7A
Friday, December 13, 2019
The Observer
PREP BASKETBALL ROUNDUP
Albee drops 26
as Eagles roll
Observer staff
Sabrina Albee scored 26 points Thursday —
17 in the fi rst half and 10 in the fi rst quarter —
to continue her torrid start to the season as the
Joseph Eagles took care of Adrian, 51-32, at the
Badger Tournament in North Powder.
It was Albee’s third game with at least 24
points to start the season, and the junior is aver-
aging 26.3 points per game in the early going.
Molly Curry added seven of her nine points in
the second quarter, one that saw Joseph score 18
points to open up a 34-19 lead at the half.
Camille Crenshaw added seven points for the
Eagles (3-0 overall) who face Union today in
another game at the Badger Tournament.
Also
BADGERS RALLY IN SECOND HALF
Observer fi le photos
Eastern Oregon University’s Megan Bunn, left photo, and Josee Bassett were both named second-team all-Americans.
All-American status
By Ronald Bond
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Two seniors who
recently played their fi nal matches for
Eastern Oregon University each garnered
one fi nal feather in her cap — second-team
all-American.
EOU volleyball player Megan Bunn and
women’s soccer player Josee Bassett both
were named to the all-American squads,
the NAIA offi ce announced this week.
Bunn’s award comes on the heels of con-
cluding a second consecutive historic season
for EOU and caps a historic career for the
senior outside hitter. Bunn fi nished the sea-
son with the second most kills in a season in
EOU history (455) and added 410 digs. Bunn
is the only Mountaineers in program history
with 400 kills and 400 digs in a season, also
accomplishing the feat a year ago.
“It was very rewarding and humbling
that I was able to get (all-American) for
another year along with several other
amazing athletes,” Bunn said.
She fi nished her career with the second
most kills all-time in the program at 1,331,
and she added 1,011 digs to become the
fi rst player in program history with more
than 1,000 digs, a category in which she is
sixth all-time at EOU.
“Megan truly left everything she had on
the fl oor at nationals, and as a player and a
coach, that’s what you always want,” head
coach Kaki McLean-Morehead said.
Bassett, meanwhile, was a crucial
defender for the women’s soccer team not
only this season but throughout her career.
The second-team all-American was an an-
chor for a defense that this season allowed
just 13 goals in 23 games (she started 21
of them) and shut out 14 opponents. Of-
fensively, she added three goals and four
assists from her defensive position.
“It’s very bittersweet, and was honestly
the perfect way to end an amazing season,”
Bassett said of the award. “It truly was the
icing on the cake. I am so grateful to be able
to represent EOU women’s soccer and help
make an even bigger name for the program.”
Bassett was a four-year starter at EOU
who during her career started 78 of 80
matches played, missed only one contest,
and was part of a defense that allowed
just 0.65 goals per game and shut out 46
opponents.
She also was part of a team that made
program history each of the past two
seasons — last year winning its fi rst NAIA
postseason game and advancing to the
fi nal site, and this season winning a game
at the fi nal site and reaching the national
quarterfi nals.
Also earning national recognition was junior
setter Madison Pilon of the volleyball team,
who was a third-team all-American, and
senior forward Nan Kiebert of the women’s
soccer team, who was honorable mention.
Goalkeeper Savannah Hutchinson also
earned accolades postseason as she was
named to the fi rst-team all-tournament
team for soccer.
Pilon fi nished her best season at EOU
with 1,171 assists, fourth most all-time, and
351 digs. She also had 46 blocks, including
four solo.
Kiebert also had her best season for the
Mountaineers, fi nishing with career-bests
of 12 goals and seven assists.
WOMEN’S SOCCER SURGES BACK INTO
TOP 10, VOLLEYBALL FINISHES 13TH
After jumping as high as sixth in the
nation and later falling out of the national
poll, the EOU women’s soccer team moved
back into the top 10 in the fi nal poll of the
season, fi nishing its historic season at No.
10 in the nation.
EOU reached the quarterfi nals of the
NAIA national tournament for the fi rst
time ever and fi nished with a record of 16-
3-4. The 16 wins tied last season’s total for
second best in program history. The team
also scored 62 goals on the season, which
was second most in program history.
The Eastern volleyball team, meanwhile,
was 13th in the fi nal poll after a season
that saw it go 31-5 but fall in the round
of 16 at the national tournament. The 31
wins was second most in program history.
The team was also one of the best defensive
teams in program history, setting a record
for digs in a season (2,490) and block as-
sists (615), and also setting the second-best
mark for total blocks (337.5). The team also
was fi rst in attack attempts (5,071), third
in kills (1,628) and third in assists (1,500).
Perry grabs POY for dominant LHS girls
By Ronald Bond
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Given
how dominant the La Grande
girls soccer team was during
Greater Oregon League play,
it shouldn’t be a surprise that
they dominated the all-GOL
awards.
Eleven players, including
seven on the fi rst team, were
named to the all-league squad,
led by Katie Perry earning the
distinction of player of the year
and Sam Brown being named
coach of the year.
“I am really humbled to
receive this award,” said Perry,
a senior. “Since I have decided
not to play college soccer, I am
really grateful to end my soccer
career on a good note, and to
see hard work pay off in some
way. Above all, I’m just so grate-
ful to my team, coaches, my
family and God, who have given
me the opportunity to play and
who all should be receiving this
award along with me.”
The Tigers have swept the
GOL the last three seasons and
this year outscored the opposi-
tion in six league games by a
score of 34-1.
