After both LBCC basketball teams went undefeated in the first week of February, the Beaks crashed back down to earth, going a combined 2-4 last week. 

Linn-Benton did start the week off with a win, with the women’s basketball team winning a 63-62 thriller against a strong 17-3 Portland team on February 12. Both teams were tied 45-45 entering the fourth quarter, and the nail-biting action continued through the final 10 minutes. Down one point with two seconds left, sophomore Laney Snelling scored on a layup to give the Beaks the winning score. 

Freshman Natalia McBride led the team with 19 points, while freshman Katelynn Weaver recorded a team-best nine rebounds. 

However, the LBCC men were unable to keep the winning streak going, falling 113-80 against Portland’s 17-4 men’s team. Sophomore Bennet Bos led the team with 14 points. Portland was one of the few teams this season to be able to contain Beaks star T.J. Zimmermann, but he still came away with a team-best six rebounds. 

Just two days later, the Beaks took the court again, with the LBCC women facing off against the 17-4 Clackamas Cougars, falling 65-43. The Beaks were outscored in the first two quarters but kept it close, but a third quarter in which the Cougars outscored LBCC 21-3 all but guaranteed the final result. McBride led the team in points and rebounds, with 14 and eight, respectively. 

The LBCC men took the court next and were able to fight to a close victory against the 14-9 Cougars. Down six at halftime, the Beaks rallied in the second half to gain the 77-74 victory. Zimmermann led the team in points with 18 and rebounds with nine. 

On the 14th, Zimmermann received more good news, as he was announced as the NWAC Player of the Week for his efforts in the prior week, from February 5-11. You can read more about the award here on the NWAC’s website. 

On the 17th, both teams rematched against Portland. This time, the LBCC women weren’t able to win, falling 72-65. One bright spot in the loss was Natalia McBride, who recorded a career-best 25 points, leading the team. She also led the Beaks in rebounds again with seven. McBride continues to step up for the Beaks as a point-scorer, as the team lost star guard Muriel Jones-Hoisington to a likely season-ending injury in early February. 

On only their second multi-game losing streak of the season, the LBCC women sit at 14-7 at the end of the week, with a 6-5 record in conference play. As the sixth-seeded team in the NWAC South at the moment, LBCC still has a slim chance at making the top four required for a postseason seed. They’ll next take the court on February 21 on the road against Clark at 5:30 p.m. 

The LBCC men played next on the 17th, also falling to Portland with a score of 90-87. It was a loss, but a much improved showing from the Beaks after falling to Portland by 33 less than a week earlier. Zimmermann once again led the team in points and rebounds, with 23 and 12, respectively. 

The LBCC men are now 12-11 on the season at the end of the week, with a 6-5 conference record. As the fourth-seeded team in the NWAC South, the team still has a good chance at a postseason seed if they can keep their spot in the standings. Like the women’s team, the LBCC men will next play against Clark on the 21st. For them, tip-off will start at 7:30 p.m. 

Beaks Baseball Season Begins

February 17 may have marked the end of the week for LBCC basketball, but it was just the beginning for Beaks baseball. 

The Beaks split their season-opening series with Columbia Basin, with each team winning two games. The first two games occurred on the 17th, with the Beaks winning the opening game 6-1 but falling 9-2 in the following matchup. The next day, Columbia Basin won first, 4-1, but the Beaks closed out the series with a 11-1 win. 

Pitchers Ethan Kleinschmit and Ever Lamm each earned a win on the week. Over the four games, sophomore catcher Evan Chadwick recorded a team-best .625 average, while freshman Jake Dodge and Kace Naone each recorded home runs. 

Beaks baseball will next take the field in their home opener against Clark on Saturday, February 24. The first game will begin at 11 a.m.