KHS PREVIEWS
8A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016
Knappa Loggers are set for big year
By GARY HENLEY
The Daily Astorian
The “Super Sophs” from
last year are back as juniors, and
the Knappa Loggers have made
some additions that could make
them one of the top contenders
at the 2A level this winter.
And not just this season.
This group could be around
awhile.
“If some of these freshmen
develop, we could have a nice
little run in the next year or so,”
said Knappa coach Chris Spen-
cer, entering his fourth year.
“I’m excited to see where
this team can go. We did it all
on hard work and hustle last
year, and this year we can add
more skill and talent. Every-
body’s a year older, and we
didn’t lose any of that tough-
ness that we’re known for.
Hopefully we can make a run
and get back to where we need
to be.”
THE NWL
The lineup of teams in
Northwest League boys basket-
ball looks pretty imposing, on
any schedule:
Vernonia is the defending
state champion at the 2A level,
following their 57-49 win over
Regis in last year’s state title
game.
The Loggers lost their high
scorer from that game (Robert
Connor), along with three other
KNAPPA BOYS
BASKETBALL
Coach: Chris Spencer, 4th
year
2015-16: 17-11 (10-6 NWL)
Playoffs: Lost state playoff at
Western Mennonite, 53-57
All-League Losses: Dakota
Severson
All-League Returners:
Jason Miller, Sr.; Dale
Takalo, Jr.
THE LOGGERS
Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian
Jason Miller drives to the basket during practice at Knappa High School.
seniors, but they also return
some key components from a
team that finished 28-1 over-
all last year, and won the NWL
with a 16-0 record.
The league welcomes
Columbia Christian from the
Class 1A ranks — the Knights
lost one starter off a team that
made it to the 1A state champi-
onship game a year ago (lost to
Sherman, 53-45).
Life Christian finished
third in the NWL standings last
year at 11-5 (one game ahead of
Knappa), but the Lions’ season
came to an end in the league
playoffs with a loss to Knappa.
“I’d say it’s probably the
toughest league in the state,”
said Spencer, whose team made
the state playoffs, and only lost
one starter. “We have poten-
tially four state-qualifying
teams, and we only have three
guaranteed spots.
“Vernonia is bringing back
(6-foot-3 junior) Clay Sullivan
and the rest of the characters
who won a state title last year.
They have a lot of talent and
experience, and they proved
that they can win games.
“Columbia Christian has
moved into our league, and
they’re returning a team intact
that lost in the finals at the 1A
level. They’re big. Life Chris-
tian returns the Quinlan broth-
ers (Bo and Zeke), two of the
most talented players in the
league.”
First place may be on the
line Feb. 9, when Life Christian
visits Knappa.
“We have one senior who
played last year, so we basi-
cally have the same returning
group,” Spencer said. “With
nine freshmen, our numbers
have increased dramatically (27
total). We’re picking up right
where we left off.”
Leading the way — the
same two who will lead the
way next year as well — are
juniors Dale Takalo and Colton
Weirup.
“We’ll be looking for Dale
and Colton to score,” Spencer
said. “Dale (a 6-foot-3, do-ev-
erything player) is a two-year
starter who was probably as
good as anybody in the state his
sophomore year; and Colton
has played a lot of minutes.”
In addition, senior Jason
Miller “is much-improved,” he
said. “He can do everything.
We’ll need for him to play
defense and be our lockdown
defender.”
Seniors Michal Goodman,
Ethan Rubus and Mitch Geisler
“will be the guys banging down
low,” Spencer said. “They’re
extremely hard workers, team
leaders, and set the tone for our
toughness. We wouldn’t be a
complete team without those
guys.”
Timber Engblom is back for
his sophomore season, and the
Loggers gained a transfer stu-
dent, junior Kaleb Miller from
Pleasant Hill.
He was injured on the last
play of the season in football,
but will not miss much action.
The former Billie will definitely
play a key role in basketball.
“The best thing is that we’re
a year older, bigger, stron-
ger and taller,” Spencer said.
