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Hammer takes over Open Bible girls program
George Fox men suffer first loss
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Vernon era begins at Newberg |
The boys basketball coach takes over a team that
finished 3-17 overall last season |
By B. Scott Anderson, Newberg
Graphic sports editor
E-mail Scott at banderson@eaglenewspapers.com
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Mark Vernon is home. Finally.
The former George Fox University and Southridge High School
basketball coach was hired early last summer to take over the
Newberg High School boys basketball program.
“I’m just thrilled to be here and coaching in Newberg,” he said.
“It’s so much fun that I can’t even explain it to people. I coached
at George Fox, but I didn’t know any Newberg people when I coached
there — I knew George Fox people.”
Vernon has
taken advantage of his three young sons being involved in several
sports throughout Newberg to get to know players and members of the
community. He couldn’t be happier.
“I’m home,” he said. “I know everybody in the community now and so
I’m coaching for my home town and that’s exciting. It’s nice to be
coaching in a one high school town. I was coaching Southridge in the
Metro League, but I wouldn’t trade that for this for nothing. This
is awesome.”
Vernon resigned in 2000 at George Fox after 18 years where he became the
school’s all-time winningest coach (318-218). His 1989-90 squad
posted a best-ever 29-5 record in winning the NAIA District 2 title,
and the next year’s team was the only one in Pacific Northwest
four-year college history to average more than 100 points a game.
Vernon coached six teams to national rankings, with a high of No. 2
at one point in NAIA Division II, and led the Bruins to two trips to
the NAIA national tournaments. Two of his players (Randy Dunn and
Kenny Stone) were NBA draft picks and six were NAIA All-Americans.
Vernon was the youngest coach to be named coach of the year in NAIA
District 2 in 1985. He received the honor again in 1987, 1989 and
1999.
After a three-year stint at Southridge, Vernon returns as a coach
in Newberg. He takes over for Rod Cook, who resigned after last
season when the Tigers went 3-13 in the then-Pac-9 Conference and
7-17 overall.
Vernon is starting everything over for the Tigers.
“I’m taking nothing for granted and we’re starting from ground zero
and we’re trying to build a foundation of fundamentals, both
offensively and defensively,” he said.
Newberg returns several players from last season: senior guards
Josh Stoulil, Lonnie Gardner, Tony Torres, Drew Steindl and Adam
Lampley, along with senior posts Kevin Suing, Kenny Gunn and Levi
Fletcher. The Tigers also added senior guard Alex Van Wormer, along
with senior posts Nick Reynolds, Justin Leffler, Cory Dettrich and
junior post Colby Nelson.
Vernon has tried to instill a sense of responsibility in the
players.
“They’re great kids, but they’re learning to be disciplined
basketball players, both offensively and defensively,” he said. “All
five players need to be disciplined offensively and defensively to
have a sound system. That’s what we’re trying to develop right now.”
When Vernon was hired he took the coaching reigns of the summer
league team. He was introduced to the players and got to know them
and their skill levels.
“So I knew I could formulate what kind of offenses we might run and
maybe some of the defenses, but it’s the fundamental work to get to
where we need to be because we’re just way behind,” he said.
Vernon said the Tigers have to be a team that “doesn’t beat
ourselves.” That means no turnovers.
“We have got to be a team that is sound,” he said. “Right now
that’s the area we’re really working on — just being sound. We’ve
still got a long way to go. They play hard and they like what
they’re doing, but they just have a ways to go to be consistent
every day and every night.”
Vernon said the Tigers’ move from Class 4A to Class 6A only makes
things more difficult for the team. He said for that reason alone,
the team can’t judge its successes by wins and losses. It’s going to
be judged on its potential.
“If our potential means we win three games, then we’ve had a great
year,” he said. “If our potential means we win six games, then we’ve
had a great year, but the win total is something we’re not even
going to talk about. We’re going to go out each and every possession
and play it like it’s the most important possession in the world.”
Offensively, Vernon said the Tigers will use techniques adapted to
the team’s strengths and weaknesses.
“We have to space the court to make us tough to guard ...,” he
said. “What I mean by spacing is that we might have five guys
outside the three-point line. Not two, not three, but maybe five.
Then the spacing will create openings for us. Our goal offensively
is to shoot layups or threes and really nothing else.”
The Tigers kick their season off Monday with a jamboree at Benson.
“Offensively, I think we have some weapons,” Vernon said.
“Defensively, I’m a little nervous right now. We’re not very big and
we may not rebound very well. Our whole philosophy is for the other
team to adjust to our offense with the way we play so they will play
smaller guys, too. Then we have a better chance.” |
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From
Nov. 25, 2006, Newberg Graphic
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