There was nothing more important to the Trail Blazers’ 92-90 victory over Miami Thursday night than the defensive performance of Wesley Matthews on Heat superstar LeBron James.

Except, perhaps, Matthews’ clutch back-to-back 3-point shots in the final minute, which turned an already rockin’ Rose Garden throng into absolute bedlam.

Matthews’ star couldn’t have shone much more brightly in lifting Portland (20-15) to the come-from-behind victory against the defending NBA champions.

The fourth-year shooting guard — giving away three inches to the 6-8 James — crowded last season’s most valuable player and held him to a season-low 15 points.

Matthews wasn’t much help at the other end — that is, until the Blazers needed him most. With Miami (23-11) in front 88-85, Matthews knocked down a 3 to tie the score at 88-88 with 56.9 seconds left.

After a Chris Bosh dunk put Miami on top again at 90-88 with 44 seconds to go, Matthews was at it again, coolly nailing a step-back 3 with 26.9 seconds left to put Portland in front 91-90.

Ray Allen’s wide-open 3-point attempt was off at the other end, and after LaMarcus Aldridge rebounded, he was fouled with 10.4 seconds to play. Aldridge made 1 of 2 at the line to up the advantage 92-90 with 10.4 seconds remaining.

After a Miami timeout, Mario Chalmers bounced another wide-open 3 off the rim at the buzzer, and the game was Portland’s.

“It’s an understatement to say it’s great to beat Miami,” Portland coach Terry Stotts said. “I have to hand it to our guys for sticking with it. You (have to) keep competing and playing through and finding way to win games. That’s what we did tonight and what we’ve been doing most of the season.”

It was the 12th win in 15 games and the ninth straight home victory for Portland, which trailed by 12 points early in the fourth quarter before mounting the rally that had the Garden noise level at its highest crescendo at game’s end.

“We’re playing well, playing hard, playing together and having fun out there,” said Matthews, who scored eight of his 18 points in the fourth quarter. “It’s been a good combination for us.”

Matthews was 5 for 16 from the field before dropping two of the biggest shots of the season near game’s end.

“If I didn’t shoot with confidence, they probably weren’t going in,” Matthews said. “That’s how this game works. You believe, you play hard, you compete, you play the right way, you play with confidence, and the basketball gods will look out for you.”

Matthews took on the challenge of defending James — with occasional relief provided by Nicolas Batum — with zeal. James finished 6 for 16 from the field, scored only three points in the second half and ended a 54-game streak of scoring 20 or more points, including playoffs, extending to last season.

Matthews “made him work,” Stotts said. “LeBron’s a great player. He almost had a triple-double (10 rebounds, nine assists) and we did a good job on him.

“Wes didn’t give him alleys to the basket. LeBron had four of his points in transition early in the game. (Matthews) did a nice job of taking away angles and forcing him to be a passer and keeping him away from the rim.”

“I just tried make everything tough for him,” Matthews said. “Make his catches tough. Make him work on the other end by playing defense. But mostly just make him shoot contested shots.”

Portland won despite shooting only .375 from the field. Only once have the Blazers shot that poorly and won — .359 in a 101-93 win over Denver on Dec. 20.

“You win a game shooting 37 percent — especially against a team like Miami — it means you’re giving effort defensively, rebounding the ball, staying with it, doing a lot of the little things that keep you in the game,” Stotts said.

It was an uphill battle all the way for the Blazers, who led all of 3 1/2 minutes — all in the first quarter — before finally seizing the lead with Matthews’ second big 3 in the closing seconds.

Miami led 80-68 with eight minutes remaining, then made only three baskets the rest of the way as the Blazers outscored the Heat 24-10 down the stretch.

“We did everything we could, and they made big shots at the end,” said Miami’s Dwyane Wade, who scored 18 points on 6-for-18 shooting. “We gave ourselves a chance to win and we had it, but they took it from us at the end.”

Well, maybe. Bosh had one of his best shooting games of the season, stepping outside often while hitting 13 of 18 shots from the field en route to a game-high 29 points. Allen added 15 points in 29 minutes off the bench, but Miami — which shot .455 from the field and .316 from 3-point range — wasn’t clicking on all cylinders offensively.

The Heat had a couple of great looks at the end, too, and didn’t hit them.

“We’ll take those (last two missed 3-pointers) any day of the week,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “But it’s a tough loss, no doubt about it. Our guys are disappointed about that. With seven minutes to go, we’re taking control of the game and gaining some confidence in our defense, and then we slipped a little bit.

“But it’s still a ballgame down to the end, and (the Blazers) made more plays.”

Including Matthews’ ballsy, step-back 3-point game-winner.

“The shot he took at the end was crazy, but he made it, so we can’t say anything,” said Nicolas Batum, the best player on the floor Thursday night with 28 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Batum said the victory was just one of a string of them that go into the “great” column for the Blazers this season.

“We’ve had so many good wins, starting with the Lakers on opening night,” he said. “Denver, San Antonio, Chicago, New York, Memphis ... we start to beat some good teams — some great teams, on the road, and at home. We’re playing great basketball right now.

“We just keep competing, keep playing. We share the ball. If somebody has a better shot, then we give him the ball.”

NOTES

•Â The Blazers departed after the game for Oakland and a Saturday night date to face Golden State. “Tonight was nice, but it mean nothing if we don’t get (Saturday’s game),” Matthews said.

•Â Told Thursday’s win was Portland’s ninth straight at home, Batum said with a smile, “We’ll make it 10 Sunday.” That’s the Blazers’ next home game, against Oklahoma City.

•Â Portland is on its longest home win streak since 2009.

•Â Portland is 11-2 in games decided by six points or fewer, winning 10 straight.

•Â Aldridge scored 20 points and matched his season high with 15 rebounds for his 15th double-double of the season, but made only 6 of 19 shots from the field.