“We don’t look like a bunch
of young kids running around.
We look like a varsity basket-
ball team.”
Juniors Braedon Eltagonde
and Reece Hunt also provide
depth.
“Braedon can play multiple
positions,” Spencer said. “And
Timber is good at getting to the
basket, and will be an improved
defender. He could potentially
have a breakout year.”
The list of talent “is a great
problem to have,” he said.
“Our practices have been very
spirited and intense. It’s been
fun.”
Lady Loggers are hoping for better start
By GARY HENLEY
The Daily Astorian
Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian
Knappa Loggers’ Andrew Goozee, right, practices with
teammate David Patterson at Knappa High School.
State wrestling qualifiers
return for Knappa squad
By GARY HENLEY
The Daily Astorian
With three returning state
qualifiers from a year ago,
the expectations are high in
the Knappa wrestling room,
as the Loggers prepare for a
new season.
Last year, Knappa’s five
state qualifying wrestlers
were a combined 1-10 at
state, with the lone victory
coming from freshman Luke
Goozee at 113 pounds.
Scoring at state is easier
said than done, but Knappa
coach Dan Owings has a
good mix returning.
“We have three of last
year’s state competitors back
— Andrew Goozee, David
Patterson and Luke Goozee.”
Junior Reuben Cruz is still
out from a football injury suf-
fered over the summer, “and
probably won’t compete this
season,” Owings said.
Still, the Loggers will be
plenty competitive.
“Dawson
Whiteside,
Spencer Fulton and Nathan
Hoikka are all looking good,”
Owings said. “We have two
girls on the team — Miranda
Godwin and Kaitlyn Truax.
Truax is a name that you will
recognize (her brother Nate
was a state placer), so I hope
that will be a bright spot.
“Micah Sapp is brand new
THE LOGGERS
Spencer Fulton, Jr.
Miranda Godwin, Sr.
Andrew Goozee, Sr.
Luke Goozee, So.
Nathan Hoikka, So.
Justin Mayes, So.
David Patterson, Jr.
Justin Perdew, Sr.
Robert Pina, Fr.
Kaleb Roe, Fr.
Micah Sapp, Fr.
Kaitlyn Truax, Jr.
Dawson Whiteside, Sr.
but is learning. Kaleb Roe
comes from the Roe family
(Chase Roe was a multiple
state-placer a few years ago).
“I think we will do OK
in tournaments,” he added.
“We don’t have all 14 weight
classes covered, so we prob-
ably won’t do well in team
duels. But we don’t wrestle
many duels — mainly at the
Oregon Classic in Redmond.
We have a new team com-
ing into our Special District 1
this year (Toledo). They had
a team a few years back.”
The rest of the district
lineup includes Monroe,
Neah-Kah-Nie, Nestucca,
Siletz Valley, Triangle Lake,
Vernonia and Waldport.
Knappa hosts its annual
“Mix-N-Match”
meet
Wednesday, with the action
starting at 5 p.m.
GO
!
S
R
E
G
G
L O
(503) 458- 6886
42 92 9 O ld Hw y 30 • Asto ria
A 1-14 start to the 2015-16
season was a lot to overcome
for the Knappa girls basket-
ball team, which finished 6-19
overall last year.
The Loggers made the most
of the league playoffs, going
1-1, but the ultimate goal for
a 2A team is usually a trip to
Pendleton. The third year just
might be the charm for Knappa
coach Marie Green.
“So far it’s shaping up
pretty well,” said Green, the
second week of practice. “I’m
pretty confident in the group
that we’ve put together. The
atmosphere just seems a lot
different this year.”
THE NWL
Northwest League girls
basketball was not exactly a
powerhouse last season. No
team made it to Pendleton,
with Vernonia, Faith Bible and
Neah-Kah-Nie all losing in the
Sweet 16 round.
“City Christian will be
tough — they return their
whole varsity squad, and they
were really good last year,”
Green said. “Gaston is going
to be improved because they
didn’t have any seniors, either.
