PCC Panthers vs. Umpqua Sunday, February 22, 2009

[left] Portland's Toni Davis-Fields (left) beats Cassandra Tiggett (center) and Ally Burger to a rebound Feb. 14 in the Panthers' 105-52 loss to Umpqua. [below] Shardai Ducksworth led all players with 26 points.

I've been a bad blogger lately. I have been shooting a variety of assignments and working on a handful of other projects, but not getting around to putting much online. Tonight I'm trying to catch up a bit.

These images are from the basketball games I shot for Portland Community College last weekend.

In the first game of the day, the women got thumped by Umpqua 105-52. To be fair, though, Umpqua is the top team in the NWAACC's South Division. Portland only dressed seven players for the game, one of whom appeared to be playing through an injury. Then, midway through the first half, two of Portland's players succumbed to ankle injuries in the span of about 30 seconds. One of those returned in the second half; the other was out for the game.

[left] Carl Appleton shoots for two of his 13 points Feb. 14 in the Panthers' 90-85 win over Umpqua. The 6-4 freshman led Portland with 13 rebounds.

In the men's game, the Panthers fared better. They led by 10 at halftime, and by as many as 15 later in the game. Umpqua didn't give up, though, and fought to within two points. But Portland held on for a 90-85 win to improve their league record to 3-8. Umpqua fell to 1-10.

[below] Portland's Tom Creasey (right) gets some help from Mike Richmond (no. 3) as he breaks away from Jordan Black in the first half. Creasey led the Panthers with 26 points.

PCC/Blazers double-header Saturday, December 08, 2007

The PCC Panthers get their first look at the Rose Garden from the floor as they wait to take the court Dec. 6 for their game against Lower Columbia CC. The game was played at the Rose Garden as part of a double-header. It was followed by the Trail Blazers vs. Miami Heat.

(right) Alex King shoots from inside for Lower Columbia. King scored 11 for the Devils.

(left) Tyler Mendezona lays one up in the first quarter. Mendezona was the second-leading scorer for the Panthers with 15. Shawn West had 18.

Thursday, the Portland Community College Panthers had a special game against the Lower Columbia CC Devils from Longview, Wash. Though it was a home game for Lower Columbia, it was played at the Rose Garden in Portland. It was billed as a double-header with the Trail Blazers, who squared off against Miami Thursday evening.

PCC played hard, but ended up on the wrong end of a 76-60 final (box score). That dropped their record to 0-6 for the year. Lower Columbia improved to 1-3.

The second half of the double-header (Portland vs. Miami) was better-attended by a ratio of about 1000 to 1. That doesn't include the national television audience on TNT. And the Blazers put on one of their best shows of the season en route to a 112-106 win over the Heat.

(right) Channing Frye gets fouled by Daequon Cook in the paint. Frye made both free throws on the play, and scored 6 overall for the Blazers.

I had never seen a Blazers game before (the only other NBA game I'd ever seen was San Antonio at Vancouver, back in 1996), so I took advantage of the free ticket. I was sitting pretty much on the center line, but way, way, way up ... second-last row, in fact. I couldn't see directly across the arena because the retired number banners were in the way. We were above the scoreboard. Still, I had fun. It's an interesting perspective from up there.

Tinsel flies as time runs out in the Blazers' 112-106 win over Miami.