Pilots Log: 2015 Edition

As the calendar turns to the new year, we’re going back and recapping the best of 2014 for the Portland Pilots.

Top 5 2014 moments

#5: The 5-0 start to the 2014 season

#4: Alec Wintering’s buzzer beater to beat San Diego

#3: Ryan Nicholas on Senior Night

#2: Bobby Sharp going nuts on BYU

#1: The Gonzaga Win

Speaking of Gonzaga

First off, to show you the difference between the programs at Gonzaga and Portland I can refer to beating Gonzaga as “THE” Gonzaga win. With a few more of those over the next few years, that will change, but for now we are just happy with “THE” Gonzaga win.

They didn’t have the same luck on Saturday against the Bulldogs, but there were many positives. Thomas Van Der Mars had a strong game including a game-high 8 rebounds as he hung with the elite big men of Gonzaga. Alec Wintering is becoming a star as he put up a team-high 20 points.

Others struggled including Volodymyr Gerun being held to single digit points and D’Marques Tyson going scoreless, but overall it was a strong effort that led to a respectable final score. Portland is hanging with good team and should win a good number of their games against more level opponents.

Recruiting Update

If over the break you weren’t checking in on the Les Schwab Invitational held in Portland you missed out. Portland commit Jazz Johnson broke the tournament scoring record and was placed on the all-tournament team after scoring 140 points in 4 games including a 44 point game against the #1 team in the country Montverde.

Check out the Oregonian Story Here