Sports

After impressive quarterfinal win, West Linn Boys Basketball team stumbles in the stretch

Ben Jacobs
March 23, 2012

Two Three Rivers League superpowers met at the Rose Garden March 9, and both The West Linn Lions (22-7, 9-1 TRL) and the Lake Oswego Lakers’ (22-6, 9-1 TRL) looked to settle a season-long score.

Calvin Hermanson, junior, scored the first eight points for L.O. The Lakers never looked back as they defeated the Lions 67-45 to knock West Linn out of the playoffs and edge them in the season series, 2-1.

Hermanson’s scoring would continue to be the story of the game as the junior went 4-4 from three point and finished with a game high 32 points. Hermanson’s hot hand spread throughout his team as the Lakers went 9-14 from three and made 22 of their 39 shots. Mitch Cokley, senior, led the way for the Lions with 15 points.

On March 8 the Lions met the Central Catholic Rams (22-6,9-1 Mt. Hood Conference) at the Rose Garden and defeated the Mt. Hood Conference champions, 56-41.

Ryan Shearmire, sophomore, led the way for the Lions with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Hayden Coppedge, sophomore, poured in 12 points and Anthony Mathis, freshman, added 11 points. The Lions defense was stifling and held the Rams to a measly 29 percent shooting from the field. David Brakebush, senior, led the Rams in scoring with 14. This win propelled the Lions into the semi-finals to play rival Lake Oswego.

In the third place consolation game the North Medford Black Tornados (24-4, 10-2 Southern Conference) held off a late rally to beat the Lions 58-53. Oshea Bailey, junior, scored 13 for the Black Tornados and had a clutch assist to Trey Garfas, who would knock down a tie breaking three with 2:30 left in the fourth. Shearmire would top all scorers with 21 points, grabbing six rebounds and blocking two shots for the Lions. At the end of the tournament, Shearmire was named to first team all tournament team. He was the only sophomore to make either the first or second teams. Cokley also made the second team.

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About the Contributor

Ben Jacobs, Co-Editor-in-Chief

“College baseball? I think about it every day but if it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t,” Ben Jacobs, senior said. Jacobs has been playing baseball since he was just five years old. Whether it’s playing baseball, football, fishing or backpacking Jacobs is always busy doing what he loves. Besides being very intelligent he is also a quick worker and has a passion for writing. Those attributes and the fact that he loves sports make him a great co-editor in chief for the Amplifier. Jacobs joined the Amplifier after being inspired by his cousin, a journalist at ESPN. Jacobs also hopes to become an athletics journalist or broadcaster, blending his love of sports and passion for writing. He would love to attend University of Washington in Seattle, Wash. due to its journalism program and sports programs. Not only does Jacobs love school, but he loves his family too. He especially admires his grandfather, “because he always supports me through thick and thin. He is so easy to talk to we’ll be talking for hours and it will just feel like a few minutes. Also he loves sports as much as I do” Jacobs said. However, he is not fully aware of the extent of his family roots and he hopes to travel to Russia to fully understand his ties. To meet his goal of going to Washington University Jacobs is taking two AP classes: he also has sports practice every day after school. When taking a break from school he enjoys fishing and backpacking on the weekends with his brothers Max, seventh grade, and Sam a sophomore. “It’s a great way to relax from the stress of school and sports” he said. Hoping to achieve his goals, Jacobs has worked hard throughout his career in both school and sports. Look forward to seeing Ben Jacobs announce the big game someday.