Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2017)
SPORTS Thursday, December 7, 2017 East Oregonian Men’s College Basketball Page 3B MLB Thybulle scores 19 as Washington stuns No. 2 Kansas on the road By DAVE SKRETTA Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. — First-year Washington coach Mike Hopkins saw how Kansas dissected Syracuse’s vaunted 2-3 zone defense last week, so he made a couple tweaks to his own version before facing the Jayhawks on Wednesday night. Primarily, Hopkins stretched the zone to take away the 3-pointer. It worked to perfection. The Huskies frustrated the Jayhawks’ dangerous lineup of deep threats, Matisse Thybulle hit five-pointers and scored 19 points, and Washington kept its poise down the stretch for a 74-65 victory that knocked No. 2 Kansas from the ranks of the unbeaten. “We’ve been very fortu- nate this year to play a lot of teams that shoot 30 and 35 3-pointers. It’s really the kryptonite of the zone,” said Hopkins, who spent 22 years on Jim Boeheim’s staff at Syracuse, a tenure that came in handy considering the Jayhawks just beat the Orange. “I felt like this could be our best opportunity to win the game,” Hopkins said. Jaylen Nowell also had 15 points, and Noah Dick- erson added 13 points and 14 rebounds, as the Huskies (7-2) beat the Jayhawks (7-1) for the first time since December 1974. “We really just didn’t have it tonight. You have to give them credit,” the Jayhawks’ Devonte Graham said. “They made every shot and they did a good job of not letting us get comfortable.” Lagerald Vick had a career-high 28 points for Kansas, doing almost all his damage in the middle of the Huskies’ zone. But he didn’t get a whole lot of help as the Jayhawks went 5 for 20 from the 3-point arc, lowlighted by lousy performances from their two best sharpshooters. Graham, coming off back- to-back 35-point outbursts, was held to three points on 1-for-8 shooting, while Svi Mykhailiuk was 3 for 12 from the field and scored eight points before fouling out. “They took everybody away but Lagerald — ‘See AP Photo/Mary Altaffer New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, left, gen- eral manager Brian Cashman, center, and Aaron Boone, pose for photographers during a news con- ference introducing Boone as the team’s new man- ager, Wednesday at Yankee stadium in New York. Boone knows he has to prove himself to Yankees By RONALD BLUM Associated Press AP Photo/Charlie Riedel Washington’s Matisse Thybulle, center, beats Kansas’ Clay Young, left, and Marcus Garrett (0) to a rebound during Wednesday’s game in Kansas City, Mo. NCAA Washington #2 Kansas 74 65 if you can beat us,”’ Kansas coach Bill Self said. “I thought our defense was horrendous and our hustle plays weren’t very good either.” In truth, the Jayhawks had little trouble getting Vick open shots in the middle of the zone. The problem came in that he was just 12 of 23 from the field, even though most of the shots were bunnies. Throw in foul trouble that sent the Jayhawks’ two big men, Udoka Azubuike and Mitch Lightfoot, to the bench well before halftime and it was no surprise the Huskies took a 36-34 lead into the break. Washington kept the pres- sure on early in the second half, pushing its lead to 52-44 with 12:10 left in the game, before the Jayhawks finally turned up the defensive intensity. Vick got going again inside and Azubuike’s slam of an alley-oop pass trimmed their deficit to 53-52 