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Men's Basketball NewsCougars Star Brandon Troxel Commits to Western OregonMay 9, 2011
OREGON CITY, OR -- 6’6 Cougar post Brandon Troxel has verbally committed to Western Oregon University to play basketball next season. The announcement caps a two year stint at CCC where he was a part of a Southern Region championship, an NWAACC championship, and three other tournament championships.
Troxel was recognized this season as a member of honorable mention all Southern Region all-star team, the all Southern Region Sophomore all-star team, and the NWAACC All-Academic team. Troxel, a business major with a 3.5 GPA, helped his team to a 20-8 season mark, leading the squad in drawn charges, while averaging 10.7 points and 4.9 rebounds this season.
WOU is a Division 2 program that competes in the GNAC Conference. At Monmouth, Troxel is expected to step in and immediately contribute next season. Cougars star Max Jacobsen signs at Northern Arizona April 19, 2011
OREGON CITY, OR -- 6’7 Cougar star Max Jacobsen has officially accepted a scholarship to play basketball and continue his studies at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona. A 3.9 student who will study electrical engineering, he leaves after a sensational freshman season where he averaged 22 points, 8 rebounds, and shot 68% from the floor. Jacobsen was named the MVP of the Southern Region and led the team to the 2011 Southern Region Championship and a 20-8 season.
The former Lake Oswego High School star was a team mate of NBA player Kevin Love and played on a Laker team that finished 2nd at state, losing to a South Medford team that was led by Duke star Kyle Singler. At LOHS, Jacobsen was a part of three consecutive Three Rivers League championships, and he gathered enough attention to be signed to a D1 scholarship at Portland State University during his senior year.
“They did a great job recruiting him and I know they are excited about signing him,” said head coach Clif Wegner. “They get him for three seasons; he’s a great kid and a fabulous player, and then you toss in that he is an honor student and leader and team player. We wish we could keep him another year, but it’s absolute the right time for him to move on to a university. It’s a very good program that has been consistently in the top tier in their conference.”
Best of luck to Max in his career at Northern Arizona!
Alumni update: Kyle BracyMarch 24, 2011
A graduate of Milwaukie, Bracy played two seasons at CCC before transferring to Portland State University. At Clackamas, he was an all-Southern Region point guard who led the Cougars into post season NWAACC playoffs, beginning a streak of what has grown to 12 consecutive seasons of post season play. Cougars Relinquish NWAACC Trophy March 5-7, 2011
Clackamas, the two time defending NWAACC champions, were attempting to win 3 straight titles for the first time in modern history, but failed to get past the quarter finals.
For only the second time in the last 11 seasons, the Clackamas did not play for a trophy on the final day. “Very disappointing showing for us,” summed up head coach Clif Wegner. “It’s difficult to watch three teams we beat in the preseason walk away from the tournament with trophies. We should have represented and competed a little better. Obviously, we did not make as much progress as the other top NWAACC teams in January and February.”
The 2011 team highlights and achievements: 1. CCC shot over 50% from the field, only 1 of 68 NWAACC teams to accomplish that.
2. The Cougars also finished in the top 5 NWAACC men’s team in scoring and rebounding.
3. Clackamas captured a hotly contested Southern Region championship that featured a 4 way tie for second place. It was the school’s 9th region title since 1990, the 3rd region championship in 5 years.
4. They became the 11th 20-win Clackamas team since 2000.
5. They continued the CCC streak of being the only men’s team in the history of NWAACC basketball to qualify for every 16 team tournament, a streak going back to 2000.
6. In winning the CCC Holiday Tournament, they soundly defeated Yakima, Peninsula, and Tacoma on consecutive nights, three teams that placed 5th, 1st, and 4th at the 2011 NWAACC tournament.
7. They persevered through the most difficult preseason and region schedules, going 9-2 against the NWAACC tournament field teams . 8. Max Jacobsen became the 6th Cougar since 2001 to win the Southern Region MVP.
9 Coach Wegner and his staff were recognized with Southern Region Coach of the Year honors for the 5th time since 2001. Region champions drop league finale February 26, 2011
CCC shot 50% from the floor and dominated the rebounding, but also committed 18 turnovers. There was a statistically abnormal discrepancy in free throws that factored heavily in the final score. Linn Benton hit 20 of 27 free throws while Clackamas hit 5 of 7 for the game. CCC was whistled for 21 fouls while LBCC was whistled for 9 fouls for the game.
Max Jacobsen led the Cougars with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Paul Walter had 15 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Kirby Hawkins added 12 points.
Next game: Fifth-ranked Clackamas (11-3, 19-6) will play Clark College (9-7, 15-10) in the opening round of the 2011 NWAACC Tournament March 5-8 in Kennewick, WA. Game time is set for 6 pm [tournament website]. Cougars Roll over Lane 79-61 February 25, 2011
Troxel had 18 points and 8 rebounds and 2 assists. Hayes scored 3 and grabbed 5 rebounds. And Robbins hit 4 of 6 shots and all 5 free throws for 13 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 rebounds. Max Jacobsen gave the Titans fits inside all night long, hitting 10 of 15 shots and 6 of 8 free throws for 27 points to go with 12 rebounds and 2 assists. Paul Walter added 7 points and 3 rebounds. Kirby Hawkins added 7 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Josh Lokeno chipped in 2 points and 2 assists.
Jacobsen hit a trey to open the game and the Cougars never looked back, leading from start to finish. CCC dominated the rebounds by a 38-25 margin and committed just 1 turnover in the second half. The Cougars passed the ball very effectively and shot 57% from the floor and 74% from the free throw stripe.
The win improves fifth-ranked CCC's record to 11-2 in region and 19-5 overall [standings].
Next game: Clackamas will travel to Albany to take on the Linn Benton Roadrunners in the final Southern Region game of the season. Game time is 6 pm [schedule]. Troxel earns league academic honor February 21, 2011
“Between what he has gotten accomplished on the court and in his academics, he has put himself in a position to have a lot of good options after CCC,” added coach Clif Wegner. “We are proud of Brandon and his efforts. He’s always been a good leader that way and we have a lot of other good students in the program as well.”
Troxel was a member of last season’s NWAACC championship team and is a starting post and leader on this year’s Southern Region championship team.
Troxel is being recruited by a number of schools. “He’s had a lot of really good schools and programs at D2, NAIA, and D3 that would all be great places to study and play,” said coach Paul Fiskum. “He just will need to find the right fit.” Cougars clinch region title; Grab #1 SeedFebruary 19, 2011 GRESHAM, OR -- It was the most important win of the season for the fifth-ranked Cougar team, as CCC made the trip across town to take on Mt. Hood in a key Southern Region match up. The Saints had beaten CCC in the first round of league play, had won 7 of their last 8 games, and were widely considered the hottest team in the region coming into the contest.
But the Cougars came ready to compete, jumping out to an 8-0 lead and holding the lead the entire game to grind out an 83-79 win.
CCC's victory was marked by several key factors - strong performances from the bench, defensive intensity and offensive marksmanship. With both starting posts in foul trouble early in the first half, the CCC got great play out of posts Alex Loul, Jordan Barber, and Derrick Hayes. The trio combined for 22 points and 5 rebounds in the first half as CCC built its lead to 28-15 and took a 44-36 lead into the break. Clackamas also out hustled the Saints taking 21 steals and forcing 25 Mt. Hood turnovers while hitting 48% from the floor and 82% from the free throw stripe.
Nate Keilholtz paced the offensive onslaught, with 22 points on 7 of 10 field goals and 6 of 7 free throws. He also scrambled for 3 offensive rebounds and 3 steals. Hayes finished with 12 points, Barber chipped in 8 points, and Loul added 6 more counters. Kirby Hawkins nailed a pair of huge treys and finished with 11 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals. Max Jacobsen finished the night with 10 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals while Travis Robbins played another good floor game to finish with 6 points, 6 assists, and 4 steals.
Clackamas (10-2, 18-5) came into the game knowing that a win would clinch a spot at the NWAACC championship tournament. The Cougars took care of their own business, then got some help around the league, as Chemeketa and Lane both lost critical contests. When the dust settled on the evening and with only two games remaining on the schedule, CCC found itself with a two game lead and captured the region's #1 seed [standings].
CCC's South #1 seed will pit them against the #4 seed from the Western Region in the opening round of tournament play. The playoff berth marks the 11th consecutive time the Cougars have made the 16 team tournament field, the longest active men's string in the NWAACC (CCC's women's team has also earned its 11th straight playoff berth).
