Lady Gaga singing the National Anthem. That’s why I’m bitter.

The Western Howl

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Baseball has begun!

By: Jamal Smith 
Sports Editor

Baseball season is officially here.

With the new season comes high expectations placed upon the WOU men’s baseball team. On Thursday, Jan. 28 the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Baseball Coaches Preseason Poll projected the Wolves to finish in first place in the GNAC with the best chance of claiming the 2016 regular season title.

The high expectations for the new season can be traced to last season’s success. In 2015, Western finished the season with a 29-24 overall record and a GNAC record of 22-11, but most importantly, the Wolves came out victorious in the GNAC Baseball Conference Tournament and ended a 13 year conference title drought.

“It’s nice to get some recognition early in the season, but our guys know its preseason and its meaning less,” said head coach Kellen Walker. “[The team] understand the expectations when they sign up for it and that’s why they come here.”

“Our players want an opportunity to win the conference title and compete for a regional and hope to have an opportunity to get back to the College World Series,” added Walker.

Western began the new season in whirlwind fashion, playing their first five games in four days, starting on Thursday, Feb. 4 and finishing on Sunday. Feb. 7. The first four games were against Azusa Pacific University in which the Wolves split the matchup 2-2 (W 3-1, W 8-4, L 1-2, L 6-7).

Then on Sunday, thanks to a top of the ninth sacrifice fly from senior first baseman Nathan Etheridge, Western edged California State University of Dominguez Hills 7-6.

“We used the majority of our roster which is a credit to the depth of our team,” said Walker. “[The game] was a good early season test for us to go on the road and play five games in four days against two really quality teams and come back over five-hundred.”

The Wolves’ next game is on Saturday, Feb. 13 against the California State University of East Bay in Hayward, Calif. The first home game is on Saturday, March 12 against Saint Martin’s University.

The Western Howl

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Wolves pounce on Falcons in overtime

By: Jamal Smith 
Sports Editor

The Western Oregon men’s basketball team has fought hard against adversity all season long, and the 84-82 overtime victory over No. 19 Seattle Pacific University (SPU) on Saturday, Feb. 6 was a testament to the Wolves’ season-long success.

In the Wolves’ first meeting against the Falcons in early January, SPU chipped away at Western’s double digit lead in the final minutes to push the game into overtime but the Wolves eventually overpowered the Falcons for the win. This time, it was Western who came back from a 14 point deficit to take the game into extra time, and the Wolves again found themselves victorious.

Redshirt senior Andy Avgi (F), the second leading scorer in the GNAC, had a game-high of 29 points on 10-for-15 shooting from the floor. Avgi was lights out from beyond the arch, shooting 5-for-7 from distance.

The Wolves had three other players hit the double digit mark in scoring. Senior Jordan Wiley (G) had 17 points, redshirt sophomore Tanner Omlid (G/F) had 16 points, and senior Julian Nichols (G) filled out the stat sheet with 10 points, four rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and a steal.

On their home court, Western jumped out to an early 19-12 lead on consecutive three-pointers from redshirt sophomore Alex Roth (G) and Avgi. But after the Wolves missed a few shots and the Falcons went on a scoring run, the point advantage switched to SPU.

SPU increased their lead late in the first half by hitting the long ball, shooting 7-for-10 from beyond the three-point line to take a 49-35 lead into half time.

In the second half, Western came out determined to get within striking distance. WOU forward Omlid scored seven points in the opening minutes of the second half on a 9-4 opening rally which brought the score to 44-51.

The Wolves spent the rest of the half chipping away at SPU’s lead, which the Falcons maintained all the way up until the end.

With less than one minute left to play, and the Falcons up 76-73, Avgi drained a clutch three-pointer to tie the score at 76-76 and sent the game to overtime.

In the five minute overtime period, Western put pressure on SPU by creating turnovers and never allowing the Falcons to take easy shots. Avgi, Wiley, Nichols, and Alexander all hit baskets in the overtime period to give the Wolves the 84-82 advantage.

