WBB: Northwest Conference

[hoopnut]

Could you please pass the tabasco for that crow? Wow, the GFU/UPS game was certainly entertaining, if not a little disappointing in the outcome. UPS opened strong, then GFU came back to tie, and the loggers had a 2 point lead at the half. Second half , the bruins slowly opened a lead of 8 points, then in the last few minutes, the loggers closed down to 2 points. GFU had the ball with 14 seconds and 9 seconds on the shot clock, then UPS fouled on the inbounds play. GFU goes to the line for 1 and 1, and misses. UPS rebound, gets to the front court and calls time out. On the inbounds, loggers get two lay in opertunities, but neither drops. ( Almost ended up being another Linfeild for GFU). No this one was definately not a fluke. Anytime you have a game down to the wire, there are all kinds of woulda, coulda, shoulda things going through everyone's head, but it was a great game. I'm pretty sure these teams will meet again in post season. I'd still bet on the loggers in that meeting, since there are still a few adjustment they can make, (still giving too many open 3 point opertunities to their opponents).

Congratulations to GFU.  Like Swiss says, it going to be an interesting 3 weeks, with some tough games coming up. Everyone will need to play well to get past PLU.

[arforbes]

hoopnut,  The game was way too close to require using any tobasco.  It seems that both teams played well and neither has anything to be embarressed about.  We just all like to win!!
You have your big challenge this PM, GFU has the eastside trip this weekend.  I doubt that it will remain a tie when the week is over, I just don't have a great feel for who will be in the lead.  Regardless, the twin wins over UPS gives GFU a tiebreaker against any other team we would be tied with for any position in the playoffs, as long as Linfield doesn't go on a terror and tie us.  That is at least comforting.  I feel much more comfortable with this years team based more on defense than in the past.
Soo, if UPS closes out the 3-point line against GFU next time, don't you think that would open up the middle for the GFU posts who have had some extrememly good games this year?

[hoopnut]

Another GREAT NWC game last night in Tacoma. (I personnally liked the outcome of this one considerably more than Saturday's game.)

Just my opinion, but I'd love to see a match up between the posts from GFU and UPS. I'm pretty sure UPS would have the edge, just based on depth of the bench if nothing else. The most interesting thing I saw in the last GFU/UPS match up was in the last couple minutes, (when UPS went on it 7-0 run), was intense man to man defense by UPS. Seems to work well, I'll bet it will be more liberally used in the future.

[swiss]

Just my opinion, but I'd love to see a match up between the posts from GFU and UPS. I'm pretty sure UPS would have the edge, just based on depth of the bench if nothing else.

The statlines of the last game (I haven't checked the first contest) just don't support your contention Hoopnut.  Campbell, Marek-Farris, and Kuenze combined for 12-25 with 30 points and 23 boards.  Chase, Cain & Roberts were 6-23 with 17 pts and 15 boards.  I'm not sure who all you consider your "posts" but insert whoever you want and I think you come up short.

The most interesting thing I saw in the last GFU/UPS match up was in the last couple minutes, (when UPS went on it 7-0 run), was intense man to man defense by UPS. Seems to work well, I'll bet it will be more liberally used in the future.

That may have had more to do with the personnel on the floor than it did with the full court pressure.  So... your point is debatable but I will admit that the Bruins didn't handle the pressure well during that stretch.  If you think pressure will do it then I hope they bring it on.  I don't think UPS can maintain the pressure effectively and that Behary, Taylor, and Gardner would ultimately exploit it.  Arforbes is right about the shutting down the 3 point line as the stats made clear.  So the Loggers best hope is to try to shut down the inside and hope that the Bruin outside shooters go cold.  UPS will have to match Fox with their own shooting like they did in the first half (45.5%) as opposed to the second half (28.6%).

[hoopnut]

Swiss,

what the box score doesn't show is who was doing what when. offensively, on the GFU side, Campbell had a pretty productive game, Cain didn't do a great job of shutting her down that night. But if you see what Marek-Farris did when Chase was in the game, you'll see that she scored 1 basket on a put back and one free throw. The rest of her points came when she was guarded by Adderly or Harter. UPS really didn't have much trouble with Kuenze. Chase was sub-par from the free throw line that night, 4 for 8. her normal average is 75%, so she was off 2 points. (I'm having a hard time seeing how GFU defense can claim credit for her missing free throws). If Chase stays on Marek-Farris the whole game, I see her total points dropping to 6.

The point I was realy trying to make is that if pressure was put on the outside shooters, one of two things would happen, either they would continue to shoot, and miss a higher % of shots, or they would pass off to the posts and inside shots would be taken. I don't think you'd see a significantly greater number of total shots taken. Therefore, let's assume that the total number of 3 point shots GFU made was feduced by to the number that UPS made, and that the four 3 point baskets ended up being 2 point scores by the posts. That's a 4 point swing, andi it's game UPS. 

