Raising Hell – From the desk of Nathan Hellman

I was wrong. And journalists really don’t like to admit that, but sometimes, we’re wrong.

I was right twice this year, successfully predicting that the Viking football squad was overrated after being selected second in the Big Sky Pre-Season Poll and I perfectly forecasted a breakout season for Blazers forward Travis Outlaw.

But earlier this fall, I was woefully incorrect in claiming the Portland State women’s basketball team would not win more than 12 games this season.

Yeah, I know–the Vikings just secured their 12th victory with a 71-56 stomping of Northern Arizona Saturday. And I’m also aware that the lady hard-court heroines have only suffered three losses all season under first-year head coach Sherri Murrell.

Originally, I thought the massive turnover this squad experienced would be far too much to endure. Before the start of this year, 40 percent of last year’s offensive production moved on and former head coach Charity Elliot departed for the University of California, San Diego.

It turns out I was wrong, and star forward Kelsey Kahle, lone senior Delaney Conway, sophomore assist machine Claire Faucher and Co. deserve an apology.

So I’ll offer a concise, “I’m sincerely sorry for underestimating the Vikings women’s basketball squad.”

But, while I’m at it, I’ll redeem myself by making another bold prediction: The Vikings will end the season with the Big Sky Conference crown and an NCAA Tournament appearance.

It sounds shocking considering the losing, choke-at-the-last-second history of athletics in the South Park Blocks. But this team has offensive firepower, leadership and, most importantly, spunk.

Sure, Kahle is a legitimate superstar, ranking second in the Big Sky at 17.8 points per game. And, stunningly, Faucher leads the entire nation with 9.3 assists per game. Meanwhile, Conway scores at will. And freshmen Kelly Marchant and Lexi Bishop have developed into superb supporting players.

With all that said about the Vikings’ ability, it’s truly the team’s never-lose attitude that makes it a special group headed for the round of 64.

“We are all really excited about the direction of the team, but we are also very focused and the players are really learning to expect good things on the court, and expect victories,” Murrell said.

Portland State has always been an afterthought in the Big Sky race. Heck, less than three years ago the Vikings stumbled to a horrid 3-23 record.

But now seems to be the time for this team to blossom into a true contender and earn Portland State’s first NCAA Tournament berth, because this version of the Vikings has a steely resolve.

They could care less who believes they’re destined for greatness and who thinks they’re headed down a one-way street for failure.

This Vikings team is only concerned with its 40-minute date with the opponent, always maintaining the attitude that just one team will come away victorious. More times than not, that team will be wearing green with “Portland State” emblazoned across the chest.

With that attitude, who could pick against them?