The come-back victory improves the Wolves’ overall record to 20-2 and 13-1 in GNAC conference play. The overtime victory also brings the Wolves winning streak to a season-high 11 games.

On Wednesday, Feb. 9, it was announced that the Wolves moved into the No. 1 spot in Division II basketball. It is the first time in school history that Western has earned the top spot.

Up next, WOU hosts Simon Frasier University on Saturday, Feb. 13 in the armed forces and first responder appreciation night. Tipoff is at 7 p.m. in the New P.E. Building.

The Western Howl

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To tank or not to tank?

By: Jamal Smith 
Sports Editor

Before the start of the 2015-16 NBA season, most sports analysts thought that the Portland Trailblazers had no chance of making the playoffs. The Blazers dismantled last year’s team who had the talent to compete for a NBA Championship and decided to rebuild.

The heart and soul of last year’s team, LaMarcus Aldridge, decided to part ways with the organization in the offseason and sign with the San Antonio Spurs in his home state of Texas. As soon as it became clear that Aldridge was gone, Blazer’s general manager, Neil Olshey, cleared the deck with the team’s high paid veterans Nicolas Batum, Westley Mathews, and Robin Lopez.

After the massive turnover in free agency, the Blazers were left with their starting point guard, two-time NBA All-Star Damian Lillard, and a bunch of young unproven players with high potential.

So, almost everyone, including myself, expected the Blazers to be in the hunt for a coveted ping-pong ball: a lottery pick in the upcoming draft.

But now, the Trailblazers find themselves in a very precarious situation: with a record of 24-26, the Blazers are currently the eighth seed in the Western Conference and would make the playoffs if the season ended today.

I believe that making the playoffs would be disastrous for the organization, and I think it would be best to tank the rest of the season. Yes, I am suggesting that dirty t-word.

Of course, coaches and players do not want to tank, but rather the decision is made by the front office. Loosing for players threatens millions of dollars if players are set to sign new contracts, and for coaches, a losing season can be a quick ticket to the unemployment line.

Tanking in today’s NBA landscape is common. Smaller market teams, like Portland, have a real problem getting high profile free agents to sign contracts in the offseason. That means the only way for smaller market teams to get talented players is through trades or through the draft.

If Portland does end up making the playoffs in the eighth seed, they would most likely be playing the Golden State Warriors (44-4) in the first round of a seven-game playoff series. So, could the Blazers somehow pull off the biggest upset in NBA history? No. There’s a better chance of hell freezing over.

Looking at the rest of the Western Conference I find it highly improbable that the Blazers could come out victorious against any of the teams ahead of them in the standings, with the exception of Houston (No. 7) or Dallas (No. 6).

As a longtime Blazers fanatic I am sick and tired of my team making the playoffs only to be eliminated in the first round. Sacrificing the rest of the season would give the Blazer’s the best chance in improving their talent for the future by building through the draft. That’s how Portland got Aldridge, Lillard, Greg “Glass Bones” Oden, and Brandon Roy.

With more than half the season in the books, the Blazers have surpassed most sports analyzers’ expectations and my own. The players and coaches should be proud, but the Blazers front office should make the decision to pull the plug on the season.

In an offseason press conference, Olshey said that he and Paul Allen, the Trailblazers owner, were not worried about the next five minutes, but rather the next five years. If that’s truly the case then tanking is their best option.

Western Oregon University’s Land Acknowledgement
Western Oregon University in Monmouth, OR is located within the traditional homelands of the Luckiamute Band of Kalapuya. Following the Willamette Valley Treaty of 1855 (Kalapuya etc. Treaty), Kalapuya people were forcibly removed to reservations in Western Oregon. Today, living descendants of these people are a part of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Community of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians.

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Wolves fall short against Wildcats

From PAC to GNAC

Wolves get devoured by Seawolves

Snoozer Bowl 50

Baseball has begun!

Wolves pounce on Falcons in overtime

To tank or not to tank?

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