•Â Portland rookie center Meyers Leonard missed his sixth straight game with a sprained ankle. “He’s still pretty tender,” Stotts said. “It will be two weeks on Saturday, and he’s not close to coming back.”

•Â Stotts missed practice Wednesday but looked chipper and healthy Thursday. “Feeling much better,” he said. “It was a 24-hour bug. Wasn’t pretty.”

•Â Miami, which entered the game second in the NBA in 3-point percentage (.394), made only 6 of 19 attempts from beyond the stripe.

•Â Spoelstra tossed pre-game plaudits in the direction of several Blazers, including rookie point guard Damian Lillard. “His game belies his experience in this league,” he said. “He plays like a veteran. He’s very poised. He has a savviness about him, and in the fourth quarter, he becomes a different player. That’s what the great ones usually do.”

•Â Spoelstra, on J.J. Hickson and Aldridge: “They complement each other well. Hickson’s an explosive player, active around the rim, quick to the ball with his rebounding. You can arguably put Aldridge up against any power forward in this league. You forget his size. He’s a 7-footer with shooting ability over the top.”

On Wednesday night, when the Winterhawks play host to Prince George, Mac Carruth will get a chance to etch his name in the Portland record books.

Carruth has 105 career victories in goal, matching the franchise record set by Darrell May from 1978-82. With his next victory, Carruth will stand alone among goaltenders in the Winterhawks’ 37-year history.

“It’s special,” Carruth says. “The record has stood for quite a few seasons.

“It’s a long season. I’m probably going to get another win out of it. The way our team’s going now, it will probably happen pretty quickly.”

Carruth knows his record is to be shared with teammates. Goaltender victories are dependent upon them. The Hawks have reached the Western Hockey League finals the past two seasons and are riding an 11-game win streak while boasting a league-best record of 34-5-1-0.

“I feel lucky to be part of some exceptional teams,” Carruth says. “Some exceptional players have come through here. (Ryan) Johansen and (Nino) Neiderreiter are going to be household names in the NHL in a couple of years, and (Sven) Bartschi is probably the most skilled guy I’ve played with. To play with that caliber of teammate has been a treat.

“And this year, we have as good a chance as anybody else to win it all.”

Carruth’s coaches know what the record means.

“It’s a huge accomplishment,” says Travis Green, Portland’s interim head coach while Mike Johnston sits out a WHL-imposed season-long suspension. “It says a lot about where he is as a goalie. Whenever you can break a record that has been around that long, it’s nice to get that recognition.

“Not many goalies in the history of the league can say they have been to back-to-back finals. Mac has had a really good career for us, and I know where his mind is. He wants to finish on a strong note.”

Johnston says he remembers clearly Carruth’s debut with Portland as a 17-year-old rookie at Vancouver.

“Mac played great up until the third period, then really struggled and we lost,” Johnston says. “He felt terrible, and I know he was thinking, ‘I came to junior hockey because I wanted to be a pro. Did I make the right choice?’

“Well, I think he did. He’s had a phenomenal career here and he’s been an outstanding goaltender.”

Carruth nearly went the college hockey route. The native of Jackson Hole, Wyo. — his father ran a hockey school there — moved to Minnesota when he was 10 and verbally committed to Minnesota-Duluth when he was 15. When Carruth was 17 and playing for the Tier II junior team in Wenatchee, Wash., Minnesota-Duluth coaches ran out of scholarships and asked him to wait a year before enrolling.

In the meantime, Portland had acquired Carruth’s WHL rights. A deal was struck and soon Carruth was a Winterhawk, serving as a backup as a rookie before winning the starting job at 18 for the 20010-11 campaign.

Carruth’s talent has never been in question as much as his temperament. Carruth knows he was, at times, his own worst enemy. He came of age during last year’s second-round playoff series with Kamloops. His 32-save gem was the first seventh-game shutout in franchise history.

“Guys who have been on other teams have told me what their plans were before the games against us,” the 6-2, 180-pound Carruth says. “A lot of the time, it was, ‘Get in Mac’s face. He likes to mix it up. Get him off his game.’

“(Kamloops goalie) Cam Lanigan was telling me Ryan Hanes’ only job was to talk to me the entire game, including warmups. When they couldn’t get to me, he was out of the lineup.”

Johnston says the improvement has been palpable.

“Mac is emotional,” Johnston says. “There’s a good side and a bad side to that. The bad side is, sometimes he has gone overboard a little. It gave him trouble. Other teams knew they could get to him.

“Now they can’t. He has reined it in to a point when he calls on (the emotion) when it’s needed. Before, his flareups happened once every week or two. Now, it’s once a half-season, if that. He has controlled it and used it in a great way. He had to learn how to do that, or he wouldn’t have become the goaltender he is.”

Carruth credits Green for helping him play more under control.

“The biggest thing with Mac is he has matured,” says Green, who played 14 years in the NHL. “He has a fire inside of him that you don’t see in a lot of athletes. It can also work against you. The thing that makes them breathe is also the thing that can take your breath away.

“He has learned to manage that a lot better. I know how it can feel to let your emotions get the best of you. I remember playing with (former NHL goalie) Ron Hextall. What a fiery, competitive guy, and yet you have to find a balance and keep things under control when you’re the goalie. Mac has done a great job of that.”

Johnston calls Carruth “one of the most competitive guys I’ve been around. From the time he arrives at the rink ‘til he finishes practice, his professionalism shows.”

Says Carruth: “I take pride in getting ready for practice, just as I do games. Maybe sometimes I come out too competitive when it’s kind of a relaxed day, but I’ve just kind of grown up that way. If you win, you win. If you lose, it’s not good enough.”

It appeared the WHL career of Carruth — a seventh-round draft pick by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010 — was over after last season.

“A guy who has played so well in our league and gone to two finals, we figured he’d be gone,” Green says. “If it wasn’t for the NHL lockout, we might not have him.

“He had a very good training camp (with the Blackhawks). They were real happy with him. Under normal circumstances, we wouldn’t have had him. It’s a surprise, but a nice surprise.”

