THE DAILY ASTORIAN MONDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2016
SPORTS
7A
Fishermen one step closer to state tourney
By GARY HENLEY
The Daily Astorian
The Astoria Fishermen were
doing things the old-fashioned
way Friday night at the Brick
House.
Hustle, intensity, tough
defense, making shots … even
the old-fashioned three-pointers.
And it all resulted in an
old-fashioned playoff victory
for the Fishermen, 67-48 over
Stayton in a Regional Play-in
boys basketball game.
The win clinches a spot in
WKH 6ZHHW ²$VWRULD¶V ¿UVW
appearance there since the 2009-
10 season.
“It’s good that we got a win,
and hopefully we can keep it
JRLQJ´ VDLG $VWRULD¶V .\OH
Strange, who scored a game-
high 22 points. “Let’s ride this
EDE\RXW´
There was a time when play-
off victories were routine for
Astoria, so forgive the Fisher-
men for being overly pumped
IROORZLQJ WKH ZLQ WKH ¿UVW
post-season victory (other than
league tie-breakers) for Astoria
since a 59-48 win over Ontario
Feb. 27, 2007.
And you have to go back
one generation in the Goin fam-
LO\WR¿QG$VWRULD¶VODVWVWDWHRU
regional playoff victory at the
Brick House (46-44 over River-
side in 2001, under Mike Goin).
“I grew up in such a differ-
HQW HUD´ VDLG $VWRULD FRDFK
1992 grad and Mike’s son Kevin
Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian
Astoria’s Justin Fruiht, No. 23, is fouled while shooting by
Stayton’s Cade Nau, No. 2, during the game.
a good team to get there, and
unless something goofy hap-
SHQVZH¶OOEHRQWKHURDG´
Something goofy appar-
ently happened, because the
Fishermen will actually host
Cascade in a state playoff at
6:30 p.m. Saturday. The winner
advances to the state tourna-
ment to play either La Grande
or Seaside.
Meanwhile, it was Stayton’s
Joshua Bessex/The Daily Astorian
second visit of the season to
Astoria’s Fridtjof Fremstad, No. 12, goes up for a shot over Astoria. The Fishermen beat the
Stayton’s Everett St. Clair, No. 10, during the game.
Eagles 57-39 Jan. 9, and Astoria
left no doubt in the rematch.
Goin, “it was kind of the expec- and I’m happy with the effort
Stayton was within 18-13
tation to spend the week before WKH\¶YH SXW LQ´ KH VDLG ³:H midway through the second
spring break at the state tourna- have a chance to go play in the quarter, when Astoria had a
ment in Eugene.
state tournament, which is really string of momentum-turning
“Our kids are real happy, big. You’re going to have to play plays to take command.
Warrenton’s Walker goes out on top
By DAVID BALL
For The Daily Astorian
PORTLAND — Warren-
ton High senior Colton Walker
capped his prep wrestling career
with a state championship, win-
ning the 3A 106-pound bracket
in quick order last weekend.
Walker marched to the cham-
pionship mat Saturday night to
face Willamina rookie Jordan
Reyes — the tournament’s No.
3 seed. He got in on his oppo-
nent’s leg for a takedown just
15 seconds into a bout that was
never in doubt.
“I went in focused and con-
¿GHQW´ :DONHU VDLG ³, OLNH WR
start at the whistle and catch
people off guard. I just kept tak-
LQJVKRWVDQGPRYLQJIRUZDUG´
Walker got in for a second
takedown before the match was
a minute old, and worked to turn
Reyes to his shoulders for a pin
in 1:14.
“This means the world to
PH´ :DONHU VDLG SDXVLQJ WR
look at the red and green chip
awarded to state champions.
“It’s always been my dream to
EHFRPHDVWDWHFKDPSLRQ´
The title win avenged an
XQOLNHO\ORVVLQODVW\HDU¶V¿QDO
ZKHUHDWKURZLQWKH¿QDOVHF-
onds turned his four-point lead
into a narrow loss.
