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14 Wednesday,June30,2021 Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com SPORTS Redmond ends Eagle boys basketball season; large senior group leaves its mark on program Petshow ■ By For Joe Columbia Gorge News River, 59-58, in an IMC game June 15 and 54-50 on June 1. “I am very proud of what Hood River Valley’s boys we were able to accomplish basketball season ended June 23 with a playoff loss at with the hand we were dealt this year,” Dirks said. “There Redmond, but the imprint this year’s senior players left are always areas where we can improve, but we had a on the program dates back group of guys who were all three prior seasons. Coach Christopher Dirks is in on what we wanted to do, hoping that imprint extends and as a coach I can’t ask for too much more.” into the future, as well. “This group of seniors real- The Eagles fell for the third time this season by single ly helped send this program digits to Redmond, the most in the right direction,” Dirks recent loss coming in the said. “Some of them have Intermountain Conference been on varsity since their semifinals. HRV entered the freshmen year and others game coming off a 76-46 since their sophomore year. home win over Pendleton In that time, we put together in the June 21 first round. A three winning seasons in a slow start against Redmond row. I don’t know the last enabled the host Panthers time that has happened for to build an early lead which HRV boys basketball, but I it essentially maintained the think it has been a while.” rest of the game, winning The Eagles went 0-23 two 58-49. years before Dirks took over “They had our number the program in the 2015-16 this year, so hats off to season. HRV was 14-7 in them,” Dirks said of the 12-3 2018-19, 12-10 in 2019-20, Panthers, who lost to unbeat- and 9-5 this shortened, de- layed COVID season. en Crook County in Friday’s The Eagles huddle up one last time after defeating the Pendleton Buckaroos 76-46, before heading Seniors Ian Searcy, championship. “The guys did Sebastian Zeman, Zac Wells, against No. 2 seed Redmond. what we asked them to do but we took a little too long to Davis Yates, Jack Siekkinen, for the future of this program, have been the favorites to win marking the first time HRV Michael Goodman, and settle in and get going. They played in the boys basketball games and expected it from and I know the younger Emilio Castaneda each got us in the first quarter, postseason since 1994. and we played basically even played roles in changing the guys have learned a lot from ourselves.” “Over the past three The Eagles qualified for them,” Dirks said. “It has face of Eagle basketball. from then on.” seasons we are getting close the state playoffs in 2019, been a long time since we “The seniors set the tone Redmond defeated Hood SWC GBX AT STATE to who we want to be,” Dirks said. “I appreciate all of the time and energy they all put in.” HRV GBX WRAPUP South Wasco girls take fourth place at state tourney Weber ■ By For Mike Columbia Gorge News The South Wasco County girls basketball team enjoyed its most successful season in 20 years by taking fourth place in the Oregon Class 1A Community Bank/ Steens/Baker County State Tournament June 21-24 at Baker High School and Powder Valley High. South Wasco, guided by fourth-year coach Carly Johnson, won 60-58 over Trinity Lutheran Saints to earn the fourth-place trophy June 24 at Baker High School. It marked the Lady Redsides’ highest state tournament finish since 2001, when they won the state title. “For our seniors this was a great way to conclude our season and it was so exciting for them,” said Johnson. “I’ve coached them since they were in eighth grade, so this was a great experience for them. After four years, all our hard work finally paid off. We all cried our eyes out in the locker room after the game because we were so emotion- al and so happy with the way our season ended. It was a wonderful experience for the whole team.” The Redsides won three of four games in the 16-team tournament, including a 52- 48 win over the No. 8 seeded North Douglas Warriors in the first round. “The girls played awesome in the first game, and it was such a relief to know that they could play so well after making the long drive out there,” said Johnson. “It was a great way to start off the tournament and just being able to stay in the winners bracket was just awesome too, because we clinched a spot in the Baker eight-team quarterfinals.” Senior Destiny Mora- Lopez scored 23 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had two blocked shots to help lead the Redsides. Senior Jade McCoy had 14 to the IMC Tournament semifinal Noah Noteboom photo The Wasco County girls basketball team poses with their trophy after taking fourth place n the Oregon Class 1A Community Bank/Steens/Baker County State Tournament. Mike Weber photo points, five rebounds and three assists and junior Kylie Iverson had 11 points and four rebounds. South Wasco lost 65-26 in the June 22 quarterfinals versus the eventual state champion and No. 1 seeded Crane Mustangs (13-0). The High Desert League cham- pions won their second con- secutive title with a 75-54 win over the Country Christian Cougars June 24. “We played awful against Crane, but they were the