with 9 1/2 minutes to go. The Huskies calmed back down after a timeout, though, stretching their lead again. Thybulle got loose for a transition dunk, Dickerson added a slam of his own, and Hameir Wright’s 3-pointer from the wing made it 69-56 — their biggest lead to that point. Even when the Jayhawks caught a break, like a tech- nical foul on David Crisp in the closing minutes, they couldn’t capitalize. Graham missed both free throws with a chance to cut into a 73-59 deficit, and Mykhailiuk promptly missed a 3-point attempt as the Huskies put the game away. “You could see this coming,” Self said. “When we’re energized and moving the ball and everybody is playing with energy, I think we’re a nice team. But when we’re not, we get average real quick.” UP NEXT Washington begins a four-game home stand with No. 12 Gonzaga on Sunday night. SCOREBOARD Local slate PREP BOYS BASKETBALL Thursday Stanfield vs. Arlington (at Umatilla), 2 p.m. Pilot Rock vs. Riverside (at Umatilla), 3:30 p.m. Faith Bible vs. Echo (at Umatilla), 5:30 p.m. Union at Umatilla, 7 p.m. Friday Irrigon vs. Imbler (at Heppner), 4:30 p.m. Ione vs. Prarie City (at Condon), 4:30 p.m. Walla Walla (WA) at Pendleton, 7 p.m. Chiawana (WA) at Hermiston, 7:30 p.m. Mac-Hi at Heppner, 7:30 p.m. Weston-McEwen vs. Salem Acadmey (at Kennedy), 7:30 p.m. Helix at Enterprise, 7:30 p.m. N. Clackamas Christian at Condon/Wheel- er, 7:30 p.m. Nixyaawii vs. Crane (at EOU), 7:30 p.m. Riverside, Umatilla, Pilot Rock, Stanfield, Arlington, Echo vs. TBD (at Umatilla), TBD Saturday Nixyaawii vs. Jordan Valley (at EOU), 12:30 p.m. Ione vs. North Clackamas Christian (at Condon), 12:30 p.m. Mac-Hi vs. Irrigon (at Heppner), 2:30 p.m. Prarie City at Condon/Wheeler, 3:30 p.m. Imbler at Heppner, 5:30 p.m. Riverside, Umatilla, Pilot Rock, Stanfield, Arlington, Echo vs. TBD (at Umatilla), TBD Helix vs. TBD (at Enterprise), TBD PREP GIRLS BASKETBALL Thursday Riverside vs. Pilot Rock (at Umatilla), 2 p.m. Stanfield vs. Mac-Hi (at Umatilla), 3:30 p.m. Union at Umatilla, 5:30 p.m. Echo vs. Faith Bible (at Umatilla), 7 p.m. Friday Irrigon vs. Imbler, 3 p.m. Ione vs. Prarie City (at Condon), 3 p.m. Chiawana (WA) at Hermiston, 5:45 p.m. Mac-Hi at Heppner, 6 p.m. Nixyaawii vs. Crane (at EOU), 6 p.m. Weston-McEwen vs. King’s Way Christian (WA) (at Kennedy), 6 p.m. North Clackamas Christian at Condon/ Wheeler, 6 p.m. Helix at Enterprise, 6 p.m. Pendleton at Walla Walla (WA), 7 p.m. Riverside, Umatilla, Pilot Rock, Mac-Hi, Echo vs. TBD (at Umatilla), TBD Saturday Nixyaawii vs. Jordan Valley (at EOU), 11 a.m. Ione vs. North Clackamas Christian (at Condon), 11 a.m. Mac-Hi vs. Irrigon (at Heppner), 1 p.m. Prarie City at Condon/Wheeler, 3:30 p.m. Imbler at Heppner, 4 p.m. Weston-McEwen vs. TBD (at Kennedy), TBD Helix vs. TBD (at Enterprise), TBD Riverside, Umatilla, Pilot Rock, Mac-Hi, Echo vs. TBD (at Umatilla), TBD PREP WRESTLING Friday Hermiston at Post Falls (ID) Pendleton, Mac-Hi, Heppner at La Grande Tournament Irrigon at Culver Invitational, 8 a.m. Saturday Irrigon at Culver Invitational, 8 a.m. Riverside at Leonard Schutte Invite (WA) Echo at Nyssa Tournament PREP SWIMMING Saturday Pendleton, Hermiston at Baker, Noon WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL Friday Edmonds at BMCC, 7:30 p.m. Saturday EOU at Linfield, 4 p.m. BMCC at Blazer Classic (Centralia, WA), TBA Sunday BMCC at Blazer Classic (Centralia, WA), TBA COLLEGE WRESTLING Saturday Warner