Keizertimes., June 04, 2021, Page 22, Image 22

PAGE A22, KEIZERTIMES, JUNE 4, 2021
McNary suffers devastating defeat in fi nal moments
BY MATT RAWLINGS
Of the Keizertimes
It is tough to lose in a more painful
fashion than the McNary hoops team
did on Wednesday, May 26.
After leading the entire way, the
Celtics gave up four points in the
fi nal 10 seconds of the game to lose a
gut-wrenching 48-47 contest to South
Salem.
Nate Meithof led the way with 20
points for McNary.
“It was a tough way to lose for sure,
but it will make us better in the long
run. We need to do a better job of not
getting too comfortable,” Meithof said.
As the reigning Mountain Valley
Conference Player of the Year, Meithof
was face-guarded by multiple South
Salem defenders for the entire game.
But in the fi rst quarter there was noth-
ing the Saxons could do to slow down
the 6-foot-5 shooting guard.
Meithof began the game with a tough
fl oater, then got loose for a layup off a
backdoor cut moments later. After a few
empty possessions, Meithof knocked
down a pair of foul shots, then got to
the rim for another hoop moments later
to give his team the 8-4 lead.
Midway through the quarter, South
Salem head coach Travis Brown burned Tyler Copeland looks to throw the ball to a teammate in the Celtics 48-47 loss to South Salem.
a timeout after Meithof nailed a deep
3-pointer to extend the Celtics lead to by Jando Gonzalez and a layup by before the half, making the score 28-22
11-4. Meithof had 15 in the quarter and Rodriguez, but South pulled within six at the break.
McNary held a 17-7 advantage
After Meithof dropped 15 in the fi rst
after one period.
quarter, the Saxons held the McNary
“I was just taking what
star to just two points in the second and
That loss was on me.
they gave to me. I really didn't
third quarters, which is how they were
I need to keep my
think they could stop me at
able to climb back in the game
fi rst,” Meithof said.
“They are going to deny him the ball
foot on the gas ped-
The Celtics went up by
no matter what, we just need him to
al. I need to show up
as many as 14 in the fol-
continue to cut and move through the
when my team needs
lowing quarter thanks to
off ense. I think we got a little stagnant.
back-to-back hoops by Kyler
We weren't able to get to the free throw
me.
Rodriguez
and
Gunner
line as much as we liked. They did a
Smedema. However, South
good job on Nate, we just have to be
Salem responded with a 7-0
able to execute a little bit better in the
run to cut the lead down to
end,” McNary head coach Ryan Kirch
seven. McNary went back
said.
— NATE MEITHOF
McNary shooting guard
up by double-fi gures later
The Saxons got within two points at
in the period after a jumper
the end of the third quarter, but Meithof
Photo by MATT RAWLINGS of Keizertimes
completed a three-point play to start
the fourth period, allowing McNary to
cling to the 41-36 lead.
Midway through the quarter,
Evan Cornell knocked down a clutch
3-pointer from the baseline to bring the
Celtics lead to six at 45-39. South Salem
closed the gap to one with less than two
minutes to play, but Gonzalez was able
to break the press and go coast-to-coast
for a hoop to make the score 47-44.
After the Celtics got a crucial stop
with less than a minute to play, Jabol
Balos was fouled in the backcourt and
sent to the free throw line. But the soph-
omore guard missed the front end of a
one-and-one, giving the Saxons the ball
back with 43.6 seconds left.
The Saxons came down the court
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