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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (May 19, 2016)
Page 2B SPORTS East Oregonian IRRIGON Thursday, May 19, 2016 NBA Playoffs Knights keep Curry dazzles again, Warriors even series season alive By JANIE MCCAULEY AP Sports Writer East Oregonian BURNS — The Irrigon Knights traveled to Burns on Tuesday afternoon with one goal in mind: to compete. The Knights needed a win over the Hilanders to keep its season and hopes of a postseason berth alive in a district play-in game, but in order to do so, they needed to reverse a bad trend. In the previous trip to Burns on Apr. 26, the Knights struggled Softball to get their game going from the start and ended up with a 10-5 loss. But on Tuesday, the Knights Irrigon were in fact able to reverse their trend and earned a 7-5 victory over Burns to advance in the district bracket. “We knew we could Burns compete with them, that was our focus to start strong and inish stronger and we did that,” said Irrigon coach Jeff Botefuhr. “It was a great team effort.” The Knights rode a strong effort in the pitching circle from Julissa Garza as she tossed a complete game allowing just six hits and those four runs to go with four big strikeouts. Irrigon got the scoring started in the irst inning with a pair of runs to stun the Hilanders, and then after Burns answered with one run in the bottom of the inning, the Knights pushed across two more in the second to open up a 4-1 lead. They were in complete control throughout and eventually got the lead to its biggest point at 7-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning. Garza hit a rough patch in the frame as she began to run out of steam, and gave up four runs to the Hilanders to let them creep back to within two runs before slamming the door shut for the win. On offense the Knights were led by Jada Burns and Kelly McLaughlin as Burns smacked a double in the irst inning and McLaughling smashed a two-run home run later in the game. Next up for the Knights is a trip to Pilot Rock on Saturday morning for a match-up with the Union Bobcats at 11 a.m. with a state tournament spot on the line. Irrigon faced off against Union back on Apr. 12-16 with the Bobcats sweeping the three games by a combined score of 28-4, but Botefuhr believes that this time around could be a different story. “If (Julissa) Garza can hit her spots and if we can play good defense behind her we can be ine,” he said. “Union is a good hitting team, and as long as we can get our hits, too, then we have a good chance.” The winner of that game will then play Pilot Rock immediately after to decide the Special District 6 champion. ——— 7 5 R H E IHS 220 012 0 — 7 7 0 BHS 100 000 4 — 5 6 0 Garza and Mills. W — Garza. 2B — J. Burns (IHS). HR — K. McLaughlin (IHS). OAKLAND, Calif. — Stephen Curry scored 15 straight points in less than 2 minutes during one dazzling third-quarter stretch, and the Western Finals Golden State Warriors beat the Oklahoma City Thunder Oklahoma City 118-91 on We d n e s d a y night to even the Western C o n f e r e n c e Golden State inal at one game apiece. The MVP scored 28 • Series tied 1-1 points, making 5 of 8 3-pointers and shooting 9 for 15 overall, while Klay Thompson added 15 points in a balanced performance by the defending champions to bounce back from just their third defeat all season at Oracle Arena in the series opener two nights earlier. Kevin Durant scored 29 points but just six after halftime. Russell Westbrook had 16 points 91 118 Kyle Terada, USA TODAY Sports Images via AP, Pool Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) shoots against Oklahoma City Thunder center Steven Adams during Game 2 of the NBA basketball Western Conference inals on Wednesday in Oakland, Calif. and 12 assists for the Thunder, who were outrebounded for the irst time in ive meetings with the Warriors this season. Game 3 is Sunday night in Oklahoma City. Durant provided a big assist during Curry’s lurry. He fouled the superstar point guard on a 3-point attempt with 6:33 to go in the third, then swatted his hand in disgust at the call and received a technical — a costly four-point play. While Durant hit a fadeaway jumper moments later, Curry answered by knocking down consecutive long shots, one a 3, to make it 76-59 with 5:47 to go in the third. NBA Finals MVP Andre Iguodala brought some timely pizazz off the bench. He missed his irst ive ield-goal tries before a beautiful double- clutch, no-look layup in the inal minute of the irst half and then another