The Blackhawks allowed Carruth to return to Portland instead of going to their American Hockey League affiliate in Rockford, Ill. It created a bit of a dilemma for the Winterhawks, who are in the development process with promising 17-year-old goalie Brendan Burke. Carruth, who went 42-17-2-2 in 63 regular-season appearances a year ago, wasn’t going to be an every-day goalie again.

“We were honest with him, that he wasn’t going to play as many games,” Green says. “From my perspective, it’s better for him. He’s going to be a pro next year. He’s not going to play 60 games. He’s going to play 30, maybe 20, maybe 50 — but he’s not going to play 60.

“Now he has to prepare to play 40, because we need to develop Brendan. It’s important we do that going forward to next year.”

In 20 games, Carruth’s goals-against average is down (1.77), his saves percentage up (.937) is up and his confidence at an all-time high. Johnston says when the playoffs roll around, “He’ll get 99 percent of the games. He knows that’s his time of year.”

Carruth isn’t taking that for granted.

“We’re going to go with the hot hand,” he says. “We’re not here to pass out favors to 20-year-olds. We’re going to look to win games.”

Right now, Carruth in goal gives the Hawks the best chance.

“Mac’s better than he was last year,” Green says. “That’s all we want. He’s better as far as his reads and his patience. He plays best when he’s reading the play instead of getting into a habit of dropping and expecting the puck to hit you. Because he is playing less, it will keep him mentally sharper and a little hungrier.”

Carruth, one of Portland’s three over-age players, turns 21 in March. Some of his teammates are 16. Carruth has become a leader and role model for the cherubs.

“You have to take a step back if they make a mistake and realize they’re 16 and are going to make mistakes,” he says. “They’re not going to know what to do. Not everyone’s been through the league for four years like I have.”

At some point — probably three or four years down the road, after some apprenticeship in the minor leagues — Carruth is likely to get his shot at the NHL. For now, he is intent on helping the Hawks to the Memorial Cup. The injustice of Johnston’s suspension and the WHL’s other over-the-top sanctions against the franchise have Carruth even more motivated.

“The guy’s life has been thrown around the rink,” Carruth says of Johnston. “I’m sure he’s upset about not being able to coach us. The league’s going to do what they’re going to do, and we’re going to win, anyway.”

At some point, Carruth will appreciate what he accomplished during his time in Portland. Not yet, though.

“It still hasn’t sunk in yet as far as how big of a deal it is,” he says.

When he sets the record, “I’m going to look at it as just another win. And then after the season, I’ll go back and remember.”

kerryeggers@portlandtribune.com

Twitter: @kerryeggers

A few minutes before the Portland Timbers introduced Caleb Porter as their new head coach on Tuesday, owner Merritt Paulson walked into the press conference room and sat down in a chair facing the podium.

“This is a quiet room,” Paulson said. “No one is talking. It’s like a funeral. … This isn’t the one where we’re firing the coach.”

No, that press conference happened last July, when the Timbers sent former coach John Spencer packing. During that presser, Paulson sat before the media with technical director Gavin Wilkinson. Paulson’s eyes glistened with tears as he broke the news to the city while at the same time dodging questions about why his club had parted ways with Spencer.

On Tuesday morning, however, Paulson was all smiles.

Porter could not have come across more different from his predecessor. Spencer was boisterous; Porter was soft-spoken. Spencer preferred to offer one-liners; Porter took several minutes to answer each question he was asked. Spencer always seemed very comfortable before the media; Porter seemed nervous, and his voice cracked often.

The Timbers are hoping that the only differences between Spencer and Porter are not confined to dealing with the media.

“In August, we made a decision that will affect this club’s future,” Wilkinson said. “We made a decision on who we felt would be the best person for this club and the best person to take this club forward. He’s young, he’s hungry, he’s intelligent, he has a great soccer mind. He’s someone that we believe in and someone that we’re very, very enthusiastic about working with.”

•Â Porter was hired as the Timbers' second head coach on Aug. 29. He elected to finish the 2012 season with the University of Akron, which he had coached since 2006. The Zips finished the 2012 season 18-1-3 and reached the round of 16 in the NCAA playoffs; they were ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division I before being upset.

Porter said it was “annoying” to have one foot in the door with the Timbers and one foot out the door with the Zips. He felt that he owed it to the players at Akron to finish the season with them, though.

“I felt like I had an obligation to follow through with,” he said. “That says -- hopefully -- a lot about my loyalty to my former players. I knew this was what I wanted to do. I knew this was the right situation for me, but I also didn’t feel that it was right for me to leave my players when the season had just started.”

Porter believes that sticking with the Zips showed the players in Portland that he is a man of character.

“I’ve spoken to the players here, and they respected that,” Porter said. “They appreciated that. In order to have a good relationship, they need to know that I’m a good guy and that I’m going to be loyal and look out for their best interests. That started my relationship with the players here in a positive way in a lot of ways.”

•Â In 1998, Porter was the 27th overall pick by the San Jose Clash in the MLS College Draft. He spent time with San Jose and the Tampa Bay Mutiny before a knee injury ended his career in 2000. Since then, he has been thinking about coming back to MLS.

“Back in 2000 when I was leaving Major League Soccer to start my coaching career -- prematurely because of a rash of knee injuries -- in the back of my mind I had the goal of getting back here to be a coach,” he said. “I didn’t know if it would happen. I didn’t know when it would happen or how it would happen. But that was always a goal that I had in mind.”

Porter spent the last 13 years learning how to be the kind of coach who someday would get an opportunity to coach a MLS club.

“For 13 years, I learned the trade,” he said. “I learned to coach. I was in the trenches spending 12 hours a day figuring out how to put the pieces together.”

•Â While MLS does not have the kinds of egos and personalities that one might find in the NBA or in the NFL, the players are still professional athletes and, as a general rule, professional athletes tend to be Type-A personalities. Porter said he understands that he will not be able to treat the players on the Timbers the same way that he treated college players.

