December 21, 2001 @ 10:16 pm
Pierce/TCC match set for Jan. 3 conference opener
The new year will ring in loudly at Titan Gymnasium on the campus of Tacoma College on Thursday night, Jan. 3, at 6 p.m. While many will be watching the college football national championship, Pierce College Raider Basketball will be opening league play at arch rival and defending NWAACC Western Division champion Tacoma College.
Pierce Basketball, enjoying its best season so far since the 1990 playoff team, is coming off winning the NWAACC Crossover tournament and their home opening win vs Portland College. With Pierce and TCC being so close in proximity, it makes for a natural rivalry between the two schools. Recent history has favored the Titans, but last year the Raiders pulled off the big upset.
As the new year rolls in, Pierce is led by Demetrius Crosby (18.8 ppg), Tyler Zornes (13.6 ppg), Donnie Woods (11.8ppg) and Darius Vaieula (10.7 ppg). The Raiders have a balanced attack under first year Head Coach Jeff Estis. The nine teams that make up the Western Division of the NWAACC will battle for the top four spots. These four teams join 12 other NWAACC schools in the Championship Tournament to be held this year in the Tri-Cities March 8 -11.
Catch all the action live on KLAY Radio 1180 AM on Thursday night, Jan. 3, at 6 p.m. For information, call (253) 964-6613.
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December 19, 2001 @ 11:41 pm
Women's hoop team loses one-point game at home Dec. 19
Pierce College's women's team concluded its non-conference home schedule with a tough 51-50 loss to Portland College. Coach Quarles and the ladies fought valiantly all night, but could not overcome the Portland team. The Raiders were led again by Erica Lastimado with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Pierce drops its overall record to 1-8 as the team prepares for its final non-conference game at Olympic College (Bremerton) at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 29, 2001. Pierce will begin its NWAACC Western Division Conference season at 8 p.m. Jan. 3 at Tacoma Community College.
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December 19, 2001 @ 8:58 pm
Pierce survives close game; ups record to 7-5
Pierce recorded its seventh win Wednesday (Dec. 19) – the most at this point in a season since the 1990 NWAACC Playoff Raiders. In the first home game this season, the Raider men, led by Donnie Woods with 26 points and 9 rebounds, defeated Portland College 88-76. Demetrius Crosby added 18 points. Gerren Farrison and Dio Cadogan chipped in with 12 points each. Terrence Troupe added 9 rebounds and 5 blocked shots.
Pierce, which defeated Portland College 104-60 earlier in the season, battled all night and came up with a big victory at home. Pierce takes a holiday break and returns to action at arch rival Tacoma Community College's Titan Gymnasium at 6 p.m. Jan. 3, 2002.
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December 18, 2001 @ 4:35 pm
Basketball Doubleheader for Pierce College at 5:30pm at LCC
Portland College will visit the Pierce College in a men's and women's doubleheader on Wednesday night at 5:30pm. Coach Estis and the Raiders return home after an 11 game road trip that culminated in the NWAACC Crossover Tournament Championship. The Raiders, 6-5, previously beat Portland College 104-60 in the Red Devil Classic Tournament over Thanksgiving.
The women's team, although 1-7, are playing hard with seven young ladies. They will get a chance to improve their home record at 7:30pm versus the 1-7 Portalnd College Women's team. Coach Quarles and the Raiders are coming off a tough tournament at their Crossover in Bremerton, WA.
The men's game can be heard live on 1180 AM with Scott Overbo, voice of Raider Basketball along with former Head Coach at Evergreen State College and Division I Assistant at Cornell University, James Hammond doing the color commentary as a special guest to KLAY Radio. Coverage begins with the pre-game show at 5:06pm on 1180 AM.
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December 17, 2001 @ 12:38 pm
Pierce Raider Men's Basketball brings home tourney championship
The Pierce College Raider Basketball team defeated Clackamas College on Sunday afternoon capping three wins in three days to win the tenth NWAACC Crossover Tournament in Eugene, Ore. The win marked the first time that Pierce has won an Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges tournament or any basketball tournament in four years. The last tournament win was in 1998 at Skagit Valley.
Pierce defeated Clackamas College 70-69 carried by 20 points from sophomore Demetrius Crosby (Foss, Tacoma); 16 from Tyler Zornes (Boyd County, Ashland, Ky.); and 12 from Donnie Woods (North Thurston, Olympia).
After beating Bellevue 74-63 on Friday afternoon to advance to the semi-finals, Pierce upset host team Lane College 86-82. Crosby dropped 30 on the Lane Titans, setting up the big match against NWAACC powerhouse Clackamas on Sunday.
Pierce (6-5) has won four out of the last five games. The 11-game road trip concluded with the tournament win when Crosby sank both free throws to win.
"This was a huge boost for our young program. Our kids are beginning to believe in Pierce basketball," said first-year Head Coach Jeff Estis. "To be able to beat a team led by a former Division I head coach (Jim Boutin formerly of Idaho State, now Lane College) one day, and triumph over Clackamas less than 24 hours later says a lot about our kids. Pierce College and our community should feel very proud of these Raiders."
Crosby was named Tournament MVP while Zornes was named to the All -Tournament Team.
Pierce will host Portland College at their home opener at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday (Dec. 19) at the Lakewood Community Center. The game can be heard live on 1180 AM KLAY Radio.
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December 10, 2001 @ 7:06 pm
Join us at The Ram: Coach Estis Live
Join us every Monday evening at 7 p.m. for The Coach Estis Show live at The Ram restaurant in Lakewood on 100th Street. Talk Raider Basketball with Head Coach Jeff Estis and the Pierce College Raiders on 1180 AM KLAY. Listen to Pierce men's basketball at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday night (Dec. 19) as the team faces Portland College. For more details call (253) 964-6613.
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