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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (March 9, 2016)
SPORTS Wednesday, March 9, 2016 PAC-12: Tournament VHOOVRXWIRU¿UVWWLPH Continued from 1B tournament titles last year and Oregon has the talent to do it this season. POELTL SHINES: Utah ¿QLVKHGDJDPH behind Oregon in the race for the regular season title DQG ZDV 1R LQ WKH ¿QDO regular season poll. Jakob Poeltl was a big reason for it. The 7-foot sophomore is RQH RI WKH QDWLRQ¶V EHVW DQG most versatile players, able to score inside or out. He was YRWHGWKH3DF¶VSOD\HURI WKH\HDUDIWHU¿QLVKLQJIRXUWK nationally in shooting at 66 percent, second in the Pac-12 in scoring (17.5 points) and third in rebounding (9.1). 67($.,1* %($56 California (22-9, 12-6) may be the hottest team headed into the tournament. The Bears won eight of their ¿QDO QLQH JDPHV DQG ZHUH in position to beat Arizona before coughing up a late lead in Tucson last week. Cal is young and athletic, ZLWKRQHRIWKHOHDJXH¶VEHVW players in Jaylen Brown, the Pac-12 freshman of the year after averaging 15.3 and 5.6 rebounds. DANGEROUS WILD- CATS: Arizona (24-7, 12-6) fell short of winning it third VWUDLJKW3DFWLWOH¿QLVKLQJ two games behind Oregon. The Wildcats may be one of the most dangerous teams in the bracket, though. Arizona is big up front, led by 7-0 FHQWHU.DOHE7DUF]HZVNLDQG KDV RQH RI WKH FRQIHUHQFH¶V most dynamic players in freshman Allonzo Trier. The 15th-ranked Wildcats won ODVW \HDU¶V WRXUQDPHQW DQG will be one of the favorites to win it this year. R I V A L R Y CONTINUED: The rivalry between UCLA and Southern California shifts to Sin City in the opening round of the Pac-12 tournament for the second straight season. The Bruins swept the three games last season and this year the 7URMDQV KDYH D FKDQFH WR return the favor after winning the two regular-season games by a combined 33 points. UCLA (15-16, 6-12) limped WR WKH ¿QLVK RI WKH UHJXODU VHDVRQ ORVLQJ LWV ¿QDO IRXU games and seven of nine to ¿QLVK WK LQ WKH 3DF USC (20-11, 9-9) had a VLPLODU¿QLVKORVLQJVL[RILWV ¿QDOHLJKW SOLD OUT: The depth RI WKLV \HDU¶V ¿HOG KHOSHG the Pac-12 tournament sell RXW IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH LQ LWV history. The tournament has been a big hit since moving to Las Vegas four years ago and three of the four days were sold out last year. This \HDU :HGQHVGD\¶V VHVVLRQV also sold out ahead of time, making the tournament a tough ticket to get. ACADEMICS: Two other PHS programs in top 10 Continued from 1B tive GPA to win the OSAA Academic All-State Award for girls basketball, narrowly edging Wilsonville and its 3.84. Every member of the team will receive a sling bang, commemorative bag tag and D FHUWL¿FDWH WR KRQRU WKHLU achievement. The school will receive a plaque for the trophy case. Several other area schools DOVR ¿QLVKHG LQ WKHLU FODVVL- ¿FDWLRQ¶V WRS IRU ZLQWHU sports and activities, and each member of those teams will receive a commemora- tive bag tag. 7HDPV¿QLVKLQJLQWKHWRS 10 were: Weston-McEwen girls basketball, third (3.75); Pilot Rock boys basketball, VL[WK 6WDQ¿HOG ER\V basketball, seventh (3.41); Pendleton boys swimming, fourth (3.69); Pendleton wres- tling, ninth (3.10); Mac-Hi cheerleading, third (3.66). East Oregonian Page 3B BULLDOGS: Spartans a familiar foe at state Continued from 1B This is the last go-around for four-year varsity players Jansen Edmiston and Sara Ramirez. They were present IRU WKH WKLUGSODFH ¿QLVKHV DQG ODVW \HDU¶V WDQWDOL]LQJO\ close loss to La Salle Prep. With their experience in hand, they hope their senior season can be the most memorable. ³,¶P PRUH GHWHUPLQHG more focused than excited,” (GPLVWRQ VDLG ³,W¶V P\ ODVW \HDU ,W¶V RXU ODVW \HDU 0LQH DQG 6DUD¶V DQG .LDQD +HHKQ¶V «:H GRQ¶W SODQ on losing a game. But if we GRZHZRQ¶WJLYHXS´ ³,W¶V VKRFNLQJ WR WKLQN DERXWEHFDXVHLW¶VNLQGDVDG´ 5DPLUH]VDLGRIKHU¿QDOVWDWH WRXUQDPHQW³%XW,GRQ¶WIHHO DQ\ SUHVVXUH ,W¶V MXVW OLNH any of the other three years. :H¶UHJRQQDJRDQGSOD\DV