only team we lost to, and they won the championship,” said Johnson. “We’ve played them several times over the last few years. Obviously, they’re a great team, they played very well, but we just made too many mistakes and that’s something that we normally don’t do. They’re a fantastic team and we just didn’t play very well.” The Redsides shot 17 percent from the field and committed 28 turnovers. The 26 points were fewest for South Wasco in a game this season. Mora-Lopez led the Redsides with 15 points and six rebounds. South Wasco bounced back with a 64-44 win over the No. 5 seed Nixyaawii Golden Eagles June 23. The Redsides led from the entire game and the 64 points were Quality vitamins and supplements. DANIELS health & nutrition 10% off one regular priced item. 918 12th St | Hood River, OR | 541-386-7328 the most they scored in any game. Mora-Lopez had a career high 24 of those points and added 20 rebounds and two blocks. Jade McCoy had 17 points and seven rebounds. “The Nixyaawii game was my absolutely favorite game of the tournament,” said Johnson. “My girls were very fired up before the game and it was really an intense game too. We had lots of fouls and it was a pretty rough and physical game and we got kind of frustrated at times. We battled through it though and we shot the lights out of- fensively and we just played a really great game against the No. 5 ranked team in the tournament.” The players had what they called a good luck charm, which was a little squeeze toy spirit pig that they used often to make a squeaking noise. Johnson said it always made them happy to have it and helped provide them with an upbeat and positive attitude throughout the four-day tournament. In last Thursday’s fourth- place contest versus No. 11 seed Trinity Lutheran, South Wasco jumped in front 16-6 after the first quarter and led 23-15 at halftime. The Redsides’ momentum continued in the third as they extended the margin to 46-29 after three quar- ters. The Saints fought back, outscoring the Redsides 29-14 in the fourth to trim the margin to two at the end. Iverson scored a career-high 20 and had eight rebounds and Miles scored 14 and had four assists. “All the girls seemed to be really inspired to play an outstanding game and that’s exactly what they did,” said Johnson. “In the last minute, we were up by 10 points and then number 42 (Eli Kent) just went off and she was able to score some quick baskets and then our lead was down to only two points. Luckily, we were able to hold them off.” The senior duo of Mora- Lopez and Jade McCoy played the final game of their South Wasco High School ca- reers. Mora-Lopez scored 10 points and had 15 rebounds and five blocks. Mora-Lopez was selected by coaches to the all-tourney second team. Jade McCoy had 12 points, eight rebounds, three steals and three assists. Jade’s sister Sadie had four points and a team-high five assists. Kent scored 42 of her team’s 58 points for Trinity. Mora-Lopez will contin- ue her basketball career in college, as she received an athletic scholarship to attend Central Maine Community College. HRV girls look to future Petshow ■ By For Joe Columbia Groge News Inconsistency is typical of younger teams; HRV’s varsi- ty roster included one senior, Small victories, not in the Molly Routson, who missed most of the first half of the win-loss column, should schedule because of injuries pay future dividends for and softball commitments. the Hood River Valley girls Routson will play softball basketball team. next season at Mt. Hood HRV was winless this Community College. COVID-extended — and “Our lone senior this year shortened — season through was Molly Routson. She 13 games. But Coach Steve was a two-year starter for Noteboom knew going in HRV. She did not always fill that it would be a learning up the stat sheet, but she experience for his young was our best defender and team. was a physical, competitive “The girls have shown a lot of progress and the future player,” Noteboom said. “We looks promising,” Noteboom will miss her leadership and positive attitude.” said. Five freshmen played The Eagles’ season ended on the varsity, including in the first round of the the team’s leading scorer, Intermountain Conference Marina Castaneda, who playoffs June 21 when they scored 20 points against lost 55-46 at Redmond. It Redmond in the season was third meeting between finale. “Marina Castaneda the two teams and the continued to be our biggest score progression (at least scoring threat and much of between the first and then the second and third games) our offense went through her,” Noteboom said. “She exemplified some of the promising future Noteboom had a season average of 14.7 referred to. Redmond easily points per game.” Castaneda was selected by handled HRV the first game the conference’s coaches to June 1, 52-27, but the next two contests were competi- second-team all-league and figures prominently in HRV’s tive until late. future. “We played a more Ridgeview defeated consistent game and did Redmond in the semifinals, not have the huge letdown 68-24, and won the IMC that we had in many of our championship game, 51-29, games early in the season,” over Pendleton. Noteboom explained of the latter two contests, decided by single digits. 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