“I thought it was the right
choice given the nature of
Observer fi le photo
La Grande senior Katie Perry was named Greater Oregon
League player of the year.
the season,” head coach Sam
Brown said of La Grande’s bevy
of all-league players. “I thought
it was an accurate representa-
tion of the league.”
Perry, a midfi elder and key
link-up player, fi nished with
seven goals and a team-high 19
assists.
“What she brought to the
team was an exemplary
attitude and work ethic,” Brown
said.
She was joined on the fi rst
team by a trio of offensive
threats — sophomore forward
Audrey Garlitz, junior forward
Cecelia Aguilera and junior
midfi elder Lauran Rinker. Gar-
litz turned in eye-popping totals
on the season, fi nishing with 35
goals and 14 assists.
“She had a fantastic season.
I look forward to her coming
back,” Brown said of the sopho-
more.
Aguilera added 12 goals and
14 assists, and Rinker had 10
goals and eight assists.
“We could have had several
players nominated for player of
the year,” Brown said.
He added that while mul-
tiple players put up impressive
individual numbers, the Tigers’
success came because of their
team play.
“We succeeded as a team. We
succeeded as a unit. Everybody
played a signifi cant role in it,”
he said.
Seniors Lara Insko and
Rachael Keniry, two players
who helped anchor the Tigers’
defensive line as they recorded
10 shutouts, were also named
to the fi rst team, as was junior
midfi elder Taryn Miller.
Four additional players were
named to the second team.
Senior Alexyss Chamberlain,
in her fi rst year starting at
goalkeeper, earned second-
team accolades, as did senior
midfi elder Lindsay Adkins,
sophomore defender Bethany
Brock, and junior forward
Starra Ullman.
The Powder Valley Badgers shook off a rough
fi rst half Thursday and eventually pulled away
from the Echo Cougars for a 45-34 win at home
in the Badger Tournament.
Autumn Davis had 16 points and Josi Krieger
added 14 for the Badgers. Wallowa was down
20-15 at the half, then evened the score at 30-30
after three before taking control in the fourth.
Powder Valley (3-1 overall) faces Tri-Valley
tonight in the Badger Tournament.
PANTHERS STRUGGLE IN LOSS
The Imbler Panthers struggled offensively
Thursday and dropped to 0-4 on the season
with a 49-10 loss to Jordan Valley at the Badger
Tournament in North Powder.
Kenna Whitmore had four points to lead the
Panthers, while Kiana Quintero had 21 for the
Mustangs, who held a 27-9 lead at the half.
Imbler faces Adrian at the Badger Tourna-
ment today.
COUGARS EKE OUT WIN
The Wallowa Cougars nearly squandered a
fi ve-point lead Thursday in the late stages of the
contest, but held on to edge the Cove Leopards,
34-32, for their fi rst win of the season.
Shanna Rae Tillery scored 13 points and Ja-
mie Johnston had 12 for Wallowa. The Cougars
held a 13-8 lead at the half of the low-scoring
contest, and the game was tied at 23-23 after
three.
Maggie Frisch had 13 points to lead Cove.
Wallowa (1-3 overall) faces Enterprise tonight,
while Cove (2-2) hosts Pilot Rock Saturday.
Boys
BADGERS BLAST COUGARS
Dominick Grende led a balanced attack
with 15 points Thursday as the Powder Valley
Badgers ran roughshod over the Echo Cougars,
85-23, at the Badger Tournament.
The Badgers put the game away early, quickly
taking a double-digit lead after one quarter
before racing to an insurmountable 40-10 lead
at the half.
Roper Bingham added 14 points and Case Ol-
son added 12 for Powder Valley (3-1 overall) which
faces St. Paul tonight at the Badger Tournament.
EAGLES GET BY ADRIAN
Chase Murray led four players in double
fi gures Thursday with 24 points as the Joseph
Eagles secured a 63-52 win over the Adrian
Antelopes at the Badger Tournament in North
Powder.
Hadley Miller added 13 points, Carson Lit-
tlepage had 12 and Mason Ferre chipped in with
11 as the four combined for 60 of the Eagles’ 63
points.
The Eagles (2-1 overall) face Union today at
the Badger Tournament.
PANTHERS MISS OUT ON FIRST WIN
The Imbler Panthers posted their best of-
fensive effort of the season Thursday but fell just
short of their fi rst win, losing to Jordan Val-
ley, 60-55 at the Badger Tournament in North
Powder.
Wyatt Frost led the Panthers with 16 points
and Jayce Burnette added 12. Nate Bingaman
added eight as Panthers had eight players score
in the contest.
Imbler fell behind 36-27 at the break, but cut
the defi cit to 46-42 after three quarters. The
Panthers’ comeback effort, though, fell just short.
Blaise Warn had 26 points — 18 in the fi rst
half — for the Mustangs.
Imbler (0-4 overall) faces Adrian today at the
Badger Tournament.
BALES HAS BIG NIGHT IN WIN
Tristin Bales went off for 37 points Thursday
— converting 15 fi eld goals — and the Wallowa
Cougars distanced themselves in the second half
for a 61-44 home win over the Cove Leopards.
Quinten Tillery added 10 points and Zeb Her-
mens had eight for Wallowa, which held a slim
23-20 lead at the half before pulling ahead 40-28
after three and adding on late.
Stuart Patton scored 14 points to lead the
Leopards. Chase Tennis added eight and Patrick
Frisch scored seven.
Wallowa (2-2 overall) visits Enterprise tonight,
while Cove (1-3) hosts Pilot Rock Saturday.