Chelsey Christensen Named Player of the Week

Umpqua alumni Chelsey Christensen, a 5-9 junior who is now playing at Warner Pacific University has been named the Cascade Conference's Women’s Basketball Player of the Week. Christensen, WPU's leading scorer and rebounder totaled 38 points and 16 rebounds in a pair of victories over the weekend.

After averaging 6 points a game at Central Catholic High School, Christensen averaged 9 points a game as a freshman at Umpqua and then 23 points as a sophomore. She holds the Umpqua and NWAACC Championship Tournament records for most three point shots made in a single game with 11.

One of the runner ups for the Cascade Conference's Player of the Week was Southern Oregon University post player Cassandra Tiggett, also an Umpqua alumni, who recorded 23 points and 15 rebounds in her game last Saturday.

Congratulations to both players! UCC is proud of you!!

Last Van Ride Of The Season

It's been an emotional few days around here. As we drove back from playing in the NWAACC All Star Game last Sunday, Kristi Fallin sat in the front seat while Cassandra and Mykie slept on the seats behind us and we talked for hours about how hard she's worked and improved over the last two years and then speculated about what the future holds for all of us. Kristi realized and pointed out that the whole trip was one full of "lasts" - the last time wearing her Umpqua uniform, the last time riding in the van, the last time playing with her Umpqua teammates, the last time listening to Jimmy Buffett off my MP3 player, the last time reminding me to wear my glasses while driving, the last time stopping at the Eugene AM/PM etc. etc. Usually we all hate riding in the van this time of year but this time neither one of us was in a hurry for the trip to end.

I really appreciated Titi (Hawaii), Mykie (California), Cassandra, and Cassie (Idaho) all stopping by the office to say goodbye before heading home for spring break. I know they were busy and also very anxious to get home but they still took the time out to come see me before they left. And then knowing that Linda and I would worry about them while travelling, TiTi, Mykie, and Cassie all let us know as soon as they arrived safely. They're basketball players inside the gym and family the rest of the time!

Follow the link below and check out some action shots of the girls:
http://www.photoreflect.com/pr3/ThumbPage.aspx?e=4577181&g=03&s=0

29-3 But I Wish We Were Just Starting

I'm not real sure where to begin. At the NWAACC Championship Tournament we played very well against Bellevue, Lower Columbia, and Clackamas while capturing wins number 27, 28, and 29 but it was an entirely different story in our game against Skagit Valley. I don't want to go into great detail because it still hurts to even think about it, but it's safe to say that a six minute scoring draught undoubtedly cost us a shot at win number 30 and a perfect ending to an already awesome season. On the positive side, I guess it says a lot about our overall program when we can finish 29-3 and still be somewhat disappointed!!

Miranda Holenstein sent me a text telling me that she started crying after it suddenly occurred to her that there was no practice today. She said that the things in practice that she thought she "hated" the most are really the things that she already misses the most. It just seems like we should all be together preparing for the next game but instead we just mentally and physically wandered around. For the first time in weeks I didn't watch game tape today.

I do get to watch some of our players get after it one more time this season: Kristi Fallin, Cassie Scheffelmaier, Miranda Holenstein, TiTi Takai, and Cassandra Tiggett have all been selected to play in the NWAACC Sophomore All Star Game next Sunday at Pierce College in Lakewood, WA. Only once before have five players from the same school made the All Star team and coincidently that was our 2000 Umpqua team. This year our players and the other Southern Region All Stars will take on a team from the Northern Region.

The above picture was taken at the NWAACC championship banquet. I might be a little biased but I thought our girls were the classiest looking team there! Good looking, sharp dressers, and the ability to score 90 points a game. . .what more could we ask for? (Except to win just one more game!)

"Wendy" Takai

Generally speaking we're all tired this time of year. So much so that players and coaches alike seemingly drag themselves out of bed, throw on some sweats (hopefully they are semi clean but not always a pre-requisite) and head to school. Fashion and appearance are rarely huge priorities! So when Titi Takai took the time to fix her hair and showed up to school in pigtails we all took notice and couldn't help but clown on her a little bit. My first thought was she looked like Pippi Longstocking and Mykie started calling her Pocohontas. But the funniest response came from Cassandra, who is always hungry and so immediately nicknamed her Wendy after the hamburger icon. Knowing Cassandra like we do, we're all convinced that every time she looked at Titi throughout the rest of practice, she started craving a Triple Bacononator with Biggie Fries and a Frosty!

Great Weekend - Lousy 22 Seconds!!

It's amazing how 22 seconds can ruin your whole weekend!! After beating Bellevue and Columbia Basin in the first two rounds, we tipped off against Yakima Valley CC in the championship game of the Yakima Tournament. With 22 seconds to go and the score tied at 80 we turned the ball over before we could get off the shot we wanted. Yakima immediately called timeout and set up a play to go to their best scorer. We successfully stopped their first option, but in the mad scramble that followed, they fired up a deep, deep 3 that beat us. Kristi Fallin finished the game with 31 pts and 11 rebounds while Cassandra Tiggett grabbed 17 rebounds and Mykiea Russell added 11 points but the loss definitely made the long trip home even longer!

Yakima Valley CC is a very good team that was picked by many in the preseason to win the always strong NWAACC Eastern Region. Playing Yakima at Yakima is especially tough but we certainly didn't help our own cause by committing 31 turnovers and missing 14 free throws. We'll continue to work hard and get better, as I'm sure Yakima will, and maybe we'll see each other again in March.

A special thanks to Andy & Kathy Owens for taking the team to dinner while Linda and I stayed in the gym to watch and scout other games. Running a first class program is a huge endeavor and we're always grateful for those parents, friends, and fans that go out of their way to help us. Thank you very much!!