The Advocate, Issue 16 - Feb. 9, 2018

Independent Student Voice of MHCC

Volume 52, Issue 16 FEBRUARY 9, 2018 advocate-online.net

The ‘State of MHCC’ PAGE 2

Flor, local band, finding success PAGE 6

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL DOMINATES IN LATEST GAME

Explore your inner devil in new Netflix series PAGE 7

PAGE 8

Valentine’s Day date planning suggestions PAGE 5

2016 FIRST PLACE

General excellence Oregon Newspaper Publisher Association

OPINION EDITORIAL

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

STATE OF THE SAINTS: LOOKING FORWARD

L

ast week, everyone’s favorite Commander-inChief gave his first and, without question, the greatest and bestest State of the Union address to the U.S. Congress so far. A requirement under the U.S. Constitution, the annual report is a chance for the president to give a personal assessment of the state of economic and foreign affairs affecting America, as well as pitch a legislative agenda.

As per usual, Donny didn’t disappoint, hitting political hot buttons at every turn. While there’s a lot to say, we at the Advocate decided to steer clear of political commentary and keep our focus a little more local. We, instead, present to you the first, and without question, the greatest and bestest State of MHCC address for 2018.

Positives noted Last year saw a big push on Mt Hood’s part to get a physicalupgrade bond measure approved by taxpayers, an effort which ultimately proved unsuccessful. Coupling this with a chronic lag in state funding in the face of rising operational costs (a trend not unique to Mt Hood), the college has had to make some extremely difficult choices.

In light of this, we at the Advocate feel the college has done an admirable job, in some regards.

Study programs such as mechatronics, broadcasting and Subaru U will produce technical skills that will be needed in the coming years, ones which will

build a competitive workforce, not to mention job opportunities for students almost immediately after graduation – in the case of broadcasting and KMHD2 Radio, for instance – and Mt. Hood’s strong nursing program.

MHCC leaders have made a noticeable effort to listen and respond to students’ concerns. The registration process, formerly a convoluted, Sisyphean affair, has been significantly streamlined. The Student Finance Council, too, was more involved than it’s been in previous years, with greater focus on participants better understanding their budgeting options and authority as students, independent of control by advisers or coaches.

Regarding inclusiveness, the college has made two excellent hires in Gaby Lunasco and Felisciana Peralta, as Diversity Resource Center coordinator and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion director, respectively. It also has emphasized a supportive, welcoming stance on undocumented persons, affirming its sanctuary status. These efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Some classes ‘a joke’.

That being said, there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done.

It is hard to isolate which negative factors are institutional, with respect to higher education overall. Or, to all four-year schools, or community colleges, in general, or to Mt Hood in particular – and also, how much owes to Oregon’s substandard education funding

Editor-in-Chief Matana McIntire

Opinion Editor Kyle Venooker

Associate Editor/ News Editor Greg Leonov

Web Editor Position Open

Associate News Editor & Copy Editor Bethany McCurley Arts & Entertainment Editor Ryan Moore Associate Arts & Entertainment/ Social Media Manager Cassie Wilson PA G E 2

Sports Editor Jonathan Zacarias Graphic Design Team Prisma Flores Amy Welch Nicole Meade Bethany Lange Sheila Embers Photo Editor Fletcher Wold

mechanism.

However, it’s not likely you will find many other schools with lesson plans consisting of a Planet Earth episode, or lessons that depend on an instructor’s ability to remember their HBO-Go password (or not).

We’re often told, “You get what you pay for,” and while Mt Hood’s tuition rates are comparatively affordable, it is still frustrating when students report such examples of abundantly free, online resources being used in class, in lieu of actual, hands-on instruction.

Part of it, no doubt, is the college’s cost-cutting strategy of utilizing more adjunct faculty. These part-time teachers are less expensive for Mt. Hood, but as with any underpaid position, the quality of instructors’ work can be affected by a low salary.

This is not the case with all instructors, or even most: Many adjunct faculty also teach at fouryear universities and see no reason to give community college students a lesser experience. Just because you’re part-time doesn’t mean you’re not giving the students a good education.

