The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: HSU basketball

  • Humboldt State Athletes stay fit safely during pandemic

    Humboldt State Athletes stay fit safely during pandemic

    COVID-19 is not an excuse to stop sweating.

    Student athletes do not have the luxury of taking a break because once COVID-19 is over, it is right back to the game they play. Athletes not only have to worry about the lack of open gyms, but also the ongoing social justice movement that swept across the country. Some athletes found it easier to cope and build a healthy diet and workout routine around these problems than others.

    Benicio Benavides-Garb, a sophomore soccer player for HSU, has stayed in shape by using his personal weights and running. Benavides-Garb lifted with his barbell and set of dumbbells whenever he could. The running app Strava played a large role in Benavides-Garb’s fitness still being at a top level.

    “Strava allowed me to try and break all my previous records I had on all my runs before,” Benavides-Garb said.

    Benavides-Garb has also stayed in shape by passing the soccer ball with his little brother. Benavides-Garb’s passing has really improved since he trained with his little brother. The training not only improved both of the brothers’ skills, but also their relationship.

    “Practicing with my little brother has led to a lot of bonding between the two of us,” Benavides-Garb said. “We are probably the closest we have ever been.”

    One athlete has taken the all natural approach to staying in shape for their season. Kahanu Amantiad is junior and member of the Humboldt Rowing team. Amantiad trained over summer on her rowing machine. The rowing machine was essential in Amantiad staying in shape for her season. Additionally, Amantiad has been surfing all quarantine in her home state of Hawaii.

    “I’ve spent most of my days surfing at my secret spot,” Amantiad said. “There are about two other people in the lineup, so we socially distance very easily. I’ve been working on my bottom turn and a couple snaps here and there.”

    For some athletes like sophomore basketball player Joey Rodrick, there are more distractions to training than just COVID-19. Rodrick spent most of his time in quarantine lifting in his homemade weight room and training with a socially distanced trainer. When quarantine was over and parks reopened, Rodrick was able to play with the top talent of Portland. Rodrick worked on his jumpshot and other moves for his upcoming season.

    “Playing with the best of the best definitely allowed me to work on my skills and improve as a player for HSU,” Rodrick said.

    However, training came to a halt when Rodrick chose to be a part of a call for social and racial change. Protests rightfully proved to be more important than playing basketball for Rodrick.

    “It’s been hard to train and practice because of all the protests,” Rodrick said. “I have been taking part in them and have really been adamant on doing my part for social justice.”

  • Chico State Steals the Jacks’ Spotlight

    Chico State Steals the Jacks’ Spotlight

    Wildcats win, but the Jacks put on a good game

    The Humboldt State University men’s basketball lost Feb. 27 against the Chico State University Wildcats, 86-57.

    Thursday’s home game wasn’t just another game for the Jacks. It was the last game of the season and senior night. The game was a special night for the team’s seniors, Leland Green, Rob Lewis, Victor Mijas, Jackson Strong, Deion Alston and Zachariah Christian.

    “It’s a huge event really, with senior night being number one, our last game of the season, two, and a rivalry game,” Head Coach Steve Kinder said. “It brings a whole different level and a lot of dynamics. There’s a lot of storylines from every player on the team to every coach on the team. As a coach, to see all that in front of you and put that together and experience a night whether we win or lose—it’s special.”

    The Wildcats took the lead 8-0 in the first two minutes, but the Jacks were quick to score some points. A three by Jackson Strong and two free throws by Noah Viera left the score at 12-11 with 13 minutes left in the first half. The Wildcats were quick to outscore the Jacks, ending the first half at 49-27.

    With only 18 minutes left in the second half, the Jacks showed some senior teamwork. Christian passed the ball to Strong, who then passed the ball back to Christian. Christian passed to Alston, who made two points in the green.

    “The relationships I’ve built with last year’s team and this year’s team—it’s been great. The family and the team, the coaches—that’s what it is. It’s just a family and I’ve had such a good time.”

    Jackson Strong

    Throughout the game, Alston stepped up and led the scoring. Kinder was proud of him and said he told the assistant coaches they should’ve played him more throughout the season.

