Page 2B SPORTS East Oregonian Women’s College Basketball Wednesday, November 22, 2017 Men’s College Basketball Oregon rebounds to blow Phil Knight’s tourney draws top- 10 teams to Oregon this week out Eastern Washington Associated Press NCAA EUGENE — Ruthy Hebard scored 22 points, while not missing a shot, and Lexi Bando added 14 to lead No. 10 Oregon to an 81-40 victory over Eastern Washington on Tuesday night. Hebard, a sophomore who was all-Pac-12 forward last year, went 7-for-7 from the field and 8-for-8 at the foul line for the Ducks (4-1). Bando, a senior who’s the nation’s top 3-point shooter, was 4-for-8 from long range. Oregon had assists on nine of its first 10 field goals and shot 69.2 percent in the first half to open a 47-17 lead. Sabrina Ionescu had 10 rebounds to help the Ducks hold a 42-22 edge on the boards. They also outscored Eastern Washington by a 46-20 margin in the paint. Delaney Hodgins led the Eagles (1-3) with eight points. BIG PICTURE After winning the opener to a five- game homestand, Oregon is looking BRIEFLY Join the party, send off the Bulldogs HERMISTON — Before the Hermiston football team heads to Hillsboro to play for a state championship on Saturday, Bulldog students, fans and Hermiston community members can send the team off in style. Hermiston High organized a send-off rally on Saturday morning at Kennison Field. Beginning at 8:30 a.m., attendees will have the option for free donuts, coffee and hot chocolate available and then at 9 a.m. the team will load the buses and start its trip west. The Bulldog apparel store will also be open from 4-6 p.m. on Friday at Kennison Field for fans that want their last-minute Bulldog items to wear to the game. Later in the evening, Hermiston fans that will not be able to make the trip to Hillsboro can watch the game at Maxwell Siding Event Center, 145 N. First Place. Tickets for the watch party are $20 for the first 100 individuals, which includes access to a taco bar, soups, finger food, dessert and non-alcoholic drinks. The doors open at 5 p.m. and the game between Hermiston and Churchill starts at 6 p.m. Hermiston Linebacker Club meeting moved Due to the Thanksgiving Holiday on Thursday, the Hermiston Linebacker Club’s weekly luncheon has been pushed back to Friday. From 12-1 p.m. at Desert Lanes Bowling Alley, 1545 N. 1st St., Hermiston head football coach David Faaeteete and defensive coordinator Scott Hammond will be on hand to talk about the Bulldogs state championship game against Churchill on Saturday evening. To reserve a spot, call 541-567-5215 by 3 p.m. on Wednesday. By DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press E. Washington #10 Oregon 40 81 to establish itself as a Pac-12 title contender before a big test at No. 7 Mississippi State on Dec. 13. Eastern Washington, fourth in the Big Sky Conference last season, is now 8-52 all-time against Pac-12 opponents and 0-5 against Oregon. UP NEXT Eastern Washington: Hosts Utah Valley on Saturday looking for its first home victory of the season after losing the opener to BYU. Oregon: Plays Oklahoma in a Saturday doubleheader as part of the PK80 Invitational honoring UO bene- factor Phil Knight after top-ranked Connecticut and Michigan State meet in the first game at Matthew Knight Arena. Nike founder Phil Knight is throwing a birthday party and every college basketball fan is invited. Well, they can at least watch it on TV. Knight is celebrating his 80th birthday by staging a two-bracket tournament — the PK80 — beginning Thursday in Oregon. It includes some of the sport’s heaviest hitters, too, including four schools ranked in the top 10 this week: No. 1 Duke, No. 2 Michigan State, No. 7 Florida and ninth-ranked North Carolina. No. 17 Gonzaga is also in the field along with Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas and Arkansas, schools that are all receiving votes. There are 16 teams total, eight lined up in each bracket. “It’s a big, big, big-time deal for our program and our fans,” said Gonzaga coach Mark Few, AP Photo/Gerry Broome Duke’s Javin