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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 2019)
E AST O REGONIAN Friday, February 8, 2019 Bucks take easy wins from Cowboys FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS | FACEBOOK.COM/EOSPORTS B1 WRESTLING PENDLETON’S RENDON CHASING A STATE TITLE By BRETT KANE East Oregonian The last time Pendleton took on Crook County, they made off with a 46-point advantage. On Thursday, they knocked down another easy victory. The No. 2 Buckaroos cruised to a 64-33 Intermountain Conference home win over the No. 5-ranked Cowgirls. “Crook County fights hard,” said junior point guard Carissa Cooley. “They don’t just hand over the win. At this point in the season, that’s good for us.” The Bucks made easy work of the first half, with freshman Muriel Hoisington helping the Bucks out to a six-point lead to start. Hoisington then picked up an assist when senior Katie Bradt scored to give the Cowgirls an 8-0 lead. Pendleton ended the quarter up 17-2. Crook County’s only points for the quarter came from freshman Josie Kas- berger at the free-throw line. See Bucks, Page B2 GIRLS’ BOX SCORE Pendleton 17 19 6 22 — 64 Crook County 2 8 6 17 — 33 PENDLETON — Hoisington 13, Cooley 10, Nirschl 7, Lee 6, Neveau 4, Bradt 4, Blake 4, Jennes 4, Guerrero 3, Spreit 3, Taber 3, Scott 2, Wilson 1 CROOK COUNTY — Hutchins 14, Barker 6, Wood- ward 5, Freeman 3, Mode 3, Kasberger 2 Pendleton wrestler Alex Rendon is currently ranked second in the state at 126 pounds. Staff photo by E.J. Harris Senior was second at state last year at 126 pounds By ANNIE FOWLER East Oregonian AP Photo/Steve Dykes San Antonio Spurs center LaMarcus Al- dridge, right, gets Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic, left, up in the air during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Portland on Thursday. Blazers beat the Spurs 127-118 T his is it. Pendleton senior Alex Rendon is on his last go-round to win a state wrestling title, and it’s well within his grasp. The Bucks will host the Intermountain Confer- ence district tournament Friday and Saturday, with the top four in each weight class advancing to the state tournament next weekend in Portland. “Ever since high school started, that has been the end goal for me,” Rendon said of a state title. “Our senior class is big compared to past classes, and we knew as seniors we would be dominant.” Pendleton has not had a state wrestling cham- pion since 2011 when Roman Holcomb (112) and Dylan Holcomb (119) brought home titles. Bucks coach Fred Phillips believes Rendon has the tools to get the job done after placing second last year. “Alex is the most gifted pure athlete I have ever coached,” Phillips said. “He is very good. I believe he can do it.” See Rendon, Page B2 McCollum scores 30 points After his dynamic career with Dawgs, James is headed to EOU By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press PORTLAND — CJ McCollum had 30 points, including seven 3-pointers, and the Portland Trail Blazers handed the San Antonio Spurs their third straight loss with a 127-118 victory on Thursday night. Damian Lillard added 24 points and nine assists for the Blazers, who were coming off a loss at home to Miami but have won seven of their last nine games overall. It was the second straight game that McCollum has had seven 3s, which match his career high. With his second 3-pointer, McCollum passed Terry Porter for third on Portland’s all- time list. DeMar DeRozan had 35 points for the Spurs, who were playing the third game of an extended road trip because of the rodeo visiting AT&T Center. See Blazers, Page B2 By ANNIE FOWLER East Oregonian Staff photo by Annie Fowler Hermiston quarterback Andrew James signed his letter of intent Thursday to play football at Eastern Oregon University in La Grande. With one swoosh of his pen, andrew James officially joined the Eastern Ore- gon University football family on Thursday afternoon. James, Hermiston High’s starting quar- terback the past three seasons, joins a recruiting class of 24 for coach Tim Camp’s Mountaineers. “I’m excited,” James said. “I knew this would happen one day or another. I will never forget this day.” It will be a long time before Hermiston fans forget what James brought to the field. “I am happy and proud,” Hermiston coach David Faaeteete said. “He’s ready to move on to his next journey. Our program wouldn’t be the same without him. He was a great leader and a great communicator. Credit to his par- ents, and coaches who have had the opportu- nity to coach him.” James is the 10th player Faaeteete has coached over the past four years that has signed to play at the next level. James will join former Bulldogs Jonathan Hinkle (line- backer) and Joey Gutierrez (wide receiver) at EOU. “They are doing it with their hard work,” Faaeteete said of his players moving on. “Our program gave them an opportunity to shine. I’m going to miss Andrew, he’s a good kid.” James said he is looking forward to his next chapter of football. “There are a lot of guys there I already know,” James said. “It will be some of the best years of my life.” See James, Page B2
