2008 Woodie Awards
Exciting season comes to an end for men's UPS basketball
Joe Engler
Issue date: 3/2/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 1
The Loggers ended their season Feb. 21st in Portland, as they lost 66-60 in a hard fought basketball game against Lewis and Clark.
UPS started the game shooting "lights out" from beyond the arc, making 8 of 16 attempts. Led by Junior guards Taylor Marsh and Ryan Delong the Loggers headed into the half-time break leading 37-28.
With an amazing first half by UPS, the Pioneers began the second half with an uphill battle at hand. However, Lewis and Clark was able to step up their defensive intensity, holding the Loggers to a 28.1 shooting percentage throughout the second half.
Whatever the defensive switch implemented by the Pios, it seemed to stifle the usually potent UPS offense.
"We just weren't playing with the normal confidence that we usually have. We also missed a number of lay-ups. It just seemed that there was never that one play that got us rolling again after halftime," junior Jeff Walker said.
With the losing effort, the men's basketball team completed an outstanding season. Puget Sound was treated to several high energy home games that this writer, and the community at large, will probably not forget for many years to come.
The Loggers also managed to qualify once more for the NWC Conference Tournament, a feat achieved over the last four seasons in a row.
However, this year was a year of ups and downs for a fairly young team.
"Our biggest problem this year was that we were very inconsistent," Walker said. "I don't think that there is anything that we need to do differently as a team except maintain focus throughout the season, that way we won't have slip ups like we did against Whitman and Pacific."
When looking toward next year, Logger fans can anticipate a team that returns 16 players, four of whom are seniors.
"I think the new player who is going to make the biggest impact next year is Kevin Wright, who missed the entire season after breaking a bone in his foot on the second day of practice," Walker said.
Walker concluded by pointing to next season and taking aim for a return of the NWC crown.
"In the past I've taken some time off right after the season, but the way this year ended left a bad taste in my mouth. Personally, I never want to feel the way I did at the end of this season again, so I'm gonna do everything I can to not let that become a reality."
The men's team now has a chance to regroup and rest heading into mid-terms and spring break. But the practice and preparation for next season begins individually this week and will continue until tip-off next year sometime first semester.
• Sam Kussin-Shoptaw also has a bad taste in his mouth, but it is from a triple-dog dare.
UPS started the game shooting "lights out" from beyond the arc, making 8 of 16 attempts. Led by Junior guards Taylor Marsh and Ryan Delong the Loggers headed into the half-time break leading 37-28.
With an amazing first half by UPS, the Pioneers began the second half with an uphill battle at hand. However, Lewis and Clark was able to step up their defensive intensity, holding the Loggers to a 28.1 shooting percentage throughout the second half.
Whatever the defensive switch implemented by the Pios, it seemed to stifle the usually potent UPS offense.
"We just weren't playing with the normal confidence that we usually have. We also missed a number of lay-ups. It just seemed that there was never that one play that got us rolling again after halftime," junior Jeff Walker said.
With the losing effort, the men's basketball team completed an outstanding season. Puget Sound was treated to several high energy home games that this writer, and the community at large, will probably not forget for many years to come.
The Loggers also managed to qualify once more for the NWC Conference Tournament, a feat achieved over the last four seasons in a row.
However, this year was a year of ups and downs for a fairly young team.
"Our biggest problem this year was that we were very inconsistent," Walker said. "I don't think that there is anything that we need to do differently as a team except maintain focus throughout the season, that way we won't have slip ups like we did against Whitman and Pacific."
When looking toward next year, Logger fans can anticipate a team that returns 16 players, four of whom are seniors.
"I think the new player who is going to make the biggest impact next year is Kevin Wright, who missed the entire season after breaking a bone in his foot on the second day of practice," Walker said.
Walker concluded by pointing to next season and taking aim for a return of the NWC crown.
"In the past I've taken some time off right after the season, but the way this year ended left a bad taste in my mouth. Personally, I never want to feel the way I did at the end of this season again, so I'm gonna do everything I can to not let that become a reality."
The men's team now has a chance to regroup and rest heading into mid-terms and spring break. But the practice and preparation for next season begins individually this week and will continue until tip-off next year sometime first semester.
• Sam Kussin-Shoptaw also has a bad taste in his mouth, but it is from a triple-dog dare.
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