I have a hard time believing that the UPS coaching staff is not aware of these potential adjustments, and will use them when the game really counts. Fortunately, it looks like there's a pretty good chance the teams will meet at least one more time. I'm betting on UPS at that point.

[swiss]

I'm betting on UPS at that point.

I'm betting you'll be wrong once again. 

As for Chase, I know you're high on her, understandably, and she is a very good post.  But if you go back to game one between the two you'll see the Melevator (Mark-Ferris) had 15 pts on 7 for 8 shooting with 9 boards.  Chase had 14 pts on 6 for 16 shooting and 10 boards.  The two games taken together hardly make your case for the dominance of Chase.  But, I'm sure both teams would love a chance to play each other again and hopefully they will.

[Pump Fake]

Been sitting back and watching for awhile. A Logger fan all the way, I have to disagree with hoopnut regarding the match-up between Fox and UPS. Fox has 2 of the most talented posts in the league and UPS has their hands full with the inside outside game of the Bruins. If you are going to look at stats to predict who wins the post battle Marek-Farris wins all the way. She is shooting over 50% from the field, making the most of every possession and is consistently scoring and rebounding.

A re-match between the teams will obviously come down to defense, as both teams have shown they have scoring power. I don't think that guarding the Bruins 3-ball automatically opens up the inside. The Loggers shouldn't be doubling down on the posts no matter what defense they are in so guarding the 3-ball shouldn't change the inside game.

With the games that George Fox has left they are in the drivers seat to win the conference. Hopefully for the Bruins Linfield doesn't make a run for third place. In the end though, stats look good on paper and it will come down to who shows up to play (defense).

[wildcat11]

Good job 'Cats!  Just finished with a sweep of the Whits.  Way to bounce back from the PLU slapping. The race for 3rd is going to be tight.  Huge game next Friday with the Pios.

[swiss]

Lots of interesting possibilities going into the final weekend.  Although I didn't check all the tiebreakers, it looks like four teams have a shot at the third playoff spot.  No one seems to have an easy road.  Linfield plays UPS at home and goes to Pacific.  The Pios have to play UPS at home and then finish at Fox.   Whitworth will play at Whitman on Tuesday night and then finish at home against Willamette.  PLU plays at Fox and then at Pacific to close out their regular season.  And, I suppose it is still possible for Whitman to win against Whitworth and Willamette in their final two games setting up the possibility for a five-way tie for third (L&C and Linfield would have to lose their remaining two and Whitworth and PLU split the final two games).  I'm glad I'm not the person figuring out the tiebreakers.

It should be a great week of basketball.  Good luck to all.

[swiss]

OK Wildcat11... give us a prediction on whether Linfield is ready to force a showdown in Newberg on Saturday.  I suspect that Miller Gym will be rockin' if that should happen. 

What will they need to do to beat UPS in Tacoma (besides scoring more points, that is).  Give us the scouting report.

[arforbes]

I just had a wonderful weekend in Newberg, and got to watch both  Bruin games.  Marek-Ferris is truly amazing, with some great moves.  Kuenzi used a jump crossover on a fast break that left the PLU defender scratching her head and wondering where her shorts went.  After watching the intensity of both games, my first of the season, I was quite impressed with the Bruins.  Of course, I am not the least bit biased.  I was truly impressed by the way Scott and his great assistant coaches have the team playing with intense defense and an apparent superb chemistry to combine with very good offensive skills deep into the bench.
It should be a great week of B-ball, and I am a little jealous of you who will get to see it.  Swiss, yell a little cheer for me.  I will be back in Wyoming trying to follow on the net.

[wildcat11]

OK Wildcat11... give us a prediction on whether Linfield is ready to force a showdown in Newberg on Saturday.  I suspect that Miller Gym will be rockin' if that should happen. 

What will they need to do to beat UPS in Tacoma (besides scoring more points, that is).  Give us the scouting report.

It's a tall task to take out the Loggers on their court.  We have to def. rebound better and try to limit their 2nd opps.  If Burgoyne, Lassiter, and Stepan can be effictive from the field then we'll have a shot at the end.

UPS is very well coached and with a lot of size...either way I'm proud of the way the 'Cats have played the second half of the season.  Tons of effort and moxie...even if Rueck thinks Linfield has a 2nd football team on campus.

[chickenjuggler]

So if there's enough interest, I could be talked into lugging my laptop into the upper regions of the George Fox bleachers to blog or post regular updates of Saturday night's championship game.

Lemme know.

[Pat Coleman]

Well, I for myself would be interested.

[swiss]

For Pat or anyone else who is interested in a taste of Bruin Basketball check out this web site where you will find a couple of videos of the George Fox team.  One video (BruinMania) contains highlights of their game with PLU earlier in the year.  The other vid (Bruin Celebration) is of the team celebrating after their last regular season game when they clinched the co-championship of the Northwest Conference.  It's pretty cool.

web.mac.com/psyhub