A9
SPORTS
East Oregonian
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Oregon women top Georgia 57-50, return to Sweet 16 as 6 seed
By KRISTIE RIEKEN
Associated Press
SA N A NTON IO —
Sedona Prince scored 22
points, Nyara Sabally took
over late and sixth-seeded
Oregon beat No. 3 Georgia
57-50 on Wednesday, March
24, in the women’s NCAA
Tournament to advance to
its fourth straight Sweet 16.
Sabally scored six straight
points — including a putback
of her own missed shot — to
break open a tie game and
give the Ducks a 54-48 lead
with less than a minute to go.
She finished with 15 points,
including 10 in the second
half, and nine rebounds.
“Ny and I talked before
the fourth quarter and we
were like: ‘We’re going to
go to the Sweet 16,’” Prince
said.
Oregon (15-8) is in the
tournament for the 16th
time overall, but this Ducks
Eric Gay/Associated Press
Oregon forward Nyara Sabally, left, drives arounds Georgia guard Que Morrison (23) during
the first half of a college basketball game in the second round of the women’s NCAA tourna-
ment at the Alamodome in San Antonio on Wednesday, March 24, 2021.
team came in less heralded
than those led by Sabrina
Ionescu, who missed out on
her final chance at a national
title last year because of the
pandemic.
“Everybody knows what
we had and the opportu-
nity and capability of doing
PRCA Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale coming to Pendleton
East Oregonian
PENDLETON — The
best professional bull riders
in ProRodeo are heading
to one of the most iconic
settings in rodeo for the
Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale.
The event that crowns the
Xtreme Bulls Tour champion
will take place Sept. 13-14
in the scenic Happy Canyon
Arena prior to the Pendleton
Round-Up, the PRCA, Pend-
leton Round-Up and Happy
Canyon announced Tuesday,
March 23.
The event will be the final
Xtreme Bulls event of the
ProRodeo season and will
pay out $110,000, making
it a key step on the road to
the Wrangler National Finals
Rodeo in December in Las
Vegas.
“The
Pendleton
Round-Up is one of the most
iconic rodeos in the world,”
PRCA CEO George Taylor
said in a news release. “This
is an incredible opportunity
Ben Lonergan/East Oregonian, File
Sage Steele Kimzey, of Strong City, Okla., hangs on to Hell
Hound for a 90.5-point ride to win the 2019 Pendleton
Round-Up bull riding competition. The Pendleton Round-
up, Happy Canyon and the PRCA announced Tuesday,
March 23, 2021, that the 2021 Xtreme Bulls Tour Finale will
be held at the Happy Canyon Arena Sept. 13-14.
to crown ProRodeo’s bull
riding tour champion on an
amazing stage.”
The Xtreme Bulls Finale
will be a two-day event, with
two rounds the first day and a
third long-go and a progres-
sive round the second day.
The finale will consist of
24 contestants who qualify
through a semifinals event
before the finale.
“We are excited to host
the Xtreme Bulls Tour
Finale and bring the top 24
professional bull riders to
the Happy Canyon Arena,”
Happy Canyon and Pend-
leton Round-Up Bulls/
Concert Chair Kipp Curtis
said. “Adding another
signature event to the week
of Round-Up will provide
our fans the opportunity to
watch the crowning of the
Xtreme Bulls Champion.”
The Pendleton Round-Up
is scheduled to take place
Sept. 11-18 and is a major
stop on the ProRodeo Tour.
The Pendleton Round-Up
had a payout in excess of
$500,000 in 2019.
The Xtreme Bulls Tour
Finale will air exclusively
on The Cowboy Channel
and will stream live on the
PRCA on Cowboy Channel
Plus App.
Bucks: ‘This has been circled on my calendar forever’
Continued from Page A8
your eyes is the measly six
points a game the Bucks allow.
Junior linebacker Kyle
Liscom has 45 tackles in three
games, and the Bucks use their
team speed to disrupt and pick
off passes.