“I’m not naive to think that I can coach college guys like I coach professional players,” he said. “There will be a transition there.”

That said, Porter also said he believes he gained valuable experiences by coaching 17 players who went on to play pro soccer as well as being the head coach of the U.S. U-23 men’s national team for the 2012 CONCACAF Olympic qualifying.

“The experience with the U-23s was an experience that will help me,” he said. “The last seven years, I’ve had 17 players who have moved on to Major League Soccer. Even though they weren’t pros at the time, they were eventually professional players. They were the best of the best in our country.

“Those experiences will help me. It was very comfortable for me being around the professional players with the U-23s. I had no problem getting them on board, no problem managing their personalities. And we had some personalities in that group. For me, that was a reinforcement that I was ready.”

•Â As of Tuesday, it does not appear that Porter has too many plans for Timbers striker Kris Boyd. With a $1.25 million contract, Boyd was considered by many a disappointment last season, after scoring just seven goals. Boyd lacks speed or an ability to create his own shot, and Porter said that the Timbers' highest paid player would have difficulty fitting into his offensive system.

“Kris Boyd is obviously contracted to be a member of the Portland Timbers,” Porter said. “But with that said, I’ve watched this team play quite a bit and Kris Boyd is a player who I think will have a hard time playing in the manner that we want to play in.

“That’s no knock on Kris. He would fit in a lot of different systems. But, with what I want out of my strikers, it’s going to be very difficult for him to offer what I’m looking for in that position. At the same time, if he comes back and proves that he can offer those things then certainly he’ll be given the chance to play like everyone else. Based on what I’ve seen, based certainly as what he’s shown as a player, it’s going to be difficult for him to fit in as a player.”

Wilkinson declined to comment on whether he was trying to trade Boyd.

“For me, I’m not ready to talk about that, sorry,” Wilkinson said.

•Â In taking over the Timbers, Porter will be reunited with Portland striker/midfielder Darlington Nagbe, who played under Porter for the Zips in 2010 when Akron won the national championship.

“It was a bonus,” Porter said, of coaching Nagbe again. “It was a nice bonus. I know very well Darlington’s talent and what he’s capable of. I won’t say that Darlington is my favorite player that I’ve coached … publicly. He’s certainly been one of the players that I’ve enjoyed working with. He’s a special talent. He still has a lot to learn. And I hope that I can bring the best out of him.”

•Â Porter has often been said to be dogmatic about playing with a 4-3-3 formation. Porter disputes that notion, though.

“In Akron, in seven seasons, I only played a 4-3-3 in two seasons,” Porter said. “Five of the seven seasons, we played a 4-4-2. Because of the U-23s and the articles that came out after that, I’ve been said to be married to a 4-3-3. I’m in no way married to a 4-3-3.”

Porter said that he is willing to adjust the formations that he wants based on the personnel he has and the match-up that the Timbers are facing.

“I look at my teams and the individuals on a case-by-case basis, and I come up with a structure and a formation that fits the group of players that I’m going to be fitting together,” Porter said. “They’re like pieces of a puzzle. There’s a lot of different formations that I can use. And yet the philosophy and style of play should remain consistent because that’s a coach’s vision of how they want their teams to play the game. In terms of the overall system there should be some adaptation from year to year and even from game to game.”

•Â One of the biggest problems for the Timbers since the club moved to MLS two years ago has been the inability to win on the road. Porter preferred not to dwell on the past, but he had a few ideas regarding what has gone wrong for Portland away from Jeld-Wen Field and how to fix things.

“It’s the past,” he said. “But I think a lot of it has to do with almost too much of a change in philosophy home and away. I believe that you have to consider home versus away when making decisions on how you’re going to set up the game plan. But, when you’re adopting a completely different philosophy home and away, I personally don’t think that’s the right thing to do. You’re sending mixed message to your players. At home, you’re confident, and on the road, you’re nervous and tentative. Maybe some of that played into the lack of road success. Perhaps.”

Mac Carruth became the Portland Winterhawks' all-time leader in goalkeeping wins on Wednesday, stopping all 23 shots he faced in a 3-0 home win over the Prince George Cougars.

The victory was Carruth's 106th for Portland. The old mark of 105 belonged to Darrell May Sr., who finished his Winterhawks career in 1982.

The Hawks, who also beat Prince George 6-4 on Tuesday at the coliseum, didn't score Wednesday until the 18:48 mark of the second period. Their second goal came at 3:50 of the third period. The final goal came with 1:29 left.

Troy Rutkowski got the opening goal on a power play, with assists to Ty Rattie and Derrick Pouliot.

Brendan Leipsic's goal, his 26th of the season, came off feeds from Nicolas Petan and Rattie, and gave the Winterhawks and Carruth an insurance score.

Taylor Leier later found an empty net for his 16th goal of 2012-13.

Portland's defense killed all five of its penalties before the announced crowd of 3,243. The Winterhawks fired 49 shots.

The Hawks, who own the best record in the Western Hockey League, improved to 35-5-1-0 with their 12th consecutive triumph.

Prince George fell to 12-24-1-4.

Portland's next game is 7 p.m. Friday at the Rose Garden against the Spokane Chiefs.

Despite the reasons to feel dejected and remorseful after blowing a double-digit lead and giving up the game-winning shot in the final seconds, Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade stood at his locker encouraged after a 92-90 loss to the Trail Blazers Thursday night at the Rose Garden.

“You can't really play (any) better,” he said.

A 3-pointer by guard Wesley Matthews, which put Portland ahead 91-90 with 16 seconds remaining, was the dagger in a game that the Heat couldn't find a way to close.

Portland outscored Miami 53-38 in the second half, and the Blazers' defense on the game's final possession epitomized the wall the Heat faced down the stretch.

