Cougars Claw Past Saints

The perennial grudge match leaves the saints teetering at 7-7

Clif Wegner, FORMER coach OF MHCC AND CLACKAMAS, Remembered

SeaJay McConville

The Advocate

The evening of Jan. 7 was chilly with light rain outside, but inside Yoshida Events Center, the Mt. Hood Community College men’s basketball team was warming up for a heated rivalry against the Clackamas Cougars.

The game was special for both colleges as they played in honor of Clif Wegner, who died July 22. Wegner coached at MHCC from 1995 to 1998, becoming the first coach in nearly a decade to lead the Saints to 20 wins. After his time at MHCC, he moved to Clackamas Community College, where he coached for 20 seasons, won NWAC championships and earned Coach of the Year honors three times.

Before the tipoff, an announcement was made about Wegner, followed by a moment of silence. After the national anthem, the game began, with both teams eager to win in his honor. The Saints were also looking for

their first Northwest Athletic Conference victory.

The first half was fast-paced and energetic. The crowd was loud, and students cheered for the Saints. It was a close game, with neither team pulling away. Key players included Oliha Loyuk (#1) with 12 points, Quantavius Tillman (#5) with 15 points and Jair Benjamin (#2) with eight points. Their efforts helped the Saints lead 50-43 at halftime.

Heading into the second half, the Saints hoped to maintain their energy and secure the win. Both coaches felt the pressure of the game and the desire to honor Wegner. The Saints returned to the court with speed, but small mistakes slowed their momentum, allowing the Cougars to capitalize. With 10 minutes left, Clackamas took the lead and never relinquished it.

The Saints never regained the lead, and the game ended with an 88-82 loss. The Cougars secured a win for their longtime coach. The Saints fell to 7-7 overall and 0-2 in conference play. It was a bittersweet night for both teams, who played a tough, close game.