Lewis-Clark
State College
2000-01 Season Outlook
The toughest loss will be that of NAIA All-America guard Jason Franklin, who graduated last Spring. All Franklin did was lead the team in scoring (19.4 ppg), steals (2.5 spg) and also made a school-record 100 three-point field goals. A transfer from the University of Portland, Franklin scored in double-figures in all but four games last year, including a season-high 35 points against the Colorado School of Mines. Franklin was named the Frontier Conference Most Valuable Player and was named to the All-Conference team.
Guard Jared Price (Gresham, OR), an All-Frontier Conference member and NAIA Academic All-America, is one of the top returnees for the Warriors. The Clackamas CC and Portland State University-transfer holds the school record for highest free throw shooting percentage in a single season, .912. He is also tied for second for most assists dished out in a game with 12 against the Colorado School of Mines. NAIA Academic All-Americas and honorable mention All-Conference selections Ryan Bender (Edmonds, WA) and Jeremy Jeppesen (Centerville, UT) return for their senior seasons. Bender, a swingman, is the top returning rebounder, 5.8 rpg, on the squad and shot a team-high .581 from the floor. He pulled down 11 boards in L-C’s 79-64 win over Carroll College. Jeppesen is not one to shy away from shooting. Last year, he poured in 37 points and also grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the Warriors to a 107-76 win over Western Montana. Isaac Castro (Honolulu, HI), a forward, will anchor the tough Lewis-Clark defense that finished 15th nationally in scoring defense at 68.79 ppg. He averged 10.1 ppg and also grabbed 4.9 rpg last year. Senior center Zach Wilson (Orofino, ID) will look to intimidate in the paint with his 6-9, 245-pound frame.
Depth is a key to any team’s championship hopes. The Warriors have a strong contingent of returnees along with some impressive recruits. 6-10, 250-pound senior center Josh Wilson (Orofino, ID) blocked a team-high 28 shots and finished tied for first in the Frontier Conference with 1.0 bpg. Brian Meneely (Kennewick, WA) provided a scoring punch off the bench, averaging 7.1 ppg and scored a season-high 21 points in the championship game victory over Rocky Mountain College that propelled the Warriors into the NAIA National Tournament. He also registered 16 points with seven assists and eight boards in the conference semifinal win over Western Montana . Phillip Way (Craigmont, ID), a local athletic forward, can provide excellent support in the paint. Tony Burke (Port Angeles, WA), who redshirted with the Warriors last year, gained valuable on-court practice experience the second-half of the season. Burke, a transfer from Peninsula CC and an All-Northwest Athletic Conference guard, will continue to enhance the tradtional scrappy Warrior style of play.
Much of the attention on Pfeifer’s recruiting class has fallen on 6-6 shooting guard, Beau Barney (Grand Junction, CO). He was the leading scorer in the Scenic West Conference, arguably one of the toughest JUCO leagues in the country, averaging 20.1 ppg. He also led Colorado Northwesten CC with 6.7 rpg. Barney torched the College of Eastern Utah for 52 points in a game last year, which was a conference record. UC-Irvine-transfer Stan Divranos (Whitby, ONT, Canada) will be a force in the paint. A 6-8, 270-pounder, Divranos is easily the strongest Warrior in recent history. He will be an imposing presence to anyone trying to match up with him on the blocks. Forward Matt Dudley (Colton, WA),who recently completed his military obligation, has the distinction of being the lone freshman on the roster at the age of 25.
The schedule will test the experienced Warriors early. LC opens the regular season at PAC-10 member, Washington State University, and then travels up the road to battle Big West member, University of Idaho. Pfeifer’s crew will then play in the Western Baptist Tournament in Oregon before hosting the 21st Annual Clearwater River Casino/KOZE Tournament. Lewis-Clark State will round-out its thee-tournament swing with the Whitman College Tournament. The Warriors will then host, NCAA Division II National Quarterfinalist, Seattle Pacific University. A pre-Christmas break trip to Los Angeles will test the Warriors. LC will battle NAIA Tournament qualifier, Azusa Pacific, and will also take on Vanguard University. The conference slate kicks off Thursday, January 4th, with a home game against Frontier Conference-newcomer, Great Falls. The Warriors will play three live regionally televised games in February, including the Western Montana game in Lewiston. Highlighting the conference slate will be Carroll College which returns two first-team All-Conference players. Westminster College added four NCAA Division I transfers and should be much improved.
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Revised: April 27, 2009