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This content was published: January 15, 1998. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.

PCC Lady Panthers Basketball in Cinderella Season?

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It may be a little too early to call it a Cinderella season, but the Portland Community College Lady Panther basketball team got a wonderful Christmas present Dec. 19. They scored a 58-55 victory over Grays Harbor College during the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges Crossover Tournament in Pasco, Wash. That victory snapped the spine of a three-year losing streak spanning 58 games.

Following wins at home against Grays Harbor College (55-39) and South Puget Sound Community College (54-53), the Lady Panthers climbed to the top of the Southern Division standings Jan. 7 by beating Lane Community College 65-55. Women’s coach Ron Slovick credits the team, led by Cleveland High’s Shevette Hudson, Warrenton’s Misty Wade, Aloha’s Amber Mountain, and Vancouver’s Jennifer Brown.

After winning four of its last six games, the women’s team traveled to Roseburg to tackle preseason favorite Umpqua Community College on Jan. 10. They lost 73-60, and came home and were defeated last Wednesday by Mt. Hood 77-58. Their league record stands at 1-2, and their overall record is 4-12.

"Both teams are playing some very exciting basketball at the moment," noted Dave Traweek, PCC women’s team coordinator. "But thus far our opponents have had more fans in the bleachers than we have."

The men’s team lost their most recent contest to Mt. Hood on Wednesday 88-81. This dropped their league record to 0-3, and their overall record to 6-11, but coach Don Dixon is undeterred. "We could very easily be the opposite of where we are," he said. "Our league is that kind of league that every game is a playoff game. It looks like that kind of dogfight."

The return of high-scoring guards Napoleon Brazile and Tobias Mitchell from Grant High and Brian Wakefield from Franklin High has added a lot of spark. "We’re at full strength right now," said Dixon. "All our games are exciting games."

Admission to all games is free, and a great way to entertain the family. Women’s games start at 6 p.m. and men’s games start at 8 p.m. for all dates. PCC’s Cascade Campus is located at 705 N. Killingsworth; PCC’s Sylvania Campus is located at 12000 S.W. 49th Ave. For more information, call 977-4213.

Here is the rest of the home game schedule:

Jan. 24 – Sat. – vs. Linn-Benton at Sylvania
Jan. 28 – Wed. – vs. Chemeketa at Cascade
Feb. 7 – Sat. – vs. Umpqua at Sylvania
Feb. 11 – Wed. – vs. Clackamas at Cascade
Feb. 14 – Sat. – vs. S.W. Oregon at Sylvania