Next Game: The Cougars take on Lane at CCC in the final home game of 2011 on Friday, February 25 at 7:30 pm, then complete Southern Region play with a road game at Linn Benton 6 pm Saturday, February 26 [schedule]. Cougars Win Cat fight; Regain 1st February 16, 2011
It was a close ball game from beginning to end, with a couple dozen ties and lead changes. It was a hard fought game throughout, befitting the fact that the Panthers are fighting to stay it the hunt for a playoff spot, and the Cougars have their eyes on the league championship and the top seed for the region.
Clackamas lead most of the second half, but could not put the game away until the final 7 seconds. Reserve point guard Josh Lokeno keyed two huge defensive stops by CCC in the final 30 seconds to secure the win.
“A fitting end,” said head coach Clif Wegner. “It was defense that kept us in the game all night and it was our defense that won it at the end. We were not very effective on offensive; we needed to work for better shots and take better care of the ball. But we had a bad night shooting the ball, even at the free throw line.” CCC shot an embarrassing 11 of 24 at the stripe and missed a fair number of easy field goal attempts as well.
Max Jacobsen had 20 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals to lead the effort. Brandon Troxel had 7 points and 7 rebounds. Derrick Hayes added 5 points and a team leading 10 rebounds. Nate Keilholtz hit 3 treys and finished with 10 points. Paul Walter added 12 points.
Next up: The big game challenges continue: The Cougars go on the road to Mt. Hood Saturday, February 19 at 6 pm, looking to avenge a first round loss and more importantly, clinch a berth in the NWAACC Championships [schedule]. One more win will will secure a spot in the post season for CCC. Two more wins will clinch the region’s #1 seed. Cougars sweep weekend games; Stay in 1stFebruary 12, 2011
OREGON CITY -- Clackamas (8-2, 16-5) jumped out to a 12-2 start over Umpqua and was never headed, leading 35-20 at halftime. The lead stretched to 36 points and the final was 79-48.
Coupled with Friday’s win over Southwestern, the weekend sweep kept the Cougars in a first place tie in the Southern Region [standings].
On the offensive end, CCC shot 54% from the floor and 69% from the line and registered 14 assists.
Max Jacobsen paced the attack, with 23 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Derrick Hayes added 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 steals. Brandon Troxel had 14 points and 7 rebounds. Travis Robbins filled up the stat line with 4 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and 3 steals. Nate Keilholtz earned a start and turned in a 15 point and 3 rebound effort. And Josh Lokeno gave the team a huge lift with his defensive hustle and transition passing. Paul Walter also provided a lot of energy and a big defensive effort to go with rebounds, assists, and steals.
Clackamas remains in a tie with Chemeketa at 8-2, with four league games remaining in the schedule. Next week the Cougars go on the road for games at Portland on Wednesday, February 16 at 7:30pm and at Mt. Hood on Saturday, February 19 for a 6pm tip-off [schedule]. Cougars hold serve; Stay in 1st February 11, 2011
OREGON CITY -- Clackamas (7-2, 15-5) shook off a sluggish start to beat Southwestern 98-86 and stay in a 1st place tie in the Southern Region [standings].
After trailing 13-4 to start the game, the Cougars played a 30 minute stretch of basketball to open up an 89-66 gap with 4 minutes to play and seal the victory. The CCC offense hit on 57% of it shots and 50% of its threes and also registered 21 assists.
Sophomore post Derrick Hayes provided a big lift, with 19 points and 15 rebounds and a pair of steals. Brandon Troxel also had 19 points to go with 5 rebounds. Max Jacobsen was good for 14 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals. Kirby Hawkins tossed in 17 points. Paul Walter chipped in 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Nate Keilholtz gave the Cougars a huge spark, with 13, hitting 3 of 4 treys and making several big hustle plays. And Travis Robbins was steady at the point, with 5 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals.
Next Game: The Cougars will try to hold onto 1st place as they host Umpqua in a 6 pm Southern Region match up Saturday, February 12 [schedule]. Cougars Silence Storm; move into 1st place February 5, 2011
Oregon City, OR -- After losing their last game to Lane, sixth-ranked Clackamas did some soul searching and held some team meetings.
This time around, the Cougars were ready to play a big game, hosting the league leading Chemeketa Storm.
CCC snapped the fifth-ranked Storm’s six game win streak with a 84-53 thumping and, more importantly, moved back into a tie for first place in the region [standings].
CCC (14-5, 6-2) still is trying to get healthy and whole again, with only 10 players in uniform; but the home team got a big boost with the return of co-captain Paul Walter.
“It was great to get him back,” said assistant coach Paul Fiskum. “He made a lot of plays at both ends and brought some intensity and energy to the team. He really helps us get some easy baskets.”
Walter finished with 10 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 4 steals, and 2 blocks. It was a balanced team effort. Max Jacobsen had 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. Brandon Troxel added 15 points and 6 rebounds. Derrick Hayes played well, with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists. Travis Robbins turned in a very good all around game, with 9 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 6 steals. Kirby Hawkins added 13 points, 2 assists, 2 steals, and an alley oop dunk that energized the gym. Brycen Driver chipped in 5 points, 2 assists, and 2 steals.
Head coach Clif Wegner found a lot of positives in the win. “Getting Paul back really picked up our team game at both ends. It was fun to watch tonight: good passing, hustle plays, great effort on rebounding, 16 steals. We looked like a very good NWAACC team tonight.”
Clackamas also shot 51% from the floor, 33% from the arc, and 71% from the line in the win.
Next game: Southern Region play continues next weekend as the Cougars host Southwestern Friday night at 7:30 pm and Umpqua Saturday night at 6 pm [schedule]. No. 2 ranked Cougars drop to #2 in league January 29, 2011
A sluggish CCC got behind 21-7 to start the game before rallying behind some spirited plays by the bench to claw back to a 32-32 tie at the end of the half. The game featured 7 lead changes and 8 ties and neither team able to pull out to a controlling lead. Max Jacobsen’s inside post move and free throw put CCC up 61-58 inside the final minute, but missed free throws and costly turnovers prevented the Cougars from scoring again until a meaningless free throw in the final second.
CCC turned the ball over 17 times and shot an embarrassing 10 of 22 from the free throw line. The Cougars stayed in the game by beating Lane 38-26 on the boards.
Jacobsen again dominated the paint for 22 points and 10 rebounds. No other Cougar hit double figures; Brandon Troxel had 9 points and Travis Robbins and Jordan Barber each had 7 points.
The loss was costly, dropping CCC from a first place tie into a three way tie for 2nd in league [standings]. Next Game: The Cougars play host to Chemeketa February 5 game at 6 pm with 1st place in the Southern Region again on the line [schedule]. No. 2 ranked Cougars win, move into tie for 1st January 28, 2011
Oregon City, OR -- No. 2 ranked Clackamas (13-4) hosted Linn Benton in a battle of two of the top teams in the South, with the Cougars coming out on top in a hard fought 74-72 win [standings].
It was a close affair throughout the night, with 12 lead changes and 10 ties. It was pretty much the kind of contest to be expected with 1st place in the Southern Region on the line. Clackamas handed the Roadrunners their first league loss, creating a three way tie for the top spot.
The Cougars shot 50% from the floor overall and also hit 7 of 14 threes in the win. But CCC turned the ball over 16 times and got beaten to the rebounds by the smaller LBCC team.
The smaller, quicker Roadrunners beat the Cougars to the ball for a big edge in rebounding, staying in the game with 20 offensive rebounds and a big advantage at the free throw line. But it was the Cougar team that stepped up at crunch time, coming up with defensive stops, converting turnovers, and making big shots to open up a double digit lead in the final minutes.
“It was our biggest win of the season, so that’s great and it puts us in 1st place again,” said coach Clif Wegner. “But I really didn’t think we played up to potential. Too many turnovers, not enough rebounds.” The Cougars did find each other for 17 assists, but committed 16 turnovers.
Max Jacobsen dominated the paint for 29 points and 9 rebounds. Kirby Hawkins hit 4 of 7 threes and added 18 points. Derrick Hayes chipped in 8 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals.
Next Game: CCC goes on the road to play the Lane Community College Titans [schedule]. Cougar Alumni: Zach Wilde InterviewJanuary 2011 Former Cougar Zach Wilde (CCC '09) is interviewed by his hometown newspaper (Everett Herald) following his selection as PacWest Player of the Week. Read interview.
No. 2 ranked Cougars win, stay in second.January 22, 2011 Oregon City, OR -- No. 2 ranked Clackamas (12-4) won at home vs. Portland, holding off a good Panther team to win, 73-69 at Randall Hall and stay in a 3 way tie for second place tie in the Southern Region.