And yet, every person on this newspaper staff has taken at least one class at Mt. Hood that, academically speaking, was a joke.

Inflation worries Which leads to our next point: There are few, if any, institutional systems in place for ensuring consistent quality from class to class.

Sure, there are the email surveys

Photo Team Fadi Shahin Andy Carothers Video Team

Cory Wiese Megan Hayes Nick Krane Gabriel Donaldson Miguel De La Rosa Ad Managers Megan Phelps Yen Le Advisers Howard Buck Dan Ernst

the administration sends out every quarter, and instructors often administer self-evaluations, but it’s not enough. We’re not asking for constant auditing or Orwellian surveillance to ensure instructional quality; we just want a challenging academic environment from instructors who are, if not engaged, then at the very least, not apathetic.

As a community college, a primary goal is to prepare students for their next step, especially those pursuing transfer degrees. Leading to our next complaint: grade inflation. MHCC’s GPA system does not differentiate between pluses and minuses. In other words, getting a 79.5 in a class is the same as getting an 89.4, and getting straight 89.5s will show up as a 4.0 on an official transcript.

While this is great for students winning scholarships and getting accepted into four-year schools, the academic rigor at most universities may come as a shock to students used to Mt Hood’s sometimes-fluffy workload and expectations.

A ‘force for good’ Ultimately, we come back to this realization: In contrast to four-year schools that rely on loading massive student debt on their patrons, community colleges have long offered a foot in the door for traditionally underserved communities. And, in that regard, MHCC does a phenomenal job.

Due to the success and generosity of the MHCC Foundation, students who work hard and excel

Staff Writers Hanna Benson Maddy Sanstrum Logan Hertner Kente Bates Contact us!

E-mail: advocatt@mhcc.edu Phone: 503-491-7250 Website: advocate-online.net Twitter: @MHCCAdvocate Facebook: facebook.com/TheAdvocateOnline Instagram: @MHCCAdvocate #MHCCAdvocate Mt. Hood Community College 26000 SE Stark Street Gresham, Oregon 97030 Room AC1369

academically can see a significant portion of their (comparatively) low tuition waived. Academic success opens doors to grant and scholarship opportunities at subsequent schools, too, further reducing student debt.

While we Mt. Hood students may miss out on the media-glorified, Animal House-esque “quintessential” college experience, replete with Greek life, bacchanalia and parties galore, the sweet parties we could later throw with the money saved will more than make up for it.

What’s more, MHCC has consistently been a place where students can figure out what they want their life to look like. Every person on this paper knows the difference the Mt. Hood community has made in their life: The doors it’s opened, the connections it’s fostered, the debates it’s sparked, the caffeine addictions it’s enabled.

It has its problems, but this institution has, by and large, proved a force for good in the lives of many people who would otherwise have been overlooked by society.

In conclusion: As students, would we like to see some changes at MHCC? Of course! Would it be great if the administration could snap its fingers and make that happen? Sure.

Could we use a little more money from the state? Always. Does Mt Hood, as a college, make a difference in the lives of every student who attends? Without a doubt. Are we grateful for the experience we’ve gotten? Most days.

Cover photo by: Fletcher Wold In photo: Saints center Rachel Watson (#25) soars over Chemeketa defenders.

The Advocate encourages readers to share their opinion by letters to the editor and guest columns for publication. All submissions must be typed and include the writer’s name and contact information. Contact information will not be printed unless requested. Original copies will not be returned to the author. The Advocate will not print any unsigned submission. Letters to the editor should not exceed 300 words and guest columns should not exceed 600. The decision to publish is at the discretion of the editorial board. The Advocate reserves the right to edit for style, punctuation, grammar and length. Please bring submissions to The Advocate in Room 1369, or e-mail them to advocatt@mhcc. edu. Submissions must be received by 5 p.m. Monday the week of publication to be considered for print.

Opinions expressed in columns, letters to the editor or advertisements are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Advocate or MHCC.

OPINION

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

THE FLU IS STILL HERE; LEARN PREVENTION TIPS Kente Bates the advocate

In the spirit of “The Total Self,” this article is all about health. The following stats and figures are from the federal CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in Atlanta, Georgia), plus I throw in some pointers on how to avoid the flu this year.