Walker had no such chal-
lengers at this season’s tourna-
ment, opening with a 13-0 shut-
out win over Harrisburg’s Riley
Suttles before scoring a third-
round pin against No. 4-seed
Ricardo Flores-Galvez of Ger-
vais in Saturday morning’s
VHPL¿QDOV
Kathy Morgan/For the Daily Astorian
Warrenton’s Colton Walker pinned Riley Suttles of Harris-
burg on his way to a state title.
“Being a senior is a big
DGYDQWDJH´ :DONHU VDLG ³,¶P
going up against a lot of fresh-
men and sophomores. I’m stron-
ger than my opponents and I
KDYHWKHH[SHULHQFHRQWKHPDW´
Warriors’ teammate Justice
Watson reached the 152-pound
VHPL¿QDOVZLWKDVHFRQGSLQ
over No. 4-seed Devin Sheldon
of Glide and went on to win a
consolation bout on his way to
DIRXUWKSODFH¿QLVK
Astoria High sent a pair
of wrestlers into Saturday’s
morning session, led by senior
Andrew Poplin who scored a
second-round pin in his open-
ing match.
Poplin stayed in contention
with another pin in the consola-
tion bracket to end Friday’s ses-
sion. After giving up an early
takedown to Mazama’s Cam-
eron Hankins, he got on the
scoreboard by pulling off an
escape with only a few ticks left
LQWKH¿UVWSHULRG
Hankins tried for a fall early
in the second period and nearly
pinned himself in the process,
JRLQJ ÀDW RQ WKH PDW ZKLOH
VORZLQJ ÀLSSLQJ 3RSOLQ¶V IHHW
through the air. Poplin pushed
the momentum through and
safely rolled out of danger and
ended up on top for a reversal
and back points to claim a 5-2
lead.
“I just had to keep my head
in good position and keep track
RI ZKDW KH ZDV WU\LQJ WR GR´
Poplin said.
+HZDVQ¶W¿QLVKHG
Poplin locked up his oppo-
nent in the center circle and
tightened his grip to earn the
fall with 42 seconds left in the
round.
“I had to keep my hips down
on the mat, because that was
GULYLQJ KLV VKRXOGHUV GRZQ´
Poplin said. “I had to make a few
adjustments, but I knew I was in
JRRGSRVLWLRQWRSLQKLP´
3RSOLQ GURSSHG KLV ¿UVW
elimination match upon return-
ing to the Coliseum on the next
morning.
Astoria rookie Kaden Gil-
bert made it a two-day tourna-
ment by knocking off No. 4 seed
Brandyn Chaney of McLough-
lin in a consolation bout at 182
SRXQGV7KHDFWLRQÀRZHG*LO-
bert’s way right off the opening
whistle when the two locked up
in the center circle and tumbled
over each other like clothes at
the laundromat. Neither gained
control before rolling out of
bounds, but Gilbert was in his
element.
“My training is in jujitsu, so
, ORYH JHWWLQJ LQWR VFUDPEOHV´
he said. “As long as I stay faster
than my opponent, I can catch
WKHPRIIJXDUG´
That is exactly how Gilbert
moved ahead, slipping out of a
single-leg and circling behind
Chaney for a takedown with
three seconds left in the opening
round. A reversal made it 4-0
early in the second, and he took
full control when he wrapped
his opponent’s right arm and
crumpled him to the mat for a
takedown and a 6-1 lead.
Gilbert continued to build his
margin back points and heard
the referee slap the mat award-
ing a fall as zeros showed on the
clock.
“I got that lead and it forced
him to try crazy stuff, while I
FRXOGIRFXVRQFRXQWHUPRYHV´
*LOEHUW VDLG ³7KLV LV P\ ¿UVW
year at state, and I still have a
chance for third place — I’m
H[FLWHG´
+H ORVW KLV ¿UVW FRQVRODWLRQ
match Saturday morning by a
slim 10-9 decision.
Astoria’s Bronson Holthusen
(220) scored a consolation pin.
A tough bracket resulted
in a tough tournament for the
Knappa wrestlers.