“The kids want to win
football games,” Davis said.
“Defensively, we fly around,
and we are unselfish in the
way we play.”
Redmond (1-1 SD1, 2-1
overall), is coming off a 27-0
victory over Ridgeview.
The Panthers average
20 points a game, and allow
seven, making the March 26
game an interesting matchup.
The Panthers have gotten
a lot of mileage out of senior
running back Austin Carter,
who has 289 yards and four
touchdowns in three games.
A family affair
Davis graduated from
Redmond High School in
1994, his dad, Kurt, was a
longtime wrestling coach and
assistant football coach, and
his older brother, Kris, is the
Panthers’ offensive coordina-
tor.
“This has been circled on
my calendar forever,” Davis
said. “These are the games
in this tournament last year
and it was taken away from
us ... and the expectations
weighed heavily on them,”
coach Kelly Graves said.
“And then when you start
losing a few games and
people start to question your
program, and then your own
players sometimes maybe
question themselves, (this)
is great redemption.”
Jenna Staiti had 18 points
and nine rebounds for Geor-
gia (21-7), which was look-
ing to reach its first Sweet 16
since 2013.
Staiti was encouraged by
the step forward the Lady
Bulldogs took this season.
“This is the standard,”
she said. “This group of
seniors and this team put
Georgia back where it needs
to be.”
After Sabally put the
Ducks ahead to stay on a
layup with 2:20 left, Geor-
gia appeared to have tied
the game with a jumper, but
the officials said a foul was
called before the shot. The
foul call didn’t stop play
because the referee lost her
whistle in her mask.
“Any time you take points
off the board, does it change
momentum? Sure it does,”
Georgia coach Joni Taylor
said. “It’s a tie ballgame at
that time, and then it turns
into a four-point swing for
them.”
Georgia opened the
fourth quarter with an 8-2
run to get within 42-41 with
about six minutes to go, and
it was back and forth from
there until Sabally came
through for Oregon.
The Ducks relied on their
starters, and only four play-
ers scored. Taylor Mikesell
had 11 points and Erin Boley
finished with nine.
Poor long-range shooting
hurt Georgia, which went 1
of 13 from 3-point range.
Heppner:
Conference matchup.
Irrigon (0-1) has played
just one game, while Umatilla
(1-2) is playing with a small
lineup because of injuries and
academic probation.
PILOT ROCK AT IONE/
ARLINGTON: Defense has
been an issue for both teams,
but the March 26, Special
District 2 contest should give
each team an opportunity to
flex a little muscle on offense.
The Rockets (1-2) are
coming off a 30-24 win over
Imbler, while the Cardinals
are recovering from a 52-14
loss to Dufur.
JOSEPH AT ECHO: The
undefeated Eagles (3-0) visit
the Cougars (0-3) on March
26.
Joseph has beaten its three
opponents by an average of 20
points.
Continued from Page A8
“He’s like 150 pounds. He also
played linebacker, and now
we have moved him to safety.
Bodie wanted to play quarter-
back, but we had to move him
to tight end. He has done an
amazing job blocking. There
is no quit in this kid. Both of
them have been huge for us.”
The Pioneers, under
first-year head coach Jorge
Estrada, are looking for their
second win after beating Irri-
gon last week.
IRRIGON
AT
UMATILLA: Both teams
have had their struggles this
season, but should be evenly
matched in the Thursday,
March 25, Blue Mountain
PREP STANDINGS
PREP FOOTBALL
Nyssa
Riverside
5A SPECIAL DISTRICT 1
Team
Pendleton
Hood River Valley
The Dalles
Redmond
Ridgeview
LaSalle Prep
Parkrose
Putnam
League
3-0
2-1
1-0
1-1
1-2
0-1
0-1
0-2
Overall
3-0
2-1
1-1
2-1
1-2
2-1
0-3
1-2
Team
League
Condon
5-1
Echo
5-1
Dufur
3-0
South Wasco County 3-1
Ione/Arlington
3-3
Sherman
3-3
Lyle/Wishram
2-1
Trout Lake
1-3
Mitchell/Spray
1-4
Glenwood/Klickitat
0-4
Bickleton
0-5
Overall
4-0
4-0
3-1
2-2
2-2
1-2
1-3
1-3
0-4
League
3-0
2-0
1-2
1-2
0-0
0-1
0-2
Overall
3-0
3-0
1-2
1-2
0-1
0-1
1-2
1A SPECIAL DISTRICT 2
you want to win.”
