10A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2017
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Gary Henley | Sports Reporter
ghenley@dailyastorian.com
Athletes of the Week
FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 2-7
DALE
TAKALO
Knappa
ALEXIS
WALLACE
Astoria
Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian
the Knappa Loggers continue their climb toward another league title
A In a s and three-games-in-four-days
a No. 1 ranking, Dale Takalo is on a tear.
stretch, the 6-foot-3 junior scored 80 points
storia’s Alexis Wallace was a bright spot in a rough week for the Lady
A
Fishermen, as the senior scored a combined 42 points in losses to Union
(Wash.) and Corbett.
(26.7 per game), highlighted by a 29-point performance (15 in the fi rst quar-
ter) in a 61-53 win at defending state champion Vernonia Jan. 4.
He began the week with 27 points (24 in the fi rst half) in a 69-36 victory over
Neah-Kah-Nie Jan. 3, and capped the week with 24 points, nine rebounds and
three steals in a 75-30 thrashing over Faith Bible Jan. 6.
Given their recent lop sided wins, Takalo rarely even plays in the fourth quar-
ter. He began this week with 24 points, six rebounds and three assists in a
72-24 win over City Christian.
She led all scorers with 19 points in the overtime loss to Union, in which Wal-
lace sparked a rally that sent the game to overtime; and she followed with 23
points in a 68-58 setback at Corbett Jan. 6.
The 5-foot-8 post player is one of four seniors on the Astoria roster.
SPORTS
IN BRIEF
Want to be a
soccer referee?
The Daily Astorian
The Oregon Youth Soccer
Association is hosting a referee
class 9 a.m. to 6 p.m Saturday at
Clatsop Community College and
Columbia Memorial Field.
The course is presented by
the Oregon Referee Committee,
in cooperation with the Lower
Columbia Youth Soccer Associa-
tion. The Grade 8 Referee Class is
an introductory course for aspiring
referees, ages 13 and older.
Grade 8 referees are eligible to
offi ciate a variety of recreational
and competitive matches.
There is three to four hours of
work required for attendees before
the class starts, while the LCYSA
and North Coast United will part-
ner to cover the $40 class fee for
the fi rst 15 attendees, so the actual
cost to the attendees will be a $45
U.S. Soccer Federation registra-
tion fee.
The class will be in Towler
Hall on the college campus, 1651
Lexington Ave.
Field training (included with
the class) will be at CMH Field. In
addition to bringing a sack lunch,
participants should dress appro-
priately for physical activity out-
doors and bring a whistle, fl ags (if
you have them), and anything else
the instructor requires. Students
must arrange their own transpor-
tation from the fi eld to the class-
room location.
Class size will be limited to 25
students, so early registration is
recommended. For more informa-
tion, contact the Oregon Referee
Committee offi cer manager at:
coordinator@oregonreferee.com.
SCOREBOARD
PREP SCHEDULE
TODAY
Swimming — Seaside at Astoria, 4
p.m.
Wrestling — Knappa at Oregon Clas-
sic, Redmond, TBA
GIRLS BASKETBALL
(from Tuesday)
Astoria 66, Estacada 45
EST (45): Karlye Nakashimada 13,
Hunter 12, Blankenship 8, Hagel 8, Pe-
terson 2, New 2, Canifax 2.
AST (66): Sam Hemsley 15, Wallace
14, O’Brien 13, Cummings 7, DeMander
5, Rogers 4, Hankwitz 4, Norris 4, Bur-
nett, Dalton, Gimre, Nash.
Estacada
17 14 6
10
Astoria
5 24 16
21
Son of Long Beach resident signs
contract with New Orleans Saints
Bighill: Former Central Washington LB, played in Canada
By NICK NIKKILA
For EO Media Group
L
ONG BEACH, Wash. — Adam Bighill, son
of Long Beach resident Andy Bighill, has just
signed a three-year futures contract to play
football for the New Orleans Saints. For the past six
seasons, Bighill has played in the Canadian Football
League for the BC Lions.
At age 28, it was getting close to “now or never”
time for Bighill if he was to realize his dream of play-
ing in the National Football League. Through con-
tract negotiations, Bighill was
allowed a window to sign
with an NFL team. Bighill
signed with the Saints on Jan.
4. His futures contract is basi-
cally identical to a standard
NFL active-roster contract,
with the same salary structure
and signing bonus. It takes
effect in March.
The late John Didion, a
Naselle resident and Pacifi c
County sheriff, played for the
Saints and the Washington
Redskins from 1969 to 1974.
outworks Adam when it comes to studying the game
and improving his skills. I’m proud of the man he’s
become.”
From Bulldog to Saint
Bighill, a 2007 graduate from Montesano High
School, was a standout as a member of the Montesano
Bulldogs football team. Playing fullback on offense
and outside linebacker on defense he had 719 carries
for 5,942 yards and 91 touchdowns in career rushing
and 13 catches for 303 yards and fi ve touchdowns in
career receiving.
Bighill’s talents on the
gridiron made him a four-
year starter as a linebacker
at Central Washington Uni-
versity and a 2010 Ameri-
can Football Coaches Asso-
ciation Division II fi rst-team
All-American.
In May 2011, Bighill was
selected to join the BC Lions
after a successful free-agent
tryout in Portland, Oregon.
