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Owls reach Final Four
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| H&N photo by Todd E. Swenson |
OIT beats Grace College, 81-70
By STEVE MATTHIES
H&N Sports Writer
POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – It’s showtime for the Oregon Tech basketball team.
The Hustlin’ Owls pulled away from unseeded Grace College of Indiana in the second half Saturday to claim an 81-70 victory to earn a berth in semifinals of the NAIA Division II men’s national basketball tournament.
OIT will meet defending national champion MidAmerica Nazarene of Olathe, Kan., at 6 p.m. Monday (PDT) in the semifinals as the Owls make their fourth appearance in the Final Four.
Before that, though, OIT will head back to the Showboat Branson Belle for the Final Four banquet tonight, the third time the Hustlin’ Owls have taken their sponsor to their own boat for Sunday gathering.
“We’re on the boat,” a beaming Ryan Fiegi said. “I’ve been waiting for three years for this. I can’t say enough about my teammates.”
Fiegi was brilliant in the second half Saturday and finished with a game-high 23 pints, and added nine rebounds and five assists as he assured himself of a place on OIT’s career top 10 lists for points, rebounds, assists and three-point goals.
Saturday, OIT and Grace battled a see-saw first half during which there were two ties and seven lead changes, the last change coming in the final three minutes as the Owls took the lead for good.
OIT had its biggest first-half lead at 30-25.
Once Myles Daley, who has been playing brilliantly in the national tournament, scored on a putback with just over 14 minutes left in the second half, OIT had its first double-digit lead, one it opened up to 15 points.
OIT now will take a 29-6 record into Monday’s game. The other semifinal matchup will send Northwestern of Iowa against Bellevue of Nebraska at 4 p.m. (PDT) Monday.
The championship game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (PDT).
Updated 9:50 p.m. Friday, March 14: POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – Oregon Tech rallied from a seven-point deficit midway through the second half and raced to a 72-63 second-round victory over Evangel University in the NAIA Division II men’s national basketball tournament Friday.
The Hustlin’ Owls now will take a 28-6 record into a 6 p.m. game today (PST) against unseeded Grace of Indiana in the quarterfinals, the first time OIT has reached the Elite Eight since 2005.
Friday, Evangel, from nearby Springfield, Mo., went on a 7-0 spurt to snap a tie and take the Crusaders’ largest lead of the game, 39-32.
OIT responded with an 8-0 run and methodically pulled away from Evangel for the victory. The Owls will be making their sixth-ever national tournament quarterfinal appearance.
The win was not assured until late when Ryan Beesley stole a pass, raced downcourt and laid home the ball to give OIT a 62-54 lead, the largest OIT had enjoyed since they opened the game with a 15-0 run.
Ryan Fiegi led the Owls with 19 points, while Joshua Wetlzer finished with 13 points and 16 rebounds. Jguwon Hogges and Beesley also scored in double figures for OIT, while Tim Dial of Evangel led all scorers with 22 points.
Updated 1:15 p.m. Friday, March 14: Oregon Tech senior Ryan Fiegi reported this afternoon from the NAIA Division II national basketball tournament in Point Lokout, Mo., that his knee is a little sore, but he feels good and he's confident with the kind of taping job that the trainer (Upton Dabney) is doing with the knee. He also says, "of course it hurts, but I'm ready to go." At this point, for the first time in four years at the tournament, the No. 1 seed, Bellevue of Nebraska, has made it to the quarter finals.
Updated 11:15 a.m. Friday, March 14: Oregon Tech team members spent the morning watching their opponent's game films before tonight's 7:15 p.m. round at the NAIA Division II men's basketball tournament in Point Lookout, Mo. Their opponents, Evangel, from Springfield, Mo., 40 miles north of Branson, is 26 in 6 this season and the No. 6 seed in the tournament. OIT is now 77-6 this season and the No. 11 seed in the tournament. As of this morning it looked like OIT senior Ryan Fiegi will be playing in tonight's round. Fiegi suffered a knee injury midway through the first half of Thursday night's game that had the potential to be career-ending. Following the game he was said to have partially dislocated his right knee cap. Fiegi has also been fighting an earlier injury. The OIT senior has been playing the last 14 games with a hairline fracture in his right thumb.
