Page 2B
SPORTS
East Oregonian
Saturday, March 7, 2015
HEPPNER
Boomers stall Mustangs
Toledo runs clock,
holds off Heppner
in fourth quarter
By MATT ENTRUP
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — The
Toledo Boomers completely
abandoned their offense in
the fourth quarter, but still
managed to pull away from
the Heppner Mustangs for
a 49-41 win in the 2A boys
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RQ)ULGD\QLJKWDW3HQGOHWRQ
Convention Center.
Holding a three-point
OHDG HQWHULQJ WKH ¿QDO VWDQ-
za, the Boomers attempted
RQO\RQH¿HOGJRDORYHUWKH
last eight minutes.
The attempt didn’t even
register in the statistics,
though, as Toledo’s David
Ammons was fouled going
to the rim
and con- BOYS HOOPS
verted one
of two free
throws to
Toledo
push the
lead to 38-
33
with
6:26
to
play.
) U R P
Heppner
there the
Boomers
didn’t even
think about
shooting, passing up open
lanes to the rim at every op-
portunity.
“If you’ve seen us
throughout the year we’re
UXQ DQG JXQ´ VDLG ¿UVW
year Toledo coach Eddie
Townsend. “We’re really a
FDUERQFRS\RI¿QDOVRSSR-
nent) Irrigon, but since the
summer I knew there was
going to be games where
(stalling) was a good tactic.
“If we have three-point
lead, and you can burn two
minutes then that’s like a
10-point or a 12-point lead,
so we’ve worked on it in
summer and during the sea-
son, and it’s something we
can go to. Some people
weren’t very happy with it,
they came to see something
more, but Irrigon wins by
60, we win by whatever,
we’re in the same game.”
Heppner didn’t force To-
ledo’s hand, and didn’t start
fouling until 4:22 remained
on the clock.
³$W ¿UVW , ZDV 2. ZLWK
it,” Heppner coach Jere-
P\ 5RVHQEDOP VDLG ³)RU
WKH ¿UVW FRXSOH PLQXWHV ,
wanted to let my guys take
a break, but we did what
we thought was best. We
didn’t want to foul any ear-
lier, obviously they shot free
throws extremely well down
the stretch. We didn’t want
to extend the game any lon-
ger than we did.”
Heppner started the
fourth quarter 0-for-5 from
WKH ¿HOG DQG GLGQ¶W DGG
points to their tally until
Logan Grieb sank a short
jumper at the 1:00 mark.
That brought the score to
43-35, and after two made bo-
nus shots by Toldeo’s Isaiah
Marchant, Jesse Corbin hit a
three-pointer with 48 seconds
left that made it 45-38.
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Irrigon’s Ryan Reynolds goes for a rebound contest-
ed by Regis’ Blake Minten in the Knights’ 74-43 win
against the Rams on Friday in Pendleton.
49
IRRIGON: Knights
take more pride in D
41
at 55 percent (72 of 131) in
2011, and Irrigon enters the
tended their lead to 44-23 by ¿QDOJDPHVKRRWLQJSHU-
halftime.
cent (48 of 86).
Reigning 2A Player of the
But Rice said it’s the 32.2
Year Adrian Romero scored percent they’re limiting op-
nine of his 12 points in the ponents to that really gets the
second quarter, but subs A.J. team going.
Timpy and Hayden White
“We’re not really focused
combined for seven points on how many points we
in the frame and Austin Rice score. We never really talk
nailed a three-pointer at about offense,” he said. “In
the buzzer that brought the the locker room it’s defense,
crowd to its feet headed into defense, defense.”
the break.
Blake Minten led Regis
Both sophomores, Rice with 12 points, but was limit-
didn’t even get into the ed to two after halftime.