NOTE: This article is not a substitute for sound medical advice.

Please consult with your primary

care provider for any and all medical or health issues.

This flu season has been, and is, the most brutal one in recent memory. Maybe you got the flu shot and it didn’t affect you. You may have been among the many who swear against the flu shot and you haven’t gotten sick. [Editor’s note: On Thursday, Feb. 8, the CDC reported the flu outbreak may have peaked in Oregon, first state in the lower 48 to see a drop in new cases.]

In any case, here are a few statistics on the 2017-18 flu season compiled by the CDC: Overall, only 2 of 5 Americans in the U.S. received the flu shot by early November 2017: 38.8 percent of all children, age 6 months through 17 years, and 38.5 percent of adults age 18 and up received the flu shot.

Among children, flu vaccination rates were similar across the board

of all racial/ethnic groups with one exception – non-Hispanic children of other/multiple races had higher flu vaccination coverage than nonHispanic Black children.

Among adults 18-49, vaccination rates decreased by 3.7 percent in the 2017-18 flu season compared to the same period of time in the 2016-17 flu season.

Among Hispanics, vaccinations decreased by 7.7 percent over the same period.

This matters, because nonvaccinated persons are at a higher risk of contracting the flu and transmitting the virus to others, some of whom are at risk of having the flu/severe illness.

Bottom line is, 3 of every 5 persons in the U.S. were not vaccinated by early November 2017.

Now, here are statistics on mortality rates due to the flu:

A total of 101 influenzarelated deaths in children occurred throughout the 2016-2017 flu season, the CDC reported. This was the first time since the 2014-2015 season that the number of child deaths has exceeded 100.

Each year, between 4,000 and 50,000 Americans are specifically killed by influenza, and most commonly it’s caused from a variation of an influenza A strain virus (per CDC data).

Influenza B strains tend to occur later in the season, and be of the more mild variety. Influenza claims between 3,000 and 49,000 lives annually. Over $10 billion is spent yearly to combat and treat the flu, meantime.

With these statistics, what can be done about this? Here are a few recommended steps: 1. SLEEP. Your body needs it.

Your immune system won’t function properly without proper rest.

2. Eat healthier. Your body needs the proper nutrients, vitamins and minerals to ward off the flu.

3. Water intake. Increasing water intake is crucial. During the winter months, water intake falls precipitously. Go beyond the government-recommended 8 glasses (of 8 ounces or more) of water per day. (I would estimate a healthy 200-pound adult male would need at least 12-15 glasses of water daily).

Alternately, try snacking on waterbased foods to help stay hydrated.

In closing, and I am sure you’ve seen this already by now, the flu is no joke. This flu season has been brutal!

Stay healthy people. Optimum health is fundamental to a vibrant life.

Staying healthy is a huge part of the basics. THE BASICS ALWAYS WIN.

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

A FLUFFY ALTERNATIVE TO THE SUPER BOWL Dogs and cats both play for a larger cause on Super Bowl Sunday Ryan Moore the advocate

Last weekend was the time for the annual television event dubbed as Super Bowl Sunday – an excuse for both casual and hardcore football fans to come together, share their best party appetizers, and watch the final game of the NFL postseason.

But aside from the stories and drama that unfolds on the football field, the day offers a spectacle for all sorts of entertaining television programming.

Early on Sunday there were two other annual bowl games for those less interested in the outcome of the Eagles and the Patriots. The everpopular Puppy Bowl aired on Animal Planet for its 14th consecutive year.

The adorable competition showed Team Fluff grabbing the 52-47 victory over Team Ruff and taking home

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the “Lombarky” trophy.

Even more impressive is the fact that the entire two-hour program involved over 90 hours of footage and took three months to edit.

Cat lovers also got a

Graphic by Nicole Meade

lovable alternative to the Super Bowl, and that was the fifth annual Kitten Bowl that aired on the Hallmark Channel. And here, the Pouncey Panthers defeated the Little Longtails, 34-28, in suddendeath overtime. Both teams had kittens named after NFL players, such as Feline Manning and JJ Swatts.

