Athletics

With 2 weeks left in the regular season, The Raider Men’s Basketball team is on the uphill side of returning to the NWAACC championships for the 3rd straight season.  If the Raiders do qualify for the tournament, it will be the most successful run in the history of the program. 

The Raider Men enter tonight’s home contest against the Highline Thunderbirds, with a 7-4 league record (15-7 overall), sitting solidly in 4th place in the West, with a 2 1/2 game lead over South Puget Sound CC.  The Raiders trail 3rd place Lower Columbia by 1 game, and with 5 game left on the regular season schedule have a good opportunity to move up to the number 3 spot.  Pierce and LCC will face off on the final night of the season, February 25, in Longview, where the outcome could decide which team will go to NWAACC’s as the 3rd seed from the West.

The Raiders finished 2nd at the NWAACC Championships last season — the program’s third top three finish since 2005.  This year’s squad returns only 2 members from the 2011 team, and have been quick to mold into a playoff contender.  Sophomore guard Marquise Doss leads a balanced Raider attack, ranking among the conference leaders in steals and assists.  Red-shirt freshman transfer John Palmer leads the scoring attack from the point, averaging just over 13 points per game.  Palmer leads the team in free throw percentage at 88%, and in 3-point accuracy (42%).  Sophomore transfer Dan DeVries (Centralia CC) has been a huge addition in the paint averaging 11.3 points per game, and a team leading 5+ rebounds per game.  The rest of the Raiders starters and bench players have made a fairly quick transition to the defensive focused philosophy that has made Head Coach Bill Mendelson one of the most successful coaches in the NWAACC.

The Raiders remaining schedule puts them on the road for 3 of their final 5 games, and will be a great test of the tournament readiness.  Following tonight’s home game, the team hits the road Monday against SPSCC and again on Wednesday at Clark.  The team plays their final home  game of the season next Saturday for Sophomore Night against Green River.  The Raiders finish the season on that road at Lower Columbia.

Two weeks into the 2012 league season, the Raider Men’s Basketball team has proven to be better on the road, than they are at home.  Five games into the 16 West Region schedule, the Raiders own a 3-2 record (11-5 overall).  Their three wins have been earned away from the comfy confines of the HEC, while their 2 losses have come in front of the home crowd.

Coming off of an impressive 8-3 preseason, the Raiders opened league play on the road against Grays Harbor.  The Raiders had little trouble with the Chokers, posting a 83-59 victory.  Freshman standout John Palmer led the way with 22 points, on 9 of 12 (75%)shooting from the field.  Marquise Doss added 12 points and a team high 7 rebounds, with Chris Hyslop and Brett Skogstad chipping in with 10 points apiece.  Hyslop also grabbed 7 boards.

The Raiders home opener brought crosstown rival Tacoma CC to the HEC.  Before a record crowd, estimated at 650, the Raiders suffered a 79-62 loss at the hands of the 6th ranked Titans.  The Raiders struggled to score during two stretches, one in each half, and weren’t able to overcome a talented Titans squad.  John Palmer tallied 18 points to lead the Raiders, including going 7-7 from the line.  Dan DeVries and James Cooks added 8 points each in the losing effort.  Attendance set a record for the Raiders home court at the HEC, in it’s five year history.

On the road against the always pesky Centralia Trailblazers proved to be a good test for the Raiders, as Pierce pulled out a 67-64 win.  John Palmer once again led the way as the Raiders had a balanced offensive effort.   Palmer and Chris Hyslop tossed in 15 points apiece, with Patrick Cooks, Derek Porter, and Brett Skogstad chipping in with 8 points each.

A season best defensive effort against the always tough Highline Thunderbirds at the ThunderDome earned the Raiders an impressive 60-47, and their third win of the young season.  The Raiders held the T-Birds big man, 6′-10″ Nkosi Ali (averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds per game), to just 6 points and 6 boards.  Dan DeVries led Pierce with 19 points and 7 rebounds.  John Palmer added 15 points, and Colton Brown came off the bench to tally 10 points and grab a team high 9 rebounds.  Marquise Doss led the defense with 8 steals and hit the glass for 9 boards.