Following a missed 3-pointer
by the Fishermen, the Eagles
lost control of the rebound,
Strange gathered it in and hit a
short jumper.
He also drew the foul and
converted the three-point play
for a 21-13 lead.
Moments later, Strange
knocked down a trey from the
corner.
And with 56 seconds left,
Justin Fruiht pulled down the
third of three straight offensive
rebounds, scored and drew the
foul to give the Fishermen a
27-14 lead.
Astoria held double-digit
leads the rest of the night, the
largest being a 55-30 advantage
early in the fourth quarter. The
)LVKHUPHQ ¿QLVKHG ZLWK WKHLU
second-highest point total of the
season, behind a 69-48 win over
Rainier Dec. 28.
It helps when you make
17-of-22 shots in the second
half, as Astoria did Friday. The
Fishermen were 9-of-12 in the
third quarter, and the last miss
was a desperation shot from
midcourt as the quarter ended.
“The second half we did a
much better job coming to the
ball and making better decisions
RQ WKH EUHDN´ *RLQ VDLG ³:H
got it to the posts and got good
FXWV 2XU HI¿FLHQF\ ZDV PXFK
EHWWHU´
Defensively, the Fishermen
EORFNHG¿YHVKRWVE\WKHPXFK
smaller Stayton team, most
by the twin towers, Fruiht and
Derek Jarrett.
)UXLKW ¿QLVKHG ZLWK
points, while Astoria’s sixth
man, Ryan Palek, scored 13 of
his 15 points in the second half,
and most on breakaways.
Strange said the offensive
plan was pretty simple — get it
to the big guys.
“That was our game plan —
just getting the ball to the posts,
and cutting off the posts to get
HDV\ORRNV´KHVDLG³,IHOWOLNH
we did that.
“We know the expectations,
DQGZH¶UHUHDG\WRZRUN´VDLG
the junior guard. “We came out
strong in the second half, pushed
the ball and tried our best to get
XSWKHÀRRUDQGJHWVRPHJRRG
ORRNV´
SCOREBOARD
BOYS BASKETBALL
Astoria 67, Stayton 48
STAYTON (48): Kyle Schwarm
13, Cade Nau 10, Matthew Lin-
demann 9, Jerry Daniels 6,
Charlie Weeks 5, Jacob Classen
3, Everett St. Clair 2.
ASTORIA (67): Kyle Strange
22, Ryan Palek 15, Justin
Fruiht 11, Derek Jarrett 7, Fridt-
jof Fremstad 6, Olaf Englund 2,
Jackson Arnsdorf 2, Clay Wil-
liams 2, Kyle Meisner, Jasyn
Gohl, Alex Burchfield, Rory
Loughran, Cade O’Brien.
Stayton
7 9 14 18—48
Astoria
14 13 20 20—67
Field goals: Stayton 17-52; As-
toria 28-47. 3-Point FG: Stayton
5-16 (Schwarm 3, Weeks, Nau);
Astoria 3-12 (Strange 3). Free
throws: Stayton 9-16, Astoria
8-12. Fouls: Stayton 15, Astoria
16. Officials: Barbic, Tice.
W. Mennonite 57, Knappa 53
KNA (53): Jason Miller 16,
Takalo 13, Severson 13, Weirup
5, Goodman 4, Rubus 2, Eng-
blom, Eltagonde, Geisler, Hen-
drickson.
WM (57): Colby Williams 13,
O’Neill 12, J.Williams 10, Hess
10, Berkey 6, Hull 3, Domes 3,
Gray.
Knappa
11 6 9 27—53
W.Mennonite 11 10 11 25—57
Field goals: Knappa 20-46,
W.Mennonite 18-37. 3-Point FG:
Knappa 4 (Severson 3, Weirup);
W.Mennonite 4 (Berkey 2, J.Wil-
liams, Domes). Free throws:
Knappa 9-18, W.Mennonite
The Loggers went a com-
bined 1-10 on the mat in the
Class 2A portion of the meet.