A larger group of supporters will be at tonight's game, rooting on two Oregon teams. Eastern Oregon will play the tournament's host team, the College of the Ozarks, immediately preceding the Owls' game against Evangel.
Updated 9:10 a.m. Friday, March 14: POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. — Oregon Tech's next game will be against Evangel of Missouri at 7:15 p.m. tonight. While Thursday night's game was underway in Missouri, faithful fans in Klamath Falls were following their team. With the Owls at the NAIA Division II National Tournament in Branson, Mo., Oregon Tech fans still had a chance to watch the Owls’ opening game of the tournament. Thanks to the diligence of several of the OIT boosters and the Associated Students of OIT president Chris Frazier, fans were able to see the game via a live internet feed. For a fan like Mike Moore, it was just what he was hoping for.
“I have had the chance to go to Branson a couple of times and see the team live,” said Moore, who was decked out in a commemorative Danny Miles 800th win T-shirt. “But for the fans who are not able to do that, this is just as good.”
For the fans who showed up at the College Union building, it was almost like being at a game. They cheered during the player introductions and anytime the Owls did something positive, whether it was a rebound, a basket or taking a charge. Several people even yelled at the officials, although for the most part that was done in fun.
Perhaps no one was more into the game than Mel Agnimel, who is one of the assistant coaches for OIT. Agnimel’s job at Jeld-Wen prevented him from going to Branson, but that didn’t stop him from doing a little coaching, even if the players couldn’t hear him.
“Get to the hole, Jguwon,” he said as OIT junior Jguwon Hogges settled for a jump shot rather than taking the ball in.
“Man I wish I could be there,” Agnimel said.
The game
With just 11 minutes left to play in the first half, a hush fell over the crowd as OIT senior Ryan Fiegi injured his knee and stayed down on the floor for several minutes.
At halftime, Moore expressed a little concern over the Owls’ prospects without Fiegi.
“I hope he is not hurt too bad,” Moore said. “We need him in the second half.”
Fiegi was on the floor for the second half. OIT played much better when it was at full strength and the Owls were able to lead by as many as 13 before holding on for a 77-74 win.
Nice turnout
Cheryl Pocock, who was one of the organizers of the event, said she was happy to see the number of people who came out to watch the game.
“This is great,” she said. “I wanted to see the game myself, because I am a huge fan and to have as many people here as there are is great.”
There were at least 150 people in the auditorium in the college union who came out to watch.
The cost of the webcast was $200 and Pocock said that the school was not able to use any funds for it so the boosters and the Associated Students of OIT stepped up to help foot the bill.
“I would bet we will get more people as the tournament goes on,” Pocock said. “Chris Frazier did a great job of getting the word out to the students on campus.”
Fans can watch the Owls game tonight at 7:15 p.m. at the same location.
Thursday’s box score
OIT 77, Mt. Vernon Nazarene 74
MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE (23-8)
Andy Francis 4-6 0-0 9, Jadin Thomas 4-8 0-1 9, Connor Gregg 4-6 0-0 10, Dan Borcherdt 5-10 0-0 15, Brandon Short 2-3 1-4 5, Evan Yates 0-0 2-2 2, Josh Taguiam 0-0 0-0 0, Ben Falkenberg 7-17 4-4 22, Adam Grimm 0-0 0-0 0, Bryce Sanborn 1-3 0-0 2. Totals: 27-53 9-13 74.
OREGON TECH (27-6)
Mike Nieraeth 2-5 0-0 5, Jguwon Hogges 5-12 4-5 14, Ryan Fiegi 9-15 0-1 18, Joshua Wetzler 2-3 1-2 5, Christian Cavanaugh 4-5 0-0 8, Joel Matchett 1-1 0-0 2, Nate Lewis 2-4 0-0 5, Ryan Beesley 3-6 0-0 8, Myles Daley 5-7 2-2 12, Brent Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 33-58 7-10 77.