TXDUWHU¿QDOVZLQDQG:KLWH
So far, the Knights
didn’t attempt a shot. They have easily been the most
combined to go 5-for-5 from ZHOOURXQGHG WHDP LQ WKH ¿-
WKH¿HOG)ULGD\DQGHDFK¿Q- nal bracket. And while they
ished with seven points.
may not be a perfect team,
“That was great because Regis coach Tony Miller said
it showed we have a lot LWZLOOWDNHQHDUÀDZOHVVSHU-
of depth,” Zach Rice said. formance to stop them.
“Sometimes we don’t always
“They’re just an amazing
have to use it, and sometimes team on both sides of the ball
I think people mistake that as and you’ve got to come and
they’re not able to play.”
play nearly a perfect game,”
Rice’s comments extend- he said. “In order to (beat
ed to junior Nate Verley as them) a team is going to have
well, who despite not taking to make a solid commitment
a shot put in 17 minutes of to defense. A team’s got to be
strong defense to help limit UHDG\WRVWRS¿YHSOD\HUVDQG
Regis to 32.6-percent shoot- LIDWHDPFDQ¿JXUHWKDWRXW
ing a day after the Rams had good for them but tonight we
connected at a 44.4-percent obviously we couldn’t. …
clip to edge Oakridge 80-78 They’re just a machine.”
in double overtime.
Irrigon faces the winner
“Those players work real- of No. 3 Heppner and No. 2
ly hard at practice very day,” Toledo in the championship
Thompson said. “They’re game at 8:30 p.m. today at
ready to go. It’s a long season Pendleton Convention Cen-
and you need everybody.
ter. Regis faces the loser in the
“We wouldn’t put them third-place game at 3:15 p.m.
out there with the wolves if
———
IRRIGON 74, REGIS 43
they didn’t have a little bit of
RHS (21-7) 10 13
9 11 — 43
wolf in them.”
IHS (26-1) 21 23 19 11 — 74
REGIS — Blake Minten 12, W. Keudell
After shooting 51.2 per- 8, B. Woodcock 6, B. Piete 4, S. Nieslanik
FHQW IURP WKH ¿HOG DJDLQVW 4, G. Brown 3, A. Guzman 2, J. Woodcock
A. Schmitt 1, P. Reynolds 1, T. Frith.
Burns, Irrigon is on pace to 2, 14-43
FG
IRRIGON
— Anthony Landeros 15, Z.
break the modern-era record Rice 14, A. Romero
12, F. Vera 9, A. Timpy
for shooting percentage in 8, A. Rice 7, H. White 7, R. Reynolds 2, N.
Verley, O. Romero. 26-43 FG
a tour with a similar perfor-
3-point field goals — RHS 5-15, IHS 11-
mance in the championship. 21. Free throws — RHS 10-14, IHS 11-15.
Fouls — RHS 13, IHS 15. Fouled out —
Central Linn set the record none. Technical fouls — none.
Continued from 1B
Staff photo by Kathy Aney
Heppner’s Patrick Collins (15) blocks Kyle Otis (44), of Toledo, during Friday’s
semiifinal OSAA 2A Boys State Championships game at the Pendleton Conven-
tion Center.
But that was as close as
Heppner would come, and
Marchant and Ammons
each converted free throws
to ice the win.
Toledo was 12 for 14
from the charity stripe in the
fourth quarter, and Marchant
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22 points while Ammons
added a double-double with
13 points, 12 rebounds.
“We did get some stops
in the fourth quarter but we
missed a lot of easy ones
(shots),” Rosenbalm said.
“We didn’t shoot the ball
well from the free-throw
line and we missed a lot of
easy ones down low that we
normally capitalize on.
“It was kind of disap-
pointing becuase I felt like
LWZDVDWRXU¿QJHUWLSVDQGLW
could have gone a little dif-
ferently. But the kids fought
and that’s all I can ask for.
We gave it everything we’ve
got, just give credit to Tole-
do, they made a few more
plays down the stretch than
we did.”
Heppner had pulled
within one point in the third
quarter thanks in part to an
energy infusion from guard
C.J. Kindle, who missed
PXFKRIWKH¿UVWKDOILQIRXO
trouble.
