It was a rough end to 2023 for Linn-Benton’s men’s basketball team at the Clackamas Holiday Tournament last week. The Beaks dropped all three of their games, falling to Edmonds, Highline, and Green River to drop to .500 on the season.
On December 28, Linn-Benton faced 8-3 Edmonds. The game was a close one with a number of lead changes, but Edmonds ultimately won 86-84 on a layup with two minutes left. For the game, freshman Cade Smith led the Beaks in points with 24, although two of his teammates, TJ Zimmermann and Liam Spencer, also broke 20. Zimmermann captured the team lead in rebounds with 13.
The next day, the Beaks faced 7-4 Highline, falling 103-91. Sophomore guard Davion Burdette led the team with 24 points off the bench, but the Roadrunners ultimately weren’t able to keep up with Highline’s high-scoring offense.
On the 29th, the final day of the tournament, the Roadrunners took on 11-3 Green River. Linn-Benton managed to outscore the Gators in the second half 43-42, but Green River still managed to emerge with a victory thanks to their dominant first half, winning the game 89-79. Zimmermann led the team in points with 24, and like the other two tournament games, he also had the most rebounds with 10.
Linn-Benton’s three-game skid is their worst losing streak of the young season, dropping the Beaks from 6-3 to 6-6 to start the new year. However, the team will have a chance to get back on the right track this week as they begin league play. On Wednesday, January 3, the Linn-Benton men take on Umpqua at home at 7:30 p.m. in their lone game this week.
Linn-Benton’s women’s team, which currently sits at 8-2, didn’t have any games last week. Like the men’s team, they too will begin league play against Umpqua at home this week, with their matchup tipping off at 5:30 p.m. in what will be a big Wednesday night for LBCC athletics.