FEBRUARY 8, 2013

THE PIONEER LOG SPORTS

Senior Spotlight: Dexter Pearce

Dexters Quick Facts
Points per game: 11.6 Free throw percentage: 91 percent Rebounds per game: 2.1 3-point percentage: 48 percent

Pios leave Wash. winless

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PHOTO BY HANNAH PRINCE

BY GRACE MEHLHAFF
STAFF WRITER Heading into a tough away weekend against first-ranked Whitworth and third-ranked Whitman, Dexter Pearce (13), a senior guard for the mens basketball team, was feeling confident. The season got off to a rough start but we are right where we want to be, says Pearce of his teams season. As an individual player, Pearce is also right where he wants to be: on the court with his team, after having finally overcome the many injuries he has endured over the years. He says, The fact that Im healthy for this season makes it incomparable to the rest. Pearce has had three knee surgeries since hes been at Lewis & Clark, but he feels he is finding his rhythm and beginning to make significant contributions to the teams success. The Portland-native finds his

inspiration in his faith and says he prays before every game. As strange as it sounds, he says, I never pray for victory. It just Fielf Goal percentage: doesnt feel right praying for 50 percent another team to lose. Instead, Pearce prays as a way of giving thanks for the opportunity to play the game that he loves, which seems fitting after all of the inju- Favorite Grub: ries he has dealt with. Breakfast foods After transferring from Frank Phillips College as a sophomore, Pearce became a political science major at LC. He has plans to go Favorite Color: to law school after graduation, ultimately wanting to join the fight Blue against human trafficking. Pearce has high hopes for the mens basketball program in the Favorite Superpower: years to come. Were graduating some great players this year Ability to freeze time but were turning the keys over to some guys who are ready. Pearce Theres always so believes the team can do somemuch to do and so little thing special this season, thereby time. Problem solved. setting up the program for a conference championship next year.

PHOTO BY HANNA GRANNIS

Connor Freeberg (14) attacks the rim in a home win against Linfield earlier in the season.

BY ANTHONY RUIZ
SPORTS EDITOR The Lewis & Clark mens basketball team struggled on the road last weekend, losing two games in as many nights. On Feb. 1, the Pioneers took on conference leader Whitworth in Spokane, Wash. The Pios were defeated 89-70 by the Pirates (12-0), who remain undefeated in conference play. While the Pioneers shot with a 52 percent success rate in the first half, they could not keep pace with the Pirates, who rebounded 63 percent of the attempted shots. In the end, the Pirates outlasted the Pioneers by pulling down 35 total rebounds, compared to only 17 for the Pios. The following night, LC travelled three hours south to

take on the Whitman Missionaries. Despite getting a seasonbest from guard Dexter Pearce (13), who scored 24 points, the Pioneers were again defeated; the game held a score of 74-71. The contest was a tale of two halves. Taking a 45-30 lead into the locker room, the Pios were outscored 44-26 in the second half. Once again, second half shooting hurt the Pioneers. With four games to go in the season, the losses put the Pioneers (7-5) in fourth place in the Northwest Conference and only one game behind Whitman and George Fox University (8-4). The Pioneers will hit the court again this Saturday, Feb. 9, at home against Willamette, where the seniors will be ready to play in the Pamplin Sports Complex for the last time.

Sacramento hit by a Sonic boom

A LOOK AT THE KINGS TRADE TO SEATTLE
BY MADDIE LEE
STAFF WRITER January was an emotional month for both Sacramento and Seattle basketball fans alike. It started with a premature tweet claiming that the Kings were officially being sold to Seattle, and it erupted from there. There were biased accounts on both sides, with Seattle journalists confident that the deal would go through and Sacramento papers highly skeptical. The sale of the Kings to Chris Hansens group was made official two weeks ago, but the Kings move isnt quite inevitable. The NBA Board of Directors still must approve the deal. It is currently under consideration and Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson is putting together a group to make a counter offer. He has always been a huge supporter of keeping the Kings in Sacramento. For years, the Maloof brothers have been trying to pawn off their team for a little extra cash. The sale to Anaheim in 2011 almost went through, but the NBA refused to approve the move. Their decision was influenced by complaints from the Lakers and a strong case put forward by Johnson, who promised the team a new arena. The trade feels uncomfortably familiar to Seattle fans as well. The parallels between the current Kings deal and the Seattle Supersonics move to Oklahoma City are certainly unnerving. Back in 2008, the dreams of Seattle Supersonics fans were bitterly shattered when Clay Bennett moved the Sonics to Oklahoma City. It was a slimy ordeal. After buying the team from Howard Schultz in 2006, Bennett promised he would keep the Sonics in Seattle. Obviously, it didnt quite work out that way. Seattle, like Sacramento, needed a new arena; Bennett, like the Maloofs, decided an arena in another city would do just as well. Seattle and Sacramento both have dedicated fan bases subjected to the whims of unreliable owners. The images of Sacramento protests look similar to those taken five years ago in Seattle, and its impossible as a Sonics fan not to feel at least a twinge of empathy. Seattle fans have fought long and hard to bring the NBA back to their city. A new team is well deserved, especially after having to suffer through watching OKC take the Western Conference finals last year. On the other hand, the hypocrisy is hard to ignore. Does the pain Seattle has experienced over losing the Sonics really justify stealing the Kings from Sacramento? Before we jump the gun, however, we must consider that there are still logistics and formalities that need to be worked out before the NBA makes its decision in April. The Kings still owe the city money from a 1997 loan, they need to file for relocation and Seattle must appease conflict over the plans for the new arena in the SODO district. Despite the outcome of the difficult decision, hearts will be broken. We just cant be certain of whose for a few more months.