The Clippers from South Puget Sound came to town and left with a 73-72 win over the Raiders.  Pierce couldn’t find their rhthym for most of the game, and played from behind for much of the first half, training by 9 at the break.  Trailing by 1 with under a minute to play, John Palmer was fouled following a steal from SPS, and converted on both free throw attempts, giving the Raiders a 1-point lead with 31 seconds remaining.  The Clippers scored with 17 seconds to go to re-take the lead.  Colton Brown followed a missed 3-point attempt by Dan DeVries with 2 seconds, but couldn’t get the put-back shot to drop.  Palmer led the way with 17 points, 9 steals and 5 assists.  Marquise Doss led three other Raiders in double figures (15 points), with DeVries adding 14, and Brett Skogstad with 11.

The Raider Men’s team celebrated the end of their academic finals on the road in Eugene, Oregon, as they captured 4th place at the Dale Bates Invitational Tournament hosted by Lane Community College.  The Raiders dropped their opener against Southwest Oregon CC on Friday night, 103-95.  James Cooks led the Raiders with 22 points, on 53% shooting from the field, supported by Brett Skogstad’s 15 and Chris Hyslop’s 14.

The Raiders made easy work of the Linfield JV’s on Saturday, as they rebounded to their early season winning ways, posting an 83-46 victory.  Freshman center Derek Porter tallied team highs with 16 points and 7 rebounds.  Brett Skogstad chipped in with 14 points, with John Palmer and James Cooks each tossing in 12 points apiece.

On Sunday, the Raiders had their hands full with the Riverhawks from Umpqua CC, but managed to hang on for a 94-91 win, to secure the tournament’s 4th place trophy.  James Cooks led the way again, tossing in 23 points on 9 for 9 shooting from the field.  Brett Skogstad recorded his 3rd double figure game of the tournament, with 18 points.  John Palmer also scored 18 points, going 9 for 9 from the free throw line. 

The Raider’s 2-1 performance at the tournament improved their pre-season record to 6-2.  The team plays in the North Region Crossover Tournament this weekend, hosted by North Seattle CC, opening against Yakima Valley CC (5-2) at 4:00 p.m. on Friday.

Sophomore guard Marquis Doss, who led the Raiders to a 4th Place finish at this year’s Raiders Thanksgiving Invitational Tournament, was selected as a member of the All-Tournament Team for his outstanding efforts over the three days.  Doss averaged 10 points, 5 rebounds, and just over 5 assists per game for the tournament.  His 10 assists in the Raider’s opening night loss to Shoreline (110-108), was a single game tournament high.  Doss also went 11 for 11 from the free throw stripe over the 3 games.

The Bellevue Bulldogs and the Whatcom Orcas put up a great fight for 40 minutes Sunday afternoon, as the two North Region teams battled in the title game of the 8th Annual Raiders Thanksgiving Invitational Tournament.  In the end, the Bulldogs emerged victorious, beating the Orcas 85-77, and earning their 3rd tournament title in the tournament’s 8 years.  Tournament MVP Jonathan Humphrie led the way for BCC with 20  points and 8 rebounds.  Teammate and All-Tournament selection Keaton Hayenga added 13 points and also grabbed 8 boards.  Zach Stalin topped the Orcas with 20 points and All-Tournament selection Derek Dickerson tossed in 17 points, on 5 of 12 shooting from beyond the 3-point arc.

The Shoreline Dolphins earned 3rd place honors by topping the Clippers of South Puget Sound, 111-93.  Shoreline’s Jesse Vaughan set a tournament single-game scoring record by tallying 48 points, on 19 of 29 shooting from the field, and 9 of 11 from the line.  He also grabbed 11 rebounds and collected 7 steals.  Teammate Joe Bodman added 17 points and pulled down a tournament high 21 rebounds.  Vaughan earned All-Tournament honors by averaging 29 points over the Dolphin’s 3 games.  The Clippers were led by All-Tournament selection Anye Turner’s 27 points and 10 rebounds.

The host Pierce Raiders tangled in a defensive battle with the Linn-Benton Roadrunners, and pulled out a 57-55 win to capture 4th place in the tournament.  The Raiders Marquis Doss was selected to the All-Tournament team, following a solid 6 point, 7 rebounds, and 3 assist effort.  John Palmer and Derek Porter led the Raiders scoring efforts with 10 points apiece.

