B
S PORTS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2017
Section B
South Lane County Sports and Recreation
Contact Sports, 942-3325 or e-mail sports@cgsentinel.com
LIONS UPSET DEFENDING STATE CHAMPS,
BEAT JC TO TIE FOR SKY-EM LEAD
Cottage Grove is now on a four-game
winning streak after topping Sutherlin and
Junction City. The win over Sutherlin
snapped a 55-game winning streak in
league matchups for the Bulldogs
BY SAM WRIGHT
sports@cgsentinel.com
It was a milestone moment
for everyone on the Cottage
Grove girls’ basketball team
last Tuesday. The Lions, a team
that started the season 3-9, took
down the three-time defending
state champions in a massive
upset and then took care of busi-
ness on Friday against Junction
City.
The Lions now fi nd them-
selves on a four-game winning
streak, but fi rst, let’s get to the
game of the week.
It was neck and neck the en-
tire way through. Cottage Grove
and Sutherlin were deadlocked
at the end of the fi rst quarter at
10-10, but Sutherlin managed to
take a slight edge over the Lions
in the second quarter, gaining
a 26-23 lead. The teams traded
blow for blow in the third quar-
ter, each scoring 10 yet again,
and the Lions found themselves
only down by three against the
fi fth-ranked team in the state. It
was the height of two freshmen
that took down the powerhouse
of Sutherlin.
With around two minutes
left, Ema Gardner sank a pair of
shots followed by Reilly Kelty
who sank one to give the Lions
a three-point lead. An extra free
throw from Hudson Weybright
gave the Lions a two-possession
lead.
Taylor Stricklin of Suther-
lin hit a three-pointer with 12
seconds left. The Lions turned
the ball over on the ensuing in-
bound pass, but the Lions had
some fouls to give which helped
Athletes of the Week
Lady Lions on fi re with
four-game winning
streak
take time off of the clock
without threat of scoring.
The Bulldogs had one
second left to inbound
and score on their side
of the court, but Cottage
Grove managed to force
a turnover and time ex-
pired with 52-51, Cottage
Grove, on the scoreboard.
The win put the Lions
on a three-game winning
streak, the longest they
have had since last year
when they beat Sweet
Home, Elmira and Sisters
all in a row.
Cottage Grove was an
outstanding 53.3 percent
from the fi eld (24 of 45
shots), but were still only
23 percent from the free-
throw line.
The bulk of the Lions’
points (44) came from in-
side the paint.
“We were able to get
it into our posts and get
some easy looks,” said
Head Coach Kevin Yoss.
Ema Gardner led the
team in scoring with 14
Photo courtesy of Michael Sullivan, The News Review
points, followed by Kelty
Keara
Murphy
and
Hannah
Albrecht
surround
Sutherlin's
Taylor
Stricklin.
The
Lions
snapped a 55-league-game winning
who had 12. The six-foot-
streak
for
the
Bulldogs.
one and six-foot-three
needed to stay ahead. Kelty and once again took care of busi- take a 40-33 victory over Junc- a huge boost to our confi dence
(respectively) freshmen ac- Murphy led the team in re- ness.
tion City.
and it was nice to validate that
counted for exactly half of the bounds with eight each.
This time it was Kelty who by beating Junction City.”
Like on Tuesday, Cottage
team’s points. Keara Murphy
The win ended a 55-league- Grove found itself neck-and- led the Lions in scoring with 12
The win over the Tigers
and Maria Pardee each scored game winning streak and only neck with the opposing team. points (and 13 rebounds). Gard- marks the end of the fi rst round
eight points apiece. Pardee was the second time in three years The Lions held a 14-12 lead at ner fi nished with 10.
of league play, where the Lions
four-for-four from the fi eld. that Sutherlin has lost to a 4A halftime against Junction City,
This now marks a four-game are now 4-1 and tied for fi rst
Hannah Albrecht had six points, school. Last year, Sutherlin but the Tigers managed to tie winning streak, something Cot- place with Sutherlin. The only
followed by Sierra Blomquist’s went 27-1 and 28-0 in the two the game by the end of the third tage Grove was unable to do last league loss came to Elmira,
three points, and Hudson Wey- seasons before that.
year.
quarter at 26 apiece.
the fi rst Sky-Em opponent they
bright’s one point near the end
“We are starting to get togeth- played and will also be the next
But the Lions would not be
The Lions carried their mo-
of the game from a free throw mentum back to Cottage Grove shaken and pulled away near er just at the right time,” Yoss opponent to play the Lions on
was exactly what Cottage Grove to host Junction City, and they the end of the fourth quarter to said. “The win at Sutherlin was Thursday at home.