The lone victory came from
Luke Goozee at 113 pounds,
where Goozee bounced back
from an opening round loss with
a pin over Reedsport’s Fisher
Wahl, in 57 seconds.
Goozee was later pinned by
17-28. Rebounds: Knappa 24
(Severson 7); W.Mennonite 34
(O’Neill 12).
Shorewood C. 63, Naselle 43
NAS (43): Donny Edwards 22,
Pine 6, Gudmundsen 5, Scra-
beck 5, Dorman 3, Estes 2, Dal-
ton, Fontanilla, Eaton, Wirkkala,
Lund, Bergeson.
SC (63): J.J. Young 19, Feva-
leaki 16, Domingo 12, Howell 8,
Sollesvik 4, Munson 4.
Naselle
10 1 16 16—43
Shorewood 18 15 18 12—63
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Henley 64, Astoria 56
ASTORIA (56): Chloee Hunt
17, Kaylee Mitchell 9, Saman-
tha Hemsley 7, Alexis Wallace
7, Taylor Mickle 6, Rylee De-
Mander 5, Anna Gimre 3, Myk-
ka Abrahams 2.
HENLEY (64): Arianne O’Con-
nor 19, Gabby Mathis 18, McK-
enna Armantrout 10, Tanner Hig-
gins 6, Sisalee Parrish 5, Briea
Baley 4, Annalise Greif 2.
Astoria
10 14 12 20—56
Henley
17 15 12 20—64
Toutle Lake 53, Ilwaco 34
ILW (34): Makenzie Kaech 16,
Jacobson 10, Ellsworth 6, McMil-
lan 2, Bentley, Kondos, Bannis-
ter, Kulm, Pierson, Benenati.
TL (53): Sam Woodley 21,
Dean 9, Wason 8, Gardner 7,
Hockett 4, Deffenbaugh 2, Wentz
2.
Ilwaco
5 7 13 9—34
Toutle Lake 13 18 9 13—54
Cole Farwell of Enterprise (:16).
At 106, Knappa’s Cody
Hobbs lost by fall to Symon
Thurman of Lowell (3:02) and
Joshua Fellows of Bonanza
(2:40).
Reuben Cruz was 0-2 at 160;
Andrew Goozee was 0-2 at 182;
DQG 'DYLG 3DWWHUVRQ ¿QLVKHG
0-2 at 195.
Pioneers edge Loggers, 57-53
Season-ending loss for Astoria
said of Western Mennonite.
“But we competed hard and
6$/(0 ² )URP ¿IWK left it all out there.
place in their own league to the
“We didn’t shoot as well
Sweet 16, the Knappa Loggers as we normally do, and we
took the 2015-16 season as far were only 9-for-18 at the free-
as they could.
WKURZOLQHZKLFKFRVWXV´KH
And the season came to a said. “Jason Miller was steady
close Saturday night in Salem, all night, and he kept us in the
where Western Mennonite JDPHLQWKH¿UVWKDOI´
posted a 57-53 win over the
Miller led Knappa with
Loggers in a Class 2A state 16 points, followed by Dale
playoff game.
Takalo and Dakota Severson
Knappa outscored the Pio- with 13 apiece. Colby Wil-
neers 27-25 in a wild fourth liams scored 13 points for the
quarter, but Western held on Pioneers, who had four players
for the win to advance to the LQGRXEOH¿JXUHV
state tournament. The Loggers
The Loggers lose just two
¿QLVKRYHUDOO
seniors (Dakota Severson and
“They were up 11 with four Jimmy Hendrickson), and
minutes left, so we started to return their top three scorers
play the foul game to get back next season.
LQ LW´ .QDSSD FRDFK &KULV
“Our four juniors (Mitch
Spencer said.
