The Life of Riley

Way back in the 1950s, there was a television show called "The Life of Riley," starring the late William Bendix.

Well, it's available for viewing again but only at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Oregon, starring 6-5, 205 pound Riley Luettgerodt.

A number of Division One college coaches are the most faithful viewers--Chemeketa game nights are 'Must See' basketball for them.

The reason: try a Riley Luettgerodt 53 point, 14 rebound night on January 27, with these eye-popping statistics: 17 of 25 from the field, including 5 of 8 from 3-point range and 14 of 15 on free throws. Plus, all this was achieved with Luettgerodt taking no shots in first 5 minutes of the second half!

If that doesn't work for you, how about Luettgerodt currently averaging 27.2 ppg., 7.7 rpg., with totals of 111 assists and 54 steals.

Still not convinced it's a show worth watching? His numbers are only getting better since Luettgerodt and his Chemeketa chums have been buzzing league opponents: 30.6 points per game, 8.7 rebounds a contest and 3.3 assists each time out.

One opposing coach, Umpqua's Donell Morgan has stated Luettgerodt is better by far than any player he has seen at this level.

Chemeketa Coach David Abderhalden says of his player: "He's a competitor, a team leader, a gym rat who first and foremost wants his team to be successful."

Despite being the obvious focal point of opposing defenses, Abderhalden said Luettgerodt continues to produce because of the solidness and variety of his game. According to Abderhalden, his star performer can "score off the dribble and also with the catch and shoot. He has a good pull-up jumper and a great mid-range game." What Luettgerodt has improved on is his aggressiveness in taking the ball to the rim. "He used to fade away a bit but now is initiating contact," Abderhalden said.

As a senior at Putnam High (Milwaukee, OR), Luettgerodt was an all-state first team basketball selection and the leading scorer in the state. He also was involved in track, running the 400m, 800m, and 4x400 for Putnam, along with the high jump. He had various Division One nibbles that eventually boiled down to five Division Two offers. Luettgerodt felt he could do better, especially once his body filled out beyond the 175 pounds he was carrying at that point.

At the time, he was quoted: "I want to go somewhere where I can play. I don't want to have to be the 'man' but I don't want to sit on the bench either. I'd like to stay on the West Coast too, but not in Oregon. I want to try something different."

In Luettgerodt's first year at Chemeketa, he produced season averages of 18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.5 assists, was named first team all league Southern Division and Chemeketa went 25-8, finishing in eighth place at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges (NWAACC) Tournament.

He visited Cal Irvine after his freshman season but fortuitously remained at Chemeketa for his sophomore year. Now, he will enjoy some higher level Division One options.

Chemeketa Coach Abderhalden is in his 13th year there, his fourth as head basketball coach. Abderhalden was named Southern Division Coach of the Year in 2005 after guiding his team to 25-8, 13-1 records which tied for first place. The graduate of Western Oregon University didn't play basketball there but got into coaching because "I love the game and working with the kids."