Fast Break: High highs and low lows as spring marches on

A duck in a Willamette jersey about to score a goal on the soccer field while the crowd cheers behind them. Art by Wes Mowry-Silverman.

Hello, Bearcat Fan! March is upon us, and as such we only have a mere three more months until summer. Thank god. Like spring in Oregon, this weekend was filled with lots of highs and lows for our glorious Bearcats, so let’s get on with the news.

Men’s basketball concluded their season in Spokane on Saturday, losing 87-97 to the Whitworth Pirates in the conference final after beating the Loggers 80-75 on Friday. The weekend saw two ’Cats record career highs in points, including Kellen Sande (’27) and Davis Hester (’28), with 26 and 27, respectively. Congrats to men’s basketball on a fantastic season!

Men’s tennis won their first Northwest Conference matchup since 2019 over the weekend, routing Puget Sound 6-1 at home. The ’Cats dominated in doubles and lost only their No. 1 singles match to secure the win. 

Women’s tennis lost 2-5 against the Loggers away on Saturday but won their No. 1 and No. 6 singles matches to nab two points from Puget.

Baseball faced Pacific three times over the weekend, losing both games in a doubleheader on Saturday but winning the last of the series 8-6 on Sunday. In the latter, right fielder Shayde Koga (’29) recorded four RBIs in five plate appearances, contributing greatly to the win.

Softball headed south to the Lone Star State on Friday, going 1-5 in their games over the long weekend. The Bearcats faced a gauntlet of close doubleheaders against Southwestern, East Texas Baptist and Trinity, winning the final game of the series 3-2 in San Antonio.

Men’s track and field began their outdoor season at the Umpqua Opener in Roseburg and saw many No. 1 finishes, including Davandre Campbell (’29) in the 110-meter hurdles, Roan Bashioum (’27) in hammer, Austin Snodgrass (’27) in shot put and Judah Ali'ifua (’26) in javelin.

Women’s track and field also participated in the Umpqua Opener and saw similar success. Taking No. 1 finishes for the ’Cats were the 4x400 relay team, Olivia Jacobson (’28) in hammer, Whitley Stepp (’26) in high jump and Henri Osborne (’28) in shot put.

In the wider world of sport: The NHL and PWHL returned after the international break for the Olympics, with the trade deadline looming for both leagues. The NFL combine happened this weekend, with former Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq breaking the record for the fastest 40-yard time by a TE in the event’s history. Unrivaled playoffs began on Saturday, with the Vinyl defeating the Laces and the Paige Bueckers-led Breeze triumphing over the Rose, both teams now advancing to the semifinals on Monday night. College basketball is winding down its regular season in preparation for March Madness, with evil incarnate, otherwise known as Duke, at No. 1 in the men’s AP poll and undefeated UConn firmly at No. 1 in the women’s. 

In the coming weeks: Track and field continue their outdoor season with the Eldon & Chuck Throw Down this weekend. Yee-haw, I guess?. Baseball faces Warner Pacific on Tuesday evening, then Linfield at home Saturday and Sunday. Softball faces the Loggers at home on Saturday and Sunday, and tennis matches up against Whitworth on Sunday. Lacrosse heads north to face the Whits, starting in Walla Walla and then heading up to Spokane.