Clippers basketball is back and battling in NWAC West

Clippers Athletics today announced season outlooks for its Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams for the 2016-17 year.  Last season, both teams achieved personal record bests in league standings and several student athletes were honored for their achievements on and off the court.  Resonating from coaches Landon (men’s team) and Moore (women’s team) was excitement, high expectations, and confidence for their balanced teams of Clippers rookies and returners.

Men’s Basketball

“We have a wonderful opportunity in front of us in 2016-17 to expand on the success we had last season,” said Men’s Head Coach Aaron Landon.  “We will return players from last year’s record setting team, but will also rely on our recruiting class to come in and produce right away.”  Landon shared that the non-conference schedule, though challenging, is a key tactic in preparing the men for the ultra-competitive NWAC Western Region games starting in January 2017.

During the fall and early winter, Clippers Men’s Basketball will play a national schedule including a week of games in California against top teams in the California Community College Athletic Association.  They will also return to the Dale Bates Tournament in Eugene, Oregon before wrapping up tournament play at the Edmonds Crossover in mid-December.

When the league season arrives in January 2017, the team will have three returning sophomores that also started as freshman for the Clippers.  Dez Stoudamire, a returning sophomore who was part of First Team All West Region in his freshman season, is joined by other sophomore starters Zach Deloney and Buay Kuajian who started 27 games last season.  Also joining the team as a transfer sophomore from Marin, California is Luke Chavez.  “Luke has been outstanding so far in practices this fall,” said Landon.

Landon shared his excitement for the program stating, “Coming off a great year, our focus is on sustaining that greatness, chasing a Western Region Championship, and making sure our campus community continues to have a great Men’s Basketball program they can take pride in.”

Women’s Basketball

The 2016-17 Women's Basketball team is balanced with seven tournament-experienced sophomores and six strong incoming freshmen.  Women’s Head Coach Mike Moore said, “We are looking forward to building off of our success from the previous season in making the NWAC Tournament.”  He added that, “Through consistent and focused practice habits, as well as staying disciplined and loud on the defensive end, we look to be competitive within the Western Division.”  The team is returning NWAC Western Region Rookie of the Year and the NWAC single season rebounding record holder Savannah McGill as well as two other starters to last season’s team, Sydney and Taylor Sauls.

Moore and team seek to earn a second consecutive trip to the NWAC tournament, and then to the playoffs in Everett, Washington this upcoming March.  Clippers Women’s Basketball will begin their journey to the championship on the road.  The women will play back-to-back games against strong teams at Clark Community College and Portland Community College in mid-November followed by the home opener on November 20 against Wenatchee Valley Community College.  The last time the women played against Wenatchee, in the 2015-16 NWAC playoffs, the Clippers lost.  “This matchup was intentional and this time around we’re hoping for the win,” said Moore.

Clippers Women’s Basketball will be hosting the Clipper Crossover tournament at SPSCC on December 16, 17, and 18, hosting teams from Shoreline, Linn-Benton, and Treasure Valley.  Later that month, they will play in the Skagit Valley Tournament as their final preparation prior to the competitive Western Division league play.