basket the next time down that put the Warriors up 57-49 at halftime. He wound up with 14 points for his fourth double-digit scoring perfor- mance of the postseason. Festus Ezeli scored 12 points for his irst game in double digits these playoffs, Marreese Speights had 13 points off the bench, and Golden State didn’t falter after halftime the way it did two nights earlier in losing Game 1 108-102. The Warriors built a 20-point lead late in the third and kept pushing. It was a stark contrast from Monday, when Golden State allowed 38 third-quarter and was held to playoff lows of 42 second-half points and 14 in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma City’s 14-point comeback in Game 1 was the largest against the Warriors this postseason. Golden State is 12-0 in games after a loss this season and 3-0 in the postseason. So far, Portland is the only team to beat the Warriors twice. GIRLS TRACK: Glover going easy after freak injury Continued from 1B Junior Audrey Lincoln leads Hermiston with four state berths, and will compete in both relays as well as the 100 and 200 dash. Pendleton junior Kiara Glover had her heart set on four state berths as well, but had to settle for two after a freak accident the night before the district meet. An awkward landing during practice hyperextended her right knee, leaving one of the CRC’s best leapers in limbo. She was still able to qualify for state in two events (long jump and high jump) and has been receiving physical therapy this week to prepare. After working her way back from a calf injury suffered late in her sophomore year, Glover said the latest setback has taken a toll. “It brought a lot of stress and concern,” she said. “It took a lot of hope and trying to use as much positivity as I possibly can. “To have another injury happen last second was really overwhelming, but to actually be able to make it and qualify was surprising and a good feeling.” Both of Glover’s events will be held on Friday, the irst day of the 5A meet at Hayward Field in Eugene. The Bulldogs and Buckaroos Pilot Rock sophomore Abby Rigby is ranked irst in the 2A 200 meters and third in the 100, and is the anchor on the third- ranked 4x100 relay team. ——— In this May 12, 2016 ile photo, Pend- leton’s Delaney Clem, right, wins the 1,500 meter run at the Colum- bia River Confer- ence Track and Field Champi- onships in Hermiston. Herm- iston’s Melany Solorio, left, came in second. Staff photo by Kathy Aney don’t have any athletes that appear in title contention based on the season’s body of work, but several of the area’s small- school athletes have already proven capable of topping their events. In Class 1A, Helix senior MaKenzie Mize is ranked irst in both discus and shot put, Ione senior Jessie Flynn holds the top qualifying mark in the 100 hurdles, and Condon/Wheeler junior Christine Segura is one of three high jumpers to leap 5-foot-2 at their district meet. Local state meet qualiiers: HELIX (1A) — Lucy Case (3,000, 1,500), Mace Tullis (1,500), Bethany Newtson (3,000, 800), Emma Fehrenbacker (400), Sadie Wilson (100 hurdles), Paden Flerchinger (discus, shot put), Tegan Jackson (discus, shot put), MaKenzie Mize (discus, shot put), 4x100 relay (Fehrenbacker, Wilson, Arianna Krol, Hannah Christman), 4x400 relay (Fehrenbacker, Case, Christman, Krol). ECHO (1A) — Taylor Swaggart (100, 200), Kelsey Ranger (long jump, javelin, triple jump). IONE (1A) — Jessie Flynn (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, long jump), Rachel Holland (javelin). CONDON/WHEELER (1A) — Emma Logan (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, high jump), Justin Homer (javelin), Christine Segura (high jump). IRRIGON (2A) — Ana Zacarias (100, 200), Brianna Rice (javelin). PILOT ROCK (2A) — Abby Rigby (100, 200), Rachel Willingham (300 hurdles, triple jump), Sio- bahn Holman (100 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Olivia Warner (100 hurdles), 4x100 relay (Willingham, Warner, Holman, Rigby), 4x400 relay (Holman, Megan Glynn, Rigby, Willingham). STANFIELD (2A) — Jenny Garcia (3,000), Bailey Watson (400, long jump, triple jump), Brittin Braithwaite (high jump, discus, shot put), Larissa Castellanos (high jump, pole vault). WESTON-MCEWEN (2A) — Maddi Muilenburg (javelin), Bryce Thul (long jump), Katie Vescio (1,500, pole vault), Karee Graves (800). UMATILLA (3A) — Nancy Ortiz (100, 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Aleesha Watson (javelin), Maria Moreno-Mendez (javelin), 4x100 relay (Daphne Castro, Sonia Lemus-Cisneros, Araceli Sanguino, Ortiz). RIVERSIDE (3A) — Selene Andrade (1,500). MAC-HI (4A) — Delaney Karrels (high jump), Bianca Garcia (javelin), Amber Wells (javelin, shot put), Alicia Walter (pole vault). PENDLETON (5A) — Delaney Clem (3,000, 1,500), Makayla Akers (javelin), Kiara Glover (long jump, high jump), Taryn Sokoloski (800), Keagan Utter (discus), Hailey Kendrick (pole vault). HERMISTON (5A) — Audrey Lincoln (100, 200), Scout Reagan (100), Madison Wilson (100 hurdles), Elsa Torres (200), Macey Foley (300 hurdles, 800), Maddy Juul (javelin, shot put), Melany Solorio (1,500), Ayleen Sandoval (discus, shot put), Ebony Wilson (triple jump), 4x100 relay (Reagan, Torres, Sara Ortiz, Lincoln), 4x400 relay (Reagan, Ortiz, Foley, Lincoln). BOYS TRACK: Ena throwing big in practice, enters meet ranked third Continued from 1B and I’m really nervous about it,” said the University of Florida-bound Bylenga. Hermiston also has a school record on notice as the meet approaches, and senior Tre Neal is well within striking distance of the all-time shot put mark. He posted 55 feet, 7.75 inches to win the district title, and needs about another 18 inches to take down the all-time mark. Hermiston head coach Emilee Strot said she’s seen him do it in practice. “Coach (David) Faaeteete, and the throws coaches and I all know that he is more than capable of throwing over 60 feet,” she said. “We’ve seen him get very close to it in practice. Meet-time, when the intensity is high and the adrenaline is going, he could throw over 60 and he could get a big throw. And I think he could win it.” Neal enters the meet ranked third, and Lebanon’s Zack Short is a formidable opponent after throwing 63-7.25 at his district meet. “I’ve got to improve tech- nique big time if I want to keep up with them,” he said. “Beat’s a whole other story, but give them a run for their money, I think I can do that.” Neal is also ranked fourth in discus, and will compete in javelin too. It’s the second year he’s qualiied for state in three events, and just his second year of competition. “Deinitely still learning. You can’t master anything in two years,” he said. “I’m still working on the quirks, still trying to get better every day. I’m not getting to the marks I want to hit, but I’m deinitely getting the hang of it.” Several other locals will 3A state champion in the 1,500- and 3,000-meters and enters ranked No. 1 in both events. He’s also on the Vikings’ 4x400 relay which enters with the No. 3 ranking. Condon/Wheeler senior Sam Colgan is the top-ranked sprinter in 1A, Helix’s Sam Carlson is No. 2 in 1A shot put, Weston- McEwen junior Hayden Scott is ranked second in the 2A 1,500 and 800, and Pilot Rock junior Devin Hasher is the third-ranked high jumper in 2A. ——— Staff photo by Kathy Aney In this April 19, 2016 ile photo, Hermiston’s Tre Neal focuses before throwing the shot put at the Willamette Falls Invitation track and ield meet in Oregon City. enter their state meets in prime position to earn a state championship in at least one event. Umatilla senior Fabian Cardenas is the defending Local qualiier for state meets: HELIX (1A) — Bradey Cope (400, 200), Jonathan Shaw (long jump), Sam Carlson (shot put, discus), 4x100 relay (Tylor Fehrenbacker, Grant Christman, Gavin Newtson, Cope). IONE (1A) — Hayden Qualls (3,000). ARLINGTON (1A) — Tyler Longacre (800), Shawn Hauner (discus), Thomas Evans (javelin). STANFIELD (2A) — Elias Esquivel (3,000), Trevor Shockman (110 hurdles), Carlos Flores (1,500), 4x100 relay (Cody Grifin, Benjamin Hernandez, Justin Shelby, Shockman). WESTON-MCEWEN (2A) — Jacob Speed (100, 400), Hayden Scott (1,500, 800), Kirk Scott (discus, javelin), Khai Robertson (triple jump). CONDON/WHEELER (1A) — Sam Colgan (100, 200, pole vault), Jose Cortez (400, long jump), Alex Lindsay (high jump, triple jump), 4x100 relay (Cortez, Colgan, Lindsay, Zachary Ruherford). HEPPNER (2A) — Hunter Nichols (3,000), Kaden Clark (long jump), Derek Howard (shot put). IRRIGON (2A) — Carlos Zacarias (100, 200), Jose Romero (300 hurdles), Ryan Verley (pole vault), Luke Meyers (shot put), Manny Gutierrez (800), 4x100 relay (Zacarias, Nestor Chavez, Romero, Gutier- rez), 4x400 relay (Romero, Gutierrez, Kevin Villarreal, Zacarias). PILOT ROCK (2A) — Gunner McCall (400, 200), Devin Hasher (high jump, javelin), 4x400 relay (McCall, Justin Makin, Hasher, Patrick Roe). UMATILLA (3A) — Zayne Troeger (3,000, 1,500), Fabian Cardenas (1,500, 3,000), Isidro Fonseca (400), Armando Mendoza (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Trent Durfey (110 hurdles), Sebastian Trujillo (shot put), Julian Gutierrez (high jump), Josh Surber (discus), 4x100 relay (Richie Burris, Mendoza, Fonseca, Miguel Madrigal), 4x400 relay (Mendoza, Fonseca, Burris, Cardenas). RIVERSIDE (3A) — Alejandro Llamas (800), Ricardo Mendoza (javelin). MAC-HI (4A) — Donald Clark (discus), Landon Warne (discus), Cole Skramstad (javelin). PENDLETON (5A) — Andrew Porter (400), Garson Alger (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), John Stuvland (long jump), Nolan Bylenga (800), 4x100 relay (Bylenga, Grayson Hugh- banks, Colin Rickman, Trevor Sweet), 4x400 relay (Alger, Bylenga, Hughbanks, Porter). HERMISTON (5A) — Tyler Rohrman (110 hurdles), Alexis Mercado (200), Tre Neal (discus, shot put, javelin), Xavier Rambo (long jump), Isaac Sanchez (1,500), Hayden Earl (800), Hiram Maciel (high jump), Will Sharkey (pole vault), Nathan Hunsaker (javelin), 4x400 relay (Joey Guittierrez, Sanchez, Earl, Mercado). COLEMAN: Plans on studying Agricultural Business and Spanish at OSU Continued from 1B wanted to go to a big school and I wanted to wrestle Divi- sion I, I didn’t want to go to an NAIA irst or something like that. And I think with that in mind and to wrestle with (former Hermiston teammates Abraham Rodri- guez, Joey Delgado, Hans Rockwell (from Riverside), kids like that from the area that I know it kind of gives a home feeling to a big change and that’s something that’s big to me.” He adds to the list of Eastern Oregon transplants on the Beavers squad, joining Rodriguez, Delgado and Rockwell and said that the number is a testament to the state of the sport on this side of the state. “It’s crazy, we have a lot of guys that are doing a lot of great things and the population isn’t nearly as big,” he said. “It’s a big ‘Atta boy’ to our coaches too for getting us to that level to be able to compete in a Division I program and it kind of puts us on a map over here.” Wrestling irst came into Coleman’s life in elementary school, but what kept him coming back each year was the family feel that the Hermiston program gave him. Coleman added that some people often wonder if he is crazy for going through the rigorous training to be successful in the sport, but said he inds it the most rewarding feeling in sports. “Practices are killer, but I enjoyed them because I was there with really good friends and we were having fun,” he said. “You go to practice after not eating that day and you’re stomach hurts and you’re thirsty and the cotton- mouth is disgusting and you can’t breathe, and it’s a grind and doing it day after day with almost the same people makes it almost the most rewarding sport because in my opinion.” Coleman was an integral part of the Bulldogs’ state champion teams in each of the last four years, and capped off a senior season with a 39-2 overall record and a 5A state championship at 182 pounds. He was thrilled to earn the title, but says he has bigger things in mind for himself now. “It’s just kind of a check mark for me,” he said. “I mean it was deinitely something I wanted to do and I knew I just had to show up and do it. I’ve been wrestling since third grade and it would be kind of sad to go all the way through and not win a title, so it’s good to say I’ve done it. “But I think I have bigger goals in mind, like wanting to wrestle in college and be successful there and not just be on the team for four years, so that’s hwere my sights have been set.” While at Hermiston, Coleman was more than just an athlete as well. He was heavily involved with various student clubs and sports, which include serving as the ASB Leadership president this year. However, he said the thing he’s most proud of is completing his Eagle Scout project within the Boy Scouts of America — some- thing many people did not know he was involved with. “I think succeeding and getting through and becoming an Eagle Scout is a major thing for me because it taught me a lot of life skills that sports wouldn’t have taught me,” he said. He plans on studying Agricultural business at Oregon State, as well as extensive work with the Spanish language, but isn’t sure of his plans beyond that. “Anything in the (agri- cultural) industry, Spanish is kind of integral nowadays,” he said. “I don’t know what I want to do (after that), maybe come back to the area here and do something.” For now, Coleman will spend his inal 10 days as a Hermiston High School student just like any other senior. “Try to get grades up,” he joked. ——— Contact Eric Singer at esinger@eastoregonian. com or (541) 966-0839. Follow him on Twitter @ ByEricSinger.
