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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 2015)
SPORTS 4A Burnard goes for 50 in Knappa win By MIKE WEBER For the Daily Astorian FOREST GROVE — Ty- son Burnard’s career-high 50 points helped lead the Knap- pa Loggers to an 80-68 win over the Vernonia Loggers in the Northwest League No. 1 seed game Saturday at Forest Grove High School. With the win, coach Chris Spencer’s No. 6-ranked Log- gers clinched a home game in the 16-team Class 2A state playoffs. Knappa (20-5 over- all) will play No. 12 Union (16-8) at 6 p.m. Friday at Knappa. A win would send Knappa WR3HQGOHWRQIRUWKH¿UVWWLPH since 2011. “I’m really proud of the kids for their good team ef- fort,” said Spencer, the NWL Coach-of-the-Year. “We had some late foul trouble, but our bench players (Colton Weirup, Ethan Rubus, Chase Rusinovich) came in and WKH\PDGHVLJQL¿FDQWFRQWUL- butions to helping us get the win. “Tyson played like an MVP by scoring 50 of our 80 points, which is really incred- ible. It was really special to see him take over the game like that and you don’t see that type of performance too often. His performance ranks right up there with some of the best ever in Knappa’s long tradition of very suc- cessful basketball teams.” In what was an early see- saw battle that included six ¿UVWTXDUWHU OHDG FKDQJHV Knappa took control of the game with an incredible 29-4 scoring outburst. Burnard, a OLJKWQLQJ TXLFN IRRW VH- nior guard, had 14 points in the run to help fuel the offen- sive explosion. Burnard also had a total of eight rebounds DQG¿YHDVVLVWV “I think we’re starting to come together as a team and play pretty well even though we’re without one of our best players, Andy Miller, who is injured,” said Burnard, who earned the NWL Player-of- the-Year Award. “We’re hop- ing that Andy will be back soon, because we’re an even better team with him. I just hope that we’ll make it to Pendleton, which is one of our main goals and it would be just awesome. We just have to win one more game at home and I think we can do ED ELLIOTT — For the Daily Astorian Knappa’s Justin Dragoo puts up a jump shot during Sat- urday’s win over Vernonia. that. Maybe we’ll even have a chance to win it all too, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens there.” Trailing 16-14 after a 5-0 Vernonia run, Knappa fresh- man forward Dale Takalo (11 SRLQWV¿UHGLQDSRLQW¿HOG JRDO JLYLQJ .QDSSD D 16 advantage. Takalo later scored on a layup off a fast break, giving Knappa a 19-16 OHDGDIWHURQHTXDUWHU An 11-0 Knappa run over- ODSSLQJ WKH ¿UVW DQG VHFRQG TXDUWHUV H[WHQGHG WKH PDU- gin to 25-16 on back-to-back SRLQWHUV E\ :HLUXS ZLWK OHIWLQWKHVHFRQG$IWHU Vernonia trimmed it to 25-19, Knappa junior Dakota Sever- son sank two free throws to help ignite an 11-0 run. Burnard scored nine consecutive points, includ- ing back-to-back steals for breakaway layups. Burnard’s driving layup in the lane capped the rally as Knappa EXLOWDGRXEOHGLJLWDG- vantage. “I really didn’t know how many points I had because I don’t keep track of them, but I sure love scoring on drives to the hoop,” said Burnard, whose previous career-high ZDVSRLQWV³,OLNHVKRRW- LQJ ¶V DQG , DOVR PDGH ORWV of free throws (nine) too, which also helped us a lot. I ZDVDEOHWRXVHP\TXLFNQHVV advantage to penetrate well through Vernonia’s defense. I had no idea that I would score 50 points though.” 