IMPRINTS FROM EARLY SEASON SHOWDOWN  

by Harry Cummins

Here are some observations from last night's early season NAIA Top 25 showdown between Div. II host Warner Pacific and Div. l Lewis Clark State:

•  COLLIN MALCOLM continues to shoulder most of the scoring load for the home town    Knights (6-2). He hit 9 of 14 from the field last night, posting a 'double-double' with 22 points and 10  boards in the 84-63 loss.  

•   The Warriors (5-1) from Lewiston,Idaho are an extremely balanced, defensively skilled squad. They have SEVEN players averaging in double figures and are the top team in NAIA Div 1 in both fewest points allowed and FG% allowed per contest.

•   LCSC's 5'9 point guard DAMEK MITCHELL, last year's Frontier Conference Freshman of   the Year, is currently 4th in the nation, averaging nearly 7 assists a game.

•   Keep a future eye on a pair of 6'4' Senior Warrior guards, DANA ABE and ANDRE   McCOWAN.  They are capable of igniting a game at any moment with their elite athleticism.  Abe is out of  O'Dea H.S. in Washington, where he was an McDonalds All-American nominee,while McCowan played at Roosevelt H.S. and Portland Community College.

•  Senior Warrior DAVID SHEDRICK, whose father was once a starting FB for the Oregon Ducks, was the key figure in last night's contest, scoring all 13 of his points in the second half, most of  them coming as Warner Pacific attempted to climb back into the game.

•   Prediction-  If first year head coach Austin Johnson continues to effectively utilize his deep and talented LCSC roster, this is repeat NAIA tournament team.  However, 6'6" RACE MARTIN  needs more help mixing it up in the middle.  For Warner Pacific, Malcolm needs added production from teammates on both ends of the floor.  KHIRY WILLIAMS, KENDALL WATSON, and JALEN BALLARD are capable candidates.

***FACES IN THE CROWD -  BEN GREGG, a heralded  6 foot 9 high school sophomore at nearby 
Columbia Christian High School, was spotted in the packed gym.  Columbia Christian (2-A) makes its  first ever appearance  in the prestigious Les Schwab Invitational Dec. 26-29. 

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