CCC jumped out to a 24-14 lead to open the game, but the visiting Panthers got back into the game quickly, and the contest turned into a back and forth struggle that included 9 lead changes and 10 ties. The outcome was not decided until the game's final seconds.
The steady play of Max Jacobsen helped keep the Cougars in the thick of the contest all night long. Jacobsen finished hitting 5 of 6 fields goals for 18 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 assists. Brandon Troxel added 15 points and 8 rebounds. Alex Loul made his first start of the season, and responded with 8 points, 5 rebounds, Jordan Barber added 7 points, 3 rebounds, an assist and a steal, hitting 5 of 6 free throws. Nate Keilholtz chipped 7 points.
The Cougars shot 45% from the floor and 73% from the line and also won the rebound contest 39-28.
CCC upped its league record to 4-1 and now looks forward to another pair of key match ups. Linn Benton (5-0) comes to Clackamas on Friday. And on Saturday the Cougars travel to Lane (4-1) in another tough ball game [schedule | standings].
Coaches vs. Cancer Jan 28th Saints upset second-ranked Cougars January 19, 2011
Oregon City, OR -- No. 2 ranked Clackamas (11-4) lost at home to Mt. Hood by a 86-80 score in the Cougars’ home league opener. In suffering its first defeat at Randall Hall this season, CCC dropped to 3-1 and into a second place tie in the Southern Region.
The two teams played an even contest in the first half, with the visiting Saints leading 31-29 at the break. But CCC let the game get away in the second half as Mt. Hood used a pair of 10-0 scoring runs to open up a 70-49 lead. The home team rally came up just short as time ran out on the Cougars, who could only manage to pare the lead to 4 points.
Next up: The Cougars defend their home court next to take on Portland at 6:00 pm Jan. 22. Coach Hal
Alumni News: Kyle BracyJanuary 18, 2011 Former Cougar Kyle Bracy has his team gathering some attention at Milwaukie High School. Bracy’s basketball team this season is currently 10-2, and 4-0 in league; his Mustangs have the look and feel of a winner. He is attempting to take his school to the state playoffs for the first time since 1998, his senior year at Milwaukie. The Mustangs last won a league title in boys’ basketball in 1991.
Bracy, himself a 1998 graduate of Milwaukie High, was one of the first players recruited to CCC by then new head coach Clif Wegner that spring. He went on to become a 1st team Southern Region all star point guard and lead the 2000 Clackamas team to the NWAACC playoffs. After getting his AA at Clackamas, Bracy went on to earn his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Portland State University. In addition to coaching boys’ basketball, Bracy teaches full time at Milwaukie High. Cougars rally for win over Lakers January 15, 2010
The first half was a back and forth battle featuring 7 ties and 7 lead changes. At the half, it was CCC holding a one point lead 42- 41.
The Cougars next proceeded to play some careless basketball on both ends as the Lakers opened the second half with a 15-2 run to build a 56-44 lead.
Down by 12 points in the second half, and point guard Travis Robbins on the bench with 4 fouls, the Cougars hung tough rallied around the inside play of Max Jacobsen and some big shots by Brycen Driver and Kirby Hawkins to tie the game at 67.
Down the stretch, the Cougars stiffened their defense, dominated the glass, and picked up the intensity at both ends of the floor. Improved passing and free throw shooting also enabled CCC to put the win away.
Clackamas ran its win streak to 6 by shooting 50% from the floor and winning the rebound contest 55-41.
Jacobsen turned in another solid effort, with 25 points, 17 rebounds, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Robbins finished with 13 points (6 of 9 FG), 4 rebounds, and 2 steals. Freshman Brycen Driver, making his second straight start, chipped in 10 points, hitting a pair of big threes and going 4-4 at the charity stripe to help lead CCC in the second half comeback.
Kirby Hawkins tallied 14 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. Nate Keilholtz chipped in 7 points and 2 steals. Derrick Hayes added 6 points and 9 rebounds. Jordan Barber got 7 points and 3 rebounds. Brandon Troxel had 11 points and 4 rebounds and Alex Loul scored 2 points and grabbed 5 rebounds.
Next up: The Cougars return to their home court next to take on Mt. Hood at 7:30 pm Jan. 19.
Cougars cruise pass Umpqua January 14, 2010
Max Jacobsen led the balanced Cougar offensive attack, with 20 points and 8 rebounds. Kirby Hawkins and Alex Loul each added 10 points. Derrick Hayes, Jordan Barber and Brandon Troxel all added 9 points apiece, and Hayes also grabbed 9 rebounds. Brycen Driver, in his first college start, added 7 points.
The shorthanded CCC squad only suited down 9 players, but it did not matter; as the Cougars shared the ball well and shot 46% form the floor, 37% from the arc, and 71% from the line. CCC committed only 12 turnovers and beat the Riverhawks 46-40 in the rebound battle. Cougar Alumni Update: Luke DefreesJanuary 12, 2011
Defrees earned his AA degree at CCC in 2007 and was a member of the NWAACC all academic team and finalist for NWAACC scholar athlete that year. He also served as captain on the Clackamas team that went 14-0 in the Southern Region, won the NWAACC championship, and set a then all-time single season best record of 29-4.
“Luke was really one of the best leaders we have had here,” says head coach Clif Wegner. “He and that team were so totally focused on winning together. They finished the season with a 21 game win streak that was just magical. At NWAACC's, they beat the other three region champions on three straight nights for the title. Luke played great in the championship game. That was a hall of fame caliber team.” Former Cougar Zach Wilde selected PacWest Player of the Week
PHOENIX, AZ - Hawai‘i Hilo junior forward Zach Wilde (Snohomish, WA) has been named the Pacific West Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week.
Wilde began his college career at Clackamas Community College, helping his Cougar team to a 29-3 record and Southern Region and NWAACC championships.
The Vulcans are currently 11-3 and are on a 7 game win streak.
view article Cougars quiet Storm to open league play January 10, 2010
CCC pushed the lead out to 57-39 to start the second had and appeared to be on the way to a rout. But serious Cougar foul trouble and hot Storm free throw shooting helped Chemeketa climb all the way back to within 3 at 78-75. However, CCC held on and held together in the face of the rally and the pressure, closing the game with a 25-16 run to finish off the defending Southern Region champions.
For the game, CCC shot a blistering 61% from the floor and hit 8 of 17 threes (47%). Sharing the ball for a season high 30 assists and winning the rebound battle 43-27 were big stats in the winning effort.
Travis Robbins was sensational in the win, with 9 points, 14 assists, 4 rebounds and 6 steals. “Tremendous,” was assistant coach Paul Fiskum’s assessment. “He took a tough defensive assignment as well; he was really focused on both ends of the floor. Point guard is a new position for him this season and he just keeps getting better game by game.
Paul Walter also had a big defensive assignment and turned in an outstanding all around game, with 15 points, 9 rebounds and 10 assists. Kirby Hawkins was so hot in the first half that Chemeketa chased him with a box and one off and on. He finished with 23 points on 9 of 15 shooting, hitting 5 of 9 threes and not committing a turnover. Backup guards Nate Keilholtz and Brycen Driver also made contributions at critical times.
And the Cougars post players also dominated their Storm counterparts, scoring 55 points. Max Jacobsen paced the inside attack with 20 points and 7 rebounds despite being limited by foul trouble. Derrick Hayes added 11 points and 4 rebounds. Jordan Barber chipped in 8 points and 5 rebounds. Alex Loul added 5 points. And Brandon Troxel registered 10 points and 4 rebounds.
Next up: The Cougars go on the road again for back to back games at Umpqua and Southwestern Oregon Friday and Saturday, January 14 and 15 [schedule]. Cougars rise to top three in NWAACC PollJanuary 5, 2010
The Cougars, who got off to a rocky start, going 0-2 in their two openers, did not receive a single vote in the first poll of the year.
But CCC, which sports only three sophomores and no returning starters from last year's championship squad, has steadily matured and improved, winning 8 of 9 games since, and defeating four ranked teams in the process.
Clackamas (8-3) also garnered a pair of first place votes.
New No. 1 Spokane (8-4) got 4 first place votes. Whatcom (8-1), last poll's #1, dropped to No. 2 after losing to No. 5 Highline (8-2); and Tacoma (8-2) dropped to No. 4 after losing to Clackamas. European pro Freeman transfers to play ball in AustriaJanuary 4, 2010
Freeman now plays for Schwaz, a second division team based out of Innsbruck.
"I didn't have a great experience in Holland but i came to Austria a couple weeks ago and I couldn't be happier here," said Freeman. My team is 6-0 since I got here; I'm averaging 25 points and 19 rebounds, and it's great to be back on track. It's second division but its still good competition and it is paying better than in Holland too."
