12A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2016 CONTACT US FOLLOW US facebook.com/ DailyAstorianSports Gary Henley | Sports Reporter ghenley@dailyastorian.com SPORTS IN BRIEF Beavers hire Barnes as AD Associated Press CORVALLIS — Oregon State has lured Pittsburgh athletic direc- tor Scott Barnes west to take over the same job with the Beavers. The school named Barnes vice president and director of intercol- legiate athletics Thursday. Barnes, who will start his new job in Feb- ruary, replaces Todd Stansbury. Stansbury left in September to become athletic director at Geor- gia Tech, his alma mater. Barnes spent just over 18 months with the Panthers, who hired him in April 2015 after Steve Pederson was fired. Barnes came to the Panthers after work- ing in the same position at Utah State. During his tenure at Utah State, Barnes hired Gary Ander- sen as the Aggies’ football coach in 2009. Andersen is now the head coach at Oregon State. Barnes said in a statement he is leaving for Oregon State for “some very important personal family considerations.” Coach surprised by Sherman’s comments Associated Press RENTON, Wash. — Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said he was surprised by the combative comments of cornerback Richard Sherman earlier this week. Carroll spoke Thursday after Seattle wrapped up preparations for Saturday’s home finale against Arizona. Carroll said he believed Sher- man would have expressed remorse or apologized for his side- line outburst in last Thursday’s game against Los Angeles. Sher- man yelled at Carroll and offen- sive coordinator Darrell Bevell for the decision to have Russell Wil- son throw a pass from the 1-yard line that was nearly intercepted. During his weekly availabil- ity Tuesday, Sherman did not back down from his stance and offered no apologies. Sherman also threat- ened to “ruin” the career of a radio reporter as he left the room, a comment he later apologized for on Twitter. UP NEXT: SEAHAWKS • Arizona Cardinals (5-8-1) at Seattle Seahawks (9-4-1) • Saturday, 1:25 p.m. TV: FOX Seattle looks to strengthen hold on No. 2 seed Associated Press SEATTLE — In each of the previous seven meetings between Seattle and Arizona, there’s been meaning for both teams within the context of the division race or the NFC playoff picture. That streak ends Saturday when the Seahawks host the Cardinals. Seattle (9-4-1) has already wrapped up the NFC West title, guaranteeing at least one home playoff game. The significance for the Seahawks is trying to hold on to the No. 2 seed and a possible first-round bye in the postseason. And while the Seahawks are gearing up for a fifth straight post- season trip, the Cardinals (5-8-1) are just playing out the final two weeks after winning the division title and reaching the NFC cham- pionship game a season ago. SCOREBOARD GIRLS BASKETBALL Warrenton 59, Scappoose 45 SCP (45): Lea Brodala 14, Fisher 10, K.Kopra 10, Dost 4, S.Smith 4, Wills 3. WAR (59): Tyla Little 15, Dyer 12, K.Blodgett 12, Miethe 10, Bussert 5, Al- varez 3, Morrill 2. Scappoose 7 10 11 17—45 Warrenton 23 10 9 17—59 JV: Warrenton 41, Scappoose 31 Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian Warrenton’s Rachel Dyer shoots during the first half against Scappoose on Thursday in Warrenton. Warriors win first-ever meeting with Scappoose By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian W ARRENTON — The Lady War- riors hosted an opponent they had never played before Thursday night at Warrenton High School. And — other than giving up the first basket — the Warriors led from start to finish, scor- ing a 59-45 win over Scappoose in the first- ever girls basketball meeting between the two schools. “We had an open date when another team canceled, and playing Scappoose helps us and simulates some of the better teams we’ll see in our league,” said Warrenton coach Robert Hoepfl. “And it’s great any time you can beat a 4A team.” Meanwhile, the two programs headed in opposite directions were playing like it in the first half. Climbing the ladder of the Class 3A ranks, the Lady Warriors got off to a fast start, shot well (10-for-11 in the first quarter) and forced lots of turnovers in their fifth win of the sea- son, against three losses. Warrenton’s Fernanda Alvarez goes up for a shot against pressure from Scap- poose’s defense on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Class 4A Indians dropped to 0-5 overall, as they struggled from the field (17-for-53) and had 15 of their 24 turnovers in the first half. Warrenton had four players in double fig- ures, as Tyla Little scored 13 of her 15 in the second half, while Rachel Dyer scored 11 points off the bench in the first quarter and fin- ished with 12, all in the first half. Dyer had three 3-pointers in the first period, and the Warriors led 23-7 after one quarter. After that, the closest Scappoose could get was 11 points. “That was without a doubt our best first quarter of the year,” Hoepfl said. “Tyla and Rachel both had great quarters, and we shot extremely well.” Dyer did not have a field goal in the last three quarters, but “That’s just the nature of how they played us after that,” Hoepfl said. “Fortunately, we had some other players who stepped up and scored. Any time you can fin- ish with four players in double figures, you’re doing something right.” Warrenton took advantage of 24 Scap- poose fouls to finish 20-of-29 at the free throw line, while the Indians struggled at the line (10-for-23) and lost two starters to fouls. Katelynn Blodgett finished with 12 points, while Landree Miethe had multiple steals on defense, and scored 10 points. Solo talks about future, fight for equal pay By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press Hope Solo says she hopes that someday she can return to the U.S. women’s national team, but in the meantime she vows to keep fighting for equal pay for the players. The goalkeeper was handed a six- month suspension and her contract with U.S. Soccer was terminated fol- lowing the Rio Olympics, after she called Sweden’s team “cowards” for their defensive style of play against the Americans in the quarterfinals. “Let’s be honest, it’s not my deci- sion if I return to the national team,” she said. “I find it an honor and a priv- ilege to represent our country at the highest level in a sport that I love, in a position that I love. And I would do almost anything to play at that level once again. I say almost, because at this point in time I believe our fight for equality is much bigger than being on the national team again.” The 35-year-old Solo is not eligi- ble for reinstatement to the team until February. She said it’s up to the U.S. AP Photo/Craig Mitchelldyer Soccer Federation and coach Jill Ellis to allow her to return. Her comments come as the team’s players are negotiating a new collec- tive bargaining agreement with U.S. Soccer. The current contract expires on Dec. 31, but according to the USSF neither side has filed a 60-day notice of termination, meaning that talks could continue into the new year. Solo, a 17-year veteran of the team, is closely watching the negoti- ations, which have been ongoing this Seattle Reign FC goalkeep- er Hope Solo says she hopes that someday she can return to the U.S. wom- en’s national team, but in the meantime she vows to keep fighting for equal pay for the players. month. In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press on Thurs- day, she said she “hopes and prays” players don’t back down in their ongoing fight to earn equitable sala- ries to the male national team players. “I think many of the players are prepared to go all the way in,” she said. “When we’re supposed to have a new CBA by Jan. 1, now is the time you can be scared — you can be scared of going on strike, you can be scared of losing employment and a paycheck. And I think that I have been used as an example, and my fir- ing instilled a lot of fear in the play- ers. And I also know fear is what has held many movements back.” That’s why she’s speaking out now — because she can. “There’s no turning back for me,” she said. “I think with some of the player there are different intentions — because they want to play the game that they love. It’s easier for me to fight and put everything into it than it is for them.” Solo’s year has been nothing if not eventful. At the start, Solo and the national team were still basking in their vic- tory at the 2015 Women’s World Cup. Solo allowed only three goals in seven games with five shutouts during the tournament — earning her a second straight Golden Glove Award. But with the CBA due to expire, Solo and four of her teammates filed a complaint in late March with the U.S. Equal Employment Oppor- tunity Commission alleging wage discrimination.