    “He played with a lot of fire and he played aggressive,” Kinder said. “He did a really nice job.”

    Alston had a season high of 13 points, while Strong put up 11. Viera scored a season high of 10 points off the bench and Lewis scored 8.

    With three makes from beyond the arc, Strong finished his career with the Jacks after playing for the team for two years. With 173, Strong placed fourth on HSU’s all-time career list in three-point field goals made. His 84 three-pointers is third on the Jack’s single-season list. He made 89 last season, which is second all-time.

    Kinder said he wished Strong had played for the Jacks all four years.

    “The relationships I’ve built with last year’s team and this year’s team—it’s been great,” Strong said. “The family and the team, the coaches—that’s what it is. It’s just a family and I’ve had such a good time.”

    Strong said after he graduates he plans to continue playing basketball—hopefully overseas—to try to play the game he loves for as long as he can.

  • Women’s basketball reflects on CCAA title, NCAA tourney appearance

    Women’s basketball reflects on CCAA title, NCAA tourney appearance

    Fresh off a conference tournament victory and a NCAA tournament birth, it’s safe to say the Humboldt State women’s basketball team had a successful season.

    Before the season kicked off in early November, a lot of people could not have predicted such a successful year for the Jacks, much less a conference title.

    The players understood the expectations, but looked to make a statement and defy them. The team had formed a polarizing bond ever since they started practicing together, and they never looked back from there.

    “We all felt that we were a special group from the first time we met,” sophomore Tyra Turner said.

    Throughout the season, the Lady Jacks displayed a perfect match of comradery throughout the squad, and a burning desire to win. The team also had a great knowledge of their own limitations.

    “We’re a small team, so we spread the floor and try to get people to guard us outside,” junior Jovanah Arrington said.

    “I’m 5’10 trying to guard girls that are 6’3,” junior forward Isamar Conde said.

    This was on full display after they lost their first conference game to Chico State, but they responded by winning their next seven conference games.

    “Our offense struggled in the first couple of games, so we had to win games with our defense,” Conde said.

    Over that seven-game win streak, the team held opponents to just 57 points per game.

    This seven-game win streak was snapped by UC San Diego, who beat the Lady Jacks twice before facing off in the conference title game.

    After the loss to the UCSD Tritons, the Lady Jacks went 7-6 to end the regular season. This left the team’s fate for the tournament in question after such a strong start.

    However, the Lady Jacks still found themselves asking the same question over and over: why not us?

    “[Head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson] said to us before the tournament started, ‘Why not us?’” Arrington said. “We couldn’t find a reason why we couldn’t beat every team in [the tournament].”

    After beating Cal State East Bay and Cal Poly Pomona in the first two rounds of the tournament, HSU faced their toughest foe of the season in UCSD.

    The Jacks lost their first two games of the season to the Tritons, and the second game was decided by 15 points. As always, the team’s confidence did not waiver.

    “We almost beat them the first time,” Arrington said. “So why can’t we beat them again?”

    HSU went on to win the title game 76-75 in a game that came down to an Arrington buzzer beater.

    “I didn’t think too much before the shot,” Arrington said. “If I had, then I probably wouldn’t have made the shot.”

    The win helped HSU qualify for the eight seed in the NCAA tournament, which matched them up with the number one seed, Azusa Pacific Cougars. The Lady Jacks upset the Cougars 66-60 before losing to Alaska Anchorage, 81-73.

    For everyone on the team, besides Turner (who played last season for Long Beach State), this was their first appearance in the NCAA tournament. While they did not get the result they ultimately wanted, HSU gained some very valuable experience.

    “I think we surprised a lot of people,” Conde said. “It’s a great feeling.”

    With many key players returning next season, the Lady Jacks will look to build on what they accomplished this season.

    “We came so far together as a team,” Turner said. “I just think that some of us are taking this as a learning experience for those of us who are going to be back for next year.”

  • Third time’s a charm

    Third time’s a charm

    Lady Jacks win conference title.

    The Lady Jacks basketball team played the UC San Diego Tritons for the third time this season on Saturday. Humboldt State lost the first two games. This time was for the conference title and it was the charm.