Freeman, a 6'10 post, last played at CCC in 2007, when he led the Cougars to a 29-4 season, undefeated 14-0 Southern Region Title, and the NWAACC Championship. He was named Southern Region MVP and NWAACC Tournament MVP that season. Cougars topple Titans 79-76; Win CCC Holiday Tourney Championship
December 30, 2010
“They are really a very good team,” said head coach Clif Wegner about Tacoma. “But our kids played so well in the first half, they got confidence that we could play with them and win if we did things correctly.”
Things got considerably tougher in the second half, however as the contest became a back and forth battle that featured 8 ties and 9 lead changes. Crunch time featured big plays by both teams. Not until Kirby Hawkins hit 2 free throws with 5.6 seconds to play and Clackamas got one more defensive stop was the game outcome finally decided. The final score was Clackamas 79, Tacoma 76.
The Cougars shared and shot the basketball well all through the line up, with five players reaching double figure scoring. Brandon Troxel led the way by hitting 7 of 8 free throws for 17 points and 4 rebounds. Nate Keilholtz provided a huge spark off the bench, hustling for 13 points and 4 rebounds and a steal and assist.
“Wow,” said assistant coach Paul Fiskum. “He was really a big boost of energy, all over the floor and making plays on both ends of the court. We were thrilled with the way the whole team played and so many kids contributed off the bench.”
Hawkins hit all 5 free throws and had 10 points, 3 steals and 3 assists. Travis Robbins hit 6 of 8 free throws for 12 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. Derrick Hayes played well, with 5 points, 7 big rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal. Jordan Barber added 6 points and 4 rebounds in the post. Paul Walter hit a pair for 3’s for 6 points, and Max Jacobsen went for 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists.
CCC attacked the Titan defense all night long with great success, hitting 54% from the floor and 4 of 7 threes (57%). The Cougars also got to the line and converted 23 of 28 free throws (82%). Rebounds were even and assists and steals were comparable. The big negatives for CCC were the 19 offensive rebounds that Tacoma converted for 18 points and the 21 turnovers committed by the Cougars.
“We were pretty shaky with the ball at times, but overall, this was just another great experience for our kids. We played and beat three VERY good college basketball programs in three days. I see Yakima, Peninsula, and Tacoma all competing for region championships and making the NWAACC tournament. Linn-Benton and Walla Walla also played well at the tourney, too. So I thought it was a very good tourney field to begin with.”
“For our kids to come out on top, we had to beat three very good, aggressive, pressuring basketball teams in a row. It really is invaluable to our kids to play against that. We keep reminding people that we are VERY young team this year, with 9 new roster players, all freshman and three sophomores from last year’s team that all played back up roles. It’s takes a while to learn to become a good college basketball team, but we are making progress. This whole tournament experience was huge for us.”
Hawkins and Robbins were selected to the all tournament team and Jacobsen was picked as the tourney MVP. Jacobsen, a 6’8 freshman post who transferred in from Portland State University, averaged over 27 points and 11 rebounds for the 3 tournament games.
CCC completes its preseason 8-3 and ranked No. 6 in the NWAACC, and undoubtedly playing one of the most difficult preseason schedules in the NWAACC. In the 11 games, 5 of CCC’s wins and 2 of its losses came against NWAACC ranked teams. Now the Cougars look forward to the upcoming Southern Region campaign and the 4 precious playoff spots that lead to the NWAACC championships.
Added Wegner, “It’s all resets to 0-0 now; Our team is growing up and growing together and believing in each other and what we do more and more. We like the progress, but the truth is we need to get much better in some key areas for the Southern Region league schedule. We have a chance to win it, but so do several other teams. And the teams near the bottom last year all seem to be much improved. The are no easy games in the 14 game schedule.”
Clackamas is off until January 8, when the Cougars will open league play with a tough road contest at Chemeketa in Salem. Cougars outrun Pirates; Advance to CCC Holiday Tourney championshipDecember 29, 2010
Oregon City, OR -- No. 6 ranked Clackamas (7-3) withstood a furious challenge by Peninsula College, 104-92, to advance to the championship game of the CCC Holiday Tournament. The Cougars will face No. 3 ranked Tacoma Titans (7-1) in the 3 pm title game.
Max Jacobsen paced the attack again, with 26 points and 8 rebounds. “Peninsula absolutely decided they would take him out of the offense, by double and triple teaming him every time in the low post,” said head coach Clif Wegner. “Max played a very poised and intelligent game; he did not force shots or plays.” Instead, the 6’7 freshman post hit on 9 of 10 field goals, 8 of 11 free throws, and dished out 6 assists and blocked three shots.
Kirby Hawkins exploded for 28 points, hitting 6 of 8 three pointers. Travis Robbins had another solid game at the point, with 10 points, 6 assists, 2 blocks, and 2 steals. Paul Walter added 9 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists. Brandon Troxel poured in 16 points and also grabbed 4 rebounds and dished out 4 assists.
CCC also got great contributions off the bench from Alex Loul, Derrick Hayes, and Nate Keilholtz. Loul collected a basket, and a pair of assists and blocks during the critical run at crunch time. Keilholtz chipped in a rebound, a pair of steals and assists, and 5 points. Hayes added 5 points and a thunderous dunk in traffic that exploded the home crowd.
The Cougars shot a blistering 64% from the floor and a red hot 56% from the three point line. In addition to Hawkins, Keilholtz, Walker, and Jordan Barber all hit from downtown.
The coaching staff was especially impressed with the continued improvement of the guard play and overall team ball handling. “A season high in assists (28) and a season low in turnovers (13). We all have to be really happy about that,” said assistant coach Paul Fiskum. “It’s really fun to see the kids pass the ball that well and play off each other offensively.”
Peninsula stayed in the game mainly because of free throws. At half time, the Pirates were 14 of 14 from the stripe and the Cougars were 0 of 0. For the game, Peninsula was a blistering 86% on 31 of 36 FT attempts while Clackamas finished hitting 13 of 19 for and unimpressive 64%.
“ Amazing. It seemed like we might never get to shoot a free throw,” said Wegner. “We had to remind our kids how to line up for one in the second half.”
Clackamas will face third-ranked Tacoma in the 3 pm championship game December 30 [view bracket]. “Should be fun and a great challenge,” said Fiskum. “Basically, the two top, winningest programs in the Northwest going at it again. We both have a ton of respect for each other. It will be a tough, hard fought game. Anyone who enjoys good college basketball will love the show.”
Cougars advance to semis at CCC Holiday Tourney December 28, 2010
Oregon City, OR -- In a contest featuring two of the top ranked teams in the NWAACC, No. 6 ranked Clackamas (6-3) held off No. 7 ranked Yakima Valley 91-78 in the opening round of the CCC Holiday Tournament. Yakima had been ranked #1 in the first NWAACC poll.
Clackamas played well early and establishing a 26-12 lead. But YVCC battled back and it was 41-40 at halftime for the two teams that have won the last 4 NWAACC championships. But CCC quickly opened up a lead to start the second half and stayed in the lead, with Yakima continuing to attack and stay close.
CCC post Max Jacobsen exploited the Yak defense in the paint all night long, finishing the game with career highs of 46 points and 19 rebounds. The freshman post hit on 15 of 19 shots and 16 of 20 free throws. He also picked up 2 assists and 3 steals.
Derek Hayes played well in the paint also, with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals and 3 assists. Kirby Hawkins added 14 points and 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Paul Walter chipped 6 points and 3 rebounds . The Cougars hit a season best 78% from the free throw line (31 of 40) and dominated the boards 50-36.
“It was really a good win,” said head coach Clif Wegner. “We showed a lot of heart to battle so hard on defense and for rebounds. We made a lot of turnovers; we still have to learn to attack that kind of pressure defense with aggressive and poise, but this was a priceless experience. They have as good of athleticism and quickness as anyone in the NWAACC; we have a lot of young guards that have learn to be better with the ball. 24 turnovers is a lot of trial by error, so we need to improve that.”
CCC will meet Peninsula in a semifinal match up Dec. 29 at 7 pm. Cougars Win Blue Mountain Tournament December 19, 2010
“Another big step forward,” said head coach Clif Wegner. “We are still getting better at team and individual defense, rebounding, execution, and developing a team attitude. The bench was loud and active and it really felt more like a team trying to get it done together again. Tonight was the best and most fun game of the season; a very big win against a very good team.”
