Page 2B
SPORTS
East Oregonian
Saturday, October 31, 2015
HERMISTON
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Hermiston senior
to join Frontier
Conference power
survival, but it was clear to
Hoffert she had the talent
DQGVPDUWVWRSOD\DWWKHQH[W
level.
“The smarts is the big
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he said. “She sees the game
By SAM BARBEE
like I do at times. She sees
East Oregonian
the game the way you want
After Jansen Edmiston’s and recognizes things. She’s
freshman year, one in which starting to take initiative in
she was thrust into the KHUVHOIDQGGLUHFWWUDI¿F´
Edmiston said Hoffert’s
starting point guard role after
never playing a minute at the guidance has been the key to
high school level, Hermiston her current opportunities.
“If I didn’t have Hoffert,
head coach Steve Hoffert
knew she could be a good I wouldn’t have been pushed
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college player.
As she enters her senior she said, “and that helped
season this winter, Hoffert me realize, ‘Oh, you need to
now thinks she can be a great start doing more drills.’ But
college player, and will have also he helped my love for
a chance to do so at Lewis- basketball because he makes
Clark State University in practices fun and more
Lewiston, Idaho after signing HQMR\DEOH´
Lewis-Clark State, known
her national letter of intent
on Wednesday afternoon. as L-C State or simply L-C,
Edmiston plans to study competes in the Frontier
either mathematics or “some- League of the National Asso-
ciation of Intercollegiate
WKLQJLQWKHKHDOWK¿HOG´
6KH VDLG KHU ¿UVW KLJK Athletics (NAIA) and is one
school season was a trial by of the better programs. The
Warriors will start this season
¿UH
“How I did it (was), ranked 19th in the preseason
‘Either
you’re
gonna coaches’ poll. Last season,
survive it, or you’re gonna /& ¿QLVKHG DQG ORVW
GLH¶´ (GPLVWRQ VDLG RI WKDW LQ WKH TXDUWHU¿QDOV RI
freshman year. “So you can the Frontier League Tourna-
do whatever you had to do to ment to No. 23 Great Falls,
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then played eventual national
She may have seen it as champ Oklahoma City in
Prep Cross Country
Cardenas wearing
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Locals compete in Eugene Saturday
East Oregonian
Umatilla senior Fabian Cardenas will be running
with a big target on his back at the OSAA 3A/2A/1A
cross country state championship meet today in Eugene.
Not only is the standout Viking the defending state
champion, he’s also run the fastest 5,000 meters of any
runner entered in Saturday’s race
this season.
Cardenas set a new personal
record back in September at
the highly competitive Nike
Portland XC meet with a time of
15 minutes, 31 seconds.
He hasn’t neared that mark
since, but only because he hasn’t
been pushed to.
Cardenas won last year’s
state title with a time of 16:02 Cardenas
on the same Lane Community
College course he’ll run Saturday, and won his district
title in a time of 16:00.42.
But even though only one other runner has cracked
16 minutes this season, Cardenas will still have to be on
WRSRIKLVJDPHWRKROGRIIDWDOHQWHG¿HOGRIFKDOOHQJHUV
Jefferson sophomore Hassan Ibrahim crashed into
the sub-16 ranks at his district meet with a winning
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the Sep. 12 Ultimook Race.
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running a 16:02 for David Douglas.
Another small school runner looking to track down
Cardenas is his good friend Hayden Scott, who also
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he went with the 5A Hermiston Bulldogs in 2013.
Scott was second to Cardenas at districts and was
within a few paces until Cardenas pulled away in the
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Scott’s 16:24.7 at districts ranks seventh in the state
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the meet are Kennedy senior Adrian Parra (16:08.2),
East Linn Christian junior Josh Miner (16:20.2) and
Central Linn senior David Glenn (16:20.8).
&DUGHQDVDQG6FRWWZLOOMXVWEHWKH¿UVWORFDOVWR
compete at LCC on Saturday, though, since their race
begins at 10:35 a.m.
Following them at 11:15 will be the 4A girls and
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placing second at their district meet last weekend.
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making her second run at state after placing 57th as a
junior. Her best time this season is 21:52.1, which is
good for just 82nd on the best marks list for 4A.