Pacific, Clackamas CC at EOU, 4/6 p.m. Prep Scores Wednesday BOYS PREP BASKETBALL Gold Beach 55, Glide 38 Perrydale 65, Yoncalla 47 Sherwood 41, Centennial 37 GIRLS PREP BASKETBALL Burns 57, Prairie City 38 City Christian 34, East Linn Christian 28 Gold Beach 50, Glide 34 Myrtle Point 41, Camas Valley 20 Perrydale 43, Yoncalla 22 Roseburg 49, Thurston 29 Football NFL AMERICAN CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA New England 10 2 0 .833 348 223 Buffalo 6 6 0 .500 227 283 N.Y. Jets 5 7 0 .417 266 288 Miami 5 7 0 .417 209 298 South W L T Pct PF PA Tennessee 8 4 0 .667 266 282 Jacksonville 8 4 0 .667 299 178 Houston 4 8 0 .333 296 309 Indianapolis 3 9 0 .250 205 330 North W L T Pct PF PA Pittsburgh 10 2 0 .833 281 213 Baltimore 7 5 0 .583 280 207 Cincinnati 5 7 0 .417 219 238 Cleveland 0 12 0 .000 176 308 West W L T Pct PF PA Kansas City 6 6 0 .500 303 274 L.A. Chargers 6 6 0 .500 268 212 Oakland 6 6 0 .500 249 278 Denver 3 9 0 .250 206 315 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF PA Philadelphia 10 2 0 .833 361 215 Dallas 6 6 0 .500 286 284 Washington 5 7 0 .417 272 314 N.Y. Giants 2 10 0 .167 189 291 South W L T Pct PF PA New Orleans 9 3 0 .750 353 243 Carolina 8 4 0 .667 269 238 Atlanta 7 5 0 .583 274 244 Tampa Bay 4 8 0 .333 243 288 North W L T Pct PF PA Minnesota 10 2 0 .833 285 204 Detroit 6 6 0 .500 314 308 Green Bay 6 6 0 .500 258 281 Chicago 3 9 0 .250 191 267 West W L T Pct PF PA L.A. Rams 9 3 0 .750 361 222 Seattle 8 4 0 .667 290 222 Arizona 5 7 0 .417 219 310 San Francisco 2 10 0 .167 202 298 ——— Week 14 Thursday’s Games New Orleans at Atlanta, 5:25 p.m. Sunday’s Games Oakland at Kansas City, 10 a.m. San Francisco at Houston, 10 a.m. Minnesota at Carolina, 10 a.m. Chicago at Cincinnati, 10 a.m. Green Bay at Cleveland, 10 a.m. Detroit at Tampa Bay, 10 a.m. Indianapolis at Buffalo, 10 a.m. Dallas at N.Y. Giants, 10 a.m. Washington at L.A. Chargers, 1:05 p.m. Tennessee at Arizona, 1:05 p.m. N.Y. Jets at Denver, 1:05 p.m. Seattle at Jacksonville, 1:25 p.m. Philadelphia at L.A. Rams, 1:25 p.m. Baltimore at Pittsburgh, 5:30 p.m. Monday’s Game New England at Miami, 5:30 p.m. Basketball NBA EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct GB Boston 22 4 .846 — Toronto 15 7 .682 5 Philadelphia 13 10 .565 7½ New York 12 12 .500 9 Brooklyn 9 14 .391 11½ Southeast Division W L Pct GB Washington 13 11 .542 — Miami 11 13 .458 2 Orlando 11 15 .423 3 Charlotte 9 14 .391 3½ Atlanta 5 19 .208 8 Central Division W L Pct GB Cleveland 18 7 .720 — Detroit 14 10 .583 3 Indiana 14 11 .560 4 Milwaukee 13 10 .565 4½ Chicago 3 20 .130 14 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division W L Pct GB Houston 18 4 .818 — San Antonio 17 8 .680 2½ New Orleans 13 12 .520 7 Memphis 8 16 .333 11 Dallas 7 18 .280 12½ Northwest Division W L Pct GB Denver 13 11 .542 — Minnesota 14 11 .560 — Portland 13 11 .542 — Utah 13 12 .520 ½ Oklahoma City 11 12 .478 1½ Pacific Division W L Pct GB Golden State 20 6 .769 — L.A. Clippers 8 14 .364 9½ L.A. Lakers 8 15 .348 10 Phoenix 9 17 .346 10½ Sacramento 7 17 .292 11½ ——— Wednesday’s Games Cleveland 101, Sacramento 95 Indiana 98, Chicago 96 Orlando 110, Atlanta 106, OT Boston 97, Dallas 90 New York 99, Memphis 88 New Orleans 123, Denver 114 Milwaukee 104, Detroit 100 Golden State 101, Charlotte 87 San Antonio 117, Miami 105 Minnesota at L.A. Clippers, late finish Thursday’s Games L.A. Lakers at Philadelphia, 5 p.m. Washington at