hard as we can and come up with what we can.” The Bulldogs enter as WKH¿IWKVHHGQRWEHFDXVHRI a poor record, but because of how the OSAA ranks its teams. An important calcula- WLRQLQWKH26$$¶VHTXDWLRQ is the Colley Ranking, which depends on playing teams within your division. Because of preseason schedule that included WR JR RXW DQG SURYH LW « 7KH SUHVVXUH RI EHLQJ ¿UVW or second is not there. The WDON IURP WKH JLUOV KDVQ¶W EHHQ OLNH LW¶V EHHQ LQ WKH SDVW EHFDXVH ZH¶UH QRW UDQNHGRQHRUWZR:H¶UHQRW H[SHFWHG WR EH LQ WKH ¿QDOV But we are (expecting it), DQGZH¶UHKRSLQJWRXVHWKDW to our advantage.” Now the Bulldogs once again see the Spartans in their home city. There is certainly familiarity between WKHVHVTXDGVEXWLW¶OOEHDWDG different this year. Corvallis is generally similar to Herm- iston with good guard play and lots of athleticism. This year, however, Corvallis brings some size to the equation, which Hermiston is lacking. Though if Herm- LVWRQKDVLWVZD\LWZRQ¶WEH a detriment. ³7KH\¶UH ELJ WKH\ WU\ WR run, believe it or not, they try to push the ball down the ÀRRU DQG WDNH DGYDQWDJH RI their height,” Hoffert said. “If they can take advantage of your height, beat you GRZQ WKH ÀRRU DQG JHW D post on the block before you can react, then they have an DGYDQWDJH%XWDVIDUDV¿YH RQ¿YH VSHHG ZH KDYH WKH advantage. We have to take advantage of that in transition “I don’t feel any pressure. It’s just like any of the other three years. We’re gonna go and play as hard as we can and come up with what we can.” — Sara Ramirez, Hermiston senior tournaments in Arizona and playing in the elite division in Lake Oswego against some $WHDPV+HUPLVWRQ¶VPDLQ competition this season came from their league games and WKH\ GRQ¶W KDYH WKH &ROOH\ Ranking other schools do. +HUPLVWRQGRHVQ¶WWDNHLW as a sign of disrespect. The SOD\HUV XQGHUVWDQG LW¶V PDWK DQG GRHVQ¶W PHDQ PXFK outside of who plays who. They do recognize, though, that it takes a bit of pressure off them, internally and externally. ³7KDW¶VDOLWWOHPRWLYDWLRQ for us, because we feel like ZH¶UH D KLJKHUUDQNHG WHDP WKDQ ¿YH E\ WKH FRDFKHV´ Hoffert said. “We still have on the offensive end, and the defensive press side to make them make mistakes.” If the Bulldogs are to win the three games necessary to be crowned champion of Oregon girls 5A basketball, it ZRXOGQ¶WEHMXVWIRUWKLVWHDP these seniors or this town. To Hoffert, it would be a culmi- QDWLRQRIWKHSURJUDP¶VH[WUD work, from recent alumni like Tavin Headings and Abi Drotzmann, to 2010 gradu- ates Mary Barnett and Jade Crossley, and the numerous others that have passed through the system during WKH WHDP¶V VHYHQ VWUDLJKW VWDWH ¿QDO VLWH DSSHDUDQFHV and beyond. “It would be an amazing ¿QLVKWRD\HDUDQGLWZRXOG give a lot of respect to all the teams that were there in the last eight to 10 years,” Hoffert said. “It would make a lot of girls happy — Tavin, Abi, JRLQJEDFNWRP\GDXJKWHU¶V class (with) Maloree Moss DQG-HQL+RIIHUW«,FRXOG name dozens of players in the last 10 years it would mean a lot to. They know we have this saying, ‘Tradition never JUDGXDWHV¶ $QG WKH\¶UH VWLOO gonna feel responsible for WKH ¿QLVK ZH KDG WKLV \HDU Winning the title or not, they have respect for us.” CONGRATULATIONS HEPPNER MUSTANGS! GREAT JOB MUSTANGS! Serving Morrow, Wheeler, Gilliam, and Grant Counties communitycounselingsolutions.org Way to go, Mustangs! "Where Quality Always Comes First" 541-567-7171 Boy’s Basketball 2A District Champs 80496 N. Hwy 395 Hermiston Under the American Flag www.nwmetalfab.com CCB #66293 CONGRATS! BLAZERS: Lillard hits winning shots in overtime 48. CJ McCollum added 18 points for Portland, which moved into sixth place in the Western Conference. John Wall had 20 points and 11 assists for the Wizards, who have lost three straight. Ramon Sessions added 21 points off the bench, while Marcin Gortat had 19 points and 10 rebounds. Wall hit a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left in regula- tion to give Washington a 104-102 lead, but McCollum