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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 14, 2015)
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 Sports shorts NASCAR driver says ex is assassin DOVER, Del. (AP) — The NASCAR driver known Tuesday he believes his ex-girlfriend is a trained assassin dispatched on covert missions around the world who once FACES returned to him in a blood- splattered gown. “Everybody on the outside can tell me I’m crazy, but Driscoll I lived on the Kurt Busch said when his attorney, Rusty Hardin, questioned why he still believed Patricia Driscoll is a hired killer. Busch, appearing in court again over Driscoll’s request for a no-contact order, continued the push of his legal team to discredit his ex as a scorned woman out to destroy his career, portraying her as a character Busch said Driscoll repeatedly asserted her assassin status and claimed the work took her on missions across Central and South America and Africa. He recounted one time when the couple was in El Paso, Texas. He said Driscoll left return later wearing a trench coat over an evening gown covered with blood. Charges dismissed against Hope Solo KIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) — A judge near Seattle on Tuesday dismissed domestic violence assault charges against soccer superstar Hope Solo, a week before the case was set for trial. Solo, a FACES goalkeeper for the U.S. women’s national soccer team and the Seattle Reign professional club, had Solo been charged with two misdemeanor counts of fourth-degree assault stemming from an altercation with her half-sister and 17-year-old nephew at a party in June. Kirkland Municipal Court Judge Michael Lambo dismissed the charges on Tuesday. “I always had faith that once the facts of the case were presented, I would be cleared of all charges and I am so happy and relieved me,” Solo said in a statement Tuesday. “I think we have the right kind of guys on our staff, the right kind of guys on our team and we’re excited about the opportunities and the challenges ahead.“ — Jason Garrett Dallas Cowboys head coach after agreeing to a new fi ve-year contract with the team on Tuesday. The Cowboys also signed defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli to a new three-year deal. THIS DATE IN SPORTS 1973 — The Miami Dol- phins, who went 14-0 in the regular season and won two playoff games, beat the Washington Redskins 14-7 in the Super Bowl. Contact us at 541-966-0838 or sports@eastoregonian.com SPORTS 1B FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS HERMISTON Hermiston girls fall to undefeated Sunnyside By ERIK SKOPIL East Oregonian The Hermiston Bulldog girls basketball team’s 11-game win streak seemed ripe for further ex- tension through three quarters Tues- day — on the way they would be collecting a signature win over un- defeated Sunnyside (WA). However, the Grizzlies’ pressure defense played a cumulative ef- quarter’s opening minutes, forcing the Bulldogs into uncharacteris- tic turnovers on possessions. The takeaways helped the Grizzlies erase Preps Bucks hold off Tigers East Oregonian Sunnyside 55 LA GRANDE — The Pendleton boys basketball team held off a long-distance barrage from the La Grande Tigers to BOYS HOOPS earn a 62- 58 non- league win on Tuesday. Pendleton The Ti- gers (10-4) connect- ed on four of their 11 three-point- La Grande ers in the fourth quar- ter, cutting a double-dig- it Buckaroo lead to one bas- ket before Pendleton (8-4) was able to stop the rally. “We knew they could shoot the three, but we didn’t know they were that good,” Pendleton coach Brian Broaddus said of La Grande. “They would kind of triple drive and kick it out, and they three or four kids that were good.” Brandon Dall and Jake Powell each scored a game- high 18 points for the Tigers, but Pendleton — which made just three long balls — was able to take a 31-24 lead into halftime thanks to a physical advantage. Pendleton trailed 14-8 af- 62 Hermiston 49 58 cit and eventually earned them a 55-49 victory over Hermiston to stay perfect on the season. “I can live with losing to a team that’s 12-0,” Hermiston coach Steve Hoffert said of the loss to the Grizzlies. “It was the fourth quar- ter that leaves a sour taste in your mouth knowing that you probably shouldn’t have lost except for your fourth quarter.” lost control of the ball during the play. “They got in our heads,” said junior guard Sara Ramirez, whose