SPORTS
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2022
THE OBSERVER — A7
DAVIS
CARBAUGH
CARBAUGH’S
CORNER
OSAA
review
sees murky
ending
A
fter the OSAA
investigation found
inconclusive results
regarding the Gladstone
High School allegations of
racist remarks by the La
Grande High School foot-
ball team in a state playoff
game in early November, it
seems that the situation was
a lose-lose scenario.
The allegations could
not be verifi ed, which of
course is a positive for the
La Grande community.
However, the accusations
caused a ripple in the sport
community across the
state. After being accused
of racism for more than
two months, the eff ects
on La Grande’s reputation
could take some time to
overcome.
For Gladstone, there
was little solid outcome
from the ordeal. The fi nd-
ings came back inconclu-
sive regarding the alleged
use of a singular racial slur
during the game, but there
was no defi nitive action
ruling the allegations to be
unwarranted.
No further comment
was made from mem-
bers of the Oregon House
of Representatives, who
pushed for La Grande to
be held accountable shortly
after the accusations in
November.
La Grande head foot-
ball coach Rich McIlmoil
noted that, in any situation,
individuals who might not
be aware of an entire situ-
ation should abstain from
pointing fi ngers. That
should especially be the
case when the situation
involves high school ath-
letes and allegations that
could not be verifi ed.
At this point, all sides
involved are tasked with
moving forward. The
OSAA should continue
its in-depth investigation
into similar allegations,
as there is no place for
discrimination in sports.
La Grande is tasked with
moving on after months of
being in the spotlight, and
not in a good way. In a
community that embraces
its high school sports, La
Grande athletes, residents
and the school district will
be forging ahead to put
the investigation behind
them.
———
Davis Carbaugh covers
news and sports for The
Observer. He can be con-
tacted at dcarbaugh@
lagrandeobserver.com.
Alex Wittwer/EO Media Group, File
Kaden Krieger (20) dunks the ball at Powder Valley High School on Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. The senior, who starts at center for the Badgers, in a fast-paced game against
Nixyaawii on Jan. 29, 2022, dominated the paint and scored 24 points.
Surging to the top
Powder Valley boys basketball team shaping into contenders late in regular season
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
NORTH POWDER — A
heartbreaking loss in the 1A foot-
ball state championship last fall
might not be Powder Valley’s
only shot at a state title this year.
The Badgers boys basket-
ball team has been fi ring on all
cylinders, coming out strong in
league play and climbing to the
top of the OSAA 1A state rank-
ings. With a deep group of expe-
rienced upperclassmen, Powder
Valley is shaping up to be a
serious contender on the hard-
wood this year.
“They’ve been playing
together for so long and they
just love to win and play hard,”
Powder Valley head basketball
coach Kyle Dixon said.
The Badgers have surely been
playing hard, putting up a 16-1
season record and 6-0 league
record heading into the fi nal
two weeks of the regular season.
Powder Valley is riding an eight-
game winning streak, topped
off by a huge victory over Nixy-
aawii, a clash of top Old Oregon
League teams on Saturday, Jan.
29. The Badgers have thrived off
a high-octane off ense, averaging
64.7 points per game and holding
opposing teams to 43.6 per game.
Peaking at the right time
For most basketball teams
this season, the COVID-19 pan-
demic has been an obstacle in
keeping to a consistent schedule.
With games postponed left and
right, Powder Valley experienced
ON THE SLATE
Tuesday, Feb. 1
PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
Powder Valley at Wallowa,
6:30 p.m.
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
Powder Valley at Wallowa,
5 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 2
PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
Joseph at Imbler, 7 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 3
PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
Joseph at Griswold, 7:30 p.m.
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
Joseph at Griswold, 6 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 4
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Eastern Oregon at Linfi eld,
2 p.m.
COLLEGE MEN’S
BASKETBALL
Eastern Oregon at Walla
Walla, 2 p.m.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S
BASKETBALL
Eastern Oregon at Walla Walla,
noon
PREP BOYS BASKETBALL
Stanfi eld at Union, 7 p.m.
Ontario at La Grande, 7:30 p.m.
Griswold at Elgin, 7:30 p.m.
Powder Valley at Imbler,
7:30 p.m.
Cove at Pine Eagle, 7:30 p.m.
Nixyaawii at Wallowa,
7:30 p.m.
Heppner at Enterprise, 7:30 p.m.
a similar setback when a slew
of games were moved around in
mid-January.
The Badgers found themselves
on a mid-season hiatus from Jan.
14-26, when an outbreak in the
school district limited the stu-
dents to virtual learning for a
week and postponed several
games. In order to squeeze the
contests back into the schedule,
Powder Valley played three
straight games from Jan. 27-29,
with a quick turnaround before a
contest at Wallowa on Feb. 1.
The onslaught of consecutive
games did not slow the Badgers,
who won all three to end the
month of January.