Phoenix, 6 p.m. Oklahoma City vs. Brooklyn at Mexico City, 7 p.m. Houston at Utah, 7:30 p.m. NCAA Men’s Basketball Top 25 Wednesday’s Games No. 13 Xavier 96, Kent State 70 No. 11 North Carolina 104, Western Carolina 61 Loyola-Chicago 65, No. 5 Florida 59 Washington 74, No. 2 Kansas 65 Thursday’s Games Valparaiso at No. 21 Purdue, 3:30 p.m. (FS1) Pac-12 Wednesday’s Games Montana at UCLA, canceled Washington 74, No. 2 Kansas 65 Colorado 75, New Mexico 57 Central Arkansas 96, Cal 69 Idaho 91, Washington State 64 Thursday’s Games No games scheduled. NCAA Women’s Basketball Top 25 Wednesday’s Games No. 23 Green Bay 75, Dayton 64 No. 21 Texas A&M 71, TCU 58 No. 12 Ohio State 103, Florida 77 No. 15 Maryland 97, Mount Saint Mary’s 57 No. 3 Notre Dame 90, Michigan State 59 No. 11 Tennessee 131, Troy 69 Thursday’s Games Vanderbilt at No. 4 Louisville, 4 p.m. Marquette at No. 24 Michigan, 4 p.m. Pitt at No. 10 West Virginia, 4 p.m. UNCG at No. 14 Duke, 4 p.m. (ACCNE) Stetson at No. 13 FSU, 4 p.m. (ACCNE) San Diego at No. 25 Cal, 7 p.m. Pac-12 Wednesday’s Games Colorado 70, Colorado State 67 Gonzaga 64, Washington State 56 Thursday’s Games Arizona at North Arizona, 5:30 p.m. Washington at Boise State, 6 p.m. San Diego at No. 25 Cal, 7 p.m. Hockey NHL EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Tampa Bay 27 19 6 2 40 101 69 Toronto 29 18 10 1 37 101 85 Montreal 29 13 13 3 29 81 90 Boston 25 12 9 4 28 69 73 Detroit 28 11 12 5 27 79 91 Ottawa 25 9 10 6 24 74 86 Florida 27 10 13 4 24 79 93 Buffalo 28 7 17 4 18 60 96 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA New Jersey 27 16 7 4 36 84 81 Columbus 28 17 10 1 35 80 70 Washington 29 17 11 1 35 100 86 N.Y. Islanders 27 16 9 2 34 101 92 Pittsburgh 29 15 11 3 33 86 95 N.Y. Rangers 27 15 10 2 32 91 81 Carolina 26 11 10 5 27 72 80 Philadelphia 27 9 11 7 25 75 83 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Nashville 28 18 7 3 39 92 80 St. Louis 28 18 8 2 38 92 75 Winnipeg 28 17 7 4 38 95 76 Dallas 28 16 11 1 33 86 81 Minnesota 27 13 11 3 29 80 82 Chicago 28 12 11 5 29 84 79 Colorado 26 12 12 2 26 81 86 Pacific Division GP W L OT Pts GF GA Los Angeles 29 18 8 3 39 90 63 Vegas 27 17 9 1 35 94 85 Vancouver 28 14 10 4 32 78 77 San Jose 26 14 10 2 30 66 61 Calgary 28 14 12 2 30 81 90 Anaheim 28 11 11 6 28 75 86 Edmonton 27 11 14 2 24 78 92 Arizona 30 7 18 5 19 73 104 NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for overtime loss. ——— Wednesday’s Games Toronto 2, Calgary 1, SO Washington 6, Chicago 2 Philadelphia at Edmonton, late finish Ottawa at Anaheim, late finish Thursday’s Games N.Y. Islanders at Pittsburgh, 4 p.m. Arizona at Boston, 4 p.m. Colorado at Tampa Bay, 4:30 p.m. Winnipeg at Florida, 4:30 p.m. Calgary at Montreal, 4:30 p.m. Dallas at St. Louis, 5 p.m. Philadelphia at Vancouver, 7 p.m. Ottawa at Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m. Carolina at San Jose, 7:30 p.m. NEW YORK — Aaron Boone was pulling into the driveway of his home in Scottsdale, Arizona, last Thursday, bringing 8-year-old daughter Bella home from school so his wife could drive her to a dance lesson, and he noticed a missed call from Brian Cashman. Boone called back the New York Yankees general manager as his wife looked on and said Cashman told him: “Hey, just first and foremost, I want to make sure you’re completely on board and understanding the commitment level that is now expected of you.” “If that’s the case,” Boone recalled