Saints off to a solid start, match last year’s win total

Given his choice, Tyler Rose and his Mt. Hood women’s basketball team would be 6-0. But after being the laughingstock of the Southern Region last season (and also 2012-13), the squad has turned things around, already tying their win total from last season with a current record of 2-4.

Last season, the Saints finished the year 0-12 in the Southern Region and 2-23 overall. That included 13 straight losses to finish off a lopsided season in coach Rose’s first year as the head coach.

“It’s great to get the confidence for the girls,” Rose said of the two victories. “One of the biggest things we do is (we) don’t compare this year’s team with last year’s team. At some point we will have to move forward and we’re doing a great job… dealing with it one game at a time.”

The Saints returned home this week after going 0-3 in the Clackamas Thanksgiving Invite in Oregon City. They bounced back Wednesday night with a 55-36 victory over Multnomah University.

The better news was, they were competitive in all three games in Oregon City, losing by slim margins.

The Saints lost 68-61 to the Olympic Community College Rangers on Sunday. That followed a loss to the Clackamas Community College alumni team, 79-68, and a nail-biter defeat by the Pierce Community College Raiders, 71-67, on Nov. 28.

“The greatest thing about the preseason is we’re still learning,” Rose said. “I don’t look at our (preseason) record. It means nothing to me. We’re preparing for the (Southern Region).

“I told the girls, ‘end results will take care of (themselves),’ ” he said.

The early story for the Saints has been the success of sophomore Marley Yates. The 6-foot, 1-inch forward from Sam Barlow High School is averaging a double-double (11.6 points and 13.0 rebounds per game). The rebounding mark is good for second in the entire NWAC.

“She’s doing things very well,” Rose said of Yates’ performance. “She’s also doing a great job of making plays off the ball and getting others open. She has been such a force with the rebounds.

“She can continue to get better in so many ways,” he said.

Rose said Mt. Hood’s dogged determination sets the Saints apart from other teams.

“We have no quit in us,” he said. “We have fought and fought and fought. But we have dug ourselves into some holes and haven’t been shooting the ball well. But we have been busting our butts off in games!”

The Saints return to action on Sunday, when they travel to Pendleton to face Blue Mountain Community College.