8WLOL]LQJ D TXLFN DQG aggressive man-to-man de- fense to get steals and create turnovers, Knappa thwarted Vernonia’s offense and con- tinued it’s momentum by EXLOGLQJ SRLQW PDUJLQV twice for it’s largest lead of the game. Knappa senior Justin Dra- goo (12 rebounds) sank a jumper in the lane, making it DQG %XUQDUG¶V IRRW jump shot made it 45-22. Knappa outscored Vernonia LQ WKH VHFRQG WR OHDG DWKDOIWLPH “It feels pretty awesome to win the district champion- ship,” Dragoo said. “Every- one on our team really want- ed to win this game, because we realize that we play a lot better at home than we do in road games. We’ll have a full gym on Friday for the state playoffs, which will be lots of fun. Tyson sure played a great game and he just had an awesome performance. It was our goal to win districts and our next goal is to go to Pendleton. It would be a great way for the seniors on our team to conclude our bas- ketball career.” Vernonia came back with DWKLUGTXDUWHUUDOO\RXWVFRU- ing Knappa 15-9, to get with- in 58-46. Knappa regained the momentum by scoring WKH ¿UVW IRXU SRLQWV RI WKH fourth on two Burnard free WKURZV DQG D:HLUXS IRU D OHDG ZLWK OHIW LQ the game. Vernonia responded with a 16-6 run, trimming it to 69- ZLWKUHPDLQLQJRQWKH clock, but they wouldn’t get any closer. Clutch free throws by Burnard and Severson put the lead back to double digits DW ZLWK OHIW %XU- nard had an absolutely amaz- ing performance as he was just unstoppable for the entire game and he scored the Log- JHUV ¿QDO HLJKW SRLQWV RQ WZR driving layups in the lane and four free throws to help lead .QDSSDWRD¿IWKVWUDLJKWYLF- tory. “This was a huge, huge win for us, because if we would’ve lost, then we would’ve had to play a road game on Friday in the state playoffs,” said Spen- cer. “It will be a fun environ- ment having a home playoff game and we’re hoping to get another big win. It sure was nice playing at Forest Grove +LJK6FKRROIRUWKH¿UVWWLPH in such a nice facility like this. I like it better than where we played the district tournament ODVW \HDU DW 3DFL¿F 8QLYHUVL- ty.” .QDSSD VKRW SHUFHQW (12-for-21) from the line, 52 percent (10-for-19) from the SRLQWDUFDQGSHUFHQWLQ WZRSRLQW¿HOGJRDOVIRU 42). It marked the third time Knappa scored 80 or more points this season. Burnard recorded the sec- ond highest total in Knappa history. The school record is 54 points by Bob “Pudgy” +XQWLQ Gulls play role of Cheese-melters By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian 7,//$022.²$SRLQW VKRWE\-DFNVRQ-DQXLNZLWK¿YH seconds left gave Seaside the win and a share of the Cowapa League title Friday night, as the *XOOVZRQDW7LOODPRRN Coupled with Scappoose’s win over Banks, the Gulls and ,QGLDQV ¿QLVK WLHG IRU WKH WRS VSRWDW Scappoose and Seaside will play the tie-breaker for the No. 1 VHHGDWSP7XHVGD\DW&ODWV- kanie. It will be the fourth meeting of the season between Scap- poose and Seaside. 6HDVLGH KHOG DQ HDUO\ lead Friday before Tillamook UDOOLHGEHKLQGDELJ¿UVWTXDUWHU from Zane Wright, to take an HYHQWXDOOHDG That’s about when Wright got into foul trouble, and had to VSHQGPXFKRIWKHVHFRQGTXDU- ter and second half on the bench. He picked up his fourth foul late in the third period. With Wright on the bench, Seaside rallied behind a big sec- ond half from Januik, who hit three straight baskets late in the WKLUGTXDUWHUWRJLYH6HDVLGHWKH lead. The Cheesemakers battled, and with Wright back on the ÀRRULQWKHIRXUWKTXDUWHU7LOOD- mook took a 52-50 lead with 14 seconds remaining on a Wright jump shot. But the Gulls rallied one last time, with Januik draining the JDPHZLQQLQJ SRLQWHU ZLWK ¿YHVHFRQGVOHIW ³7KLV ZDV WKH ¿UVW WLPH DOO year that we’ve played well on the road,” said Seaside coach Bill Westerholm. “We’ve had players play well, but we hav- en’t played well as a group for a whole game. “And this was a tough place playoffs and the Regional Play-in round. The Lady Fish beat Til- lamook twice in the regular VHDVRQ WR ZLQ WKH ¿IWKSODFH WLHEUHDNHU 6FDSSRRVH which swept Astoria during the regular season, hosts Asto- ria in a league playoff for the No. 4 seed tonight. The winner plays Tuesday DW%DQNVIRUWKH1RDQG JEFF TER HAR — The Daily Astorian seeds. Seaside players mob Jackson Januik, following his Chloee Hunt led Astoria game-winning shot Friday at Tillamook. with 15 points in Friday’s loss, WRJRZLWKQLQHUHERXQGV¿YH to do it,” he said of Tillamook. already clinched a share of the steals and two blocks. Kaylee “As a team, we talked about Cowapa League title coming in Mitchell had six points and it being time to step up. We’re