Matthews swarmed Heat forward LeBron James when the ball was inbounded in Portland territory with 10 seconds to go. James dished to center Chris Bosh, who was forced to pass to teammate Mario Chalmers. Chalmers took an open 3-pointer, but it clanked off the rim at the buzzer, putting into the books the Heat's first loss in Portland since 2008.

“It's a tough loss; there's no doubt about it,” said Erik Spoelstra, Miami coach. “Our guys are definitely disappointed about that.

“Seven minutes to go, we think we're taking control of the game in the fourth quarter and gaining some confidence in our defense. And then we just slipped a little bit.”

For 3 1/2 quarters, the Heat played to the game plan.

They took a 52-39 lead into halftime and found a way to keep the Blazers at arm's length even after a rally late in the third quarter, during which Portland cut the deficit to five points.

However, just as in Tuesday's 87-77 road loss to the Indiana Pacers, Miami's defense was stout but its offense fluttered.

James scored three points in the second half and missed a couple of 3s late in the game that could have helped seal the win. He went 1 for 5 from beyond the arc and finished with 15 points, snapping his 33-game streak of scoring at least 20 points in a game — the second longest streak to start a season since the NBA-ABA merger.

“I missed shots,” he said. “I missed four wide-open 3s. I missed a couple of layups.”

Wade didn't fare much much better against Portland's defense. After scoring a season-high 23 first-half points against Indiana and shooting 55 percent from the field over his previous 15 games, Wade was held to four points in the second half and 18 in the game.

“You can always say, 'I wish I had made more shots,' but we did everything that we could and they made big shots at the end," said Wade, who was 6 for 18 from the field. "We gave ourselves a chance and we had it, but they took it from us at the end.”

After going 3-4 in its previous seven games, Miami needed a win Thursday to avoid an 0-2 start to a six-game trip.

The Heat were on track to snap the streak in the first half. They dominated in the paint, outscoring Portland 32-14. They held the Blazers' bench to three points. And they shot 47 percent from the field.

But a team loaded with veterans played like rattled rookies with the game on the line.

Wade served up an uncharacteristic, ill-advised pass, which was picked off by Portland forward Nicolas Batum and laid in at the other end to tie the game at 82-82 with four minutes left. That erased what was left of a 13-point Miami lead.

“Some unnecessary turnovers got momentum (for Portland) back into the game,” Spoelstra said.

And when the game came down to clutch plays, Portland made more of them.

Bosh knocked down a 3 to put Miami ahead 87-84, but after a couple of possessions, Matthews hit the first of two important 3s with 50 seconds remaining, tying the game at 88-88. He stayed hot and hit the eventual game-winner less than a minute later.

“We played good enough to win,” said James, who finished with 10 boards and nine assists, one short of a triple-double. “You give your hats off to (Portland). They made enough plays.”

“They made more plays at the end, and we'll take our shots at the end,” Spoelstra said. “It's more when you have a double-digit lead with our experience.”

Standing tall at his locker, forced to face a series of what-if questions, Wade remained poised and even unconcerned about the Heat's latest skid.

“A loss like this, you can't hold your head down,” Wade said. “They made great shots at the end. We had opportunities, and we didn't make them. We have to bring the same intensity for the next game and we'll be fine.”

The Blue Jays miss on a couple chances in the closing seconds, fall in league to SW Christian

Nobody was surprised when it came down to the final play. Portland Lutheran and Southwest Christian both jockeyed for a leg up all game, but neither team could pull away. In the second half, neither squad led by more than one possession. In the end, Portland Lutheran came up one basket short, losing to the Wildcats 48-46.

When the game was tied for the 11th time with less than a minute remaining, Southwest Christian’s Patrick Contino put the Wildcats in front with an easy layup. The Blue Jays quickly advanced the ball past half court and called their final timeout with 9.8 seconds on the clock.

Portland Lutheran coach Chad Rush drew up an isolation play for junior forward Jonathan Parrish, who led the team with 17 points.

When Parrish was about eight feet from the hoop, he took one final dribble and, just as planned, he received heavy contact from three Southwest Christian players. Parrish slammed into the floor, the whistle sounded and the Portland Lutheran faithful jumped to their feet in celebration.

To the Blue Jays’ astonishment, the referee did not call the foul. Instead, the official signaled that Parrish had traveled and awarded possession to Southwest Christian.

Rush clearly vocalized to that official what every Portland Lutheran fan was thinking.

“It is unbelievable that you decided this game,” Rush said to the official, and everyone in the arena. “This is supposed to be about the players, and you made it about you.”

Rush’s plea went unheard and the call stood.

Look for extended game coverage, along with a recap of the girls game, in the Friday, Jan. 11, print edition.

Colby Mitchell puts up 19 points in the second half, as Mt. Hood pulls away

The Mt. Hood Community College men’s basketball team notched its first South Region win of the season by holding off Portland CC 78-65 on Wednesday.

After Portland scored the opening basket of the contest, Mt. Hood’s Colby Mitchell made a layup and a baby-hook to put the Saints in front, and they led for the rest of the night.

In fact, it was never really close as they held at least a five-point lead for most of the first half, and they had at least a seven-point advantage for the entire second half.

“We had been struggling a little bit, so it was good to get a win like this under our belt,” Mt. Hood coach Geoff Gibor said. “We were able to keep a good cushion because we got a lot of layups and easy baskets. Anytime you do that, you’ll be in good shape.”

Mt. Hood’s offense ran smoothly, but the Saints won the game with defense.

Portland’s only chance to break the Mt. Hood zone was to hit deep shots, and even those attempts were heavily contested. The Panthers shot just 2-for-20 (.100) from 3-point range with both makes coming within inches of being tipped at the point of release. The Saints held Portland to less than 30 percent from the field.

With the Mt. Hood defense keeping Portland in check, Colby Mitchell went to work. The sophomore forward from Alaska was efficient in everything he did offensively as he went 9-for-13 (.692) from the field finishing with 23 points and 12 rebounds.