“Neah-Kah-Nie will be a
little down — they lost Alaina
(Holm, the league’s Player of
the Year), but they still have
Caitlyn Scull, who’s such a
tremendous player, with a
great shot.”
Columbia Christian enters
the Northwest League (up
from Class 1A), and brings
6-3 senior Samantha Howard;
while Life Christian (which
beat Knappa in league play
last season) will not have a
varsity team this year.
“I’m pretty confident that
we should be able to do fairly
well,” Green said.
THE LADY LOGGERS
Knappa lost just one senior
(Bailey Corder), along with
5-foot-10 post Kaitlyn Truax,
who will be wrestling.
Still, a solid group returns,
Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian
Devin Vandergriff, a Knappa senior, looks for her next move during practice at Knappa
High School. Third year just may be the charm for Knappa coach Marie Green.
Logger Tip-Off Classic
The Daily Astorian
The 2016 “Knappa Tip-
Off” will officially open the
winter sports season, with
a full slate of games Fri-
day and Saturday at Knappa
High School.
The Loggers will serve
as the host team, with visi-
tors including Astoria, Clats-
kanie, Ilwaco and Toledo.
Friday’s Schedule
(Times are approximate)
4
p.m.:
Clatskanie
vs
Astoria (Girls)
including seniors Kaitlyn
Landwehr and Devin Vander-
griff, and juniors Mack Strain
and Paris Vanderburg.
Juniors Ressa Inman and
Emma Taggert have also seen
varsity action, as have soph-
omores Laicee Hendrickson
and Kourtney Tischer.
Three freshmen who may
end up playing varsity minutes
include Sophia Carlson, Aiko
Miller and Madeline Weaver.
Go Loggers!
5:30: Clatskanie vs Astoria
(Boys)
7:00: Toledo vs Knappa (Girls)
8:30: Toledo vs Knappa (Boys)
Saturday’s Schedule
10 a.m.: Ilwaco vs Knappa
(Girls JV)
11:30: Astoria vs Knappa (Boys
JV2)
1 p.m.: Clatskanie vs Knappa
(Boys JV)
Varsity Games
2:30: Clatskanie vs Toledo
(Boys)
4:00: Clatskanie vs Toledo
(Girls)
5:30: Astoria vs Knappa (Girls)
7:00: Astoria vs Knappa (Boys)
“All the freshmen are so
quick that they’re pushing the
returners,” Green said. “It’s
nice to see that hunger in the
younger girls coming in.”
The tallest player is
Landwehr, at 5-10.
“We’ll be a shorter team,
but we’re quick, and I have
a lot of girls that can inter-
change,” Green said. “We’ll
start Kaitlyn at post, after
being a point guard the last
KNAPPA GIRLS
BASKETBALL
Coach: Marie Green, 3rd
year
2015-16: 6-19 (5-9 NWL)
Playoffs: Defeated Gaston,
lost at City Christian in
league playoffs.
All-League Returners:
Kaitlyn Landwehr, Sr.; Paris
Vanderburg, Jr.
three years. I don’t want to
have her exert so much pres-
sure just from bringing the ball
up.
“I feel confident with
Devin and Paris, and also Aiko
or Madeline helping us clear
the press.”
The Loggers also hope to
have more luck with players
staying healthy this season.
“Who in basketball has
four people on the same team
out with a concussion? That’s
what really crippled us last
year,” said Green, who has
added former Knappa Logger
Tracie (Nygaard) Brockey to
the coaching staff.
Good
Luck
Loggers
We Deliver!
Knappa Offi ce
(503) 458-6671
42894 Old Hwy. 30
Knappa, OR 97103
Rainier Offi ce
(503) 556-0410
29191 Dike Road
Rainier, OR 97048
www.teevinbros.com • CCB #133907
3693 LIEF
ERIKSON DR.
ASTORIA
(JUST EAST OF SAFEWAY)
503.325.4927
HOURS: SUN-THUR 11AM-10PM;
FRI-SAT 11AM-11PM