An active zone defense by CCC keyed the win, holding Bellevue to 34% field goal shooting. Clackamas shot 53% from the floor and 65% from the free throw stripe while dominating the boards 45-28 and amassing 24 assists and 32 baskets. Max Jacobsen was the offensive leader, with 22 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assist. Travis Robbins hit 4/5 fg for 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Brandon Troxel bounced around for 16 points, 3 assists, and 8 rebounds. Alex Loul chipped in 4 points and 5 rebounds. Paul Walter played huge, with 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. Mathieu Michaud dished out 5 assists.
On to the semifinals to face No. 10 Walla Walla, who had knocked off 6th ranked Green River in their opener. The Warriors and Cougars went at it through a frenetic first half, with CCC trailing at the break. Alex Loul’s rebound put back at the first half buzzer provided a large spark of energy at the break and get the Cougars within 48-43. “Just a hard fought, completive game. What a fun and valuable game for our team to be engaged in, said head coach Clif Wegner. Just a great, exciting basketball game. The first half was one of the most amazing shooting performances I have seen.” Unfortunately, it was Walla Walla’s shooting, hitting on 16/27 shots (59%) 10/14 threes (72%) 6/6 free throws to open up a 39-29 lead. CCC stayed in the game by whipping the Warriors on the boards and taking good care of the basketball.
Clackamas fought back in the second half, catching Walla Walla, then counter punching and battling out a war that featured 8 ties and 17 lead changes.
The Cougars have been tough on the boards all year, and out rebounded their opponents 40-25 and also committed a season low 8 turnovers.
Max Jacobsen again paced the attack, with 28 points on 13/19 fg shooting to go with 8 rebounds. Kirby Hawkins had a breakout offensive game, scoring 27 points, hitting 4 three pointers. Travis Robbins added a nice floor game, with solid defense, 4 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Loul also provided a huge spark of energy and emotion in the second half and tallied career highs of 11 points and 7 rebounds.
“He’s been such a positive and unselfish team mate; everybody was excited to see him play that well,” said assistant coach Jonny Brainard. Paul Walter again was up to the big defensive assignment and also registered 10 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 3 steals.
CCC made the clutch plays down the stretch and pulled out an 87-80 win, improving its record to 4-2 and gaining a huge boost of team confidence. On to the championship game with the Cougars taking on Southern Region foe Umpqua. CCC fell behind early, but rallied to lead 41-35 at the break and pull away, holding a double digit lead for most of the half before repelling a Riverhawk rally to win a 91-86 shootout.
Again it was a Max Jacobsen clinic in low post moves as the freshman transfer from Portland State hit 11/11 fg and 7 of 9 ft for 29 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists. Kirby Hawkins added 17 points and 4 rebounds.
Travis Robbins chipped in 6 points and 4 steals. Derrick Hayes, who had to travel all night to rejoin his team, added 6 points and 4 rebounds. Jordan Barber helped CCC dominate the interior, with 8 points and 4 rebounds. Brandon troxel added 10 points and 4 assists. And Paul Walter turned in another well rounded game, with 6 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals; his 3 point bomb from 26 feet out gave the Cougars a 6 point lead with 12 seconds to play.
CCC was beaten on the boards for the first time this season, 37-34, but shot 52 % from the floor and 71% from the line . “The championship game was a bit of a regression in some way; I really didn’t think we were very focused and sharp; we did not get our normal pregame practice and scouting preparation and mentally, we did not get ourselves on the same page, said Wegner. “Young team; third game in three days, something this team still has to learn how to do better. We have to treat them like NWAACC practice tournaments.”
Hawkins was named to the all tourney team and Jacobsen was selected as the MVP.
The Cougars, now sporting a 5 game win streak, return to action in a rematch with Olympic College at the Showare Center in Auburn, Washington at 3:30 pm Wednesday, December 22. Clackamas drills Olympic, evens season recordDecember 14, 2010
Oregon City, OR -- Clackamas (2-2) evened its season record with a convincing home win against Olympic College, controlling the game from start to finish and take another baby step in the growing up process of becoming a good team.
“Best effort yet,” said head coach Clif Wegner. “Better defense, rebounding, execution, and team play. The bench was loud and active and it really felt more like a team trying to get it done together rather than individuals forcing the action. No question about it; we ARE getting better. It was actually fun to watch tonight.”
Clackamas shot 53% from the floor and 69% from the free throw stripe while dominating the boards 51-32.
Kirby Hawkins turned in his best game as a Cougar, hitting 9/21 shots for 24 points. Max Jacobsen led the inside attack, making 10 of 14 shots to finish with 21 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 steals.
Alex Loul made 3 points, much to the delight of a loud Parkrose High contingent of fans. Paul Walter played limited minutes, but contributed 5 points, 6 assists, and 3 steals. Mathieu Michaud dished out 4 assists. Cougars edge Blue Mountain in OT December 11, 2010
Oregon City, OR -- Clackamas (1-2) defended its home turf and got into the win column with a hard fought overtime game against Blue Mountain. The Cougars had big leads early but settled for a 29-20 lead at the half.
CCC held a double digit lead through out most of the second half, but could not put the game away. A late rally and a big three point shot by the Timberwolves tied the score 59-59 at the end of regulation.
In the overtime, Clackamas played stingy defense, got big baskets from Jacobsen and Robbins and, finally, clutch free throws from Nate Keilholtz and Kirby Hawkins to seal the win.
Four Cougars hit for double figures, led by the 15 points of Max Jacobsen, who also had 4 steals. Kirby Hawkins chipped in 10 points and 4 rebounds, Derrick Hayes added 10 points and 2 blocked shots; Jordan Barber worked inside for a tough 11 points and 7 rebounds.
Paul Walter turned in a blue collar, workmanlike effort, holding BMCC guard Sam Grogan to 3 of 14 shooting while also adding 5 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals. And Travis Robbins also turned in a solid, all around effort, with 7 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, and 3 assists.
Next up: CCC will entertain Olympic College in a 7 pm home contest Tuesday, December 14, part of a double header with the Cougar women’s team, who play at 5 pm. Clackamas stumbles to open seasonDecember 4, 2010 Green River 94, Clackamas 84 [box] Spokane, WA -- Clackamas (0-2) got off to a shaky start to begin the 2010-11 season, losing both games in the Spokane-North Idaho Tournament, to Green River, by a 94-84 score and to Shoreline, 82-76. For a young team looking for a team identity, the losses underscored the necessity to improve many areas of play.
Offensively, we were just terrible,” said head coach Clif Wegner. “I give Green River credit for coming out and really playing harder. Their pressure was better than we had seen for a while and we did not respond very well. You have to attack that kind of pressure with better ball handling than we did. 26 turnovers and a lot of panicky decisions. We didn’t execute on offense all night long. The 1st half was really dismal. We missed 12 free throws; it seemed like every time we made a run to get the margin to 5 or 6 points, we had a turnover or a missed free throw. We never could get over that hump.”
“I was really disappointed with our defense,” echoed coach Paul Fiskum. “We let them shoot 57% from the floor and 63% from the three point line. We did a decent job rebounding, but everything else was inadequate.”
Sophomore Brandon Troxel led five CCC double figure scorers, with 19 points. Travis Robbins added 16 points, Paul Walter had 13 points, and Derrick Hayes and Max Jacobsen each tallied a dozen.
“We beat them in the NWAACC tournament last year and Green River just seemed a lot more up for the game than our guys,” said assistant coach Jonny Brainard. “We just seemed overwhelmed by their press in the first half. 50-35 at halftime was a big hole. Then we just kept making bad decisions with the ball and not finishing plays. We did play hard and better in the second half.”
Shoreline 82, Clackamas 76 [box] “We played a lot better than the previous game, but still came up short,” said Wegner. “It was a just a very close ball game from start to finish. There were 13 ties and 26 lead changes.”
The game came down to this: Shoreline with a one point lead and and the ball with 45 seconds left. Needing a defensive stop and a score to win, the Cougars gave up a three pointer with 4 seconds on the shot clock. A missed CCC shot and some free throws provided the final margin.
“It was an improvement over the first game,” said Fiskum. “We executed on offense a lot better and our defense was better. Still, we had 18 turnovers and missed 15 free throws. If we can correct just those two things, we win easily. It was a winnable game and we were in it to win it all game long. We just did not make the key plays as a team to come out on top.”
Brandon Troxel paced the Cougar attack, with 16 points and 7 rebounds. “We need to all get better at some individual things and then play more together all the time as a team. I know I missed 4 free throws and 3 shots in close where I got fouled but still should have made the lay-in. I have to make those plays to help the team.”