to the game, the Seaside girls seven rebounds. not inexperienced anymore, and EDVNHWEDOOWHDPPDGHLWRI¿FLDO Molly Danielson led Val- we’re going to have to win on Friday night, locking up the No. ley Catholic with 14 points. WKHURDGWRJHWWRWKH¿QDOHLJKW 1 spot all to themselves with a If we can win at Tillamook, we win at Tillamook. City Christian 55, Once again, the defending can win anywhere.” Knappa 40 Win or lose Tuesday, the champion Gulls had all the FOREST GROVE — A Gulls will host either a Region- points they would need by URXJK ¿UVW TXDUWHU HQGHG XS DO3OD\LQJDPHRUD¿UVWURXQG KDOIWLPHDVWKH\EXLOWD costing the Knappa girls Satur- lead at the break, on their way day afternoon, in a Northwest state playoff contest. to an easy 52-29 victory over League basketball playoff Valley Catholic 41, the Cheesemakers. game against City Christian. Astoria 32 Maddi Utti poured in 21 The Lions jumped out to a BEAVERTON — A tie for points and Whitney Wester- OHDGDIWHURQHSHULRGRQ third place in the league stand- holm added 11 for the Gulls, their way to a 55-40 win over LQJV¿QLVKHGWKHVHDVRQIRUWKH who never trailed and led 25-9 WKH/DG\/RJJHUVZKR¿QLVK Astoria boys basketball team HDUO\LQWKHVHFRQGTXDUWHU WKHLUVHDVRQDWRYHUDOO Friday. Seaside does not play again Knappa fought back to Valley Catholic defeated the XQWLO0DUFKZKHQWKH*XOOV within eight points in the sec- )LVKHUPHQSXWWLQJ$VWR- host a lower-seeded team in a RQG TXDUWHU EXW &LW\ &KULV- ULDDQG%DQNVLQWRD¿IWKSODFH Sweet 16 game. tian was able to hold on for WLH LQ WKH VWDQGLQJV DW %XW the win, which gave the Lions Valley Catholic 61, because of a tie for third between WKHOHDJXH¶V1RVHHGWRWKH Astoria 26 Tillamook and Valley Catholic state playoffs. BEAVERTON — Three at 5-5, that ends the season for Susie Traver scored 16 Valley Catholic players scored points and Arianna Swalko the Fishermen and Braves. Morgan Fruiht had 14 points LQGRXEOH¿JXUHVDQGWKH9DO- added 14 for City, while IRU$VWRULDZKLFKKHOGD iants held Astoria to just nine Shailei Wright tossed in 14 SRLQWV LQ WKH ¿UVW KDOI )ULGD\ points, with six rebounds and lead at halftime. The Valiants outscored the night, on their way to a 61-26 ¿YHVWHDOVIRU.QDSSD Fishermen 8-5 in the third, then win over the Lady Fishermen McKailyn Rogers added went on a short run in the fourth in a Cowapa League girls bas- SRLQWV DQG ¿YH UHERXQGV NHWEDOOUHJXODUVHDVRQ¿QDOH TXDUWHUWRSXOODZD\ Amber Jones pulled down $VWRULD ¿QLVKHV DQG nine rebounds, and Kacie GIRLS BASKETBALL WLHGZLWK7LOODPRRNIRU¿IWKLQ &DPHURQ ¿QLVKHG ZLWK IRXU Seaside 52, Tillamook 29 the league standings, and will steals and three assists for the TILLAMOOK — Having now prepare for the league Loggers. THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2015 Two Seaside relay swim teams reach the top four LQWKHVHPL¿QDOV ,QWKHFKHVVPDWFKOLNH¿- nal, Nyssa sophomore Heath GRESHAM — The Sea- +DUWOH\SRVWHGDGHFLVLRQ side boys swim team had over Bergerson. The two three relays competing in could very well meet again in the Class 4A portion of the WKH VWDWH FKDPSLRQVKLS ¿QDO OSAA state meet over the later this week. weekend, at Mt. Hood Com- Also headed to state will munity College in Gresham. be senior Michael Suppa, the Two of the relays earned only wrestler in the tourna- WRSIRXU ¿QLVKHV VFRULQJ ment to score four pins. Sup- points for an eighth-place pa took third at 145 pounds, WHDP¿QLVKIRUWKH*XOOV DIWHUORVLQJDVHPL¿QDOPDWFK Seaside’s foursome of to Nyssa’s Joshua Bongiorno. Will Garvin, Luke Liljen- Warrenton junior Justice wall, Dylan Townsend and Watson placed third at 160, Sam Beaudoin teamed up ZLWK D IDOO RYHU 1\V- to help the Gulls’ 200-yard sa’s Alejandro Carrasco in the freestyle relay to a third place third-place match. showing. :DUUHQWRQ¶V¿QDOTXDOL¿HU The Gulls were seeded to state is junior Eli Peterson, seventh going into the meet, ZKRZHQWWR¿QLVKIRXUWK but swam a preliminary time at 182. RI PLQXWH VHFRQGV (over a two-second drop Knappa has three from districts). district