“It aff ected us a little bit,
but we got back on track pretty
quick,” Dixon said of the break
in schedule. “The guys want
to play all the time. It kind of
worked out good. You don’t want
to be peaking at the middle of the
season. You want to be peaking
at the end of the season, so hope-
fully we’re doing that.”
The end of the three-day
string of games was perhaps
Powder Valley’s biggest win of
the season to date, defending
home court against a strong
Nixyaawii team in a 76-64 win.
The Golden Eagles came into the
matchup 14-4 on the year and 5-1
in Old Oregon League play, just
half of a game back of Powder
Valley in the league standings.
“They were a pretty quick
team and they can shoot the ball
really well. We just kept up with
them and played a fast-paced
game,” the coach said. “It was a
Powder Valley’s strong perfor-
mances this season have earned
it respect in the OSAA 1A state
polls, as the Badgers climbed to
No. 1 after the Nixyaawii victory.
Kyle Dixon noted that he takes
a more day-to-day approach when
it comes to standings and rank-
ings, keeping a steady mindset
within the team. He stated that he
was not sure if the players check
the rankings, but that the overall
attitude is to be prepared to face
every top competitor by season’s
end.
“It doesn’t matter in the end,”
he said of the rankings. “You have
to beat everybody to be No. 1.”
A key factor in Powder Val-
ley’s success goes well beyond
X’s and O’s — the athletes have
been playing sports together since
a young age and have developed a
great camaraderie.
As the basketball season
approaches its end, state title
contention could be in the works
in North Powder. The Badgers
are taking things one game at a
time and preparing themselves
to play any competitors in the
postseason.
Powder Valley is jostling at the
top of the state rankings along-
side Crane (16-1), Crosshill Chris-
tian (16-2) and Perrydale (14-2).
Adrian, the Badgers’ only loss on
the season, is currently ranked at
No. 7 with a 16-3 record.
“I think we can make a state
run,” Kyle Dixon said. “These
guys can win it all if they stick
together and keep playing hard
and keep learning.”
A Smarter
Way to Power
Your Home.
Prepare for unexpected
power outages with a
Generac home standby
generator
REQUEST A FREE QUOTE!
SCHEDULE YOUR FREE IN-HOME
ASSESSMENT TODAY!
ACT NOW TO RECEIVE
A $300 SPECIAL OFFER!*
(844) 989-2328
*Off er value when purchased at retail.
Solar panels sold separately.
877-557-1912
FREE
7-Year Extended Warranty*
A $695 Value!
Off er valid March 16, 2020 - June 30, 2020
Special Financing Available
*Terms & Conditions Apply
Subject to Credit Approval
Blazing Fast
Internet!
Careers that make a difference
Work with people with disabilities!
ADD TO YOUR PACKAGE FOR ONLY
19 . 99
$
/mo.
where available
PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL
Stanfi eld at Union, 5:30 p.m.
Ontario at La Grande, 6 p.m.
Griswold at Elgin, 6 p.m.
Powder Valley at Imbler, 6 p.m.
Nixyaawii at Wallowa, 6 p.m.
Heppner at Enterprise, 6 p.m.
Cove at Pine Eagle, 7 p.m.
State championship hopes
stressful game the whole time. It
was a really good game for us to
play.”
In the fast-paced game, senior
forward Kaden Krieger dom-
inated the paint and scored 24
points. Junior forward Cole
Martin scored 19 points, and
senior point guard Reece Dixon
tallied 18 points. The victory
gave the Badgers a game and a
half lead in the league ahead of
Nixyaawii and Imbler.
As evident in the win over
Nixyaawii, Powder Valley’s
roster has an array of talent and
and doesn’t have to rely on just
one player. Between Reece Dix-
on’s skillset in controlling the
tempo and driving to the basket
and Krieger’s presence in the
paint, space on the court is open
for other players to thrive. Cole
Martin adds another presence
inside, while Kaiden Dalke, Clay
Martin and Case Olson all con-
tribute well from guard position.
“You just never know who
might step it up,” Kyle Dixon
said. “Each night, someone dif-
ferent steps up and has a big
game. We have a couple guys
that score 15 or 20 most nights,
but we’re right around each guy
getting 10 points per game.”
The coach cited one instance
in which Dalke heated up for 16
points in the fi rst half of a win
against Pine Eagle on Jan. 28,
converting three three-pointers.
Dalke remained scoreless the
rest of the game, but provided a
big boost in the drvonf half and
opened fl oor space for teammates
to get good looks at the basket.
2-YEAR
TV PRICE
GUARANTEE
www.ImpactOregon.careers
69
$
99 190 CHANNELS
MO.
Local Channels!
for 12 Mos.
America’s Top 120 Package
Including
CALL TODAY - For $100 Gift Card Promo Code: DISH100
1-866-373-9175
Offer ends 4/13/22.
All offers require credit qualification, 24-month commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Prices include Hopper Duo for qualifying customers. Hopper, Hopper w/Sling or Hopper 3 $5/mo. more.
Upfront fees may apply based on credit qualification.