Max Jacobsen added 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocked shots in the post. Nate Keilholtz earned a start and responded with solid defense, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals. Kirby Hawkins had 13 points and an alley oop dunk off a Paul Walter feed. Walter also had 7 points and 7 rebounds. Sophomores Derrick Hayes and Travis Robbins added 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Not since 1999-2000 has a Cougar team started the season 0-2.
“That Clackamas team went on to a 20 win season and the NWAACC Tournament; so this could still turn out to be a good team.” said Wegner. “We will get back to work in practice with more intensity and correct some of these deficiencies and execute things. Hopefully, these games got their attention. We have been on them about things like intensity, concentration, aggressiveness, and playing together. We are going to get them focused on finishing their finals for the next few days and then get back to work on the basketball issues after that.”
The Cougars will regroup and be back in action at the conclusion of fall term with a pair of home games: December 11 vs. Blue Mountain at 4 pm and December 14 vs. Olympic at 7 pm.
“Two good coaches, two good programs, two good teams,” said Wegner. “It’s not going to get easier for us; we are going to just have to get better. We all think we can, coaches and players alike.” Alumni update: Wes JensenDecember 1, 2010
Oregon City, OR -- Wes Jensen (CCC 2003-2005) is an officer in the Wichita, Kansas police department. Officer Jensen and his wife Sheena, have two young daughters. Jensen had a standout career at Clackamas, first helping his team to a 25-win season and a 5th place NWAACC trophy in his freshman season.
During his sophomore year, he blossomed into one of the Northwest’s top players, leading his team to a 27 win season and a 3rd place trophy at the NWAACC Tournament.
He was named 1st team all Southern Region, NWAACC all tournament, and also won the award as the top scholar athlete in the entire NWAACC.
“Wes was a captain and driving spirit to an amazing team,” recalls Coach Wegner. “We were decimated by injuries at the end of the year. Wes led a young team with only 8 players on an amazing run. 7 healthy bodies, 4 games, 4 days--those kids just battled so hard and played such intelligent basketball. They came within a single shot and 30 seconds from the championship game, then bounced back from that heartbreaker to win the 3rd place trophy. For sure, it was one of the most courageous team performances under adversity I have ever seen. We were just very proud of Clackamas Basketball for that showing.”
That 2005 team set two NWAACC tournament records that may continue to stand for a while: largest winning margin in a tournament game (42 points) and team tournament free throw percentage (90%) hitting an amazing 72 of 80 shots as a team.
After earning his AA at CCC, Jensen earned a full ride basketball scholarship to Adams State University in Colorado, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and his basketball career highlights included both all league recognition and a trip to the Division II national championships as one of the elite 8 teams in America. 2010-11 Season OutlookOregon City, OR A brand new team with a lot of fresh faces will begin season play next weekend at the Spokane/Northern Idaho eight team tournament, the Cougar's first counting action of the season.
The Cougars have steadily improved throughout the preseason. At the NWAACC Jamboree November 6, they scrimmaged five different NWAACC teams, winning four of the skirmishes. On November 13, they held their own against Linfield’s varsity team, picked among the top D3 teams in the Northwest this year. And finally, on November 18, they took apart a JV team from Concordia University by a 107-67 count.
“We have steadily improved throughout the preseason,” said defensive coach Paul Fiskum. “We are really at the point where we just need to start playing games to get better. I think we are really going to get into teams and defend them and play hard. It all starts with that.”
The Cougars will now try to get a very young team ready to play a very difficult schedule: CCC will play many of the top teams in the NWAACC during the preseason: Green River, Spokane, Big Bend, Bellevue, Yakima, Walla Walla, Tacoma -- a daunting campaign for even a veteran team.
Only three sophomores and no starters return from last year's NWAACC championship team to lead the Cougars' defense of their title: Derrick Hayes, Travis Robbins, and Brandon Troxel. The Cougars will look to their leadership early in the season to show the way for this year’s squad. All three had productive off seasons and return as bigger, better, stronger, quicker players. The young CCC team will rally around them to start the season.
But Clackamas will also need immediate help from the freshman players to be a force again this season. Max Jacobsen, a transfer from Portland State, will be a nice addition inside. Freshman newcomer Kirby Hawkins should add some scoring punch while redshirt freshmen Paul Walter, Jordan Barber, and Mathieu Michaud will need to be counted on to step up and play significant roles.
Brycen Driver, Nate Kleinholtz, and Alex Loul will also need to play well off the bench.
This year's Clackamas team begins the season with a lot of size and depth in the post and some good athleticism on the perimeter.
CCC is attempting to qualify for its 11th consecutive championship tournament, an NWAACC record. The Cougars, winners of three of the last four NWAACC titles will have to fend off traditional NWAACC powers such as Tacoma, Highline, Bellevue, Whatcom, Yakima, Spokane, Lower Columbia and Walla Walla in order to repeat.
The Southern Region looks to be strong and balanced again this season; look for Clackamas, Chemeketa, and Mt. Hood to battle for the region championship. Lane, Southwestern Oregon, and Linn-Benton should also make strong runs for the post season tournament while Portland and Umpqua both look to have improved with good recruiting years.
Cougars pay tribute to Jim WordenNovember 29, 2010
Oregon City, OR -- Jim Worden left a huge impression on all the players and staff he worked at Clackamas Community College.
An associate head coach at CCC, Worden coached for 11 seasons and was a huge part of the phenomenal success of the men's basketball program. In 2007 he helped lead the Cougars to an NWAACC championship and all time season winning mark of 29-4.
And now a picture hangs in the Randall Hall Gym to pay tribute to a master teacher who dedicated his life to teaching and coaching, specializing in the teaching of post play and rebounding.
In all, Worden coached 38 seasons of basketball in high schools and colleges in California and Oregon. He and CCC head coach Clif Wegner teamed up for 25 of those seasons at Oregon City High School, Mt. Hood CC, and Clackamas.
"It's great to be able to look up at his picture everyday and be reminded of the things he taught and stood for. He was just a consummate professional and taught me so many things over the years. I was lucky to work with him. I have never known a better teacher or person."
A scholarship in Jim Worden's name has been set up through the CCC foundation. Interested contributors should contact Coach Wegner. Alumni Update: Brandon KishpaughNovember 29, 2010
Oregon City, OR -- Former Cougar player Brandon Kishpaugh is making his mark in the field of education as a teacher and coach. Kishpaugh (CCC ‘04) helped his Cougar team win the 5th place consolation trophy at the 2004 NWAACC championships.
After CCC, he went on to University of Idaho where he played on the practice team for one year, then transferred to Portland State University, where he finished his bachelors in Health.
Since graduating, he has worked at Estacada High School as Special Education-Behavioral Specialist teacher during the school year, and at Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp. a camp for people with disabilities, during the summer. He has also worked at Multnomah Athletic Club as a basketball instructor and personal trainer part time.
During basketball season he helped out at Estacada High School as a varsity assistant and this season will be coaching at Colton High School as the boys varsity Coach. This spring he will be going back to school part time to earn his masters in special education at Portland State.
Beyond staying busy with work, Kishpaugh spends a lot of time with my family and girl friend Brittany, who is currently attending PSU working towards her degree in Psychology after attending Western Oregon her first year where she played Volleyball.
“I would have to say that playing basketball at CCC taught me what it meant to truly work hard in practice and what it takes to be a good basketball player and I hope that I can pass on that work ethic and commitment to my players.”
Good luck to Brandon this season! Cougar alumni competing at universitiesNovember 23, 2010 Oregon City, OR -- Several ex Cougars have taken their winning ways to colleges and universities at the next level.
1. At Portland State University, Chehales Tapscott (CCC’ 10) has helped the Vikings to a 3-1 record. The two time NWAACC MVP recorded his first double last week and leads the team in rebounding. He is already being touted as an impact player in the Big Sky Conference.
2. At Seattle Pacific, Jeff Dorman (CCC’ 10) has helped D II powerhouse Seattle Pacific University to a 4-1 start while defeating DI opponents Eastern Washington University and the University of Nevada. Dorman and Tapscott teamed up for 2 NWAACC championships at Clackamas. Dorman was a two time all region selection and an NWAACC all tournament pick.
3. At Eastern Oregon University, J C Cook (CCC’ 09) has been a starter and second leading scorer as the Mountaineers have raced out to a 6-1 record. Cook was selected to the preseason all conference team. EOU’s only loss was to the University of Idaho, a division 1 school. At CCC, Cook was a two time all region player, Southern Region MVP, and an NWAACC all tourney pick. He earned a full ride to Central Washington University, but transferred to EOU this fall. He is on track to earn his bachelor’s degree by the end of winter term.