Look for extended game coverage, along with a recap of the women's game, in the Friday, Jan. 11, print edition.

PORTLAND — A major upset appeared within reach Wednesday night when the Centennial girls basketball team went into the locker room with a one-point lead over No. 8-ranked St. Mary’s Academy.

But the host Blues hit their first five shots of the second half, prompting Centennial coach Jeff Stanek to call a quick timeout after St. Mary’s guard Martina McCowan hit a pull-up jumper from the free-throw line.

The brief break in the action did little to slow St. Mary’s, which went on to win 61-43. The Blues continued their onslaught by pounding the ball inside to 6-foot center Tyschal Blake. When Centennial’s defense sagged into the paint to surround Blake, the St. Mary’s guards were left with open looks around the perimeter.

“We went where we had the advantage in the second half, getting the ball into the post and making their defense work,” Blues’ coach Art Rojas said.

McCowan led the charge with 11 points in the third quarter, finishing back-to-back fastbreaks and following that with a 3 from the corner to make it 50-32 Blues heading into the fourth quarter.

Centennial relied on the long ball early in the game, taking a 9-6 lead four minutes in when Megan Dailey swished a shot from two steps beyond the arc. The Eagles maintained the hot hand with 3s from Melissa Dailey and Leann Phanakhone for a 17-10 lead that prompted the Blues to call timeout late in the first period.

Look for extended game coverage in the Friday, Jan. 11, edition of The Outlook.

Central Catholic remains the team to beat in Mount Hood Conference boys basketball this season after racing to the league title last season with a 22-6 record, which saw the Rams play in the Rose Garden for the 6A state tournament.

The Rams are off to an 8-3 start this year with two of their losses coming against top-ranked Lake Oswego, while the other was a loss to West Linn in a rematch of last year’s state quarterfinals.

Following are previews of the five East County schools …

BARLOW BRUINS

The Bruins were the only league team to hand Central Catholic a loss last season, winning 66-64 at mid-season, and Barlow appears to be the most likely contender for a similar upset this winter.

The Bruins are off to a 9-2 start with their only losses coming to Jefferson, the top-ranked team at 5A, and to Service High, a powerhouse out of Alaska. Out of its nine wins, eight have come by double-digit margins — the most impressive being a 55-40 win over No. 8 Sunset.

Leading the way in the backcourt are Kody Kennedy and Duncan Otis, while Jake Ellis is a threat around the 3-point arc, as well.

“Offensively, we shoot the ball well from the perimeter,” Barlow coach Tom Johnson said. “We’re not overly physical, but this is a senior-dominated team and they feel like it is their time.”

Center Cody Powers is the team’s main option under the basket and a force on the boards.

“He gives us an inside presence, and he’s really worked to become a better passer,” Johnson said.

DAVID DOUGLAS SCOTS

David Douglas was a force in the league last season, as a senior-heavy squad tied for second in league and advanced to play in the Rose Garden for the 6A state tournament. But most of those players have graduated, leaving fresh faces to fill the court this season.

“We don’t have guys with many varsity minutes, so these early season games have been valuable,” David Douglas coach Chad Reeves said. “We’re going deep into the bench and putting a number of people out on the floor.”

Leading this year’s group are seniors Aickelson and Bickelson Samuels, along with Steven Wallace and junior Sirgio Palmore.

“These kids have been in the program, and they learned how hard we worked in practice to get where we did last year,” Reeves said. “This group is buying in and working hard.”

The Scots are 5-6 in nonleague play and won the four-team Oregon City tournament at the start of the holiday break.

REYNOLDS RAIDERS

The Raiders are 5-6 in nonleague action with seven of those games coming down to the wire. Reynolds has gone deep into its bench during the preseason, giving a young lineup a chance to prove itself. The team doesn’t have a senior on the roster.

“This is the youngest team I’ve had,” Reynolds coach John Poetsch said. “These guys are getting thrown into the mix ready or not, but really it’s just a matter of becoming more consistent and well rounded.”

Leading the way in the backcourt is the trio of Austin Poetsch, Devante Warren and Brandon Williams, while freshman Dakota Iela is one of the team’s scoring leaders early this season.

Sophomore center Drew Eubanks gives the team some size with his 6-foot-7 frame.

“I’d love to see us get up and down the floor more, but we have to prove that we can handle the ball first,” Poetsch said.

CENTENNIAL EAGLES

The Eagles return just two players from last year’s varsity lineup, led by senior guard C.J. Okefor, who has emerged as the team’s main scoring threat early this season.

“He’s fast and athletic and wants to be the leader,” Centennial coach Tim Roupp said. “When he finds a rhythm, he shoots the ball well.”

Also returning is senior Tanner Mays, while juniors Somto Aniefuna and Jaylon Edwards are also expected to contribute.

“Most of these guys haven’t seen varsity experience yet, so we’re going to have to get to a point where we’re handling different situations without calling timeouts all the time,” Roupp said. “These guys love to be around basketball, it’s just a matter of fine tuning their skills.”

The Eagles are 5-6 through the nonleague season, winning back-to-back games at the Hillsboro holiday tournament after dropping their opener to Forest Grove.

GRESHAM GOPHERS

The Gophers are off to a 7-4 start during the nonleague stretch, already surpassing their win total from all of last season.

Gresham took two of three during the Hillsboro holiday tournament and has shown an ability in crunch time with a 4-0 record in games decided by five points or fewer.

“These kids are willing to work on the defensive end and create turnovers,” Gresham coach Mike Melton said. “I’m definitely not having to coach effort, and when you have that on the defensive side it takes the pressure off having to score every possession.”

Senior Ethan Hamilton leads the team in the paint, while Austin Spicer and junior Mason McCoy are scoring threats on the perimeter.

“Ethan is a force down low and knows how to finish near the basket, but he also has the confidence to step out and hit that 15 footer,” Melton said.

Senior Devauntae Hoffman is the team’s defensive stopper.

