Christian Cavanaugh is leading the Owls scoring attack with 18.4 ppg (Photo by Kelly Caleb)
Owls Set to Host Midland Empire Liberty Northwest Tournament
Klamath Falls, Ore. – The Midland Empire Liberty Northwest Tournament is set to start this weekend with two of the top NAIA teams in this year’s field. Participating schools include Southern Oregon University of the Cascade Conference, Bethany Bruins of the Cal Pac Conference, NAIA Division-I No. 4 ranked Lee University Flames of Southern States Athletic Conference, and the home team, NAIA Division-II No. 1 ranked Oregon Tech Hustlin’ Owls.
Lee University of Cleveland, TN finished 33-2 last season and comes to Klamath Falls carrying a perfect 5-0 season record. Lee has made three recent trips to the NAIA D.I National Tournament, advancing to the “Elite Eight” last year. The Flames lost four starters from last year’s team but picked up two NCAA Division I transfers to go with returnees Paco Diaw, Harold Griffin and Desmond Blue. The Flames have three players averaging double figures with Elmar Kuli-Zade leading the way at 14.8 ppg. Nate Minnoy is averaging 11.6 points and 6.6 rebounds followed by Harold Griffin’s 10.6 points and a team leading 8.4 rebounds.
Bethany University finished a disappointing 2-29 last season but have already tied their win total from 2007-08. With wins over NAIA I Hope International and Walla Walla College the Bruins enter this week at 2-2 overall. The Bruins return leading scorer and rebounder in Greg Golden (16.8 ppg / 8.6 rpg) and Imhotet Amen-Ra (9.2 ppg). Newcomers who are making an impact are Kenny Thompson (13.2 ppg / 7.8 rpg) followed by Alfred Anderson (7.8 ppg) and Dominique Dunham (11.5 ppg).
Southern Oregon enters the week 1-1 on the season, including a 76-60 win at Pacific Union College while dropping a 68-66 contest to No. 21 ranked Dominican University. SOU was picked 8th in the preseason coaches’ poll after coming off a 10-20 overall finish in 2007-08. The Raiders key returnees include Eli Thornton (13.5 ppg), Josh McDermott (8.5 ppg) and Kory Mahr (7.1 ppg). Averaging in double-digits this year are newcomers Jarrad Childs (12.0 ppg / 4.5 rpg) and Humphrey Jackson (11.5 ppg).
Oregon Tech is the preseason No. 1 ranked team in NAIA D.II and is coming off their second NAIA II National Championship in 2007-08. The Hustlin’ Owls are currently 5-0 on the season heading into this week’s action. Christian Cavanaugh is leading the Owls scoring attack (18.4 ppg / 6.6 rpg) followed by Justin Parnell (16.0 ppg / 7.2 rpg / 6.6 apg) and Jguwon Hogges (14.8 ppg). Josh Wetzler is the Owls top rebounder averaging 9.4 rebounds while dropping in 8.4 ppg. Good luck to all the teams and enjoy the 2008 Midland Empire Liberty Northwest Tournament.
No. 4 ranked Lee University will face Southern Oregon University Friday at 5:30 p.m. while host Oregon Tech will take on Bethany University of Scotts Valley, CA at 7:30 p.m. It will be Southern Oregon and Bethany matched up in the 5:30 game on Saturday, before No. 1 ranked Oregon Tech and No. 4 ranked Lee University will go head-to-head at 7:30 p.m. This game has been touted as one of the premier NAIA match-ups during the 2008-09 season. The Oregon Tech games can be heard live on 92.5 KLAD-FM in Klamath Falls, OR and on the World Wide Web at oitsports.com starting at 7:00pm each night with the Danny Miles Show and play by play with Bobby Thompson and Mike Garrard.