Cashman saying, “I’m going to recommend to ownership that you’re the guy we move forward and focus on.” And with that, at age 44 Boone had secured his first manager or coaching job of any kind since his retirement as a player eight years ago. Boone was introduced Wednesday as New York’s manager during a news conference at Yankee Stadium, where televisions throughout the ballpark showed images of him rounding the bases in triumph after his 11th-in- ning home run off Boston’s Tim Wakefield won Game 7 of the 2003 AL Champion- ship Series for the Yankees. “It’s certainly something that I’m known for in my baseball life, obviously, and in some way probably is a contributor to me being here today,” he said. Among six candidates for the job, Boone so impressed Cashman and his staff that no second round of interviews was needed. “The interview process is to try to determine how Aaron ticks and if he an extension of our philosophies or pretty close to an extension of our philosophies and what kind of decision-making process he would gravitate to,” Cashman said. “That doesn’t mean there won’t be some growing pains on the beginning end, and we’re OK with that.” Cashman recommended Boone after consulting with a smorgasbord of his modern-day front office: assistant GMs Jean Afterman and Mike Fishman, vice president of baseball operations Tim Naehring, senior director of player development Kevin Reese, assistant director of professional scouting Dan Giese, director of quantitative analysis David Grabiner, director of mental conditioning Chad Bohling, head athletic trainer Steve Donohue and vice president of communications Jason Zillo. “There was a difference of opinion among the participants as to who their number two- or three-choice was, but there was little-to-no difference of opinion as to who their number-one choice was,” Steinbrenner said. “It wasn’t even close.” Cashman thought back to when he was assistant GM and owner George Steinbrenner promoted him to succeed Bob Watson as GM. “He took a chance on me back in 1998, and here I am 20 years later,” Cashman said. Boone became the first manager hired by the Yankees since they moved into their new ballpark in 2009 and since George Steinbrenner died the following year. Hal Steinbrenner, son of The Boss, spoke briefly with Boone outside Dono- hue’s office when Boone interviewed on Nov. 17. Steinbrenner originally had said he and his siblings would meet with candidates who reached a second round. “When I get that kind of recommendation from my top people, I just didn’t see the need,” he said. Boone had worked for ESPN since retiring as a player. He acknowledged one of his first tasks will be to convince his players he can do the job. “I think in short order I’ll be able to earn that respect, that they’ll be able to look at me, trust in me, know that I have their interest at heart, but know that hope- fully I know what the heck I’m talking about,” he said. “That’s something that you have to earn over the initial days in spring training, in the season.” ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Sebastian Garcia Senior - Umatilla High School Garcia scored a combined 26 points over the weekend to help Umatilla win the Vernonia Tournament, including a team- high 19 points in the championship game on Saturday. Proudly Sponsored By: Proudly Sponsored By: Soccer MLS CUP Saturday: Seattle at Toronto, 1 p.m. 1411 6th Street, Umatilla, OR • 541-922-3001