    “This was the moment that was most important to us,” tournament MVP Tyra Turner said. “This was the championship game and we knew they got us twice at our home and their home.”

    Jacks sophomore guard Tyla Turner (12) rises above Tritons forward Shandiin Armao (40) for the bucket. The Jacks beat UCSD 76-75 in the conference championship on March 3 and advance to the NCAA D-2 tourney beginning March 9. Photo courtesy of CPP.

    The Tritons got off to a scorching start from behind the arc with four early three-pointers and led 18-13 with four minutes left in the quarter. The Jacks responded in a big way by going on a 14-0 run to close out the quarter, making it 27-18. They moved effortlessly on offense and continually found open opportunities from beyond the arc.

    The Tritons finished the first half on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to just four after being down by as much as 12. It was much of the same in the second half as San Diego went on a 19-7 run to start the half and took an eight-point advantage.

    The ball movement stopped for the Jacks and the stagnancy killed their offensive flow. To make matters worse, the Jacks could not grab any rebounds due to the Tritons overwhelming size advantage, and were out-rebounded by 17 for the game. The Tritons had 21 offensive boards to the Jacks’ 23 defensive rebounds.

    “Our team stayed resilient the entire time,” head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson said. “We knew San Diego would keep punching and fighting. Our girls kept their heads up and continued to fight until the very last second.”

    Just when it looked like the Jacks were going to be sent home quietly, down by six with a minute left, sophomore Tyla Turner had a vintage Reggie-Miller-versus-the-New-York-Knicks moment. After nailing a clutch three from the baseline to cut the lead to three, she then stole the ball on the inbounds play and, while falling out of bounds, found her sister Tyra for the easy layup to bring the Jacks within one.

    After a miss by the Tritons with 10 seconds left on the clock and down by two, Tyra drove to the bucket, drawing Triton’s defenders, then dished it to an open Jovanah Arrington for a game-winning three from NBA range with half a second left – all net. Jacks win 76-75.

    The Lumberjacks celebrate their 76-75 last second win over UCSD in the CCAA title game on March 3 in Pomona, Ca. The Jacks move on to play No. 1 seed Azusa Pacific in the NCAA D-2 tournament beginning March 9. Photo courtesy of CPP.

    “Tyra did a good job of getting in the paint and drawing defenders,” Arrington said. “I just made sure to slide over to be in her vision. I knew time was running out and I had to get a shot up. I didn’t know how to react, because I thought the time was going out, but we still had a second.”

    The Jacks are now conference champions and move on to the NCAA tournament on March 9.

  • Lady Jacks advances to first CCAA title game since 2010

    Lady Jacks advances to first CCAA title game since 2010

    Isa Conde poured it on for a season-high 26 points for Humboldt State en route to their 69-53 win against the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos. The win sent the team to the California Collegiate Athletic Association championship game, which was on Saturday in Pomona.

    Junior forward Isa Conde (32) looks for the open pass. Conde had a season high 26 points for the Jacks in their 69-53 win over Cal Poly Pomona. Photo by Trent Preston (CPP).

    “This is a great win for our program, and I am really proud of the girls,” HSU head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson said. “We had great balance on offense. We made it a priority tonight to take away the inside options from Pomona and force them to shoot from [the outside].”

    Conde started off the game scorching, as she scored 17 points in the first half. However, she was just one of four Lady Jacks who finished with double-digit points. She was joined by teammates Tyla and Tyra Turner, along with Mikaela Shannon, who had 13 points off the bench.

    “We really did a good job of sharing the ball and getting the best shot we can,” Tyra said. “We played smart and we were aware of our fouls. We made smart decisions on offense and defense.”

    Sophomore guard Tyra Turner (3) drives past Broncos defender Jackie Ricketson (13). The Jacks beat the Broncos 69-53. Photo by Trent Preston (CPP).

    The game was quite even heading into halftime, with the Jacks leading 34-29. However, they took over in the third, as they went on a 20-4 run at one point.

    “I thought we did a terrific job of sharing the ball,” Bento-Jackson said. “We really wanted to stretch out their defense, and when you see balance in the scoring, it’s because we were making the extra pass. We were being aggressive off the dribble and we got things going on the offensive end.”

