Appeal Tribune | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23, 2022 | 1B SPORTS THE CHASE ENDS Silverton's Joseph Haugen (4) during the second half of the 5A boys state championship at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis. BRIAN HAYES / STATESMAN JOURNAL Silverton falls to Wilsonville in 5A state title game Edith Noriega Salem Statesman Journal USA TODAY NETWORK CORVALLIS — Right before the Sil- verton boys basketball team arrived at Gill Coliseum on March 12, the team re- ceived an important pep talk from for- mer Silverton head coach Steve Roth. “(Roth) talked to our boys about the 2015 matchup,” current Silverton head coach Jamie McCarty said after Thurs- day’s win. “It was really inspiring.” Roth coached Silverton to its first state title in 2015, and was replaced in 2017 by McCarty. “Roth told me to just enjoy it,” McCar- ty added. “The kids worked so hard, don’t overthink things and let them cre- ate memories. But leave it all on the court. You don’t want to ever look back and say, ‘Hey, we just didn’t leave it all out there.’ So if you could say that, it’s always a win.” Silverton, a team comprised of nine seniors, two juniors and one sopho- more, left it all on the court Saturday af- ternoon, but it just wasn’t enough. Wil- sonville claimed the 5A State Champi- onship with a 34-30 win. “I think we had two pretty dang good defensive teams out there,” McCarty said after the team’s loss. “I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a team of mine play- ing such a great first half.” Silverton's student section chants during the first half of the 5A boys state championship against Wilsonville at Gill Coliseum in Corvalli. BRIAN HAYES / STATESMAN JOURNAL The Silverton Foxes took an early de- fensive command in the first half, hold- ing the Wilsonville Wildcats to six points in the first quarter and zero points in the second. That’s right, zero points. Offensively, Ryan Redman-Brown and Jordan McCarty elevated the Foxes to an 11-6 lead. “We frustrated them,” Jamie McCarty said. “I thought we had a lot of good things going, but we knew they’d get some looks as we started to go.” Down by five heading into the third See SILVERTON, Page 2B Silverton's Jordan McCarty (10) attempt a three against Redmond during the second half of the 5A semifinal game. BRIAN HAYES / STATESMAN JOURNAL