In addition to all the cuteness witnessed across these two games, the charming pets played for a larger purpose, and that was to raise awareness for animal adoption. All of the puppies in the Puppy Bowl came from shelters across the country, and all of the featured kittens were rescued from areas in Houston and Florida affected by recent hurricanes.

During each of the programs several puppies and kittens were adopted, and the rest were made available for adoption.

If you’re not a sports fan

whatsoever, there are still a few things to look forward to once the Super Bowl is under way each year.

Beyond the chips and dip, there are the wacky and often-bizarre commercials. This year there

brought live musicians, plenty of dancers, an enormous marching band, and an impressive medley of his hits to Minneapolis.

The nearly 14-minute performance also featured a projection of Prince, paying tribute to the city’s native music legend.

During this moment the entire stadium and the surrounding city glowed purple, in true Prince fashion. Just before Timberlake finished his last song, he made his way into the crowd and instantly sparked an internet meme by singing next to a young boy and taking selfies with him, with many online comments later suggesting that the boy had no idea who the star was.

Whether you think Super Bowl Sunday should be recognized as a national holiday, or see it as part of just another weekend, it remains a day of the year filled with enthusiasm from sports fans, as well as fans of music and memorable television.

In addition to all the cuteness witnessed across these two games, the charming pets played for a larger purpose, and that was to raise awareness for animal adoption. was no shortage of high-profile appearances, from Danny DeVito assuming the role of the red M&M to Peter Dinklage and Morgan Freeman rap battling over Doritos and Mountain Dew. Then, thanks to David Harbour from “Stranger Things,” we soon realized that perhaps every ad we saw was a Tide ad, as the actor helped the idea merge into other faux ads.

For anyone still tuning in who isn’t as concerned with the underdog tale being told on the football field, the pinnacle of Super Bowl Sunday awaits at the beginning of halftime.

This year’s act, Justin Timberlake,

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

WHERE SHOULD YOU TAKE YOUR BAE FOR V-DAY? Are you broke AF?

Do you still want to take them on a nice date?

Very into ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ the outdoors or only a Yes Yes little?

Day hike & picnic

Very Only a little

we

bg rap hic

Actually, for once, no!

Dinner at Taco Bell

You know it!

Do you really want to ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ impress them?

Need a date?

Follow the flow chart to predict the perfect Valentine’s Day date for you.

Well, yeah! Are you lookI want to ing for a very Not so much Oh, marry them romantic yeah ;) someday night?

Do you know what they like?

Of course!

Not really...

Ask them.

Cook them dinner

No

Netflix ‘n’ Chill

web

hic

grap

Group date Graphic by Nicole Meade // the Advocate

They would Are they scream if a outdoors-y? bunny twitched their nose

Are you a good cook?

Does toast count?

Si, bella!

Do they have food allergies?

Do they like sports?

No Yes

Walk on the beach

Do you have food at your house?

I’m broke, remember?

Some

Just how They’re my much do you soulmate! like this Eh person?

Sports game

Live music/ show

Yes

Movie

Never mind

A restaurant that you can afford

Never ;) How did you know?

Are you socially awkward?

PA G E 5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

HOMEGROWN BAND FINDS A FOLLOWING

Hood River’s Flor releases deluxe edition of debut album Cassie Wilson the advocate

Members of the rising indie-pop band Flor grew up in Hood River before eventually moving to Los Angeles and signing with Fueled

By Ramen, a record label that is also home to artists such as Paramore, Twenty One Pilots, and The Front Bottoms.

Just how did Flor get from their small hometown to being heard on the airwaves?

Vocalist Zach Grace, bassist Dylan Bauld, and guitarist McKinley Kitts attended all of elementary, middle, and high school together in Hood River.

“Zach had a band when he was like 12 years old, and was kind of always playing,” said Kitts. “Dylan was our prodigy guitar player. He was just insanely good, and he got into producing pretty early on using Logic and GarageBand on his MacBook.”

Kitts picked up playing music a little later than Grace and Bauld, but the three of them working together, later adding drummer Kyle Hill to the mix, made for a band that could lift the talents of its individuals higher through collaboration.