    The Lady Jacks held the Broncos to 22.2% shooting in the second half as well as forcing 15 turnovers and taking six charges.

    The Lady Jacks advanced to their first conference tournament title game since the 2009-10 season.

  • Defense wins first round game for Lady Jacks

    Defense wins first round game for Lady Jacks

    It was a defensive game for the women’s basketball team in the Lumberjack Arena on Feb. 27, as they beat California State University, East Bay 54-53 in the first round of the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament.

    “We had to want it more,” senior forward Riann Thayer said. “It came down to a defensive stop, and that’s how we love to play.”

    There was a struggle to get points up on the board with several offensive errors for both teams in the first half. The Pioneers held a 15-12 lead in the first quarter, and maintained a four-point lead until the Jacks were able to put a stop to things.

    It was time for “Duke Moments” as coach Michelle Bento-Jackson would say, which refers to everybody focusing on defense.

    “Right [then] I [had] to play defense for my team,” sophomore Tyla Turner said. “Coach [said] Duke Moment, and we had to lock down.”

    Humboldt State University held the Pioneers to just 40 percent shooting overall, and 22.2 percent from three-point range.

    “We held them to one three-pointer the entire second half,” head coach Bento-Jackson said.

    Halfway through the third quarter, the Jacks held their largest lead of 11 after junior guard Jovanah Arrington’s crowd roaring 3-pointer. Aside from the game-changing shot, Arrington achieved a total of six rebounds.

    The Pioneers missed the game-winning layup with 2.7 seconds left on the clock after Tyla Turner’s intentional foul. By holding the Pioneers scoreless for the last 2:30 of the game, coach Bento-Jackson had only good things to say about Lady Jacks.

    “The intensity on the defensive end ultimately won the game for us,” coach Bento-Jackson said. “I thought that showed great growth from our team as a whole.”

    Tyla Turner led the Jacks with 12 points, Thayer had 11 points and senior forward Mikaela Shannon put 11 points on the board in 12 minutes of play.

    The Jacks now have a 16-12 overall record and 15-8 conference record. They will travel south for Friday’s game against California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in the Kellogg Arena with an 8:05 p.m. tip-off time.

    “It’s time for Pomona,” Thayer said. “Let’s go!”

  • Men’s and women’s basketball Senior Night spoiled by UC San Diego

    Men’s and women’s basketball Senior Night spoiled by UC San Diego

    The men’s basketball team could not keep up with the first place University of California, San Diego Tritons, as they lost 77-57.

    Saturday’s game was no ordinary one for the Jacks, though, as it marked the last home game for each of the team’s seniors, who were honored at Senior Night in the Lumberjack Arena.

    The game marks a big milestone for all of the seniors, but specifically for locals Will Taylor and Ashton Pomrehn who started their Lumberjack careers as ball boys at an early age.

    “We were playing for the seniors,” head coach Steve Kinder said. “I thought that carried us through, and made the fans and their teammates proud.”

    Humboldt State was led by senior Davasyia Hagger, who had 14 points along with nine rebounds, while shooting 7-14 from the field. Those 14 points included a pair of dunks in the second half of the game that caused an eruption from the fans in the arena.

    “The effort was there,” Hagger said. “We’re gonna learn from this and battle back these next two games.”

    Another notable performance came from senior Justin Everett, who tallied 14 points, six rebounds and two blocks.

    “I was just out there getting my shots,” Everett said. “My teammates did a good job getting me open.”

    The Tritons were firing on all cylinders throughout the game, as they made 11 three-pointers on 30 shots (36.7 percent) opposed to only five made from the Jacks. Christian Bayne was a problem for the Jacks all game, as he led UCSD with 24 points, while shooting 8-11 from the field. Bayne also made his presence felt on defense, as he also had two steals and a block.

    “We think of [Bayne] as one of the better players in the conference,” Kinder said. “He’s a heck of a basketball player and has a great future ahead of him.”

    Aside from Bayne, other notable performers where Scott Everman (16 points) and Christian Oshita (14 points).

