FEBRUARY 24, 2017, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A13
CHAMP: ‘I just got sick
and tired of losing’
“I’ve just got to remember
to do what I’ve been training
to do my whole life.”
McNary junior Brayden
Ebbs finished third at 145
pounds. After losing to the
eventual district champion,
North Salem sophomore Ian
Carlos, 10-6 in the semifinals,
Ebbs pinned Sprague junior
Dalton Lethco-Willis in 44
seconds and then McMin-
nville senior Max Morton in
1:02.
Carlos defeated McMin-
nville junior Michael Abeyta
13-2 in the 145 finals.
McNary junior Blake Nor-
ton, was unseeded and hadn’t
won a varsity match all season
when he opened the tourna-
ment with a 9-7 overtime vic-
tory over West Salem senior
Blake Buchheit.
Norton was pinned in the
first period of his next match
but won his next two, 5-2 and
3-1, to set up a match with
West Albany senior Jalaam
Stewart, the 3-seed who had
already defeated Norton twice
during the season, to qualify
for the state tournament.
Down by one point, Nor-
ton pinned Stewart with only
four seconds remaining in the
third period.
“I just got sick and tired
of losing,” Norton said. “It
felt really good. I’m excited. I
didn’t expect to make it to the
second day. Coaches just kept
picking on me unto I finally
got fed up.”
Vincent and Putnam both
reached the semifinals of their
weight classes, where they lost
to the eventual district cham-
pions.
Vincent
then
topped
Sprague senior Landon Me-
renich 13-5 to qualify for the
state tournament while Put-
A
D
C
KEIZERTIMES/Derek Wiley
A: McNary senior Killian Dato finished fourth in the district at 138 pounds. B: Senior Sean Burrows reached the finals and placed second at 132 pounds. C: Senior
Carlos Vincent took fourth at 152 pounds. D: Wrestling at 170 pounds, junior Isaiah Putnam finished fourth to qualify for state for the second straight year.
nam bounced back by defeat-
ing West Albany senior Wyatt
Walls 5-0 to advance to the
state tournament for the sec-
ond straight year.
Martinez won his first
match 10-4, was pinned in
his second, but won his third
10-0. He then topped McKay
junior Sergio Mendez 8-6 in
overtime and got a forfeit win
to advance to state.
Dato won two straight
matches, 11-2 and 7-4, in
the consolation round, to set
up a match with West Salem
sophomore Kaedyn Malcom
to qualify for state.
On a takedown in over-
time, Dato won 8-6.
“I get down and I see my
opponent is already tired,”
Dato said. “He already has
the look of defeat on his face.
I knew if I wanted to go to
state, I had to get an upset. I
just did what we were taught
all season, which is to capi-
talize on our opportunities. I
don’t know if I’ve ever been
happier inside this sport. It’s
such a great feeling.”
With 483 points, Sprague
easily won the team title. West
Albany took second with
244.5 points.
Third through seventh was
decided by only eight points
with North Salem placing
third with 177 and McNary
finishing seventh with 169.
“We won some huge
matches to get some more
kids to the state tournament
today and that’s what these
kids needed to see was that in-
stant change based on your ef-
fort and your attitude,” coach
Ebbs said.
The state tournament takes
place on Friday, Feb. 24 and
Saturday, Feb. 25 at Memorial
Coliseum in Portland.
Softball camp March 4
BOYS,
continued from Page 12
“Our kids are tough,”
Kirch said. “Instead of wor-
rying too much about game
planning, we decided we’re
just going to get down and
try to make somebody beat
us. We simplified it a little bit
and our guys just did a great
job. Just toughed up, got in a
stance and guarded them.”
McNary extended its lead
to 45-23 heading into the
fourth quarter. With a min-
ute remaining, West Salem
got within 55-44 as the Celt-
ics got sloppy with the ball.
McNary scored the final
four points of the game on a
fast break dunk by Goff and
a layup from Martin.
“This is probably, with
the exception of the last
four minutes of the game,
as good as we’ve played all
year,” Kirch said. “We came
out right from the get go
and we think we’re a top 10
team in the state, and we just
really put it on West and I
just couldn’t be more proud
of them and just happy for
them on senior night like this
at home.”
Ismay led the Celtics
with 19 points and five as-
sists. Harvey finished with 12
points and four assists. Cavell
had 10 points, all in the first
B
The McNary softball pro-
gram is holding two camps on
Saturday, March 4.
Pitching and catching, from
9 a.m. to noon, is led by Lady
Celts pitching coach Cari
Bucholz along with McNary
pitchers and catchers. The cost
is $45.
The Lady Celts coaches
and players will then instruct
a softball skills camp from 1
to 4 p.m. The session includes
defensive skills and hitting
drills. The cost is $35. Kids,
ages eight to 18, can sign up
for both camps for $45. Reg-
istration includes a McNary
t-shirt.
Payment can be made by
cash or check. Checks should
be made out to McNary Soft-
ball.
Weather permitting, the
camp will take place either on
the softball field or in the gym
so campers are asked to bring
booth cleats and indoor shoes.
For more information,
contact McNary softball
coach Kevin Wise at 503-399-
3233 or wise_kevin@salkeiz.
k12.or.us.
GIRLS,
continued from Page 12
KEIZERTIMES/Derek Wiley
McNary senior Cade Goff scored nine points and had six re-
bounds against West Salem.
half off the bench, Goff add-
ed nine points and six re-
bounds and Alex Martin had
seven points, seven assists and
seven rebounds.
McNary closed the regu-
lar season with a 76-67 win
at McMinnville on Tuesday,
Feb. 21 to finish 18-6 overall
and 11-5 in league play.
The boys state tournament
begins Tuesday, Feb. 28.
Hunter had seven points
and seven rebounds in her
final home game. Montano
added three points. Schmit
finished with two points
and four rebounds. Koenig
chipped in with a rebound.
“They’re different but all
four of them are incredibly
vital to what McNary has
meant over the last four years
to the program,” Handley
said of the seniors.
“Sydney is one of the bet-
ter players in the state and
is going to play Division I
next year but you have three
others girls who are the best
teammates you’ll ever find.
“Obviously,
Jaylene’s
played more this year but for
girls like Gabby and Kelsey,
KEIZERTIMES/Derek Wiley
McNary junior Kailey Doutt, who led the Lady Celts with 16
points, try to score against a West Salem defender.
they’re just committed to
their teammates. They’re here
everyday. They work their
tails off for us. They never
know when their number is
going to be called but they’re
always ready. Incredibly im-
portant, all four of them.
We’re obviously going to
miss them as people because
ultimately they’re honestly
better people than they are
players and that’s pretty spe-
cial.”
The Lady Celts closed the
regular season with a 53-38
victory at McMinnville on
Tuesday, Feb. 21 to finish 13-
10 overall and 8-6 in league
play.
The girls state tournament
begins Wednesday, March 1.