Bauld’s knack for production quickly grew better and better, and became Flor’s secret weapon.

“A lot of garage bands write songs, play them at a bar and then that’s that,” Kitts explained.“We had this edge and we had this ability to record 25 songs without spending a lot of money and kind of choose the best ones.”

As is the case for most artists, it took many years of writing, recording, releasing music, and playing local shows, in their case in Portland, before Flor started to gain traction. “We were doing the

PA G E 6

whole bar circuit when we were like 16, 17,” said Kitts. “In high school, my dad would take us to shows and he’d have to walk us to and from the stage because we were underage, and couldn’t be in the bar.”

After finishing high school, Flor hit the road.

and Colony House. At some point in that time period, their music reached the ears of record labels, including Fueled By Ramen. “(Fueled) came to a couple shows I think to make sure that we weren’t totally awful, and then we signed with them,” said Kitts. “It’s

band worked, and continue to work with their label, booking agent Ryan Soroka, and manager Chris Georggin to figure out their best next steps.

“We’re so fortunate,” said Kitts about Flor’s team. “Our manager

Graphic by Sheila Embers // the Advocate

They made friends with performers along the way who were on the same path, or a little farther along, and many of them were from Los Angeles. After many writing trips to LA and touring for awhile, and after the musicians turned 21, Flor relocated from Hood River to LA to be more immersed in this bigger community in which they were growing.

From there, the band built their team. They independently released some of their first singles through online music blogs while they kept persistently touring – their first tour being with indie bands Coin

>>

been like two years now, actually.

We just took a year from when we signed to release our first song.”

Flor gained a lot of new fans when they opened for Halsey’s 2015 “Badlands” tour, which came as a result of a newfound friendship and being under the same management at the time. “Dylan, our bass player, had produced a lot of music for Halsey. He did a lot of the vocals for her “Badlands” record, and he cowrote her song “Colors,” said Kitts.

Following the Halsey tour, Flor took some time to finish preparing their spectacular debut album, “come out. you’re hiding.” The

Scan this QR code to listen to the deluxe edition of “come out. you’re hiding” by Flor on Spotify!

Chris was in Mexico the last few days, and we were still texting all day, everyday. He was on the beach and we were just talking ideas,” he said. “come out. you’re hiding” may be an album, but for Flor it’s more of an era. The songs on it are a combination of a lot of the first songs Flor released on EPs, some new material, and now, with the brand new deluxe edition of the record, fans can hear a glimpse into the group’s future.

The band is constantly writing and has plenty more songs ready to go, but they just aren’t quite to the end of this album’s chapter. “The

record came out, did okay, and then it built and built and built, so every month since the record came out it’s just gotten bigger,” said Kitts. When Flor were in Denver on tour with Atlas Genius last year, they stopped by a studio to record vocals for “rely,” one of the deluxe edition songs.

They had extra time, so they went into the rehearsal space to jam, and ended up building out the instrumental for “no more time,” another one of the new songs, within 15 minutes, and recorded it within a few hours.

“It was really organic, and normally we do stuff at home, in the home studio that Dylan and Zach live out of, but it was a very spontaneous, organic result,” said Kitts.

The final of the three new songs on the deluxe edition is “ocean” which was one of the tracks they had released independently through music blogs, but had become a fan favorite.

“We added new drums and guitars and kind of breathed new life into it, and put that on the deluxe,” Kitts explained.

With “co.yh” being finalized at a total of 13 tracks on the deluxe edition, Flor has put together a collection of music that illustrates where they’ve been and where they’re going. They’ve shown what they can do with keys and electronics, and they’re beginning to move those sounds onto their guitars. They’re finding new depth, pushing themselves creatively and continuing to mature, overall.

Expect to see Flor on the road a lot in 2018.

“We want to be playing shows, getting to know our fans and seeing who they are and why they love our music, and just expand this community that we’ve managed to build based around ‘come out. you’re hiding,’” Kitts said.

On iPhone:

On Android:

Using a recent version of iOS, open the camera, point it towards the QR code, and hold down to scan it, and open Spotify.

