PLAYING TO GO ON
For the third straight season, the Loggers are postseason bound as they open up the 2008 NWC Tournament on Thursday at home against Willamette.
The Loggers vs. Lewis & Clark
In what nearly became a potential playoff match-up, the Lewis & Clark Pioneers defeated the Puget Sound Loggers, 87-67, in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Friday night at Memorial Fieldhouse in Tacoma, Wash.
In the first half, the Pioneers (15-8, 9-6 NWC) used 53.3% shooting from the field to take a 39-28 lead into the halftime break. The Loggers (17-6, 10-5 NWC) had the momentum towards the end of the second half, using an 11-3 run to end the period.
In the second half, the Pios continued to hold the Loggers at bay, never allowing them to get any closer than 11 points. Puget Sound was able to make 20-of-21 attempts from the charity stripe but the Loggers made just 30% of their attempts in the second half to take the loss.
The Loggers were led by 15 points from Weston Wood (Spokane, Wash./Riverside). Robert Krauel (Phoenix, Ariz./North Canyon) came off the bench to collect the double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds. Antwan Williams (Portland, Ore./Madison) chipped in 11 points in the losing effort.
Lewis & Clark was led by 23 points from Joey Toboni. Thomas Tillery added 20 while Josh Kallasch came off the bench to add 14. Gene Rivera led the way on defense with 12 rebounds. The Pioneers shot 53.3% from the field.
The Loggers vs. Willamette
In a double-overtime thriller with playoff implications on the line, the Puget Sound Loggers outlasted the Willamette Bearcats, 127-121 in double overtime, in a Northwest Conference men's basketball game on Saturday evening at Memorial Fieldhouse in Tacoma, Wash. With the win, the Loggers earn the second seed into the NWC Tournament.
In the first half, the Bearcats (11-14, 9-7 NWC) held a slight advantage over the Loggers (18-6, 11-5 NWC) for most of the period until a dunk by sophomore Austin Boyce (Kent, Wash./Kentwood) with five seconds left in the period gave Puget Sound a 47-46 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Loggers pushed the lead up to 14 with 12:18 remaining but Willamette clawed back, using a pair of free throws by Cameron Mitchell with 37 seconds remaining to tie the game up at 99-99. Following a missed jumper by Antwan Williams (Portland, Ore./Madison) with six ticks remaining, the teams headed into overtime.
In the first overtime, the Loggers built a four point lead before Willamette again tied things up and a jumper in the paint by Kyler McClary with two seconds remaining sent the teams into a second overtime tied at 113-113.
In the second overtime, the Loggers finally wore down the Bearcats, trailing for less than 20 seconds midway through as they used a pair of free throws by senior Taylor Marsh (Lynnwood, Wash./Meadowdale) to ice the 127-121 victory.
The Loggers were led by 24 from Marsh. Williams added 22 points to go with 12 assists while Weston Wood (Spokane, Wash./Riverside) chipped in 17. Jason Foster (Tacoma, Wash./Foss) and Boyce each chalked up 16 points in the win. The Loggers were 10-of-14 (71.4%) from the field in the overtime periods to collect the win.
Willamette was led by a game-high 36 points and 14 rebounds from Cameron Mitchell. Mike Smith added 29 while Robbie Kunke recorded 25 in the loss. The Bearcats went to the charity stripe 40 times on the night, making 27 of those attempts.
The Loggers will open up the 2008 NWC Tournament on Thursday night when they take on Willamette. Despite the loss, Willamette earned the tiebreaker over Lewis & Clark, Linfield and Pacific by virtue of their head-to-head record with those teams. The winner of Thursday's game will travel to Spokane on Saturday to take on Whitworth for the NWC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.
All-NWC Selections
After leading the Puget Sound Loggers to a second place finish in a competitive Northwest Conference, juniors Jason Foster (Tacoma, Wash./Foss) and Antwan Williams (Portland, Ore./Madison) were named to the First Team All-NWC.
For Foster, this marks the second straight season he has been named a First Team All-NWC selection after averaging 18.7 ppg for the Loggers. Williams, who was an Honorable Mention honoree last season, averaged 17.3 ppg for the Loggers while also averaging 5.71 assists per game and 2.96 steals per game.
Junior forward Robert Krauel (Phoenix, Ariz./North Canyon) was named Honorable Mention All-NWC after leading the Logger bench with 14.7 ppg and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Whitworth senior Ryan Symes was named NWC Player of the Year while the Pirates' Jim Hayford was named NWC Coach of the Year.
Statistically Speaking
The Loggers wrapped up the 2007-08 regular season on top of several statistical categories in the Northwest Conference. Puget Sound was tops in scoring offense (94.5 ppg), field goal percentage (.493), steals (12.88 spg), and turnover margin (+6.79). Individually, Antwan Williams led the NWC in steals per game at 2.96.
Nationally, the Loggers are third in scoring offense, seventh in steals per game and 21st in field goal percentage. Williams is 11th nationally in steals per game and 17th nationally in assists (5.7 apg)
Scouting Willamette
The Bearcats come hobbling a bit into the NWC playoffs but they are in the postseason nonetheless. Currently holding a record of 11-14 overall after finishing with a 9-7 record in NWC play, Willamette dropped their final two games of the regular season, falling 77-68 to Pacific before losing in overtime, 127-121, to Puget Sound. Klyer McClary paces the Willamette offense, averaging 17.3 ppg. Cameron Mitchell leads the way on defense, averaging 7.8 rebounds per contest.
The Coach
Justin Lunt enters his second season as head coach of the Logger men's basketball program. A graduate of Pacific Lutheran, Lunt is a native of San Diego, Calif. Heading into this weekend, Lunt now has a career record of 36-13, including 22-10 in the Northwest Conference.
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