By Jackson Smith
Web Editor

All good things must come to an end. This March, that rang true for Cougar basketball. 

This season, the Clackamas Cougars women’s basketball team went undefeated with a 32-0 record, and undefeated in the NWAC southern conference going 16-0. 

The Cougars didn’t get their storybook ending though, losing 57-46 in the NWAC championship game against the Walla Walla Warriors on Sunday, March 15.

That is not to say it was an unsuccessful year. Head coach Jim Martineau led his team to the first undefeated regular season in the program’s history.

Coach Martineau calling plays to his team. Photos by Quinton Prudhomme

“We were very good about making sure that we enjoyed the journey, I think that’s what makes it a little easier, if there is a silver lining,” said Martineau. “We did something that nobody else has done in our school history.”

This season comes with major changes to the squad, with only one returning player from last year: guard Mollie Miller

Miller standing at the free throw line.

Miller averaged 18.1 points per game this season shooting just under 40% from the 3-point line. 

Coming in this season as the only returning player, Miller was walking on some unfamiliar ground.

“It was definitely weird. Coming in I didn’t really know what to expect just because it was a whole new team,” said Miller. “It worked out for the best, we got some really good players that all got along and did really well together.”

Aside from being the only returner, Miller was also one of only three sophomores on the team, the others being Mae and Alana Washington.

With Miller departing from the team after this season, she anticipates great things from her freshman teammates.

“Im really excited to see how they change as players… knowing from my freshman to sophomore year I changed drastically as a player,” said Miller. “Seeing them step up next year and become a whole different player than they were this year will be really fun to see.”

The connection between a coach and their players is one of the most important pieces of the puzzle. When it comes to Miller, Martineau has a lot to say.

“I could talk for hours about Mollie… Mollie’s growth from last year to this year was unbelievable, and she was great last year,” Martineau said.

Miller gave her piece on Martineau saying, “Martineau is honestly one of the best coaches I probably had. Him and Kurt Guelsdorf [Associate Head Coach] were really good.”

“They were always encouraging us players, believing in us. They never really brought us down as a team, they’re always supporting us to get better,” Miller said.

As the clock started to wind down during Sunday’s game, one player never wavered: first year wing Hannah Patten.

Patten cheering for her team.

“I know we could have beat that team. At any moment it could have gone our way I felt like, so going 100% the entire time was really important to me because I know the kind of team that we are,” Patten said.

During the game, the Cougars made a late run in the third quarter to bring the game back arms reach. Patten and Miller were driving factors to that run.

“We talk a lot about being a star in whatever role you have, and Hannah was awesome at it,” said Martineau. “One thing about Hannah is when you need a spark, and we needed that in that third quarter.”

The community built within this team was a very key part for the players and their journey.

“We were super close throughout the entire thing, no one was afraid to be themselves and that’s such a special thing,” said Patten. “We weren’t afraid to be like ‘Hey, lock in’, because we were like sisters, still are obviously.”

The Cougars in a huddle during a timeout.

Miller spoke on the community aspect of the team saying, “I think it just gives me personally the confidence because I know that my team is supporting me… If I make a mistake they’re still going to be there supporting me no matter what.”

“Thats also what helped us get so far in the tournament, because we all supported each other no matter what,” Miller said.

The family this team created, played a huge part in the process. Next season the returning freshmen will look to carry that on.

While this year didn’t end up the way the Cougars wanted it to, one game is not indicative of the whole season. The team had a historic run, earning second place having been undefeated all season long. A bittersweet ending for this group of girls.