Download a QR scanning app to scan the code and be taken directly to the album, or search for Flor on Spotify.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

FEBRUARY 9, 2018

DEVILMAN CRYBABY:

TERRIFYINGLY APPEALING Madeline Sanstrum the advocate

Normally, I’m not one for intense, sexual, gore-fest series – either for animated or live-action shows. I had heard about the graphic content before I started watching this one, but after seeing it pop up on my social media feed, I was curious. For a new show, it had an old-school look mixed with a modern style that I found interesting.

I wasn’t glued to the show because I had gone numb to all the death and sex (well, part of that was true), but there was something else I still can’t fully put to words, even after completing it. While I find myself wanting to forget, while still remembering it, the story of “Devilman Crybaby” is compelling, in that it brings to life humanity’s overall frailty and mixes it with our own, personal devils.

The story surrounds a variety of characters. The two main ones are Akira Fudo, a teenage crybaby who lives with Miki Makimura and her family; and Ryo Asuka, Akira’s friend and genius who discovers the existence of devils after his professor dies.

Ryo takes Akira to a nightclub and starts spilling blood, which attracts devils of all kinds, including the one Akira is empowered by: His pure heart and intentions keep him from being completely possessed and instead allow him to wield the devil’s power. The two then set off to rid the world of devils, but Ryo’s intentions go astray the deeper they get into their exploits, which leads Akira to question their alliance.

As noted, there is sex in all forms; violence, from victims being shot to bodies being ripped apart; and intensity, from defeating a bad guy to apocalyptic settings and moods where people jump off buildings at gunpoint. The transition from normal, everyday life to this onslaught is quick, tragic, and somewhere between inhumane and Darwinian survival of the fittest. Even from the beginning, most of the episodes cover a darker

THIS ANIME’S DEVILISH CHARM JUST MIGHT WIN YOUR HEART

Web Image

side of reality filled with drugs, rape, and misconduct of all natures.

Yet, in small moments there is some joy, some light, and some hope, such as two people becoming friends, strangers helping others after realizing their mistakes, Akira’s interactions with Miki and her family, and even in the last episode where Ryo and Akira share a conversation. The series encompasses a world writhing in the darkness, but still maintaining hope and light until the end.

One important thing to note is that the series is an adaptation of the “Devilman” manga series produced in the 1970s, and there are significant differences between the two, modernization being the biggest change. The manga is – strangely enough – less intense than the anime. Usually, it’s the opposite. It also makes me wonder if the story between the two is different because the names, scenes, and even characters have changed.

Also, there was an early 1970s anime adaptation that went completely against the script of the manga story, so there’s also a chance that Crybaby’s creators attempted

to better embrace the original story that’s considered to be a classic.

Still, what’s the point of watching Devilman Crybaby when it’s definitely R-rated and contradicts the original story?

The manga version came in the

middle of the Cold War where each and everyone could be considered an enemy, from countries to family members, even. I believe this new show tries to encompass this concept and the idea that everyone has uncontrollable devils that can

only be tamed with the help of other individuals. In the show, one city was destroyed by one person’s motives, but another helped people see their wrongs and pointed them away from continued selfdestruction.

With the development of modernization like phones and live television, the viewer is hit with the horrifying aspect of just how fast humans can turn on each other, and yet also see how they can rebuild faith and hope in one another.

Mortality is extremely prevalent, from the loss of a few to that of millions, close or unknown.

There are many facets to this story that I can’t describe without ruining the plot, but that I find eerily relatable and understandable.

For these reasons, this show gets all the stars [5/5] from me. It warns us of our own, primordial devils that can easily take control over us when we are threatened by the unknown, yet also shows the strength of hope and love that can conquer them.

While the content is not for the faint-of-heart or people with traumatic experiences, there is a devilish charm to this story that is both terrifying, yet welcome.

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SPORTS

A D V O C AT E - O N L I N E . N E T

CHEMISTRY BUILDING AT RIGHT TIME

Photos by Fletcher Wold // the Advocate

From left: Freshman standouts Courtney Jackson, Tatyana Lyles, and McKenzie Long led the Saints to a critical 87-74 win over Chemeketa on Wednesday. The Mt. Hood men lost their game to the Storm, 96-80.