    San Diego played stingy defense all game as well, accumulating nine steals while forcing 13 turnovers.

    The loss is Humboldt’s second in a row, and moves their overall record to 9-17 (6-14 conference), while San Diego improves to 17-9 (14-6 conference). The Jacks will look to bounce back before the California Collegiate Athletic Association tournament begins on Feb. 27, and will have two games to do so.

    Their next game will be on the road against Sonoma State University on Feb. 23 at 7:30 p.m. They will then close out the regular season on Feb. 24 at San Francisco State University.

    The Humboldt State University women’s basketball team fell short of a comeback after a slow start in the first half, as they fell to University of California, San Diego by the score of 77-62.

    This was the last home game of the regular season for the Lumberjacks, making it Senior Night at the Lumberjack Arena.

    “This is a really special group to me,” head coach Michelle Bento-Jackson said. “To see the seniors honor their careers here is special.”

    The Jacks shot only 26.9% (7-26) from the field and were outscored 42-20 during the first half.

    On the other hand, the Tritons were hot from the field in the first half, as they made five of their first seven three-point attempts and put up 42 points before halftime.

    San Diego was led by Mikayla Williams (19 points, eight rebounds), Kayla Sato (17 points, seven rebounds, five assists) and Dalayna Sampton (16 points, 10 rebounds).

    However, the Jacks did battle back in the second half. At one point, they had the lead down to as little as 10 points during the third and fourth quarters.

    “We dug a huge hole for ourselves (in the first half) that we just couldn’t quite get all the way out of,” Bento-Jackson said.

    Tyla Turner led the team’s late run by scoring 24 of her team’s 42 points in the second half. The sophomore standout followed up her career high 32-point performance from her last game with 29 points in addition to eight rebounds, four assists and three steals in this one.

    “My team had my back, and that’s really what got me going,” Turner said. “I had to do it for them, and that’s why I had to turn it up.”

    Once Turner turned it up, her teammates responded. The team shot 15-29 (51.7 percent), while shooting 8-12 (66.7 percent) from beyond the arc. Jovanah Arrington was the most notable contributor, as she had 13 points while shooting 3-5 from three (3-4 in the second half).

    “I knew we had to catch up, and making threes is the quickest way to do that,” Arrington said.

    With regards to their upcoming schedule, coach Bento-Jackson had a clear message for her team.

    “We absolutely have to put this behind us. The bottom line is–going into that conference tournament–we want to be playing our best basketball,” Bento-Jackson said.

    The loss moves the Jacks’ record to 14-11 overall, with a 13-7 conference record. For San Diego, the win moves the team’s record to 23-3, with a dominant 19-1 record within the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

    They will have two games remaining before the conference tournament begins, HSU will play Sonoma State University on Feb. 23 and San Francisco State University on Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m..

  • Turner Twins outshine the competition

    Turner Twins outshine the competition

    Twins Tyla and Tyra Turner aim to be the most prolific duo in Humboldt State basketball history on and off the court.

    To great athletes, the big moment is never too big.

    For twin point guards Tyla and Tyra Turner, dealing with pressure comes naturally. The twins grew up in a sports family with an astonishing seven pairs of twins.

    “Everybody in our family was involved in some type of sport,” Tyla said.

    From the time they were 6 years old, the Turner twins were turning heads with their athletic abilities. Tyla started with basketball, while Tyra started dribbling with her feet on the soccer field.

    It wouldn’t be long until the sisters were dominating together on the court at Cajon High School, where coach Mark Lehman recognized their on-court chemistry right away.

    “They know each other like the back of their hand,” Lehman said.

    The twins’ high basketball IQ also creates ways for them to work around problems on the floor, like their 5-foot-5 height.

    “They are so smart,” Lehman said. “They make up for their size disadvantage with intelligent play.”

    Years of playing together and next-level skills were the reasons Tyla and Tyra helped Cajon High win its first state basketball championship in 2016.

    Moving on to play college basketball was automatic for the pair, but the dynamic duo split up at first. Tyla went to California State University, Long Beach and Tyra came to Humboldt State University.