Halftime score – Mount Vernon Nazarene 41, Oregon Tech 39.
3-point goals: Mount Vernon 11-25 (Borcherdt 5-10, Falkenberg 4-8, Francis 1-3, Thomas 1-4), Oregon Tech 4-19 (Beesley 2-4, Lewis 1-3, Nieraeth 1-4, Fiegi 0-1, Cavanaugh 0-1, Hogges 0-3, Fiegi 0-4). Rebounds: Mount Vernon 25 (Gregg 5, Short 5, Yates 4), Oregon Tech 30 (Wetzler 6, Fiegi 4, Cavanaugh 4, Daley 4). Assists: Mount Vernon 11 (Falkenberg 4, Francis 2, Short 2), Oregon Tech 18 (Fiegi 5, Wetzler 5m Hogges 3, Cavanaugh 2). Steals: Mount Vernon 7 (Borcherdt 3, Gregg, Short, Falkenberg, Sanborn), Oregon Tech 3 (Hogges, Fiegi, Wetzler).Blocked shots: Mount Vernon 1 (Thomas), Oregon Tech 2 (Fiegi, Cavanaugh). Turnovers: Mount Vernon 10, Oregon Tech 11. Personal fouls: Mount Vernon 16, Oregon Tech 13. Technical fouls: none. Fouled out: Short.
Officials – Darrell Foreman, Gary Durbin, Tyrone Archie. Attendance - NA.
Updated 8:44 p.m.: POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. — Oregon Tech delivered the NAIA Division II men’s basketball tournament a perfect 10 Thursday night, but not without a struggle.
The Hustlin’ Owls outlasted Mount Vernon Nazarene of Ohio to become the first team in tournament history to win its first 10 first-round games as they built a 10-point lead and then had to wait for two errant last-second shots to miss before they could claim the 77-74 victory.
The win moves OIT, now 27-6 this season, into the second round against Evangel of nearby Springfield, Mo., at 7:15 p.m. today (PST). Evangal routed Menlo of California in Thursday’s final game.
“We knew that a team like that is never out of a game like this,” OIT senior Ryan Fiegi said after a game second half, coming back from a knee injury that appeared, midway through the first half, to possibly be a career-ending one.
Updated 8:01 p.m.: OIT holds on for a 77-74 win as Mt. Vernon Nazarene misses a three-pointer that would have tied the game.
Updated 7:26 p.m.: With 26.5 seconds left OIT took to consecutive timeouts, one when it was pressured trying to get the ball in. OIT has posession and a 77-74 lead.
Updated 7:12 p.m.: Mt. Vernon Nazarene is struggling from the field while the Owls have been getting second chance shots and using a good portion of the shot clock. With 3:46 left to play, OIT leads 73-60,
Updated 7:01 p.m.: The teams have been trading baskets for most of the second half with 9:34 left the Owls lead 60-55.
Updated 6:51 p.m.: Fiegi started the second half and with 13:51 left to play in the game the Owls lead 54-50
Updated 6: 40 p.m.: Mt. Vernon Nazarene leads 41-39 at halftime. OIT played the last 11 minutes of the half without Ryan Fiegi, who injured his knee.
Updated 6:28 p.m.: With 6:30 left in first half, a 28-28 tie.
Posted 6:08 p.m.: With 14:38 left in the first half OIT leads Mt. Vernon Nazarene 14-11.
BRANSON, Mo. — As Warner Pacific’s basketball team headed back to the court Wednesday at Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks, Mary Toffell of Bonanza gave the Knights words of encouragement. It was the fourth game of the NAIA Division II men’s national basketball tournament and Toffell, like about three dozen other Oregon Tech fans, sat with Warner Pacific fans giving support to another Cascade Collegiate Conference school.
Cheering them on
It is a normal thing for league fans to support the other conference schools when their team is idle.
Oregon Tech, which is the team Mary and Bob Toffell have followed and supported for more than 35 years, was idle Wednesday.
