The Linn-Benton men’s basketball team took on the 8-9 Lane Titans on January 24. It was the usual 7:30 p.m. home game for the team, but there was something extra special about this particular occasion. As the crowd was informed over the PA system before the game, Linn-Benton’s volleyball team would be honored at halftime as their 2023 NWAC Championship banner was revealed.
After the tip-off, the Linn-Benton men took an early lead, up 16-8 with 13 minutes left in the first half. However, Lane came storming back on a 12-0 run to take the lead 16-20. The Titans continued to grow their advantage, hitting a three-point shot whenever the Beaks came close. As a result, the Titans held the lead at halftime, entering the locker room up 34-45.
Despite the home team being down by 11, the energy returned to the crowd as the Linn-Benton volleyball team lined up on the court. Their team achievements were read out – winning a third straight NWAC title, a 100-2-3 record over that span, and a 3.19 department GPA – before each player and coach was introduced to the crowd along with their achievements.
No player had a longer list of accolades than sophomore middle blocker Grace Boeder, who was named NWAC Athlete of the Year, NWAC South Volleyball MVP, NWAC Volleyball Tournament MVP, and an AVCA All-American after her excellent 2023 season. Boeder will be taking her talents to Corban University for the 2024 season.
However, no one drew louder cheers than head volleyball coach Jayme Frazier, the architect behind the school’s dominant run over the past few seasons. Frazier was also honored by the AVCA in 2023 as the West Region Coach of the Year. She eclipsed 700 career wins last year.
As the crowd cheered, the team gathered on the west side of the Activities Center to reveal the NWAC Championship banner for their undefeated 2023 season. The banner can now be seen hanging alongside the similar displays for the team’s 2022 and 2021 seasons.
After the ceremony, the basketball teams retook the court. There was a new energy in the Activities Center as the second half began, with the crowd getting into it and louder chants of DE-FENSE from the home bench. The Beaks responded with a 5-0 run and two takeaways to start the half.
However, the Titans soon struck back with another three-pointer, with Lane taking a 39-51 lead. Over much of the remaining half, the Titans held on to a lead of around 10 points on average, never completely taking the Beaks out of the game but maintaining a steady advantage.
With just over five minutes left in the game, the Roadrunners, down 60-70, went on a 9-0 run, with freshman Michael Lundy scoring on a layup and drawing a foul with a chance to tie the game on the resulting free throw. There was a noticeable shift in momentum as the Beaks had their first chance at drawing even with the Titans since early in the first half.
Lundy missed the shot. But he secured the rebound and passed to sophomore T.J. Zimmermann, who made the layup to give the Beaks their first lead of the half.
The Beaks managed to hold onto the lead for most of the remaining minutes of the half, with freshman Micah Young hitting the team’s last point of the night on a free throw to grow LB’s lead to 86-81 with 18 seconds remaining.
Lane hit two shots late to cut the deficit to one, but by then it was too late. The Beaks completed the comeback, walking out of the Activities Center with a thrilling 86-85 victory.
For the game, Zimmermann led the team with 15 rebounds and 24 points, although Lundy and sophomore Bennett Bos weren’t far behind with 19 points and 18 points, respectively. Freshman Cedric Barnes added 14 rebounds.
With the win, the LB men now sit at 8-7 on the season, with a 2-1 record in the NWAC South. They next take the court against Chemeketa on the road on January 27 at 4 p.m.