Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PANTHER FLASH: Big promotions for basketball coming up

Photos and story by James Hill

Every remaining home game is a celebration in honor of the fans, players, and coaches! On Feb. 15, join staff and students for the Jammin’ 95.5 Street Team halftime party during the men’s basketball game.On Feb. 18, the teams will be celebrating Humboldt Neighborhood Appreciation Day where community members get free admission with a coupon from the Humboldt Neighborhood Association and selected neighborhood businesses!On March 1, the last game of the regular season will feature the Jammin’ 95.5 Street Team in attendance again to pump up the music and the crowd! “If you have never been to a game, there is no better time than the present to see what everyone is talking about,” said Athletic Director Karl Eastthorp. “And, remember, to wear blue on game days.”UPCOMING GAMESSaturday, February 11: PCC Women and Men at Linn-Benton Community College, 4 and 6 p.m., Albany, OR.Wednesday, February 15: PCC Women and Men vs. Clackamas Community College, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. (JAMMIN 95.5 STREET TEAM HALFTIME PARTY), Cascade Campus Gym.Saturday, February 18: PCC Women and Men vs. Southwestern Oregon Community College, 4 and 6 p.m., Cascade Campus Gym.GAMES LAST WEEKPCC Women 73, #6 Umpqua Community College 87, Saturday, February 4:PCC’s 1-2 punch of Krystal Saling and Meghan Ainsworth was not enough to counter the play of the #6 Umpqua Timberwomen in an 87-73 loss. Umpqua’s consistency doomed the Panthers, as they shot 50% in each half. However, PCC only had 9 turnovers overall, and was able to keep it close for much of the game, as it was just a 6-point margin with 4 minutes remaining in the game. Ainsworth was 7 for 11 from the field and 6 for 6 from the free throw line for 20 points, while Saling continued to put up big numbers with 27 points. Umpqua’s Moaela Williams had 24 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in the win.#12 PCC Men 72, Umpqua Community College 75, Saturday, February 4:The PCC Panthers fell out of a playoff spot with a 75-72 loss to a team they had already beaten easily twice this season. This time, the Umpqua Timbermen came ready to play, and a hard-fought, close game was the result. A Lamarcus Stuart lob to Clint Adell for a ferocious dunk gave the Panthers a 4-point lead with 12 minutes left in the first half. However, Umpqua’s Seth Bauman hit a shot near the end of the half to give the Timbermen a 1 point lead at the half. The game offered 24 lead changes and 12 ties, the last tie coming with 2 minutes remaining in the game when John Berger (21 points) hit a shot while fouled to even it up. The ensuing free throw by Berger gave Umpqua the lead for good. Malik Parker-Hill scored with a minute left to give the Timbermen a 3 point lead. PCC had four shots in the final minute to get back into the game, but all four missed the mark in the exciting conclusion to an exciting game.PCC Women 71, Chemeketa Community College 86, Wednesday, February 1:Jordan Murphy led the Chemeketa Storm to a big win over the PCC Panthers in regular season action in Salem, OR. Murphy hit all 11 of her free throws on her way to 24 points and 7 rebounds. PCC led much of the first half, but Chemeketa started a 15-2 run with 4 minutes left in the first half to grab the lead for good. The Panthers were able to score 10 points in a row to cut a 14 point Storm lead down to just 4 points in the second half, but a second Chemeketa run (30-14) sealed the victory. Alysse Carlson struggled from the floor, but managed to chip in 22 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists for the Storm. PCC’s Krystal Saling had 26 points, while Meghan Ainsworth contributed 20 points and 12 rebounds. Aurora Dillon was still out of the lineup with an injury.#12 PCC Men 80, #8 Chemeketa Community College 87, Wednesday, February 1:Hot shooting in the second half – 64% from the field, 9 of 13 from the three-point line – propelled the Chemeketa Storm over the Portland Panthers. Rory Morgan hit a three-pointer to give Portland a 12 point lead with 18 minutes left in the game. However, the Storm scored in each of their first 13 possessions of the second half, including 7 three-pointers (four by Jim McQuiston). A 27-6 Chemeketa run was ultimately the result. Clint Adell hit a free throw with 88 seconds remaining to cut the Chemeketa lead to three, but Steven Davis hit a three-pointer to regain a 6 point lead, and the Storm made free throws down the stretch to claim the win. Riley Luettgerodt was 8 of 14 from the field and 10 of 11 from the free throw line for 27 points. Morgan once again led the way for the Panthers with 22 points on 7 of 12 shooting, 6 of 8 from behind the 3-point arc. PCC’s Avery Rosen (17), Adell (16 points, 10 rebounds), and Keith McMurry (10) also all scored in double-figures.