The Toffells, like the Hustlin’ Owls, have to wait until 5:30 p.m. today (PDT) for OIT to make its first-round appearance at the tournament, and the Toffells have been to many of the games.
“This is my sixth year in Branson,” Bob Toffell said. “I also went to two tournaments in Nampa (Idaho, where the tournament was held before it moved to Missouri).
“We’ve been following OIT for 36 years,” he said. “About 10 or 12 years ago, we started becoming boosters. For my wife and I, it’s something to do. We like the kids and the kids like the support. The kids look to you and acknowledge that you’re (at the games).”
Long journey
Like many of the OIT fans in Branson this week, the Toffells made the long trip that included flights and driving time. They flew from Klamath Falls to Portland to Denver to Springfield, Mo., and then drove to Branson.
“We figured it cost us about $600 apiece to get here,” Bob Toffell said. Then they added the costs of a room, meals and game tickets. The Toffells, like other fans, are staying in the same hotel as the Hustlin’ Owls, for another chance to interact with the players.
“It’s worth it,” Bob Toffell said.
Since Mary retired a few years ago, traveling to the national tournament has become easier, and this is Mary’s fifth trip to Missouri to watch the Owls, who have one of the best overall records in tournament history.
“We can get away,” Bob said with a grin.
Conference support
They planned to watch Eastern Oregon make its national tournament appearance Wednesday, the last conference school to make the trip to Branson before the league expanded this season to add Northwest Christian College of Eugene.
So did most of the other OIT fans.
“I’m surprised there are this many fans here,” Bob Toffell said at halftime of Warner Pacific’s game against ninth-seeded Bethel of Indiana. (Warner Pacific lost, 86-73, in overtime.) More Hustlin’ Owl fans were expected to arrive later Wednesday and early today.
Many, like the Toffells, live outside of Klamath Falls, too. The Toffells live in Bonanza. Others live in Dorris, the Running Y and throughout the Klamath Basin.
“It’s just worth it,” Bob Toffell said.
For more on the Owls in Branson, click here.
The Hustlin’ Owls pulled away from unseeded Grace College of Indiana in the second half Saturday to claim an 81-70 victory to earn a berth in semifinals of the NAIA Division II men’s national basketball tournament.
OIT will meet defending national champion MidAmerica Nazarene of Olathe, Kan., at 6 p.m. Monday (PDT) in the semifinals as the Owls make their fourth appearance in the Final Four.
Before that, though, OIT will head back to the Showboat Branson Belle for the Final Four banquet tonight, the third time the Hustlin’ Owls have taken their sponsor to their own boat for Sunday gathering.
“We’re on the boat,” a beaming Ryan Fiegi said. “I’ve been waiting for three years for this. I can’t say enough about my teammates.”
Fiegi was brilliant in the second half Saturday and finished with a game-high 23 pints, and added nine rebounds and five assists as he assured himself of a place on OIT’s career top 10 lists for points, rebounds, assists and three-point goals.
Saturday, OIT and Grace battled a see-saw first half during which there were two ties and seven lead changes, the last change coming in the final three minutes as the Owls took the lead for good.
OIT had its biggest first-half lead at 30-25.
Once Myles Daley, who has been playing brilliantly in the national tournament, scored on a putback with just over 14 minutes left in the second half, OIT had its first double-digit lead, one it opened up to 15 points.
OIT now will take a 29-6 record into Monday’s game. The other semifinal matchup will send Northwestern of Iowa against Bellevue of Nebraska at 4 p.m. (PDT) Monday.
The championship game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (PDT).
Updated 9:50 p.m. Friday, March 14: POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. – Oregon Tech rallied from a seven-point deficit midway through the second half and raced to a 72-63 second-round victory over Evangel University in the NAIA Division II men’s national basketball tournament Friday.
The Hustlin’ Owls now will take a 28-6 record into a 6 p.m. game today (PST) against unseeded Grace of Indiana in the quarterfinals, the first time OIT has reached the Elite Eight since 2005.
