Linn Benton Basketball Update- 1/15

     Linn Benton fell just a little short of pulling off a comeback against Umpqua Jan. 14, losing 90-81.

    The game started out as a back and forth affair before a mini-Riverhawks scoring outburst saw them jump out to a 15 point halftime lead. The Beaks seemed like they were really clawing back into things in the second half, pulling within five points at the ten minute mark.

    However, Umpqua would take back control of the contest, and the teams more or less went shot for shot down the stretch, meaning LB just couldn’t dig themselves out of a constant ten to 15 point deficit.

    As per usual, the Beaks' offense was working through freshman forward Anthony Best, who led the team with 24 points, to go along with eight rebounds. Fellow freshman Kaiden Ford was also doing everything he could to try and provide the scoring the team needed to try and make something happen, not really getting to his spots on the court like he usually does, but finding ways to put his fingerprints all over the box score, finishing with 19 points, on a staggering 9-11 from the free throw line.

    Perhaps the biggest detriment to the team in the loss was an uncharacteristically sluggish performance from the bench, the unit combining for an unimpressive 8 points, shooting 2-11 from the field.

    Freshman point guard Braxton Long was able to continue his stretch of great defensive outings, really stepping up to lead the team on that end of the court with 3 steals and 3 blocks, respectively. Him, combined with Best and Ford have made for an exciting trio for the team this season. And it’s no surprise that there’s so much chemistry there, Long and Best having played together at Sprague High School. 

    This loss makes LB 0-2 on their short two game road trip to open away conference games, as they also suffered a loss to Portland 84-77 on Jan. 10. 

    Perhaps the biggest question going forward for the team is size, being one of the smaller teams in the NWAC has had its advantages and disadvantages for the team thus far. But teams like Mt. Hood, who the Beaks play on Martin Luther King Jr. day, have multiple starters taller than anyone on LB’s roster, so it will be interesting to see the strategies implored by head coach Todd Zimmerman to try and steal conference wins against teams like that. One thing’s for sure, the Beaks will live and die by their extremely quick, unselfish and gritty style of play, and at the very least, that's always going to produce some enjoyable basketball to watch.

    Now sitting at a 7-9 record, 1-2 in conference play, this next stretch of games become crucial, especially at home in their next game, Saturday against Clackamas.