DeLaurier (12) blocks Furman’s Jalen Williams (2) during the first half of Monday’s game in Durham, N.C. Duke is one of four top-10 teams competing in the PK80 tournament beginning Thursday in Portland. whose team opens with Ohio State and could eventually play the Blue Devils in their bracket. One big question is whether Miles Bridges will play or the Spartans. The star forward is day to day after spraining his ankle against Stony Brook on Sunday. TITLE GAME: Hermiston offense aims to attack with ground game Continued from 1B Can’t Make it to the game? passing game but were able to move the ball well on the ground. And against Mountain View, the Cougars averaged just shy of five yards per carry as they piled up 267 yards on 51 carries. That plays well into Hermiston’s offensive plan of attack. The Bulldogs have struck the right recipe with the unit, establishing their run game both traditional runs between the tackles as well as utilizing the space on the outside to pile on yardage. In each of its three playoff games, Hermiston has earned at least 300 rushing yards as a team, including 307 yards on 42 carries against Wilsonville. That excellence in the run game • Like East Oregonian Sports on Facebook for live video from Saturday’s game. • Follow EO reporters Alexis Mansanarez (@almansanarez) and Eric Singer (@ByEricSinger) on Twitter for live updates and game analysis from Hillsboro. • Listen: AM 1360 KOHU • Watch: NFHSNetwork.com has opened up the pass game and made life easier for quarterback Andrew James, who has completed 60 percent of his passes for 603 yards, eight touchdowns and no interceptions in the playoffs. For the Hermiston defense, the Bulldogs have helped their cause by winning the turnover battle. With two turnovers forced in the semifinals, the Bulldogs defenders have forced a whopping 11 turnovers, which has helped the offense consistently stay in a rhythm. Adding to that total will be a key for the Bulldogs on Saturday, as Churchill’s offense has only turned the ball over four times in its last three games. “For us, it’s just doing what we do, focusing on us,” Faaeteete said. “Run the ball to set up the deep passes and just executing on defense. Tackling is going to be key. They are so explosive, they are so athletic, we need to tackle in open space to be successful.” James echoed that sentiment and said the team message is to tune out the hype surrounding this weekend’s game. “Forget all of the stuff going on outside of practice,” James said, “it’s a normal week for us and just focus on the game.” Saturday marks the fourth state championship game appearance for Churchill, but it is only the school’s first since being Class AAA runner-up in 1985 when it dropped the title to Medford. ———— Contact Eric at esinger@eastore- gonian.com or 541-966-0839. Contact Alexis at amansanarez@ eastoregonian.com or 564-4542. ALL-LEAGUE: Hermiston boys soccer lands five on first team In this 2017 file photo, Hermiston’s Emilio Leal chases down the ball trailed by Hood River’s Da- mian Char- co in the Bulldogs’ 1-1 draw with the Eagles in Hermiston. Leal was one of five Bulldogs selected to first team all-Colum- bia River Conference. Continued from 1B Second Team Patty Burres, so., Umatilla; Davina Monreal, fr., Umatilla; Daisy Mendoza, sr., Umatilla; Lizzy Burres, so., Umatilla; Bianca Avalos, so., Riverside; Savanna Kesler, sr., Nyssa; Natalie Romero, jr., Irrigon; Brendy Avalos, jr., Riverside; Andrea Angeles, sr., Irrigon; Cristal Trinidad, so., Nyssa; Neftalie Pacheco, so., Riverside; Maria Moreno, sr., Umatilla. CRC BOYS SOCCER The Hermiston Bulldogs may have not won the Columbia River Conference championship, but the Bulldogs did finish on top in the all-league selections as nine Bull- dogs earned all-CRC honors. Five Bulldogs including Miguel Hoyos, Noe Silva, Emilio Leal, Mark Mejia and Juan Carlos Muñiz-Nava- rete earned first team honors, while Joel Mendez, Miguel Ortega, Esgar Avila and Coleman Solano earned second team honors. The nine selections beat out league-champion Hood