“He’s so tough-minded and strong,” Melton said. “We ask him to defend the best player on the other team, and he relishes that role.”

MONDAY, JAN. 14

Gresham Planning Commission — 6:30 p.m., City Hall, Springwater Trail Room, 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway. Housing policy update and development competitiveness. For more information, call Tammy Richardson at 503-618-2401.

TUESDAY, JAN. 15

Gresham City Council business meetings — 3 p.m., City Hall, Council Chambers, 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway.

Gresham Redevelopment Commission Meeting — 4 p.m., City Hall, Council Chambers, 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway.

Multnomah Education Service District Board — 6 p.m., Multnomah Education Service District Boardroom, 11611 N.E. Ainsworth Circle, Portland. Call 503-257-1504 or visit w3.mesd.k12.or.us for information.

Wood Village Parks Commission meeting — 6 p.m., City Hall, 2055 N.E. 238th Drive. For more information, call 503-667-6211.

Multnomah Rural Fire Protection District No. 10 Board of Directors — 6:30 p.m., Training Center Upper Building, 19204 N.E. San Rafael, Portland. For more information, call Susan Martin at 503-666-6704.

Damascus Planning Commission — 7 p.m., Damascus City hall, 19920 S.E. Highway 212, Damascus. Parks plan town hall follow-up and zoning idea map review. For more information, call 503-658-8545 or visit damascusoregon.gov.

Corbett downs OES 51-48 to remain in second place in league

CORBETT — The Corbett girls basketball team seemed to have the game well in hand, holding Oregon Episcopal to only two baskets in the first quarter and carrying a double-digit lead through most of the night.

But then came the fourth quarter.

The visiting Aardvarks charged back in the late stages of play, trimming what was once a 17-point margin down to nothing when Erica Massaro drove to the basket to knot the game at 45-45 with 4:20 left.

The score would remain unchanged for the next three minutes as both sides had chances at the lead only to see shots rattle out. The home crowd let loose with a series of loud “Ohs” after the Cardinals came up empty on three straight attempts from under the basket.

But Taylor Patterson gave the crowd reason to cheer moments later when she spun toward the middle, stopped in her tracks and circled back the other way to a layup and a two-point lead with 1:08 on the clock.

A series of Corbett misses at the free-throw line kept the door open for the Aardvarks before a technical foul on OES coach Missy Smith sealed her team’s fate with 29 seconds to play.

Corbett (6-2) is second in the Lewis & Clark League standings at the halfway point of the season.

Look for extended game coverage in the Tuesday, Jan. 15, print edition.

View a photo gallery from Thursday’s game at ...

http://daveball.exposuremanager.com/g/jan10crb-oesgirlshoops

Justin Anderson gets the clinching fall for the Gophers at 220 pounds

Gresham won six of the first seven bouts Thursday night, including a series of six-point tallies from its three rookie wrestlers, to build a commanding 30-point lead over rival Barlow at the halfway point.

But the Bruins weren’t going to wave the white flag and head for the bus. Instead, Barlow won the next five bouts to shave the margin to just two points.

That left Gresham’s team fate in the hands of Justin Anderson, who shut out his 220-pound opponent. The showdown was three minutes old when Anderson scored the first points on a reversal at the edge of the mat. The battle remained in question into the third period before Anderson took full command.

He caught his opponent in a cradle hold for near-fall points, doubling his lead to 4-0 before Barlow’s Salvador Orozco rolled free. But Anderson stayed on the attack, twisting Orozco to his back in the center circle with nowhere to escape. Anderson tightened his grip and 20 seconds later the referee slapped the mat awarding a fall.

The six-point victory secured Gresham’s team win, and Barlow forfeited the heavyweight bout to make the final 46-32 for the Gophers.

Look for extended match coverage, including a list of each of the weight-class winners, in the Tuesday, Jan. 14, print edition.

View a photo gallery from Thursday’s dual at …

http://daveball.exposuremanager.com/g/jan10gre-bar_wrestle

Faster check-in at Mt. Hood pools

Mt. Hood Community College has launched a new, web-based system making it easier and faster for members to check in to the four Aquatic Center pools.

The new system comes with an identification feature for guests, while students may use their Mt. Hood IDs.

By swiping a swimmer’s ID card, Aquatic Center staff are able to see what kind of membership the person has, whether the membership is current and who is included in the membership, such as family members.

The Aquatic Center offers memberships, drop-in swimming and a range of classes for adults and children. For more information on the Aquatic Center, memberships and the pool schedule, call 503-491-7243 or visit mhcc.edu/aquatics.

Piano classes offered Jan. 19

Pianist and composer Donn Rochlin is offering two piano classes Saturday, Jan. 19, at Mt. Hood Community College.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rochlin will offer a "just for fun" class, and from 2-5 p.m., he'll offer a piano improvisation class.

Both classes are $65, with a $25 materials fee for the first class that covers a book and CD.

For more information, call 503-491-7572 or visit justforfunpiano.com.

 

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office released the following data for crimes in Corbett and East Multnomah County in December:

• Animal abuse — 1

• Burglary — 1

• DUII alcohol — 1

• Failure to register as sex offender — 1

• Mental care — 1

• Missing person — 1

• Sick person cared for — 1

• Vehicle break-ins — 8

• Vehicle crash — 2

• Vehicle recovery — 3

• Unwanted person — 1

• Vandalism (unspecified) — 1

Most reported break-ins occurred at 1000 Acres (3), along with exit 18 off Interstate 84 (1), Angel’s Rest (1), Oneonta Falls (1) and Multnomah Falls (1). A burglary was reported in the 32000 block of Bell Road.

In light of mall and school shootings in December, Multnomah County deputies are working with the Corbett School principal and Job Corps to go over security protocol and response plans.

The OASIS volunteer program and Gresham-Barlow School District seek adult volunteers who can spend one hour a week during the school day, working one-on-one with a child between first and fifth grades.

