Knights Clamp Down on SOU
PORTLAND, Ore. – Warner Pacific used a suffocating zone defense to frustrate all would-be scorers in a 80-42 rout of #15 Southern Oregon tonight to complete a perfect 2-0 weekend in Cascade Conference play.
The Basics
• Score: Warner Pacific 80, Southern Oregon 42
• Records: WPC (9-2, 2-0 CCC), SOU (11-2, 1-1 CCC)
• Location: C.C. Perry Gym, Portland, Ore.
• The Short Story: The host Knights opened the game with a 9-0 run on the way to an insurmountable 43-19 halftime lead and eventually a decisive win over Southern Oregon. Though SOU responded to the opening salvo with a 7-0 run of their own, WP scored the next 11 points and were not challenged again. The Raiders never found a solution to the Knight defense, hitting just 32% of their field goal attempts and committing 20 turnovers. On the other hand, the Knights fired away at a 55% clip including a 10 of 22 effort from three point range.
How it Happened
• After trading blows in the first few minutes, Warner Pacific quickly ran out to a 20 point advantage (35-15)
• Doug Thomas splashed a trey with 1:14 showing on the clock to extend the lead out to 26 points.
• A layup from Jordan West at the halftime buzzer gave the Raiders some solace, and West was a bright spot with nine points in the period.
• SOU tried to stay within shouting distance in the second half, and a pair of interior baskets from Brennan Rakoz - the second with 11:53 to play - cut the WP lead back to 54-32.
• A 13-0 run from the Knights over the next four minutes capped by Keaton Bankofier steal and layup put the contest out of reach.
Notable
• Coletun Tarr lead WP with 20 points and was on the receiving end of many of Josh Black's eight assists.
• Ryan Parks came off the bench to add 14 points including four three pointers.