4. At Oregon State University, Mark Campbell (CCC ’01) is an assistant coach for the OSU women’s basketball team, where he has helped the Beavers to a 3-1 start. Prior to Corvallis, he served as an assistant coach in men’s programs at St. Mary’s University and Pepperdine and also assisted coach Wegner in 2007, winning region and NWAACC titles. At CCC in 2001, Campbell led the Cougars to a Southern Region title and a school record 28-5 mark. He was the Southern Region MVP and an NWAACC all academic team member. He then went on to star at the University of Hawaii, where he became the WAC defensive player of the year and led the Rainbows to the WAC title and NCAA and NIT tournament appearances.
5. In the OSU men’s basketball program, former Cougar player Kevin McShane is playing his third year of varsity basketball and making a contribution for the Beavers, who have started the season at 2-2.
6. At Concordia University in Portland, Austin Dunn (CCC’ 09) has been hampered by an injury. The Cavaliers are 3-3 to start the season. At Clackamas, Dunn was twice a Southern Region 1st team selection, and NWAACC tourney 1st team pick and earned a Southern Region and an NWAACC championship.
7. At New Hope Christian College in Eugene, ex Cougar Alex Brock (CCC ’07) is starting for a team that has begun the season at 4-2. Brock was a member of the 2007 Cougar NWAACC championship team.
8. And at Hawaii Hilo University, Zach Wilde (CCC’ 09) continues his outstanding career. He is one of the leading scorers and rebounders for the 3-1 Vulcans. Wilde was an all league performer and NWAACC champion in his lone season at CCC. He earned a scholarship and was also a starter last season for the D2 school.
Best of luck to all these ex Cougars in their seasons this year! Brian Freeman Getting His Feet Wet in Professional BasketballNovember 22, 2010 Oregon City, OR -- Former NWAACC MVP and Clackamas Cougar Brian Freeman is playing professional basketball in Holland. His team is based in Rotterdam.
“It’s really a great opportunity in a pretty good league," said Freeman on playing with Rotterdam. "It’s a good contract, especially for a second year player; it allows me to save a lot of money while playing ball and getting a great educational and cultural experience,”
It’s a dream come true for him; he was born in Holland and has always had the goal of playing professionally in Europe.
Last season, Freeman played for a professional team in Poland. He is enjoying the myriad opportunities to experience European culttures while getting paid to do what he loves. “It’s great,” he says. “To be honest, it’s a really good life; your schedule revolves around basketball, but my work is my play and I get paid to do it. I’d like to play as long as I am able and then go into the fitness business.” His degree is in business.
Freeman had a hall of fame caliber NWAACC career at CCC, playing in 2005 and 2007. His 2005 team captured 3rd place at the NWAACC tourney and finished with a record of 24-7 and he was named 1st team Southern Region. In 2007 he led his team on a magical championship season run to finished the year with a 21-game winning streak, an undefeated Southern Region title, and an NWAACC championship. He was named the Southern Region MVP and the NWAACC MVP as the Cougars fashioned a history-making 29-4 record.
Freeman was also an NWAACC scholar-athlete. He was actively recruited by over 50 schools while at CCC and signed at Long Beach State University. There, his 2008 team struggled to a last place, but improved greatly in 2009. With Freeman in the starting lineup, the 49ers captured the runner-up spot in the Big West Conference and a finished with a respectable 15-15 record.
“What a neat deal for him,” said Coach Wegner. “To have seen him work so hard to achieve and prosper while dealing with a lot of adversity is just great. We at CCC are all happy for him proud of him.”
Alumni News: Former Cougars celebrate Kieling wedding in SalemNovember 21, 2010
Salem, OR -- There was a distinct Cougar presence at the Salem wedding of Cole Kieling and Katie Rapoza. Kieling, who played for Clackamas in 2004, went on to graduate from Western Oregon University in criminal justice and is presently working as a parole officer for Clackamas County.
The wedding party was teeming with ex-Cougars and consisted of best man and twin brother Evan Kieling (CCC ‘03) and ushers Steve Lemma (CCC ‘04), Garrett Johnson (CCC ‘03), Jon Hildebrandt (CCC ‘03), Nick Kirkpatrick (CCC ‘03). All competed for Clackamas in men’s basketball. Cougar cross country and distance coach Jerret Mantalas was also in the wedding party.
The wedding was also attended by CCC head basketball coach and his wife Ruth. “It was a great time and nice to be there,” said Wegner. “All those guys met at CCC playing basketball and they have continued to stay close and support each other. They have all gone on after CCC to lead successful and happy lives and still acting like winners.”
Cougars finish preseason scrimmages;
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7'1' Brad King stands out in a crowd |
Jefferson City, OR -- Brad King (CCC '09) is currently serving on the police force for the Jefferson City, MO Police Department. He is also making progress toward his bachelor's degree and will finish this year. He and his wife have a 3 year old son and are expecting their second child, also a son on December 29.
King was a co-captain for the 2009 CCC team that captured the Southern Region and NWAACC Championships and set the all time winning school season record of 29-3. An NWAACC scholar athlete, he was rewarded with a full ride scholarship to Liberty University in Missouri, where he played last season.
He is grateful for all the opportunities that CCC afforded him and says he would be proud to have his own sons go to Clackamas! "If they turn out to love hoops like Brad, I might just stick around and keep coaching," said Cougar coach Clif Wegner. "Brad is the only 7 foot player we ever had at CCC; having two together would be a nice tandem to have."
King is still a fan of Cougar hoops and follows the progress of the team faithfully. He regards winning the NWAACC championship with his team and coaches as the high point in his athletic experience.
Added Wegner: "Brad was absolutely one of the best kids we had the opportunity to work with. Bright, funny, hard working, a total team player, mature, the kind of kid you just know is going to do well at everything: work, family, community, and life. The amazing thing to me is that he never played basketball in high school at all and yet was able to become a good college player in two years."
October 18, 2010
Oregon City, OR -- The Clackamas team has added another new face to its roster this season, signing 6’7” post Max Jacobsen to a scholarship. The former Lake Oswego High School star was a team mate of NBA player Kevin Love and played on a Laker team that finished 2nd at state, losing to a South Medford team that was led by Duke star Kyle Singler. At LOHS, Jacobsen was a part of three consecutive Three Rivers League championships, and he gathered enough attention to be signed to a D1 scholarship at Portland State University during his senior year.
Knee surgery following his senior basketball season set his progress back, and he spent a year at PSU as a gray shirt player, practicing and preparing for his collegiate career to begin. But his knee took a long time to heal and he decided to transfer to Clackamas.
“He just showed up very late last spring out ot the blue and came to one or two of our open gyms to play,” said Coach Wegner. “He was too heavy then and his conditioning was was behind; in short, he did not show us that he could do a lot as an NWAACC player. We invited him to try out as a walk on player with no scholarship in place, but did not now what to expect.” And now?
“He has played better and more consistently than any post we have in our first fifteen basketball conditioning class workouts,” said Coach Fiskum. “He is just a great kid, with a nice work ethic who just comes out and goes hard in every drill and scrimmage. We think he is really going to be a very good contributor and make us better. We had no idea he was going to be this good when he tried out; it helps that he is really bright and attentive and picks up on things quickly.”
As for Jacobsen, he is just excited to be back and having the opportunity to get ready for a season of basketball competition. “I really like it here; the coaches and players have been great to me. Clackamas has a tremendous winning tradition and it’s easy to see why. The entire athletic staff, counselors, and all the CCC personnel really work hard to give you the opportunity to be successful. The style of play is a lot of fun and I really like the offense. I am excited to get back into playing condition and learn the CCC system better.”
“It’s really our kids that recruited him, to be honest,” said Wegner. “But honestly, if we had known how good he has turned out to be, the coaches would have been all over him. At any rate, we are sure thrilled to have him know. He just brings a lot of good qualities to the program, the team, and the school.”
October 17, 2010
Oregon City, OR -- When Mathieu Michaud was a 5 year old, he saw his first American college basketball game and was smitten; he fell in love and decided his destiny then and there. He happily shared his dream with his family: it was to someday go to America and play college basketball. Some parents might have been thrilled; his parents were amused, though not enthralled; after all this was southern France, a Mediterranean region where soccer (“futball”) was the only truly important sport and other competitive activities fell into the recreational diversion category. There were very few basketballs ever heard bouncing in that area of the continent; finding a gym or an outside court was a challenge. Opportunities for camps, clinics, and teams were extremely limited. Still, growing up, he never wavered from his dream, and continued to play the game of basketball as his first love.