Following a break in action, the 5A girls will then
take the course at 1:15 p.m.
Pendleton’s Delaney Clem will be making her
fourth starting line at Eugene in that race after she
won her district title last weekend. Her quickest time
this season is 19:31.1, which is 16th on the 5A list.
Summit junior Olivia Brooks holds the top time
(17:45.2) and Silverton senior Maddie Fuhrman is
second (18:05.2).
Also in that race will be Hermiston sophomores
Melany Solorio and Morgan Hancock. Solorio ran
her best time of the season two weeks ago in 20:31.3
at the Kyle Burnside Wildhorse Invite, which ranks
her 55th in 5A. Hancock hasn’t been able to top her
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VWDWH¿HOGUDQNHGWK
The last race for locals is the 5A boys at 1:50.
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UHWXUQ ZLWK ¿YH RI WKHLU WRS VL[ IURP WKDW WHDP ²
Hayden Earl, Josiah Niederwerfer, Angel Castellanos,
Donell Rome and Isaac Sanchez. Graydon Fritz and
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pion Hood River, but will also have to contend with
very fast Summit and Crater teams to make it into the
state’s top three again.
Hermiston’s fastest time this year was posted by
Niederwerfer with 16:26.6 at the Wildhorse Invite
(31st in 5A), but Earl and Sanchez were the Bulldogs’
top two individuals at districts.
Crater senior Walter Vail enters with the No. 1
ranking and a season-best of 14:57.2.
(.765) mark and is the
all-time winningest coach
in L-C women’s basketball
history.
“They make it to the
national tournament every
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didn’t want to go somewhere
(with little success) because I
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Edmiston was also inter-
ested in Northwest Christian
University where Hoffert’s
daughter attends, but L-C
and the surrounding town
here too much to deny after
a recruiting trip at the begin-
ning of fall.
Edmiston said the success
of the Warriors program also
LQÀXHQFHG KHU GHFLVLRQ 6KH
said she didn’t want to go
from a program with a lot
of local support and success
to a program without those
things. L-C provides both.
The town of Lewiston,
with a population of about
32,000, was reminiscent of
Sam Barbee photo/file
In this Feb. 24, 2015, file photo, Hermiston’s Jansen Hermiston with two rivers
Edmiston looks to create space for a shot during the and a similar climate. She
first quarter of Hermiston’s 53-44 win over Pendleton practiced with the Warriors
at Warberg Court.
while on her trip and thought
that was the best choice for
WKH ¿UVW URXQG RI WKH 1$,$ an overall record of 343-119 her.
“They’re really supported,
Division I National Champi- (.742) and a 192-35 (.846)
record at home. Between like our girls basketball is
onships, losing 63-61.
Under the direction of 2006 and 2012, Orr led supported (L-C’s) is really
15-year veteran Brian Orr, WKH :DUULRUV WR VL[ VWUDLJKW VXSSRUWHG´ (GPLVWRQ VDLG
the Warriors have dominated QDWLRQDO ¿QDOV DSSHDUDQFHV “It kind of just reminded me
the Frontier League. Orr has while compiling a 252-77 of home, and the girls are
super nice and the coach is
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Edmiston was offered a
full scholarship following
her campus visit, and was
given two weeks to make
a decision. Hoffert said he
and Edmiston talked several
times before she eventually
took the offer.
But she didn’t commit
right away, and she wasn’t
asked for a commitment
right away. Orr gave her two
weeks to decide, though she
didn’t take all of them.
“I said, ‘You know what?
Here’s the deal: We can tell
this guy (Orr) we can wait,
but what are we waiting for?
If you like the place, if you
like the girls, you like the
team, you like the (coach),
what are you waiting for?
Because he’s offered you
HYHU\WKLQJ´KHVDLG³µ7KLQN
about saying no and waiting
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stressful would that be?’ I
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So, at the beginning of
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Orr of her decision.
“I kind of just want to
say thank you to everyone
who supported me on my
way since third grade, all
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Edmiston said. “Thank you
to everyone who supported
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%8//'2*6Bucks hurt themselves with mistakes
of game time that was capped
play, 80 yard drive in 3:34 of off by a four-yard read-option
game time, capped off with keeper by Hunsaker for his
a 36-yard play-action touch- third rushing touchdown of the
down pass from Hunsaker half to increase the Bulldogs’
to Tucker Salinas to put the lead to 28-6.