    After a season apart, Tyla saw new dimensions in her sister’s style and skill that made her take notice of Tyra’s training at HSU.

    “There was a big change in my sister’s game,” Tyla said.

    “When she came back, she had this different type of game that nobody really sees in her. I need that push, because I didn’t feel like I was pushed as much in Long Beach.”

    Tyla decided to join Tyra and transfer from CSU Long Beach to Humboldt. The reunion had their mother, Marqueta Turner dreaming of the possibilities.

    “I knew when they came together at HSU, it would be something special,” Marqueta said.

    Parents Tyrone and Marqueta Turner have always supported their daughters athletic lives. Their mother would drive them to practice and travel ball, and their father would push them to train and constantly improve.

    Now, training style is something that both Tyla and Tyra appreciate about Jacks head coach, Michelle Bento-Jackson.

    “I like that she talks about this is not about basketball, anything that we learn can be helpful as a tool in life,” Tyra said. “It’s definitely a big thing for us.”

    There is no doubt that the Turner twins’ athletic standards are high, but their aspirations outside the spotlight are admirable as well. The Turners have instilled humility, and a team-first attitude in their daughters that carries over into their studies.

    Tyla is a criminology and justice major and talks with passion about her goal to educate others about the law.

    “A lot of people are very limited of what they know about what is going on in the government and about their rights. I feel like I need to know about that, because it’s really important,” Tyla said. “We need to know what’s really going on in our world. not knowing is the worst, but knowing is our power.”

    Tyra is a psychology major that wants to employ her degree as a correctional psychologist. Her inspiration for working inside the legal system comes from her mother, who has worked in corrections, parole and probation.

    “We need to start looking at this future generation, and I think me trying to help kids now will really make a difference,” Tyra said.

    Empowering others on and off the court has become a way of life for the twins.

    “Remain humble even when great things are coming your way,” Marqueta would say to the twins. Tyla and Tyra’s mother told them to keep their potential in perspective as lessons learned in the gym through blood, sweat and tears are brought out into the world.

  • Women’s basketball rolls over Cal State Monterey Bay

    Women’s basketball rolls over Cal State Monterey Bay

    HSU women’s basketball team rolled over the California State University, Monterey Bay Otters 64-42 at the Lumberjack Arena on Feb. 3

    The game started off as a low-scoring defensive battle, but the Jacks took control in the second quarter. By halftime, the Jacks led by the score of 40-23. Their first-half charge was led in large part by junior forward Isamar Conde, who had 15 points in the first half.

    “Sometimes I’m not really the hot hand,” Conde said. “But today, I made one early, and I just kept shooting.”

    Humboldt State University, led by coach Michelle Bento-Jackson, did not take their foot off the gas after that, as they shot an impressive 57.1 percent from the field in the second half, while shooting a perfect 2-2 beyond the arc.

    “I’m most pleased with our defensive effort. Especially in the first half,” Bento-Jackson said. “We wanted to come out and get the first punch and really send a message on the defensive end.”

    Conde definitely had the hot hand, as she was 3-4 on three-point attempts and finished with 19 points. Another notable performance for the Jacks was sophomore guard Tyla Turner, who ended up with a double-double (18 points and 12 rebounds) and four steals.

    The Jack’s defense was stingy all game, as they held the Otters to a 21.4 shooting percent from the field. Their intensity was visible throughout the game, and they did a great job of setting the tone early on.

    The victory moved the Jack’s current winning streak to three games, and their conference record to 12-5, while their overall record is now 13-9.

    The Jacks are now in second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association standings, and four games behind University of California, San Diego, which has a conference record of 15-1.

    Conde and her teammates understand the importance of home court advantage with the tournament rapidly approaching.

    “The top four teams get a game at home, and we want to be at home.” Conde said.

    With home court advantage on the line, the Jacks will look to keep their current momentum going and finish the regular season strong.

    There are five games remaining for Bento-Jackson’s team before the CCAA tournament, starting with a February 10 match up on the road against California State University, Stanislaus.

  • Men’s basketball sweeps Monterey Bay

    Men’s basketball sweeps Monterey Bay

    The men’s basketball team defeated the California State University, Monterey Bay Otters 87-79 on Feb. 3, following their epic 82-75 overtime victory against California State University, East Bay on Feb 1.