“At halftime I told him,
‘Once we get a defensive
stop we need to get out and
run,’ and we did that and got
ourselves right back in it,”
Rosenbalm said of Kindle,
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points, three assists. “Moose
is extremely athletic, he’s
quick and he does push the
ball well, and if we could
get out and run I thought it
would work well for us.”
Kindle got the Mustangs
moving and Patrick Collins
was often on the other end of
his passes as he scored nine
of his team-high 11 points in
the third quarter.
His inside bucket with
2:10 left in the third pulled
Heppner within 30-29, and
the teams traded buckets the
rest of the quarter to head
into the fourth at 36-33.
Heppner led 12-9 after
one quarter, but quick bas-
kets by Kyle Otis and Ryan
Otis gave the Boomers the
lead for good.
The win advances Toledo
into the state championship
for the second time in school
history, the last was in 1985
when they were runner-up.
There they’ll face de-
fending state champion Irri-
gon, which beat them 76-73
in double overtime on Jan.
3 — also on a neutral court
— and is making its third-
VWUDLJKW¿QDOVDSSHDUDQFH
“I have nothing but ut-
most respect for (Irrigon),”
Townsend said. “I think it’s
going to be a game people
are going to want to come
and see.”
Heppner will get the
chance to go out on a win as
well, and faces Regis at 3:15
p.m. in the third-place game.
It’s the farthest a Heppner
boys basketball team has
ever advanced in the state
tournament.
“I told them they have a
great opportunity to go out
there and bring that third place
trophy to Heppner,” Rosen-
balm said. “They’re disap-
pointed, but there’s no reason
for them to hang their head.
They need to be proud, they
just fought and battled with
a great basketball team, and
I told them when they leave
the locker room their mind
needs to be off that one and on
to what we need to do (Satur-
day) afternoon against Regis.”
———
TOLEDO 49, HEPPNER 41
HHS (19-6) 12 5 16
8 — 41
THS (24-4) 9 15 12 13 — 49
HEPPNER — Patrick Collins 11, C. Kindle
7, W. Putman 6, R. Cutsforth 6, L. Grieb
5, J. Corbin 3, C. Hedman 3, K. Murray.
17-43 FG
TOLEDO — Isaiah Marchant 22, D. Am-
mons 13, J. Cross 8, K. Otis 4, R. Otis 2, T.
Stam, C. Rodda, K. Rhymer. 15-37 FG
3-point field goals — HHS 5-18, THS
3-9. Free throws — HHS 2-8, THS 16-18.
Fouls — HHS 15, THS 7. Fouled out —
none. Technical fouls — none.
NIXYAAWII: Melton
goes off for Eagles
BUCKS: Pendleton hoping
to mix business with pleasure
Continued from 1B
Continued from 1B
7KH *ROGHQ (DJOHV VFRUHG WKH ¿UVW WKUHH
times down court, capping a 7-0 start with
D )UHG\ &DPSRV SRLQWHU $Q ,UD $VKOH\
old-fashioned three-point play helped push the
OHDGWRDQG1L[\DDZLLHQGHGWKH¿UVWSH-
riod with a strong lead.
The Golden Eagles offense just got better.
After holding a 28-15 halftime edge, Nixy-
DDZLLPDGHRIVHFRQGKDOI¿HOGJRDOVWR
put to bed any thought of a Horizon Christian
UDOO\7KHZLQPDUNVWKH¿IWKLQVL[JDPHVDW
Baker High School.
“It also feels like after playing districts there
the team is starting to get more comfortable in
that gym which is leading to better shooting as
tournament progresses,” Rivera said.
Junior Hunter Melton blew up the stat sheet.
+H¿QLVKHGZLWKSRLQWVVL[VWHDOV¿YHDV-
sists and four rebounds. Elijah Bevis and Ti-
\DSR)DUURZFKLSSHGLQZLWKDQGSRLQWV
respectively.