OASIS and the district work together to match caring adults with kids who are struggling to read. The volunteers help build reading and language skills, self-esteem and positive attitudes toward learning.

The training to be an OASIS volunteer takes place in two, three-hour sessions. Training dates for the program will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday and Wednesday, Jan. 29-30. No teaching experience is required.

OASIS tutors are encouraged to attend a monthly support meeting to share experiences with other tutors and receive additional training and materials.

The program provides training, materials and ongoing support free of charge. As volunteers, OASIS tutors offer patience, encouragement and care to students learning to read.

OASIS, a national organization in 17 cities, has been serving elementary school students in partnership with Gresham-Barlow since 1996. The organization works with seven school districts in the Portland area.

For more information, call Marilyn Shephard, OASIS volunteer coordinator and a retired first grade teacher, at 503-665-3544 or email her at msshepard@frontier.com.

Taryn Daniels, Sam Barlow High School alum, battles for love

A new season of ABC's popular show "The Bachelor" premiered on Monday, Jan. 7, and a woman from Troutdale was one of 25 female contestants vying for the heart of a single gent.

Taryn Rene Daniels, 30, is a health club manager living in Portland, according to the show. She also attended Sam Barlow High School, where she participated on the dance team and in the school's fashion show before graduating in 2000.

The blonde made an impression on viewers when she was shown crying at the show's meet-and-great cocktail party and later spoke privately about her fear of being sent home. But despite her reluctance to introduce herself to the bachelor, Sean Lowe offered her a rose, which kept Daniels on the show for at least another week.

Around her community, however, Daniels is better known, by some, for her encouragement and compassion.

Kristine Stein remembers introducing her daughter to Daniels about five years ago. They both attended the Church at Kelly Creek in Gresham — which has since been dissolved — and Daniels instantly took a liking to the little girl suffering from autism.

“(Daniels) was very encouraging with her and helped with self-esteem building,” Stein said.

Daniels also has encouraged Stein during her pursuit to become certified as a Level 1 throwing coach for USA Track and Field.

“She's willing to help better people, which is what strikes me about her,” Stein said.

A bio of Daniels is provided on "The Bachelor's" website. She said her three best attributes are “generosity, loyalty and most importantly forgiving.” She said the most outrageous thing she's done is moving to a new town without a job or a place to live.

“Just left and figured it out when I got there,” she said.

She also said her ideal mate would be “optimistic on life, fun and open to new things, motivated, organized in his finances but not too uptight about them, can joke around when the time is right.”

Daniels will not be available for an interview until after she's off the show, according to a spokeswoman for "The Bachelor."

"The Bachelor" is on ABC at 8 p.m. Mondays.

United Way of the Columbia-Willamette and Hands On Greater Portland are holding a Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend of Service Friday through Monday, Jan. 19-21.

Volunteers from Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Clark counties are invited to participate in a variety of projects over the course of the weekend.

Participants who rally friends, family and coworkers to join them are invited to enter a contest for an iPad mini. For more information, visit handsongreaterportland.org or email teams@handsonportland.org.

Fairview Police host self defense for women class

The Fairview Police Department is offering a free self-defense for women class from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, at Fairview City Hall Council Chambers, 1300 N.E. Village St., Fairview.

Focused on personal protection and conflict resolution, the course is based around the adrenaline stress response, or flight-or-flight response. Participants should wear comfortable, workout-style clothes.

The class is limited to 20 participants, 18 and older. Priority will be given to Fairview residents and those working in Fairview. All participants are required to sign a waiver and release prior to attending the training.

To register, call the Fairview Police Department between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at 503-674-6200. Registration must be received by Saturday, Feb. 2.

Choir Fest raises $4,406 for homeless families

The 13th annual Epiphany Choir Fest, a Jan. 6 benefit, raised $4,406 for the Human Solutions Homeless Families Program, with Pacific Power matching the first $1,500 in donations.

Funds from the Epiphany Fest help ensure that Human Solutions, a Multnomah County organization, can provide emergency shelter 365 days and nights per year to homeless families. In total, about 750 homeless adults and children are sheltered or housed at Human Solutions on any given night.

“We are seeing record demand for emergency shelter and other services, and rely on the community to help sustain critical programs that help homeless families permanently overcome their homelessness and attain self-sufficiency,” said Jean DeMaster, executive director.

“We are so grateful to our local faith partners, who each year contribute their time and talent to the Epiphany Fest and make it so successful.”

Jonathan Daniel Holt, a Gresham man accused of murdering a 21-year-old barista, was officially divorced from his wife on Tuesday, Dec. 11, according to Multnomah County Court records.

Amanda Holt, of Gresham, applied for divorce on Friday, Oct. 26, after her former husband was charged with kidnapping, robbing, sexually assaulting and killing their neighbor, Whitney Heichel.

Holt's wife sited “irreconcilable deferences” as the reason for the separation, court documents said.

Both parties were awarded their own possessions, with Holt's property delivered to his parents.

This week, Holt, who was arrested by Gresham police on Friday, Oct. 19, was charged with burglary and possession of child pornography.

He's being held in Clackamas County Jail, awaiting a trial scheduled for April 2014.

Oregon homeowners don’t pay property taxes on the real market value of their homes, ever since Bill Sizemore’s “cut and cap” tax limitation. The 1997 initiative rolled property taxes back to 1995 levels, minus 10 percent, and only allowed the taxable value to rise 3 percent a year.

As a result, Multnomah County homeowners with similarly valued homes now pay wildly different property taxes.

Share of home value that county property owners are taxed on*:

0-10% 1,247 homeowners

10-20% 3,500 “

20-30% 4,840 “

30-40% 16,699 “

40-50% 48,720 “

50-60% 47,101 “

60-70% 39,747 “

70-80% 18,747 “

80-90% 4,375 “

90-100% 1,154 “

*Based on 2010 data

Source: Oregon Legislative Revenue Office