    The Jacks started the Saturday game off hot, as they began on a 10-2 run. However, they cooled down a bit and the game became a back-and-forth affair in the last three quarters.

    Senior forward Davasyia Hagger led the Jacks in points with 20, while also putting up a double-double with 10 rebounds as well.

    Other notable performances for the Jacks include junior guard Romario Wilson, who scored 17 points, and senior forward Justin Everett, who scored 13 points.

    Romario Wilson picks up the ball for a layup in the second half of Humboldt State University’s 87-79 win over California State University, Monterey Bay on Feb. 3 in the Lumberjack Arena. Photo by Diego Linares.

    “I liked how we executed the game plan,” Jacks head coach Steve Kinder said. “Especially defensively early, which led to some good stops, which led to some breakouts and high percentage shots in transition.”

    The Jacks started off slow behind the three-point line, as they only shot 3-10 from there in the first half. They attempted four threes in the second half, and only made one.

    “Three-point shooting was a high-alert issue at halftime,” Kinder said. “We certainly didn’t want to trade baskets or shoot threes up and down with this opponent.”

    Despite their three-point woes, the Jacks had the advantage on the boards, as they out-rebounded Monterey Bay 45-38.

    They also won the turnover battle, the Otters turning the ball over 15 times as opposed to the Jacks’ eight.

    “That’s good basketball,” Kinder said, “especially for these Lumberjacks this season, being able to limit ourselves to four turnovers at half time.”

    Monterey Bay certainly made it tough on the Lumberjacks, as they hit 14 of their 27 three-point attempts. The Otters average 27 threes per game, and they certainly showed that they could make it rain from deep.

    The Otters were led by forward Josh Kollman. He had 16 points, while shooting 4-5 from beyond the arc, including two late threes that kept his team in the game until the end.

    The win moves HSU to 8-15 overall, with a 5-12 record within the California Collegiate Athletic Association. In their first meeting earlier this year, the Jacks lost 67-62.

    The Jacks have five games remaining before the CCAA tournament begins, starting with a game on the road against California State University, Stanislaus on Feb. 10.

  • Jacks comeback falls short

    Jacks comeback falls short

    The Jacks men’s basketball team fell just short of a big comeback on Jan. 13 against the Cal State University at San Bernadino Coyotes at Lumberjack Arena. They lost the game 90-79 and fell to 6-12 overall and 3-9 in conference.

    Jacks junior guard Romario Wilson had a great night, scoring 24 points on a perfect 13-13 from the free throw line. Wilson and his teammates are working hard to improve everyday and he believes the team has what it takes to go on a run.

    “We can hang with the best of them,” Wilson said. It shows that we have the talent and the skill-sets to win big-time games. It’s all on us to go get it. We have 10 games left, and we’ve got to finish off strong so we can make a push to get into this tournament.”

    Despite the Jacks subpar record, they still have a chance to win their conference tournament and win an outright bid to the national tourney. Their play against some above average competition suggests they have the ability to make some real noise if they were to win a bid to the big dance.

    The Coyotes established a 47-21 lead with 2:58 left in the half and led 49-31 at the break, but the Jacks had a “never say die” attitude and came out strong in the second half. They cut the deficit to just 10 but the Coyotes kept coming, knocking down consecutive 3-pointers.

    Jacks head coach Steve Kinder was proud of his team for not giving up and staying in the game until the end.

    “Out of halftime I thought our guys responded extremely well,” Kinder said. “They showed some grit, they showed some guts, they showed some toughness and made two really good pushes in the second half. We’re proud of our Lumberjacks, but it just wasn’t enough for the victory.”

    Jacks junior guard Kameron Curl had 12 points but struggled from the 3-point-line shooting 2-10. Senior forward Davasyia Hagger added 10 points as did fellow senior, Austin Pomrehn. The Jacks performed at an elite level from the free-throw line, hitting 30-of-33 shots.

    The Jacks look to get back on track on Jan. 20 as they travel to face conference rival Chico State. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.