Friday, Evangel, from nearby Springfield, Mo., went on a 7-0 spurt to snap a tie and take the Crusaders’ largest lead of the game, 39-32.
OIT responded with an 8-0 run and methodically pulled away from Evangel for the victory. The Owls will be making their sixth-ever national tournament quarterfinal appearance.
The win was not assured until late when Ryan Beesley stole a pass, raced downcourt and laid home the ball to give OIT a 62-54 lead, the largest OIT had enjoyed since they opened the game with a 15-0 run.
Ryan Fiegi led the Owls with 19 points, while Joshua Wetlzer finished with 13 points and 16 rebounds. Jguwon Hogges and Beesley also scored in double figures for OIT, while Tim Dial of Evangel led all scorers with 22 points.
Updated 1:15 p.m. Friday, March 14: Oregon Tech senior Ryan Fiegi reported this afternoon from the NAIA Division II national basketball tournament in Point Lokout, Mo., that his knee is a little sore, but he feels good and he's confident with the kind of taping job that the trainer (Upton Dabney) is doing with the knee. He also says, "of course it hurts, but I'm ready to go." At this point, for the first time in four years at the tournament, the No. 1 seed, Bellevue of Nebraska, has made it to the quarter finals.
Updated 11:15 a.m. Friday, March 14: Oregon Tech team members spent the morning watching their opponent's game films before tonight's 7:15 p.m. round at the NAIA Division II men's basketball tournament in Point Lookout, Mo. Their opponents, Evangel, from Springfield, Mo., 40 miles north of Branson, is 26 in 6 this season and the No. 6 seed in the tournament. OIT is now 77-6 this season and the No. 11 seed in the tournament. As of this morning it looked like OIT senior Ryan Fiegi will be playing in tonight's round. Fiegi suffered a knee injury midway through the first half of Thursday night's game that had the potential to be career-ending. Following the game he was said to have partially dislocated his right knee cap. Fiegi has also been fighting an earlier injury. The OIT senior has been playing the last 14 games with a hairline fracture in his right thumb.
A larger group of supporters will be at tonight's game, rooting on two Oregon teams. Eastern Oregon will play the tournament's host team, the College of the Ozarks, immediately preceding the Owls' game against Evangel.
Updated 9:10 a.m. Friday, March 14: POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. — Oregon Tech's next game will be against Evangel of Missouri at 7:15 p.m. tonight. While Thursday night's game was underway in Missouri, faithful fans in Klamath Falls were following their team. With the Owls at the NAIA Division II National Tournament in Branson, Mo., Oregon Tech fans still had a chance to watch the Owls’ opening game of the tournament. Thanks to the diligence of several of the OIT boosters and the Associated Students of OIT president Chris Frazier, fans were able to see the game via a live internet feed. For a fan like Mike Moore, it was just what he was hoping for.
“I have had the chance to go to Branson a couple of times and see the team live,” said Moore, who was decked out in a commemorative Danny Miles 800th win T-shirt. “But for the fans who are not able to do that, this is just as good.”
For the fans who showed up at the College Union building, it was almost like being at a game. They cheered during the player introductions and anytime the Owls did something positive, whether it was a rebound, a basket or taking a charge. Several people even yelled at the officials, although for the most part that was done in fun.
Perhaps no one was more into the game than Mel Agnimel, who is one of the assistant coaches for OIT. Agnimel’s job at Jeld-Wen prevented him from going to Branson, but that didn’t stop him from doing a little coaching, even if the players couldn’t hear him.
“Get to the hole, Jguwon,” he said as OIT junior Jguwon Hogges settled for a jump shot rather than taking the ball in.
“Man I wish I could be there,” Agnimel said.
The game
With just 11 minutes left to play in the first half, a hush fell over the crowd as OIT senior Ryan Fiegi injured his knee and stayed down on the floor for several minutes.
At halftime, Moore expressed a little concern over the Owls’ prospects without Fiegi.
“I hope he is not hurt too bad,” Moore said. “We need him in the second half.”