turnover led to the Grizzlies’ go- ahead points. “Their pressure it got in our heads. That’s what effected us and made us turn the ball over. “It’s really frustrating that we were leading and they came back Photo by E.J. Harris Hermiston’s Abi Drotzman reaches for a loose ball contested by Sunnyside’s Liddy Valle in the Bulldogs’ 55-49 loss to the Grizzlies on Tuesday in Hermiston. in the fourth quarter and wanted it more than we did.” Hermiston controlled the action for all of the third quarter, and built a 41-36 lead on a Macey Foley put- back basket with 49 seconds left in the period and held a 43-39 at the period’s conclusion. Ball control aided the third quar- ter effort. Hermiston turned it over just three times during the period. But, seven costly turnovers did them in during the fourth. “We rested on about half a dozen possessions that we shouldn’t have See BULLDOGS/2B HERMISTON Hermiston’s Austin Naillon lays the ball in guarded by Sunnyside’s Trey Sanchez in the Bull- dogs’ 47-45 loss to the Grizzlies on Tuesday in Hermiston. Dawgs stumble at end Sunnyside holds on for first win of season By SAM BARBEE EO Media Group Sunnyside was winless and hungry. The Grizzlies hadn’t lost a game by fewer than nine points all season but were rewarded for their patience, downing the Hermiston Bulldogs 47-45 Tuesday night in a tight and stressful affair at the Dawg- house. Sunnyside (Wash.) freshman Trey San- chez stole the show, leading all scorers with Sunnyside See PREPS/2B 18 points and made a key free throw with 2.3 sec- onds left to help the Griz- 47 win of the season. For the Bulldogs, Dillon Zimmer- ly scored 12 points on his 18th birthday, and Austin Naillon chipped in with Hermiston nine. Hermiston had a chance to win with eight seconds left in the game, but a costly turnover doomed the Bulldogs before a game-winning shot could be taken. Hermiston head coach Jake McElligott See DAWGS/2B Photo by E.J. Harris 45 College Football Mariota’s future remains up in air By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated press DALLAS — Oregon’s season game to quarterback Marcus Mari- ota. Just because his team ultimately came up short against Ohio State in the national championship, it doesn’t diminish what the Ducks accomplished together as a team, he said. When history judges the 2014 Oregon Ducks, however, it will likely be remembered as the year of Marcus Mariota. The junior quarterback was the face of the 13-2 team that defeat- ed Florida State in the Rose Bowl but then fell 42-20 to the Buckeyes. Ohio State ended the season ranked No. 1, Oregon was No. 2. “Being the champions from the Pac-12, being Rose Bowl champi- ons, that says a lot about what we AP Photo/David J. Phillip Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich talks to Marcus Mariota (8) be- fore the NCAA college football playoff championship game against Ohio State Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, in Arlington, Texas. were able to do this year,” Mariota said. “Proud of the guys. We fought through a lot of stuff and just ended up short, but it shouldn’t take away from what we were able to do this year.” Mariota won every major award Heisman Trophy, as well as AP Player of the Year and Pac-12 Of- fensive Player of the Year. He set a conference record for most touchdowns in a single season with 58; 42 via pass, 15 on the run and a touchdown catch. He set the conference mark for career touch- downs with 134. He threw at least one touchdown pass in all 41 college games he start- ed in his career, the second-longest streak in NCAA history behind Marshall’s Rakeem Cato (46). And he’s one of just four quarterbacks in FBS history to pass for more than 10,000 yards and run for more than 2,000 in his career. By Thursday, he’ll have to de- cide if he’s going to forgo his se- nior year and declare his eligibility for the NFL draft. He left the door slightly open for a return to Eugene following the loss to the Buckeyes. “There’s starting grad school, coming back for another year to im- prove, there’s a lot of other things that could bring me back,” he said. But many expect that this was the humble team leader’s last sea- son as a Duck. “I love this guy, and will forev- er,” coach Mark Helfrich said. “Ab- solutely couldn’t be luckier to coach him and be around him every day.” Then the question becomes: Who will replace him?” He backup this season and heir apparent for the job — at least for See DUCKS/2B