Upon completing his secondary education in France, he attended Stoneridge Prep School in California, a high powered program that plays a national schedule and regularly sends players to elite division 1 basketball programs all across America. That spring, he contacted CCC about the possibility of playing for the Cougars and later that summer came to Clackamas for a visit. The Oregon terrain reminded him of part of France and the CCC players made him feel like family; his decision was easy.
Michaud made the Clackamas team last year as a freshman, but then a severe ankle injury ended his season in early December. But as soon as the season was over and he got healthy, he got back to work in the weight room and the gym, packing on 15 pounds of muscle and improving his skills and basketball IQ. He returns this season as a much more capable player.
“His work ethic is really impressive in all areas,” says Coach Wegner. “Academically, he still has to translate everything into his native French, then back to English to respond, but he is just a bulldog about staying on tasks. He always takes the full 18 credits and still has a 4.0 GPA at CCC. He’s bright, funny and entertaining; we love having him about and it’s been so great for all our other kids to get exposed to European culture and languages too.”
“He’s really been a fun kid to be around and coach,” added Coach Fiskum. “He’s gotten a lot bigger and better, so he should be a lot better prepared for this year. He’s such a great kid and a great team mate, he really adds to the program.”
“I love it here,” says Michaud. “I am living my dream and having a lot of fun. I feeling like I have another family here with my team mates and coaches. It was nice to get back here to start school again. I just want to stay healthy and play, have fun and help the team succeed.”
Michaud recently won a three term tuition scholarship for this school year to serve CCC in a promotional and organizational position to coordinate activities and services for all international students at Clackamas. It’s another big responsibility on his already full agenda, but he is looking forward to the opportunity to meet new people and help international students to succeed at CCC.
October 15, 2010
Oregon City, OR -- The Clackamas men’s basketball team has signed Paul Walter, of Skyview High School in Vancouver to a scholarship for the 2010-11 season. Walter, a 6’5 wing, was a redshirt member on last year’s squad. He was a team mate and fellow all star with CCC Cougar grad Jeff Dorman at Prairie High School for two years before transferring to Skyview his senior season. At Skyview, he was named 1st team all 4A Greater St. Helens league, one of the best of the large school conferences in Washington. He was rated as one of the top players in southwest Washington.
“Last year, Paul came to CCC as a walk on player and got a late start on things,” said head coach Clif Wegner. “He came in with some nagging injuries that set him back and made it hard for him to show us what he could do. By the time he got healthy, we had already made the decision to redshirt him. In retrospect, he could have helped us last year and he even offered to join the active roster at mid season when we were struggling; but it would not have been fair to him or the team that late.”
It may turn out pretty well for both Walter and the Cougars though. “He has made a lot of growth in many ways and he is a completely different, more mature player and person. He will come into this season a lot better prepared to compete as an NWAACC player. He’s been one of those kids that just seems to grab every opportunity to learn and improve and maximize it.”
As a redshirt member of last season’s team, Walter had a year of learning the Clackamas system and improving his strength and skills while practicing against NWAACC championship talent every day all season long. He followed that with a very good off season of working hard to prepare himself for the upcoming season. Even though he will be a freshman, he already understands how good NWAACC basketball is. He has worked hard to improve his game to that level. Balancing work, school, and basketball, he has also been an honor roll student at CCC.
“He’s a surefire NWAACC scholar athlete and then some,” said Wegner; “He’s already half way to his AA with a 3.5 GPA. He pays attention to details and picks up things pretty fast. Last season , we even gave him a few assistant coaching assignments and he really did a very thorough and professional job; at the NWAACC tournament, he helped out a lot, even did the scouting work every night until 3 am with the staff. I think it was a great learning experience for him and he certainly impressed us as someone you definitely want in the program and on the team.”
Walter has a chance to be an impact player on this year’s team; the coaches like his size, attitude, ability, and athleticism. He can rebound, play tough, physical defense, and score the ball in a lot of ways. And, after waiting a whole year, he is really ready to get going.... “I’ve been looking forward to this season every day since last year’s NWAACC championship game; it was so motivating to be a part of that and realize we have the opportunity to get to that game again; that’s what makes all the hard work worth it. I can’t wait to get started! We lost four great sophomores off last year’s team and they carried us in the championships; but we have some other guys ready to step in compete this year too.”
October 12, 2010
Oregon City, OR -- Clackamas’ hopes to repeat as NWAACC champions suffered a setback this week when Jasem Dulany, a 6’4 wing and returning letterman, decided not to return to school in the fall. Instead, he will be leaving in October and going to Saudi Arabia to live with his father.
“I can’t really explain it logically, or even get close to expressing what it is that is driving me. More than anything external, it’s this feeling inside me. I don’t want to have a mid life crises to look back the rest of my life and regret not going. I just really have a strong feeling that this is what I need to do right now. I guess it might be called a spiritual journey. And I am really looking forward to spending this time with my dad.”
Dulany will be greatly missed by the Cougars, winners of three of the last four NWAACC championships, as they attempt to defend their title this season. “For this year’s team, it’s a huge loss,” said head coach Clif Wegner. “Jasem is a winner, a very good shooter and scorer, a great kid and team mate, excellent student, and a team leader. What kind of kid is he? The kind who would drive four hours to meet with me to tell me personally about his decision; that kind of kid. He will be hard to replace; there were several games last year where he was absolutely our best wing overall. We are all disappointed not to have him with us this season, but we all totally support his decision. The chance for him to experience other cultures, religions, and peoples is something most of us never get to do; what a great educational experience!”
For now, Dulany will travel on a sixth month visa; after that, things are up in the air. “I may return then, and get back into school and ball. Or I might decide to stay longer. My team mates and coaches have been great in supporting me and trying to understand something that I can’t even explain. I will be following the team and rooting for them every game.”
Best of luck on the journey, Jasem, and a safe return someday.
Aug. 23, 2010
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Brycen Driver |
Oregon City, OR -- Oregon City High School standout Brycen Driver has accepted a basketball scholarship to continue his academic and playing career close to home.
A two-year starting point guard for coaching legend Mike Doherty at OCHS, Driver’s three varsity teams all qualified for post-season play. Driver was named to the Three Rivers 1st team both his junior and senior years and to the All State 3rd team this season.
This past season, the 6’1 playmaker averaged 13.6 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals in leading his team to the 6A Three Rivers League championship.
For Driver, his decision came down to his desire to stay close to home and the chance to win another championship. His personal goals include working hard in the classroom and in the weight room and gym and prepare himself to move on to a 4 year university. He wants to compete for a D-1 scholarship and continue to play basketball at the highest level he can.
Said Driver: “I am really looking forward to playing in a great program and working to win a championship. CCC always has really good teams and players. It will be a great opportunity to compete, get better, and have fun.”
Coach Wegner: “We are really excited to get a great local kid. He’s a really fine player and a great kid; a double win! We watched him a lot and really liked his athleticism, his ability to score the ball, and his court demeanor. He’s going to have a lot of fun playing in our system. We think he can be an outstanding player; he should make the adjustment to college basketball quite nicely. We think he has a legitimate shot to be a D-1 guard. Playing for Mike at OCHS, we know he understands the importance of hard work and attention to small details. We think he has been one of the top guards in the state the last couple of years.”
July 26, 2010
The 2010-11 schedule has been finalized for the Clackamas Cougars, defending NWAACC champions. CCC will be gunning for its third consecutive NWAACC championship and will once again play one of the most challenging dockets in the Northwest.
Highlights include the Nov. 6 NWAACC Jamboree at CCC, featuring a dozen of the top teams in the Northwest. Also a home and home set with Northern Region power Olympic.
An 8 team tournament in Spokane will bring together some of the top JC programs in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho Dec 3-5.
This year's Crossover Tournament sends the Cougars to Pendleton for another 8 team tourney. And once again, CCC will host its annual holiday tourney late December, with the tourney field again loaded with top notch teams.
July 7, 2010
Hillsboro, OR -- Clackamas CC men’s basketball coaches Paul Fiskum and Clif Wegner must really like basketball. That’s why this summer they are spending part of June and July coaching an Oregon ICE 15 and under basketball team.
The team will be playing in three northwest all star tournaments, in Hillsboro, Seattle, and Spokane. The team got off to a good start, winning all four of its games at the NorthwestHoops Tourney in Hillsboro to claim the championship of the U15 tourney.
Pictures and results at northwesthoops.com. The team is composed of players throughout the state of Oregon who were selected from a tryout at Clackamas Com
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Please join us for our next home game vs. Linn Benton on January 28th as our schools participate in Coaches vs. Cancer, a national college basketball activity to draw attention to the battle against cancer. All across the nation, coaches will be specially dressed to show our common cause. All proceeds from the game that night will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
