Tipping off for a brand new season

Pioneer basketball makes a big statement  at the Bon Appétit Tipoff Classic

By Peter Melling /// Sports Editor

We’re out of locker room and onto the court. Both the men’s and women’s teams tipped off their regular season at the Bon Appétit Tipoff Classic last weekend, and made a considerable impact. The Pioneer men won both of their games (71-69 vs. Centenary University Gents, and 77-74 vs. Evergreen State University Geoducks), while the women split both their games (51-44 win vs. Schreiner University Mountaineers, and 53-48 loss vs. Montclair State University Red Hawks).

Intensity colored the Pios throughout all of their games. No lead remained safe at any time, as the men narrowly emerged from late stalemate against the Centenary, winning the game on a Cannen Roberson (’17) three-point buzzer beater. Even though the men maintained their lead against Evergreen State, they had to halt an impressive resurgence from the Geoducks.

The women battled back from defensive battles and a first-half deficit to beat Schreiner University. Even in their loss to Montclair State, they almost completed a second-half comeback, scoring 26 points and closing the gap to one point.

The Pios rose to the occasion in their contests, producing standout performances. Leading the women in points was Ayisat Afolabi (’17), who scored 18 points against the Mountaineers and 16 points against the Red Hawks. She also led the team in rebounds against Schreiner with 10, earning her first double-double of the season.

Another standout performance was that of the Northwest Conference Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week, Jason Luhnow (’16). He had 25 points with seven rebounds and two assists against the Gents, and 14 points with eight rebounds and five assists versus the Geoducks.
Both the men’s and women’s squads look to improve upon their records from last year (17-9 and 13-12, respectively). Both teams will return to the court on the road against Warner Pacific University, with the men playing on Nov. 21 and the women playing on Nov. 25.

Peter Melling is a Sports Editor at the Pioneer Log. He likes to write stories about athletes within the Lewis & Clark community, upcoming games and seasons, and the inner workings of the athletic department. You can follow him on Twitter @PMell2293.

pmelling@lclark.edu