Jonathan Zacarias the advocate

Saints win! Saints win!

The Mt Hood women’s basketball team is back to winning ways after a home victory Wednesday over the Chemeketa Storm, 87-74. The win helps the team’s fight for the NWAC playoffs, a rare opportunity in recent years.

The lady Saints came into the night having lost their last two games, to the top two teams in the NWAC South Division: Umpqua, ranked No. 1 in the league and undefeated on the year, at 22-0, and second-place Clackamas.

Before taking on the Storm, Saints head coach Jeremy Vandenboer said, “Tonight’s a big game. We beat them at their place, but it was a close one, so we’ll have to

come out tonight and battle.”

That the Saints did. What seemed to be a challenging game ended up being taken care of early in the first half, with the whole Mt. Hood team contributing, led by several first-year players.

Saints freshman center Rachel Watson took care of the offensive and defensive rebounds (with 12 total), and scored 14 points.

Freshman forward Courtney Jackson led the Saints in scoring with 20, and had 10 rebounds.

Freshman guard Tatyana Lyles scored 15 and grabbed 9 rebounds, while freshman point guard McKenzie Long had 10 points and 8 assists.

Mt. Hood led 45-34 at the half and never looked back, pushing its lead to 17 at one point.

Team leaders Long and Watson

said beating the Storm was critical.

“A must-win for going to playoffs,” said Long. “We feel really good! We needed the win because they’re right below us in league, so this win put us a little bit further above them.

Watson was happy with her performance Wednesday night.

Season

Conf.

Overall

2009-10

10-4

19-10

2010-11

6-8

10-16

2011-12

4-10

8-17

2012-13

0-14

2-23

2013-14

0-12

2-23

2014-15

1-11

5-22

2015-16

4-12

9-18

2016-17

2-14

7-21

2017-18

5-5

8-12

The 6-foot, 1-inch center took full advantage of her height advantage, controlling the game in the middle.

“They were shorter so it was easier to box them out,” Watson said of the Storm. “I feel pumped because we really needed to win and it’s always good to win on your home court.”

The win over Chemeketa lifted Mt. Hood’s season record to 8-12 overall, and 5-5 in the South, good for fourth place in the division.

With six more games to play in the next three weeks – five of them against South rivals with worse records – the Saints can clinch a playoff spot if they finish in fourth (or better), something they haven’t done for eight years.

The last time the Saints went to the playoffs was in the 2009-10 season where they went 10-4 in

the South, and 19-10 overall. They haven’t come anywhere near close since, including winning only one South Division game in 38 tries from 2012-2014.

In his first year as head coach, Vandenboer is happy for where the program is going and seems calm, looking forward.

“I think that’s the great thing about athletics, that it just represents life with so many opportunities and teachable moments,” he said.

“It’s not so much if you fail or get knocked down, because everybody fails and gets knocked down: We don’t do as well as we want to on a test, we didn’t get the promotion we wanted or a job.

“It’s about ‘Do you keep getting back up, and never quit?’ That’s what I tell my girls,” he said.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES WIN SUPER BOWL Logan Hertner the advocate

Congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles on winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history. This comes decades after winning NFL championships in 1948, 1949 and 1960. The Eagles PA G E 8

defeated the New England Patriots, 41-33, and claimed the Lombardi Trophy.

Eagles wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey predicted success 13 months ago when he said, “I guarantee you we are going to win the Super Bowl next year.” He happened to make that statement while still in a

Chicago Bears uniform, but didn’t say what team it would be with.

Jeffrey was right, and Philadelphia conquered the mighty Patriots franchise led by Bill Belicheck and debatably the best quarterback in NFL history, Tom Brady.

Fifteen Super Bowl records

were set in this match-up, the big ones being most combined yards in a Super Bowl (1,151) and most passing yards in a postseason game, 505 by Brady. Brady also added to his Super Bowl career touchdown pass record, reaching 18 TDs. It’s amazing to see the records broken; the list goes on and on.

On the Eagles’ side of things, quarterback Nick Foles is the first player ever to both throw and catch a touchdown in one Super Bowl.

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