Fiegi was on the floor for the second half. OIT played much better when it was at full strength and the Owls were able to lead by as many as 13 before holding on for a 77-74 win.
Nice turnout
Cheryl Pocock, who was one of the organizers of the event, said she was happy to see the number of people who came out to watch the game.
“This is great,” she said. “I wanted to see the game myself, because I am a huge fan and to have as many people here as there are is great.”
There were at least 150 people in the auditorium in the college union who came out to watch.
The cost of the webcast was $200 and Pocock said that the school was not able to use any funds for it so the boosters and the Associated Students of OIT stepped up to help foot the bill.
“I would bet we will get more people as the tournament goes on,” Pocock said. “Chris Frazier did a great job of getting the word out to the students on campus.”
Fans can watch the Owls game tonight at 7:15 p.m. at the same location.
Thursday’s box score
OIT 77, Mt. Vernon Nazarene 74
MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE (23-8)
Andy Francis 4-6 0-0 9, Jadin Thomas 4-8 0-1 9, Connor Gregg 4-6 0-0 10, Dan Borcherdt 5-10 0-0 15, Brandon Short 2-3 1-4 5, Evan Yates 0-0 2-2 2, Josh Taguiam 0-0 0-0 0, Ben Falkenberg 7-17 4-4 22, Adam Grimm 0-0 0-0 0, Bryce Sanborn 1-3 0-0 2. Totals: 27-53 9-13 74.
OREGON TECH (27-6)
Mike Nieraeth 2-5 0-0 5, Jguwon Hogges 5-12 4-5 14, Ryan Fiegi 9-15 0-1 18, Joshua Wetzler 2-3 1-2 5, Christian Cavanaugh 4-5 0-0 8, Joel Matchett 1-1 0-0 2, Nate Lewis 2-4 0-0 5, Ryan Beesley 3-6 0-0 8, Myles Daley 5-7 2-2 12, Brent Johnson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 33-58 7-10 77.
Halftime score – Mount Vernon Nazarene 41, Oregon Tech 39.
3-point goals: Mount Vernon 11-25 (Borcherdt 5-10, Falkenberg 4-8, Francis 1-3, Thomas 1-4), Oregon Tech 4-19 (Beesley 2-4, Lewis 1-3, Nieraeth 1-4, Fiegi 0-1, Cavanaugh 0-1, Hogges 0-3, Fiegi 0-4). Rebounds: Mount Vernon 25 (Gregg 5, Short 5, Yates 4), Oregon Tech 30 (Wetzler 6, Fiegi 4, Cavanaugh 4, Daley 4). Assists: Mount Vernon 11 (Falkenberg 4, Francis 2, Short 2), Oregon Tech 18 (Fiegi 5, Wetzler 5m Hogges 3, Cavanaugh 2). Steals: Mount Vernon 7 (Borcherdt 3, Gregg, Short, Falkenberg, Sanborn), Oregon Tech 3 (Hogges, Fiegi, Wetzler).Blocked shots: Mount Vernon 1 (Thomas), Oregon Tech 2 (Fiegi, Cavanaugh). Turnovers: Mount Vernon 10, Oregon Tech 11. Personal fouls: Mount Vernon 16, Oregon Tech 13. Technical fouls: none. Fouled out: Short.
Officials – Darrell Foreman, Gary Durbin, Tyrone Archie. Attendance - NA.
Updated 8:44 p.m.: POINT LOOKOUT, Mo. — Oregon Tech delivered the NAIA Division II men’s basketball tournament a perfect 10 Thursday night, but not without a struggle.
The Hustlin’ Owls outlasted Mount Vernon Nazarene of Ohio to become the first team in tournament history to win its first 10 first-round games as they built a 10-point lead and then had to wait for two errant last-second shots to miss before they could claim the 77-74 victory.
The win moves OIT, now 27-6 this season, into the second round against Evangel of nearby Springfield, Mo., at 7:15 p.m. today (PST). Evangal routed Menlo of California in Thursday’s final game.
