Joseph Vance battles through the lane for a hoop. by Marcea Palmer

Thanks to some hard work and great team-play the Linn-Benton men’s basketball team is off to a fast start in league play. The team is clicking on all cylinders right now and pushing toward a division title.

A 4-1 start to league play has the RoadRunners one game behind Mt. Hood in the Southern division of the NWAAC, setting up a big showdown this Saturday, when the team travels to Mt. Hood to face their division foe.

After last Saturday’s big win against I-5 rival Chemeketa, the team is riding high and looking like a team that is gelling at the right time.

“We are understanding ourselves better as a team and are more confident in the way we play,” Head Coach Randy Falk said of his team’s recent performances.

The team has been playing at a high level on defense, only giving up an average of 74.8 points per game, while scoring at an average of 86.4 points per game. Sophomore Joe Vance currently leads the team in scoring with 18.3 points a game, also the 11th best in the Southern division.

“We know we can win. We should be in the top of our league. We feel we can compete and beat the guys at the top,” Sophomore Josh Garlington said about his team.