In that quarter, the Herm-
Bulldogs on top 14-6.
Then after forcing a three- iston offense had a pretty
and-out from the Bucks, the balanced attack of QB keepers,
Bulldogs struck quickly again base runs, and play-action
as Hunsaker ran a quarter- passes. Hunsaker says that
back-draw up the middle and balance will be crucial for the
scampered 74 yards for a Bulldogs in the playoffs.
“We have to be able to run
touchdown to put Hermiston
the
ball and get the play-action
on top 21-6 with just under
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tonight and got some pretty big
quarter.
After forcing another Pend- SOD\VRXWRILW´
The Buckaroos had their
OHWRQSXQWRQWKHQH[WSRVVHV-
fair
share of chances in the
sion, the Bulldogs offense
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made quick work yet again in
quarter,
running back Jamal
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Vann
busted
out a 64-yard
play, 66 yard drive in just 1:14
Continued from 1B
touchdown run that would have
tied the game at 7-7. Instead,
it was wiped out due to a
holding call on receiver Trevor
Sweet, adding to the long list
of big-play touchdowns the
Bucks have had called back
this season for penalties.
Pendleton had another
chance in the fourth quarter,
starting a drive from its own
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the way down to Hermiston’s
10 yard line. But the drive
would stall with no points, as
Kai Quinn was intercepted in
the corner of the end zone on
fourth down.
Even with the loss, Davis
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saw from his team.
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“They fought all the way to
the bitter end and that’s all I
can really ask for out of 16-,
17-, 18-year-old kids. Were
we outmanned a few times this
year? Yeah but we didn’t quit
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For Hermiston, the Bulldogs
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playoff opponent. But even
with the win, Faaeteete said the
game ended with a little bit of a
sour taste in his mouth.
“I think we shot ourselves
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he said. “We didn’t come out
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didn’t tonight and it showed.
²²²²
Contact Eric Singer at
esinger@eastoregonian.com,
(541) 966-0839, or follow on
Twitter @ByEricSinger.
35(3)227%$//Riverside stuns Nyssa in double OT
Sunday.
“We’re off to the playoffs
half and controlled things, but DQGZH¶UHSUHWW\H[FLWHG´6DODV
WKH\ SOD\HG XV KDUG´ *UDQW said.
said. “I think we had to play
harder and longer than we
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have all year long and I think 52&. ² $W ,UULJRQ WKH
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Knights ran out to a 50-0 half-
+HSSQHU ¿QLVKHG ZLWK time lead before hitting cruise
yards on 60 plays from scrim- control in their Columbia Basin
mage and Kindle led them with &RQIHUHQFH¿QDOHRQ)ULGD\
120 yards on 23 carries. Grieb
Statistics were not available,
¿QLVKHGZLWKUHFHLYLQJ\DUGV but Irrigon coach Steve Sheller
to go with 29 rushing and Clark said the rushing attack was on
was 5-for-11 passing for 105 point.
yards, two touchdowns and one
“The offensive line blocked
interception.
really well and Fredy (Vera)
Heppner earns a guaranteed UDQWKHEDOOOLNHFUD]\´KHVDLG
home playoff game by virtue “Austin Rice had some good
of its league title, but Weston- ORQJUXQVDVZHOO´
McEwen must hope for one of
But the highlight of the
Class 2A’s four at-large berths game went to seldom-used
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senior Marty Brown on Senior
The TigerScots were in good Night. With Vera applying
shape at press time with a No. pressure, Brown stepped in
10 ranking that would earn front of a Pilot Rock pass for
them the second berth. Rank- an interception, then returned it
ings freeze at 10 p.m. Saturday 60 yards for a touchdown while
night.
shedding would-be tacklers on
7KH ¿UVW URXQG RI WKH VWDWH the way.
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“The kids were going crazy,
everybody was happy to see
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Irrigon (6-3, 2-3) had its
Monkus scorched Culver on ¿UVWZLQQLQJVHDVRQLQSURJUDP
the ground and the Tigers (8-1, KLVWRU\ WKLV \HDU DQG ¿QLVKHG
4-1 CBC) held off the Bulldogs fourth in the CBC. Irrigon will
(3-6, 1-4) on Friday to earn rely on its No. 13 OSAA ranking
second place in the Columbia WRGHOLYHULWV¿UVWSOD\RIIEHUWK
Basin Conference.