7LSIRU6DWXUGD\¶VVWDWH¿QDOEHWZHHQ1L[\-
aawii and Country Christian is set for 8:30 p.m.
———
NIXYAAWII 65, HORIZON CHRISTIAN 47
NIX
12 16 16 21 — 65
HC
6 9 13 19 — 47
NIXYAAWII — T. Farrow 11, I. Ashley 9, Hunter Melton 20, F.
Campos 8, E. Bevis 12, A. Cronoa 2, D. Kipp 0, H. McKay 3, L. Lewis
0, C. Case 0.
HORIZON CHRISTIAN — Jared Davis 14, W. Johnston 1, M.
Bloomster 13, R. Aldrich 3, N. Anderson 13, Z. Walker 0, L. Holste 0,
R. Hicks 3, J. Bryan 0.
3-point field goals — NIX 5, HC 4. Free throws — NIX 18-31,
HC 9-21. Fouls — NIX 20, HC 23. Fouled out — F. Campos 20, M.
Bloomster (HC)
ical team we’ve played,” Smith
said.
While the Spartans made Pers-
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Lasswell bombed in three after
three in the second half. His pe-
rimeter barrage earned Corvallis
a six-point lead midway through
the third quarter and forced the
Bucks to scrap the 2-3 zone and
move to man-to-man defense.
Corvallis led by two baskets
with 5:11 left, but Persiner scored
back-to-back buckets, including
an and-one putback of a prior
PLVVWRJLYH3+6LWV¿UVWOHDGLQ
over 12 minutes at 55-54 with
4:08 remaining.
/DVVZHOO GUDLQHG KLV ¿QDO WUL-
ple the next time down and then
Buckaroo defense dug in to close
out the visitor’s for the remainder.
“We just kept telling ourselves
‘we can’t lose, we’re not going to
lose’,” Persinger said.
Gaining entrance to the state’s
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where Broaddus thought the pro-
JUDPZRXOGEHLQKLV¿UVW\HDU
“I didn’t expect it to happen
this quick,” he said. “I expected
to come in and we’d be about
.500. It usually takes two or three
years to get going. The kids have
really gotten better.”
Persinger scored 15 points and
grabbed 10 rebounds. James Bradt
DGGHGSRLQWV4XLQQ¿OOHGWKH
stat sheet with eight points, six re-
bounds and six assists.
/DVVZHOO ¿QLVKHG ZLWK
points in the loss for the Spartans.
As the nine-seed in the brack-
et, the Bucks draw the tough task
of ousting top-seed Mountain
9LHZ LQ WKHLU ¿UVW JDPH DW *LOO
Coliseum. The Cougars have
EHHQWKHFODVVL¿FDWLRQ¶VWRSWHDP
for over two months.
“I told the kids we’re going to
have fun, we’re going to make
memories, but it’s a business
trip,” Broaddus said.
The Bucks and Mountain
View will play in Corvallis at
1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
———
PENDLETON 63, CORVALLIS 57
COR
11 13 22 11 — 57
PEN
14 14 16 19 — 63
CORVALLIS — JD Lasswell 20, B. Rodgers 3,
I. Kulonis 0, N. Humphreys 10, Z. Zalesky 2, Z.
Humphreys 8, J. Davis 4, K. Simmons 2, Q. Kile
4, J. Schmidt 7.
PENDLETON — S. Green 7, M. Freeman 0, Q.
Cockburn 5, K. Quinn 8, T. Hancock 0, W. Persing-
er 15, Caden Smith 17, J. Bradt 11, L. Winterton 0.
3-point field goals — COR 7, PEN 3. Free
throws — COR 4-8, PEN 18-22. Fouls — COR
19, PEN 12. Fouled out — Q. Kile (COR).
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Irrigon’s Fredy Vera drives on Regis’ Brendon Wood-
cock in the Knights’ 74-43 win against the Rams on
Friday in Pendleton.