“We knew that a team like that is never out of a game like this,” OIT senior Ryan Fiegi said after a game second half, coming back from a knee injury that appeared, midway through the first half, to possibly be a career-ending one.
Updated 8:01 p.m.: OIT holds on for a 77-74 win as Mt. Vernon Nazarene misses a three-pointer that would have tied the game.
Updated 7:26 p.m.: With 26.5 seconds left OIT took to consecutive timeouts, one when it was pressured trying to get the ball in. OIT has posession and a 77-74 lead.
Updated 7:12 p.m.: Mt. Vernon Nazarene is struggling from the field while the Owls have been getting second chance shots and using a good portion of the shot clock. With 3:46 left to play, OIT leads 73-60,
Updated 7:01 p.m.: The teams have been trading baskets for most of the second half with 9:34 left the Owls lead 60-55.
Updated 6:51 p.m.: Fiegi started the second half and with 13:51 left to play in the game the Owls lead 54-50
Updated 6: 40 p.m.: Mt. Vernon Nazarene leads 41-39 at halftime. OIT played the last 11 minutes of the half without Ryan Fiegi, who injured his knee.
Updated 6:28 p.m.: With 6:30 left in first half, a 28-28 tie.
Posted 6:08 p.m.: With 14:38 left in the first half OIT leads Mt. Vernon Nazarene 14-11.
BRANSON, Mo. — As Warner Pacific’s basketball team headed back to the court Wednesday at Keeter Gymnasium on the campus of College of the Ozarks, Mary Toffell of Bonanza gave the Knights words of encouragement. It was the fourth game of the NAIA Division II men’s national basketball tournament and Toffell, like about three dozen other Oregon Tech fans, sat with Warner Pacific fans giving support to another Cascade Collegiate Conference school.
Cheering them on
It is a normal thing for league fans to support the other conference schools when their team is idle.
Oregon Tech, which is the team Mary and Bob Toffell have followed and supported for more than 35 years, was idle Wednesday.
The Toffells, like the Hustlin’ Owls, have to wait until 5:30 p.m. today (PDT) for OIT to make its first-round appearance at the tournament, and the Toffells have been to many of the games.
“This is my sixth year in Branson,” Bob Toffell said. “I also went to two tournaments in Nampa (Idaho, where the tournament was held before it moved to Missouri).
“We’ve been following OIT for 36 years,” he said. “About 10 or 12 years ago, we started becoming boosters. For my wife and I, it’s something to do. We like the kids and the kids like the support. The kids look to you and acknowledge that you’re (at the games).”
Long journey
Like many of the OIT fans in Branson this week, the Toffells made the long trip that included flights and driving time. They flew from Klamath Falls to Portland to Denver to Springfield, Mo., and then drove to Branson.
“We figured it cost us about $600 apiece to get here,” Bob Toffell said. Then they added the costs of a room, meals and game tickets. The Toffells, like other fans, are staying in the same hotel as the Hustlin’ Owls, for another chance to interact with the players.
“It’s worth it,” Bob Toffell said.
Since Mary retired a few years ago, traveling to the national tournament has become easier, and this is Mary’s fifth trip to Missouri to watch the Owls, who have one of the best overall records in tournament history.
“We can get away,” Bob said with a grin.
Conference support
They planned to watch Eastern Oregon make its national tournament appearance Wednesday, the last conference school to make the trip to Branson before the league expanded this season to add Northwest Christian College of Eugene.
So did most of the other OIT fans.
“I’m surprised there are this many fans here,” Bob Toffell said at halftime of Warner Pacific’s game against ninth-seeded Bethel of Indiana. (Warner Pacific lost, 86-73, in overtime.) More Hustlin’ Owl fans were expected to arrive later Wednesday and early today.
Many, like the Toffells, live outside of Klamath Falls, too. The Toffells live in Bonanza. Others live in Dorris, the Running Y and throughout the Klamath Basin.
“It’s just worth it,” Bob Toffell said.
For more on the Owls in Branson, click here.
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| Owls top Mount Vernon Nazarene, 77-74 |
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