ZKLFK ZRQ¶W EH RI¿FLDO XQWLO
0RQNXV ¿QLVKHG ZLWK 10 p.m. Saturday night when
yards on 20 carries and scored the OSAA freezes its rankings.
four
touchdowns.
Dylan Irrigon was in line for the fourth
Grogan added 127 yards on 17 DQG ¿QDO DWODUJH EHUWK ZKHQ
rushes and completed 5-of-6 the EO went to press.
passes for 100 yards.
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said. “ Culver is tough. They Pirates forced a three-way tie
could have easily been 5-3 as for second place in the Eastern
opposed to 3-5 (coming into the Oregon League with their
JDPH7KH¿UVWKDOIZHGLGQ¶W double-overtime upset win on
play super great on defense, but the road.
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the second half we were able
to control their running back league win since 2010 and its
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Justin Keeney also scored did not compete in a league in
IRU 6WDQ¿HOG DQG UDQ IRU 2013-14)
Coach Dave Boor said the
yards on seven carries.
6WDQ¿HOG OHG DW KDOI- key to victory was pretty basic.
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time.
The Tigers will learn who FRPSOHWH JDPH´ KH VDLG ³:H
WKHLU ¿UVWURXQG RSSRQHQW LQ had some players that don’t get
the state playoffs will be on to play that much have to step
Continued from 1B
up, and they went in there and
battled. That’s how you win
football games is 11 guys on
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XQLW´
Statistics were not available,
but Boor highlighted strong
games by running back Ricardo
Mendoza and defensive end
Austin Thompson.
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Nyssa answered to make it
6-6 and Felipe Olvera gave
Riverside the halftime lead
with a long interception return
for a touchdown. A two-point
conversion made it 14-6.
Nyssa tied the score again
with a 99-yard drive and
two-point conversion, forcing
overtime.
Riverside failed to score on
its overtime possession, but
forced a turnover when Nyssa
had the ball, then stopped them
on fourth down when the Bull-
dogs began the second overtime
with the ball.
Olvera then handed the
Pirates the win with a 23-yard
touchdown run.
“It was a big win, the kids
learned a lot the last couple
ZHHNVDERXWFRPSHWLQJ´%RRU
said. “It’s a process, and some-
times people want to speed the
process up, but sometimes you
have to have these moments to
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Boor wasn’t sure what
the tiebreaker would be to
determine which team earns the
second playoff berth from the
EOL.
“I don’t really care, I just
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said.
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an undefeated Eastern Oregon
League season for the league
title on Friday. No game details
were reported.
Umatilla (5-4, 1-2) still has
a chance to reach the state play-
RIIVDQG¿QLVKHGLQDWKUHHZD\
tie for second with Riverside
and Nyssa. The tie-breaking
criteria was not known at press
time.
3(55<'$/(
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league-leading offense was
too much for the Honkers to
contain in Friday’s regular
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reported.
The Honkers (4-3, 3-3
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District 4 and outside of the
playoffs.
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the Cougars headed into the
offseason with a bang on Friday
after routing the Tigers in each
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were not reported.
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game skid for Echo (3-6, 1-4
SD1), which improved to 3-2 at
home this season. The Cougars
scored just 68 total points
during their losing streak.
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11-team Special District 1.
Monument/Dayville (1-8, 0-5)
was 11th.
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on a high note with Friday’s
Special District 4 rout.
Ione led 46-0 after one
quarter and was led by Cord
Flynn and Alessandro Panozzo
with three touchdowns each.
Flynn rushed for two and
returned and interception for
the other. Panozzo rushed for
two and caught the other.
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Weiper. “We didn’t do as well
as we’d hoped this year but we
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body got a chance to play and
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Weiper also got a glimpse
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carry from scrimmage in a high
school game and ran it 55 yards
for a touchdown. He added
another later in the game.
South Wasco (0-8, 0-6) was
playing without its starting
quarterback (concussion).
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in SD4.