River Valley’s eight selections for most in the conference. Hood River Valley’s Robby Running was voted as Player of the Year and The Dalles’ Matthew Dallman was Coach of the Year. The Pendleton Buckaroos had three players selected. Senior Drew Lunny was a first team pick and senior Sawyer Powell and sopho- more Lance Wolf were second team selections. ———— Columbia River Conference Player of the Year — Robby Running, Hood River Valley, sr. Coach of the Year — Matthew Dallman, The Dalles. First Team Westley Carter, sr., Hood River Valley (HRV); Saul Chavarria, sr., HRV; Robby Running, jr., HRV; Erik Siekkinen, sr., HRV; Miguel Hoyos, sr., Hermiston; Noe Silva, sr., Hermiston; Emilio Leal, jr., Hermiston; Alberto Gallegos, soph., The Dalles; Jake Roetciso- ender, jr., The Dalles; Drew Lunny, sr., Pendleton; Mark Mejia, sr., Hermiston Second Team Reese Carroll, sr., HRV; Jack McCaffery, sr., HRV; Staff photo by E.J. Harris Emy Perez, soph., HRV; Miguel Ortega, sr., Herm- iston; Joel Mendez, sr., Hermiston; Esgar Avila, sr., Hermiston; Reed Twidwell, jr., The Dalles; Julian Quin- tana, soph., The Dalles; Sawyer Powell, sr., Pendleton; Lance Wolf, soph., Pendleton; Coleman Solano, soph., Hermiston; Pedro Lopez, sr., The Dalles Goalkeeper Juan Carlos Muñiz-Navarate, jr., Hermiston; Alejan- dro Rodriguez, sr., HRV CRC VOLLEYBALL For the third consecutive year, the Hood River Valley Eagles brought home the Columbia River Confer- ence championship by edging out Pendleton. Hood River Valley also beat the field to grab the most spots on the all-league teams with five players, in the list released on Monday. Junior hitter Katie Kennedy is one of three first team picks for the Eagles, and Kennedy also earned Player of the Year honors, beating out 2016s top player in senior teammate Shae Duffy. Four Pendleton Buckaroos earned all-league honors, with senior Maureen Davies and junior Kirah McGlothan on first team and senior Rylee Gentner and junior Aspen Garton on second team. Hermiston sophomore Halee Stubbs earned first team selection and junior Sophia Streeter was named to second team. ———— Columbia River Conference Player of the Year — Katie Kennedy, Hood River Valley Coach of the Year — Scott Walker, Hood River Valley First Team Katie Kennedy, Hood River Valley, jr.; Emily Curtis, Hood River Valley, jr.; Jodi Thomasian, The Dalles, sr.; Maureen Davies, Pendleton, sr.; Shae Duffy, Hood River Valley, sr.; Kirah McGlothan, Pendleton, jr.; Halee Stubbs, Hermiston, so.; Bailey LeBreton, The Dalles, jr.. Second Team Hannah McNerney, Hood River Valley, sr.; Kennedy James, Hood River Valley, sr.; Sophia Streeter, Hermis- ton, jr.; Aspen Garton, Pendleton, jr.; Lindsi Logue, The Dalles, jr.; Rylee Gentner, Pendleton, sr. CBC VOLLEYBALL After a mediocre season in 2016, the Heppner Mustangs volleyball team had a resurrection under first- year head coach Mindy Wilson to make the 2A state tournament. So it was no surprise to see the Mustangs tied with the district champion Bulldogs with five total all-district team selections, released shortly after the season. Heppner led the district with three first team picks, including seniors Morgan Correa and Sophie Grant and freshman Sydney Wilson. Rounding out Heppner’s selections are junior Jacee Currin on second team and junior Jenna McCullough as an honorable mention. Weston-McEwen had four total selections with senior Alyssa Finifrock and junior Bryce Thul leading the way on first team. Pilot Rock also had four selections with senior Abby Rigby as the lone first team selection. Stanfield’s lone selection was sophomore Kendra Hart as an honorable mention. ———— Columbia Basin Conference First Team Margie Beeler, sr., Culver; Irma Retano, jr., Culver; Alyssa Finifrock, sr., Weston-McEwen; Morgan Correa, sr., Heppner; Sophie Grant, sr., Heppner; Bryce Thul, jr., Weston-McEwen; Abby Rigby, sr., Pilot Rock; Sydney Wilson, fr., Heppner. Second Team Catylynn Duff, sr., Culver; Maddie Miller, jr., Culver; Hailey Weaver, jr., Weston-McEwen; Jacee Currin, jr., Heppner; Grace Austin, jr., Pilot