Sports
A9
Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Marketing
deals loom
in prep
sports
Seven states have so far
approved deals for
high school athletes
By MARK GILLISPIE
The Associated Press
CLEVELAND — Ian Jackson
and Johnuel “Boogie” Fland are
among the brightest stars in the fir-
mament of high school basketball
and now have business deals to
prove it.
The New York City teens and
friendly rivals are cashing in on their
name, image and likeness through
marketing contracts often referred
to as NIL deals. The contracts have
begun to trickle down to the high
school level after the NCAA’s deci-
sion last year to allow college ath-
letes to monetize their stardom.
Seven states have so far approved
the deals for prep athletes. Other
states, such as Ohio, continue to
debate whether NILs would sully
high school sports.
Jackson and Fland, both ranked
as top college prospects for the 2024
graduating class, are paid a per-
centage of sales on a merchandise
company’s products carrying their
likeness and four-figure monthly
checks to post about the brand on
social media.
Jackson, 16, said he is saving the
money he earns from the merchan-
dise company Spreadshop and sev-
eral other deals to buy a home for
his family.
“I want to put my family in a
better place,” Jackson said.
Fland, 15, also said he wants to
help his family.
“It’s been a very big deal,” he
said. “All the hard work is finally
paying off.”
In Ohio, high school principals
began voting May 1 on whether to
change the state high school athletic
association’s bylaws to allow ath-
letes to sign deals.
“A lot of us here at the OHSAA
and school administrators don’t
like NIL,” said Ohio High School
Athletic Association spokesperson
Tim Stried. “We wish we weren’t
having to deal with this, but it’s not
going away. We can have a hand in
shaping it or do what the NCAA did
and fight it until otherwise.”
Karissa Niehoff, CEO of the
National Federation of State High
School Associations, said NIL rights
The Observer, File
Coming up
short
Madison Stateler (1) bends the
bat as she hits a pitch during the
match between Eastern Oregon
University and Providence
University at Peggy Anderson
Softball Field, La Grande on
Friday, March 25, 2022.
Eastern Oregon softball team’s conference
title run comes to end in semifinals
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
K
LAMATH FALLS —
After a valiant run at
potential at-large berth, the team’s quar-
terfinal victory tied a program record for
wins in a season with 41.
Taking care of business in the
opener
After battling out the closure of the
the Cascade Collegiate regular season to secure the No. 3 seed
Conference tournament title,
the Eastern Oregon University
softball program ultimately saw
its hopes end just one round shy
of the conference championship
game.
The Mountaineers strung together a
strong regular season to secure the third
seed heading into the tournament, jos-
tling for position at the top of the con-
ference standings with several of the
nation’s top-ranked teams. While East-
ern’s conference run came up short and
the team’s postseason fate now relies on a
in the Cascade Collegiate Conference,
the Mountaineers faced a first-round
matchup against six-seeded Corban.
Eastern took care of business late in the
game, running away with an 8-1 victory
despite a close start.
After taking a 1-0 lead in the first
inning, Eastern found itself tied 1-1
heading into the bottom of the fifth
inning — at this point in the game, the
Mountaineers took full control. Eastern
scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth
off RBI hits from Madison Stateler and
Taylor Dow for a 3-1 lead.
Just one inning later, RBIs from Haley
Ebner, Stateler, Hannah Tyree, Dow and
Grace Gaither blew the game wide open.
The Mountaineers extended an 8-1 lead,
allowing for the team to close out the
final half inning.
Amanda Smith earned her 18th win
of the season, pitching all seven innings
and allowing one run off just two hits.
The senior struck out nine opposing bat-
ters in the win, including two in the top
of the seventh to secure Eastern’s spot in
the next round.
Entering the tournament as the three
seed, Eastern was tasked with playing
its quarter final game just hours after
defeating Corban — the Mountaineers
matched up with rival No. 8 Southern
Oregon, a team that Eastern went 1-3
against in the regular season.
The contest was a nail-biter, as
Eastern once again relied on a late rally
to take the victory. Southern Oregon got
on the board first, taking a 1-0 lead in the
top of the third off a throwing error.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Sta-
teler played the hero role with a three-run
home run to left field that flipped the
script. The deep shot scored Shelby Starr
and Rhyanne Oates to give the Moun-
taineers a 3-1 lead.
Smith, pitching in her second game of
the day, closed out the final two innings
in commanding fashion. She allowed
See, Softball/Page A10
See, Marketing/Page A10
SPORTS SHORT
Bell named to 4A all-state team
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Coming off a
strong season on the hardwood, La
Grande senior Devin Bell earned
a selection to the Oregon 4A state
team.
Bell, who controlled the paint for
the Tigers this past season, earned a
nomination to the second team. The
forward was the only player from a
high school east of Bend to earn a
spot on the team.
The all-state teams are determined
by votes from coaches across the
state at the 4A level.
Bell was a key piece of a La
Grande team that finished the season
16-5 overall and 5-1 in league play —
the Tigers won the Greater Oregon
League tournament and advanced
to the 4A state playoffs. While La
Grande battled out a neck-and-neck
matchup against Banks in the first
round, a last-second buzzer-beater
ended the Tigers’ season.
The nomination for Bell caps off
a winter sports season of high acco-
lades, as he was also named Greater
Oregon League player of the year.
Bell was joined by Brady Hutchins,
Sam Tsiatsos, Logan Williams and
Jace Schow on the all-district teams.
The Observer, File
Devin Bell (5)
gains some
air for a shot
attempt
during a match
between the
La Grande and
Nyssa boys
basketball
teams at La
Grande High
School on
Wednesday,
Dec. 8, 2021.
The La Grande
Tigers secured
a convincing
61-43 victory
over the visiting
team.
Find up-to-date scores and additional game coverage
for your local high school, available 24/7 at
www.lagrandeobserver.com.