Being selected and actually
making the team are not nec-
essarily the same thing. Dis-
playing the work ethic and
Local connections
athletic ability that has char-
Bighill and his wife, Kris-
acterized his career, Bighill
tina, have a 1 1/2-year-old
survived both training camp
son, AJ, and a daughter due
cuts and went on to have an
Facebook
to be born in May. Kristina
impressive rookie season. He
Adam Bighill, son of Long Beach, Wash.,
Bighill is a former collegiate
played in 12 games, includ-
resident Andy Bighill, has played in the
golfer at Eastern Washington
ing the fi nal seven regular
Canadian Football League for the last
University and Oregon State
season games, and the West
six years. This month he was offered a
University. The Bighill family
Final and Grey Cup (Cana-
contract from the New Orleans Saints.
currently lives in Surrey, Brit-
dian version of the Super-
ish Columbia.
bowl) games. He led the club,
Adam’s mother, the late Janine (Peterson) Bighill
and was ranked fourth overall in the CFL, with 22 spe-
always encouraged her son to strive for success. Her
cial team tackles. The Lions won the 2011 Grey Cup.
death in 2004 had a signifi cant impact on how Bighill
Amazing stats
lives life.
In 2012, Bighill assumed the starting position as
In 2009, Bighill noted, “She always wanted me
middle linebacker for the Lions and has never looked
to achieve my best, I wouldn’t be doing right by her
back since. In 2013, he and teammate Solomon Elim-
without trying to be the best I can be. I always have
imian bonded both on and off the fi eld and, together,
that in the back of my mind. I try not to ever waste a
formed one of the best defensive backfi elds in the
day.”
CFL. With Elimimian’s jersey number being 56 and
Bighill’s maternal grandparents, Fred and Mari-
Bighill’s being 44, they were known to fans as “Team
lyn Peterson, owned and operated Dave’s Shell Bait
100.” They made history by becoming the fi rst team-
& Tackle and the Fort Canby Store in Ilwaco for over
mates to record 100-plus defensive tackles each in the
20 years.
same CFL season.
Longtime Naselle residents may recall Adam’s
During his six years with the BC Lions, Bighill, or
father Andy Bighill, a 1969 graduate from Naselle-
“Biggie” as he is called by his coaches and teammates,
Gray River Valley High School, was a starting tackle
played in 99 games, amassing an impressive record
when the 1968 Comets team went undefeated for the
of 509 defensive tackles, 67 special team tackles, 33
season and won the state championship.
sacks, eight interceptions, eight forced fumbles and a
“At 5 feet 10 inches, Adam has always played with
defensive touchdown. His total of 576 tackles makes
a chip on his shoulder because he was told early on he
him the third most prolifi c tackler in the club’s his-
could get this scholarship or that scholarship if only
tory. In 2015 he was selected as the Most Outstanding
he was two inches taller,” the senior Bighill said of his
Defensive Player. In 2016, Bighill made the CFL all-
230-pound son. “That chip has helped him succeed at
star team for the fourth time and the West Division all-
both the college and professional level. He has a fan-
star side for the fi fth straight campaign.
tastic work ethic and lives in the weight room. No one
McCollum,
Blazers plow
past Cavs
Associated Press
PORTLAND — That 24-hour
travel odyssey hardly took a toll
on the Portland Trail Blazers.
C.J. McCollum scored 27 points
and the Trail Blazers shook off any
fatigue caused by weather-related
delays to beat the defending NBA
champion Cleveland Cavaliers
102-86 on Wednesday.
Allen Crabbe added 24 points
off the bench for the Blazers,
who have won four straight home
games against the Cavs.
Portland, playing the second
of back-to-back games, led by as
many as 24. A major snowstorm
in the city Tuesday night sent the
team from Los Angeles to Seattle
and then fi nally to Portland.
“When we got up this morn-
ing and we were leaving Seat-
tle, and we got on the plane and
then the bus, there was just good
energy around the team,” star
guard Damian Lillard said. “We
were laughing and we were jok-
ing and I think we were just tired
so we were goofy and whatever.
But before the game we huddled
up and I said, ‘We’re not tired. It’s
just mental, and this is a game that
we’ve got to go out and get.”’
LeBron James had 20 points and
11 rebounds, while Oregon native
Kevin Love had 17 points and 8
rebounds for Cleveland (28-10).
McCollum, who scored 21 in
the second half, hit a 3-pointer that
put Portland up 85-69 with just
under nine minutes left, then ges-
tured for the crowd to stand as the
Cavaliers called a timeout. McCo-
llum has had seven straight games
with 25 points or more.
A snowstorm that dumped
as much as 14 inches on parts of
Portland caused travel problems
for both teams late Tuesday.
The Trail Blazers beat the Lak-
ers in Los Angeles 108-87 Tues-
day night. The team’s fl ight was
sent to Seattle, they spent the night
there, and then fl ew into Portland
by midday Wednesday. Players
stayed in a downtown hotel to rest
until game time.
The Cavaliers, who lost to the
Utah Jazz on Tuesday, eventually
arrived about 3 a.m. Wednesday.
UP NEXT: BLAZERS
• Orlando Magic (16-24) at
Portland Trail Blazers (18-23)
• Friday, 7 p.m. TV: KGW, FSFL