Rock; Rhyanne Oates, sr., Pilot Rock; Chelsea Quaempts, sr., Weston-McEwen. Honorable Mention Jenna McCullough, jr., Heppner; Allie Griffin, jr., Stan- field; Claire Bender, fr., Culver; Siobhan Holman, sr., Pilot Rock; Kendra Hart, so., Stanfield. MLS: Columbus, Toronto play to 0-0 draw in first leg of Eastern Conference final Continued from 1B result for sure after tonight’s performance, especially in the second half, but if we are going to win the MLS Cup, we have to be better,” Seattle forward Cristian Roldan said. Lodeiro missed a chance to extend the lead to 2-0 in the 28th minute as his penalty kick was saved by Joe Willis, who dove to his left and batted it outside the near post. Seattle was awarded the penalty kick in the 27th minute after Jones was pulled down from behind in the box by Jalil Anibaba, who was given a straight red card. Houston goalkeeper Joe Willis refused to put blame on the officiating for the loss. “I think it’s hard to put blame on the ref for anything,” Willis said. “It was tough, I think the goal killed our momentum initially, and from there, it was an uphill battle.” Houston, making its first appearance in a conference finals since losing in the Eastern Conference finals in 2013 to Sporting KC, had several chances early, high- lighted by Tomas Martinez’s shot from the upper box that was easily saved by Tyler Miller in the 12th minute. However, the Dynamo had few opportunities thereafter. Trailing 2-0 headed into the second leg, Houston coach Wilmer Cabrera said nothing is impossible, and his team has nothing to lose. EASTERN CONFERENCE: COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Neither Toronto FC nor the Columbus Crew was unhappy with the 0-0 draw in the first leg of the MLS Eastern Conference Final. Nonetheless, Toronto would seem to have the upper hand as the two-game aggregate-goals series heads back to its home field. Toronto, which set an MLS record for points in the regular season with 69, will have two key players back for the second game. Sebas- tian Giovinco (16 goals, six assists) and Jozy Altidore (15 goals, six assists) served one-game suspensions Tuesday night. Giovinco was out because of accumulation of yellow cards in the conference quarterfinal against the New York Red Bulls. Altidore was given a red card in the second leg. “We’re an entirely different team with them on the field,” Toronto coach Greg Vanney said. “Also, it adds something different for (the Crew) to deal with.” With away goals used as the tiebreaker for the series, Toronto was hoping to put one past Crew goalkeeper Zack Steffen but did not have a shot on goal. AP Photo/Jay LaPrete Columbus Crew’s Federico Higuain, center, dribbles the ball between Toronto FC’s Jonathan Osorio, left, and Steven Beitashour during Tuesday’s Eastern Confer- ence championship soccer match in Columbus, Ohio. “There were a couple of acceptable results,” Crew coach Gregg Berhalter said. “Zero-zero is one of them. It’s a result we can live with. If we score in Toronto, it changes the whole complexion.” Toronto FC midfielder Michael Bradley likes his team’s chances to repeat as conference champions. “We needed to leave here with the opportunity to finish things at BMO Field next week. We did that,” he said. “We came here and controlled things and handled things in a good way.” Crew midfielder Artur had a 25-yard blast in the 73rd minute that just missed the right post. Toronto goalkeeper Alexander Bono made a save on Harrison Afful in the 85th minute to preserve the draw. The Crew got stronger offensively as the match went on and had another oppor- tunity go awry in the 91st minute when Ola Kamara couldn’t get on the end of a cross from Justin Meram. “We kept pushing. We didn’t give up,” Berhalter said. “We tried to create goal- scoring chances. I wouldn’t say we were frustrated.” The winner of the series hosts the MLS Cup on Dec. 9 against the Western Conference winner, either the Houston Dynamo or Seattle Sounders FC, who won the 2016 MLS Cup with a victory over Toronto on penalty kicks.