KLWDSXOOXSMXPSHUZLWK seconds to go to tie it at 104. The game went to overtime when Gerald Henderson VZDWWHG DZD\ *RUWDW¶V attempted layup. Lillard hit a 3-pointer that gave the Blazers a 111-106 led in the extra period. Wall answered with a 3 for the :L]DUGV EXW /LOODUG¶V OD\XS with 23.5 seconds left made it 113-109 and Portland hung on for the win. The Wizards led by as many as 13 points in the third quarter, but Portland wrestled back to lead 85-81 going into the fourth. The Blazers were back home after a six-game road trip that started with three wins but ended with three losses, capped by a 123-103 loss at Detroit on Sunday. Henderson was key off the bench for Portland, ¿QLVKLQJ ZLWK SRLQWV DQG seven rebounds. Washington was without guard Bradley Beal, who did not travel with the team to Portland because of a sprained pelvis he sustained on Saturday during a disheartening 100-99 loss to Indiana. Beal, who has strug- JOHGZLWKLQMXULHVWKLVVHDVRQ LV WKH WHDP¶V VHFRQGOHDGLQJ scorer, averaging 17.8 points. The game was marred by DVFXIÀHEHWZHHQ+HQGHUVRQ and Alan Anderson with 1:23 OHIW LQ WKH ¿UVW TXDUWHU 7KH players got into a shoving match and had to be sepa- rated by teammates. Upon review, Anderson ZDV HMHFWHG IRU DQ HOERZ WR +HQGHUVRQ¶VIDFH+HQGHUVRQ got a personal foul and both got technicals. Anderson was aver- aging 9.2 points and 2.6 rebounds after missing the ¿UVWJDPHVRIWKHVHDVRQ following left ankle surgery. The Wizards have been managing his minutes since his return. Portland led by as many as 10 points early, Lillard OHDGLQJWKHZD\ZLWK¿UVW half points. But the Wizards pulled into a 50-all tie on *RUWDW¶VOD\XSDQGIUHHWKURZ ZLWKMXVWOHIWEHIRUHWKH EUHDN DQG :DOO¶V SRLQWHU put the Wizards ahead 55-52. The Wizards went on a 12-point run to open the second half, going up 67-54. Portland answered with a 17-4 run to tie it at 71, capped E\/LOODUG¶VSRLQWHU CONGRATS MUSTANGS! 24 HOUR TOWING 541-567-2603 1-800-238-1223 • General / Electrical Contracting • Pump Stations • Excavation AP Photo/Steve Dykes Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts af- ter hitting a shot during overtime of an NBA basketball game Tuesday in Portland. Continued from 1B GREAT JOB! CCB# 146995 (541) 567-5005 14 SE Campbell Drive, Hermiston Congratulations! Congrats Mustangs! ELMER’S IRRIGATION, INC. “The Best Little Irrigation Company in the Northwest” 80527 Hwy 395 N., Hermiston 541-567-5572 Great Job! Advanced Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Institute 541.289.7075 620 NW 11th St., Ste. 201 Hermiston, OR 97838 www.hermistonortho.com W ELL ! D ONE W HEN E VERY D ROP C OUNTS www.irrspec.com HERMISTON GLASS 541-567-6370 81156 N. Hwy 395, Hermiston 541-567-6679 • 800-835-3137 1895 N. 1st Place, Hermiston PASCO • OTHELLO • GRANDVIEW CCB# 147211 Congratulations Heppner Mustangs! HERMISTON REALTY Cabins ~ RV’s ~ Tents Fishing ~ ATV Trails morrowcountyparks.org G O M USTANGS ! “We are a cut above the rest!” from all of us at Lexington, OR 541-571-4260 541-989-9110 g r a t u l a t i o n s n o C H e p p n e r M u s t a n g s ! 541-567-2121 2372 N. 1st (Hwy 395) Hermiston www.hermistonrealtynow.com C OLUMBIA B ASIN E LECTRIC C O -O P 905 Diagonal Hermiston www.osokleen.com CONGRATS! Eastern Oregon Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC “The Comfortable Choice” Fossil • Condon Heppner • Ione Lexington Heppner 541-676-9146 Condon 541-384-2023 GREAT SEASON, GREAT TEAM Murray ’ s Drug INC. Serving Heppner, Lexington, Ione and Condon Since 1959 217 N. M AIN • H EPPNER 541-676-9158 Way To Go Mustang s! 2801 St. Anthony Way Pendleton 541-276-5121 Residential & Commercial 541-567-3095 82000 Hwy 395 N., Hermiston (Old Road Runner H&C building) CCB #189229 stangs! Great Job Mu “Something from the Jewelers is always something special.” HEPPNER • 541-676-9200 Mon-Sat 9:00am-6:00pm Congrats Heppne r! Randy Randall Lezlee Gunsolley Principal Broker Principal Broker 541-561-4710 541-561-5507 705 S First St., Hermiston 541-567-7337