Boys bounce back against JC after Sutherlin loss
The fi ght for the
Sky-Em League title
intensifi es as three
teams are tied for
fi rst place
Chess players halfway through
season, Wilhour snags fi rst
tournament win
BY SAM WRIGHT
sports@cgsentinel.com
While the girls pulled off one
of the greatest upsets of their
season in Sutherlin, the boys
were unable to mount a come-
back against the Bulldogs last
Tuesday. The loss has put the
Sky-Em League in a three-way
tie between Cottage Grove, Sis-
ters and Sutherlin, all of which
currently hold 4-1 league re-
cords.
Cottage Grove started out
cold, only able to put fi ve points
on the board in the fi rst quarter,
and Sutherlin managed to take a
nine-point lead. The Lions man-
Please see BASKETBALL, Page 3B
Courtesy Photo
CGHS varsity chess players, facing camera, L to R, are
Zeak Bray, Justin Long, Alex Reimann, Spencer Falk
and Chris Glesmann.
Photo by Sam Wright
Blake Sentman put up an impressive 25 points against Junction City on Friday night.
Marshfi eld too much for Aqua Lions despite
strong swimming performances
Marshfi eld is known for
its athletic programs, and the
swim team is no exception. The
stacked team took care of busi-
ness on Friday due to outnum-
bering the Lions on both the
boys’ and girls’ teams.
Starting off in the 200-me-
ter medley relay, Nadia Witt,
Emma Meyers, Clover Rudicel
and Tori Raade fi nished in third
in a time of 3:13.42, just two
seconds behind Marshfi eld’s
second place squad.
Raade then took fi rst place in
the 200-meter freestyle with a
time of 2:14.69. It was the se-
nior’s only individual fi rst place
win.
Rudicel and Meyers took
third and fourth place, respec-
tively, in the 200-meter individ-
ual medley, but Makayla Baird
snagged a fi rst-place win in the
50-meter freestyle race with a
time of 40.55 seconds.
Witt took two fi rst-place fi n-
ishes individually. The fresh-
man took home fi rst place in the
100-meter freestyle (1:06.17)
and the 100-meter backstroke
(1:13.25).
Belen Rodriguez took second
place in the 500-meter freestyle
with a time of 7:43.1. The girls
fi nished strong by taking fi rst
place in the 400-meter freestyle
relay with Baird, Raade, Meyers
and Rudicel fi nishing the race
with a time of 4:34.32. Despite
good fi nishes, the sheer number
of participants from Marshfi eld
overwhelmed Cottage Grove
and the Aqua Lions girls’ team
lost 94-59 on the points scale.
The boys’ faced tougher cir-
cumstances. The fi ve-man team
was severely outnumbers, yet
Cottage Grove still walked
away with a few fi rst-place win-
ners.
The Aqua Lions took sec-
ond place (against three oth-
er squads from Marshfi eld)
with Seth Chambers, Ethan
Burleson, Ian Dukes and Jo-
Last Wednesday, the CGHS
varsity chess team fought
well in their second encounter
against Willamette HS but lost
the match by a score of three
games to two. The two Lions’
team seniors, Chris Glesmann
and Justin Long, each won their
contests with very strong play.
In JV action, Maia Wilhour
checkmated her opponent, too.
The Midwestern League chess
competition locations this sea-
son have alternated between
Willamette and Pleasant Hill,
and the win column has been
dominated so far by South Eu-
gene and Pleasant Hill, with
Junction City and Willamette
following. Four more matches
remain for each team in Febru-
ary.
Two CHGS chess players and
one of their coaches played in
an all-ages tournament that was
held in the U of O student union
on Jan. 28. Most of the tourna-
ments in Lane County are only
for students so it was nice to
see some adults get a chance to
play, including several former
Midwest League players who
have graduated in recent years.
Sixth-grade JV player Wilhour
won four of fi ve games to take
fi rst in her section, tied with two
players from Coquille. Team
Captain Glesmann won his last
round in a small but competitive
middle section and coach Taylor
Wilhour fi nished 2-2 in the top
section. The next K-12 tourna-
ment will be Feb. 11 at Willa-
mette HS and is a qualifi er for
the state championship.
Photo by Sam Wright
Despite the loss against Marshfi eld, the Lions are show-
ing signs of strong swimming
Despite these wins, the boys
sef Pifer fi nishing with a time
of 2:48.05. Chambers snagged lost 113-49 in the point scale.
an individual fi rst-place win in The big losses, however, do not
the 50-meter freestyle with a worry Head Coach Tyson Pill-
time of 37.22 seconds. He also ing, as many of his swimmers
fi nished fi rst in the 100-meter are showing a lot of potential
backstroke (1:02.87). Dukes to perform well at districts and
won the 500-meter freestyle make it to the state fi nals.
with a time of 5:22.57.
Courtesy Photo