champs ,Q WKH FKDPSLRQVKLS ¿- KNAPPA — With three QDO 6HDVLGH VZDP individual champions and to place third behind Catlin IRXU VWDWH TXDOL¿HUV WKH *DEHO DQG 6ZHHW Knappa wrestling team will +RPH be scoring some major points Seeded fourth going into in the state meet later this the state meet, that’s exactly week. where Seaside’s 200-yard The Loggers were the medley relay team (Garvin, hosts for the Special District Brad Rzewnicki, Beaudoin, 1/2A/1A tournament, held 7RZQVHQG ¿QLVKHG LQ WKH Friday and Saturday at Knap- VWDWH¿QDO pa. After a preliminary time And with the home mat RI WKH *XOOV VZDP advantage, Knappa wrestlers DLQWKH¿QDOWR¿QLVK won three titles. fourth behind Catlin Gabel Monroe won the team /D *UDQGH DQG championship with 256 Philomath. points, followed by Nestucca Seaside’s 400-yard free- (194). Vernonia was third and VW\OHUHOD\WHDPGLGQRWTXDOL- Knappa took fourth out of I\IRUWKH¿QDOV eight schools. .QDSSD¶V ¿UVW LQGLYLGXDO WRESTLING WLWOHFDPHDWSRXQGV Warriors qualify With just four wrestlers in ¿YHIRUVWDWH WKHEUDFNHWDW²DQGWKH HERMISTON — After a top two going to state — the TXDUWHU¿QDOORVVLQWKH&ODVV odds were good for Logger 4A state wrestling meet last senior Chris Cruz, who had a year with Astoria, Warren- TXDUWHU¿QDOE\HWKHQSLQQHG ton’s Colton Walker will be Neah-Kah-Nie’s Dylan Dun- the favorite at 106 pounds in ODSLQWKHVHPL¿QDOVWRFOLQFK WKH$PHHWODWHUWKLVZHHN D VSRW LQ WKH ¿QDO HLJKW DW after the Warrior junior won a state. district title Saturday. In the championship bout, Walker was the only War- &UX]VFRUHGDIDOORYHU renton champion, while four Nestucca’s Bryce McKillip. RWKHUV TXDOL¿HG IRU WKH VWDWH Shortly after Cruz’s meet after a weekend of com- championship, Knappa soph- petition in Hermiston, which omore Andrew Goozee won hosted the Special District the title at 182. $7RXUQDPHQW With just three wrestlers Nyssa won the team title in the entire bracket, Goozee ZLWK SRLQWV ZLWK 9DOH KDG D ¿UVWURXQG E\H D SLQ (255.5) second and Warren- over Neah-Kah-Nie’s Dylan WRQ¿IWKRXWRIQLQHWHDPV +DQVRQ LQ WKH VHPL¿QDOV ³,¶P HODWHG WR KDYH ¿YH DQGDSLQRYHU*DEULHO guys going,” said Warrenton Cazarez of Neah-Kah-Nie in coach Trask Bergerson. “It WKHFKDPSLRQVKLS was a remarkable feat for our Knappa senior Nate Tru- program. There was some ax had to win one match to monster competition in this FOLQFK KLV VSRW LQ WKH ¿QDO district. eight at state (a 21-second fall “We knew we could get a over Neah-Kah-Nie’s Luis couple guys to state (Walker 3HUH]LQWKHVHPL¿QDOVWKHQ and Rogue Bergerson), so the 7UXD[ UHFRUGHG D IDOO other guys provided the silver over Nestucca’s Chase Cook lining.” in the title match. Walker cruised through $W SRXQGV .QDSSD the bracket at 106, with a senior Ryan Simpson scored VHFRQG SLQ RYHU &ODWV- D TXDUWHU¿QDO GHFLVLRQ kanie’s Dalton Littleton; a over Jacob Drago of Triangle 6-4 decision over Nyssa’s /DNHWKHQSRVWHGDVFRUH Ryan Vineyard; and a second over Monroe’s Tyler Sher- round fall over Andrew Dele- PDQIRUDVSRWLQWKH¿QDO RQRI1\VVDLQWKH¿QDO In the championship, “Colton was really ap- Monroe’s Kaleb Ballard prehensive going into his last gained a little revenge for match, because he had never his teammate, scoring an 8-4 wrestled DeLeon,” coach decision over Simpson, who Bergerson said. VWLOOTXDOL¿HGIRUVWDWH But after a couple early Sophomore Cody Hobbs big moves by DeLeon, Walk- QDUURZO\ PLVVHG TXDOLI\LQJ er took over with some supe- for state at 106, where Hobbs rior strength and ended the KDG D ¿UVWURXQG E\H ORVW D match in the second round. VHPL¿QDO PDWFK WR 1HVWXF- $IWHU D TXDUWHU¿QDO E\H ca’s Gabe Garcia, then had Warrior senior Rogue Berg- two byes in the consolation erson scored a 16-5 major de- URXQG WR ¿QLVK WKLUG RXW RI cision over Vale’s Jorge Juica three wrestlers. By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian KATHY MORGAN — For the Daily Astorian Knappa wrestling state qualifiers, from left to right: Nate Truax, Ryan Simpson, Christopher Cruz, Andrew Goozee.