2011 Raiders Thanksgiving Invitational All-Tournament Team:  MVP – Jonathan Humphrie (Bellevue), Derek Dickerson (Whatcom), Marquis Doss (Pierce), Keaton Hayenga (Bellevue), Anye Turner (South Puget Sound), and Jesse Vaughan (Shoreline).

Final tournament bracket:  Turkey2011Bracket.112711

The second day of the 2011 Raiders Thanksgiving Invitational Tournament was filled with another great day of basketball, and set the stage for an all-North Region finale on Sunday.

In the day’s opener, Linn-Benton fought back from a 12 point halftime deficit to Columbia Basin to take a 69-58 win and stay alive to play another day.  The Roadrunners were led Brady Brent and Adam Hastings, each with 16 points for the game.

In the second consolation, loser-out game of the day, the host Pierce Raiders managed to take a decisive win over the Lane Titans, 92-76.  Patrick Cooks led 5 Raiders in double figures with a game-high 23 points, followed by Marquis Doss’s 15 points.  John Palmer chipped in 10 points, going 8-8 from the charity stripe.

In the first game of the winner’s bracket, Bellevue built an early lead against South Puget Sound, held off a second half surge by the Clippers, and pulled away at the end for a 103-83 win.  Keaton Hayenga had a tournament high 30 points while grabbing 9 rebounds, and Jonathan Humphrie added 29 points for the Bulldogs.

In the nightcap, the Whatcom Orcas and Shoreline Dolphins played a barn-burner, with the Orcas pulling it out at the end for a 118-109 victory.  Whatcom had 6 players in double figures, with three over 20 points for the contest — Evan Coulter had 26, Derek Dickerson added 22, and Zach Stalin chipped in with 20 points.

Sunday’s Day 3 match-ups look like this:

4th/6th place game at 11:00 a.m. – Linn-Benton vs Pierce

3rd/5th place game at 1:00 p.m. – South Puget Sound vs Shoreline

Championship game at 3:00 - Bellevue vs Whatcom

Here’s the updated bracket after Day 2 action:  Turkey2011Bracket.112611

The 8th Annual Raiders Thanksgiving Invitational Tournament saw all four visiting teams coming out on top, and advancing to the championship round games on Saturday.  In game 1 the Bellevue Bulldogs handed the Linn-Benton Roadrunners a 87-71 defeat.  Bellevue was led by Eric Turner’s 22 points, with Rex Nelson chipping in 17.  Kelly Christensen had 14 points for LBCC, supported by Josh Garlington’s 13 points and 12 rebounds.

In game 2, a very atheltic South Puget Sound squad took it to the Hawks of Columbia Basin CC, 90-66.  The Clipper’s Anye Turner had a monster game with 25 points, pulling down 16 rebounds, and blocking 3 shots.  Alexy Lagerberg added 20 points and 10 rebounds.  Eugene HeavyRunner led the Hawks with 13 points.

Game 3 Whatcom built a big early lead, and coasted to a 96-83 win over the Lane Titans.  The Orcas had a balanced attack, with 6 players in double figures, led by Pat Voeut’s 16 points.  Lane’s Tyler Coleman had a huge game with 28 points in the losing effort.

The final game of the day was by far the best, as the Shoreline Dolphins held off a frantic run by the host Raiders to pull out a thrilling 110-108 victory.  Trailing by as much as 16 points late in the first half, the Raiders fought back in the second half, re-taking the lead in the final minutes, 101-100.  James Cooks led the way for Pierce with 24 points, supported by John Palmer and Patrick Ling, each with 17 points.  Marquis Doss dished out a day-high 10 assists to go along with his 9 points.  The Dolphins’ KJ Hong topped all scorers with 28 points, shooting an amazing 7-8 from beyond the 3-point arc. 

The match-ups for Day 2 of the Tournament are as follows.  In the consolation round, Linn-Benton takes on Columbia Basin starting at 1:00 pm, and Lane plays the host Raiders at 3:00 p.m.  In the championship round, it will be Bellevue against South Puget Sound starting at 5:00 p.m., and at 7:00 p.m., defending tournament champions Whatcom will go against Shoreline.

Here is the updated tournament bracket:   Turkey2011Bracket.093011

If you can’t make it to the HEC for the day’s action, you can watch the games live at www.pierce.ctc.edu/raidertv