Geisler, Michal Goodman,
Which the Loggers did, Miller, Ethan Rubus) were
closing to within four with 30 super-consistent, and they
seconds left. Knappa missed a were the emotional lead-
layup, and the Pioneers were HUV´ 6SHQFHU VDLG ³6R ZH¶OO
able to hang on.
have strong leadership com-
“They’re
well-coached, ing back. And the sophomores
ZLWK D ORW RI GHSWK´ 6SHQFHU will be a year older and a year
+XQW SLFNHG XS KHU ¿IWK
foul with 1:26 remaining,
KLAMATH FALLS — leaving the game with 17
The Astoria Lady Fishermen points and 13 rebounds.
nearly pulled off a miracle win
Back-to-back 3-pointers by
Saturday afternoon, in a Class Hunt early in the fourth quar-
4A Regional Play-in girls bas- ter had keyed the comeback.
ketball game at Henley.
$VWRULD ¿QLVKHV
The Hornets ultimately got overall, while the Hornets (17-
the victory, 64-56, but they 7) advance to the Sweet 16.
had to work for it.
It was the “best second half
Taking on the state run- WKDWZHSOD\HGDOO\HDU´VDLG
ner-up from last season, the Astoria coach Mike Jacobson.
Lady Fish trailed 41-28 mid- “I was very proud of the girls
way through the third quarter, when we got down by 12 or
but staged a big-time rally and 13 to begin the third quarter.
actually grabbed a 49-48 lead They fought back and got the
on a 3-pointer by Alexis Wal- lead in the middle of the fourth
lace with 4:00 left in the game. quarter.
Two free throws by Wal-
“They never gave up like
lace had the Fishermen in KDV KDSSHQHG LQ WKH SDVW´
front 51-50, but turnovers and he said. “This senior group
IRXOV ¿QDOO\ FDXJKW XS ZLWK (Hunt, Taylor Mickle, Mykka
Astoria.
Abrahams) has so much to be
The Hornets went on a proud of. They are the begin-
9-1 run, as Wallace, Chloee ning of the process of chang-
Hunt and Rylee DeMander all ing the culture of the girls bas-
IRXOHGRXWLQWKH¿QDOPLQXWHV NHWEDOOSURJUDP´
and Henley’s Arianna O’Con-
nor and Gabby Mathis made
Toutle Lake 53, Ilwaco 34
5-of-6 free throws.
CHEHALIS, Wash. —
The Daily Astorian
stronger, we have a talented
freshman class and some good
eighth-graders coming up.
We’re hoping that will put us
in the same type situation next
year, and maybe we’ll be host-
LQJWKLVJDPHLQVWHDG´
Lions 63, Comets 43
RENTON, Wash. — Shore-
wood Christian took advan-
tage of a rough second quarter
for Naselle Saturday, to score a
63-43 win over the Comets in
a 1B boys basketball regional.
Shorewood
outscored
Naselle 15-1 in the second
period for a 33-11 halftime
lead.
Donny Edwards scored
22 points for Naselle, while
Shorewood had three players
LQ GRXEOH ¿JXUHV OHG E\ --
Young’s 19 points.
It was the same J.J. Young
who competed for Seat-
tle Lutheran in football, and
rushed for 303 yards and
scored four touchdowns to
beat Naselle in a state playoff
game last fall.
The Daily Astorian
Their seventh game of the
post-season was not a lucky
one for the Ilwaco girls bas-
ketball team, whose season
came to an end Friday night
in Chehalis, where Toutle
Lake scored a 53-34 win in a
Regional 2B contest.
Ilwaco was 18-2 in the reg-
ular season, which included a
15-game win streak.
Ranked No. 2 in the state
at the 2B level, the Fishermen
went 4-3 in the playoffs, and
¿QLVKHGRQHJDPHVK\RIWKH
2B state tournament in Spo-
kane. Toutle Lake improves
to 23-2 overall.
The Ducks had 18 steals,
LQFOXGLQJ VL[ ¿UVWKDOI VWHDOV
by Britzy Hockett that led to
a 31-12 halftime lead.
Ilwaco rallied to within
35-24, but the Ducks pushed
the lead right back to 50-29.
Makenzie Kaech scored
a team-high 16 points for
Ilwaco, followed by Made-
line Jacobson with 10 points.
Sam Woodley scored 21 for
Toutle Lake.