Kris admits he also has
been looking forward to the
game.
“Nothings slips past us,”
Kris said. “We are pretty
competitive. There’s that,
and sibling rivalry. We’ve
been that way for a long time,
whether it’s a family Wiffle
ball game or a football game.
It’s always competitive.”
The game also gives the
brothers a chance to catch up
in person.
“We are always busy,” Kris
said. “We see each other at
sporting events or Christmas.
It’s good for us and our kids to
get together.”
To add a little flair to the
game, Erik’s son, Jack, is a
sophomore quarterback for
the Bucks, while Kris’ son,
Kole, is a senior slot receiver
for the Panthers.
The Bucks have had
success the past few years,
going deep in the state play-
offs, which gives Kris cause
for concern.
“Erik has been successful
in everything he has done,”
Kris said. “We have our work
cut out for us. I’m happy for
him as a brother. Hopefully, he
learned a little from me or our
dad. Sometimes, dad gives us
advice we don’t want to hear.”
Team
Dufur
Wallowa
Powder Valley
Enterprise
Imbler
Pilot Rock
Elgin
Union
Cove
Ione/Arlington
Crane
League
3-0
2-0
1-0
1-1
1-1
1-2
0-0
0-1
0-2
0-2
0-3
Overall
3-0
2-0
3-0
1-1
1-1
1-2
0-1
0-1
0-2
0-2
0-3
1A SPECIAL DISTRICT 4 (6-MAN)
Team
League
South Wasco County 3-0
Joseph
2-0
Dayville/Monument 1-0
Sherman/Condon
1-1
Mitchell/Spray/Wheeler 1-1
Harper Charter
0-1
Prairie City
0-2
Echo
0-3
Overall
3-0
3-0
1-2
2-1
1-1
0-1
0-3
0-3
PREP VOLLEYBALL
Team
Crook County
Ridgeview
Pendleton
Hood River Valley
Redmond
The Dalles
League
4-0
4-1
3-2
3-2
1-5
0-5
Continued from Page A8
this year has been comfort-
ing to me. Whether he is at
guard or snapping the ball,
Josh is going to do what he
can to make the team the best
it can be.
“We run up his butt a lot,”
Elliott continued. “Being
340, he is a big body up
front, and his pass blocking
is really good. I will miss
him. We won’t have anyone
to fill that size.”
Fa aeteete’s exper i-
ence also has been a big
help to Fernandez and the
other linemen.
“He understands what
we are going through in the
game,” Fernandez said. “He
makes football so special —
it’s not just a game, but a big
family on the field.”
A memorable event
When Fernandez was a
freshman, he got an oppor-
tunity to play on the offen-
sive line with his brother A.J.
during the Bulldogs’ playoff
run that ended with a 5A
state title in 2017.
It was just a few plays
during one game, but it
meant a lot.
“Playing next to my
brother was a once-in-a-life-
time experience,” Fernan-
dez said. “It’s not something
everyone gets to do. Every
once in a while, I put on
my championship ring and
remember that day. I’m
grateful for all the oppor-
tunities I’ve had in high
school.”
It is moments like that,
that Faaeteete enjoys.
“That was pretty cool,”
Faaeteete said. “Two broth-
ers on the field together. I’m
glad we were able to make
that happen.”
A family affair
Fernandez has been play-
ing football since the first
grade. His dad Tony (Moose)
was his first coach.
“My dad coached me
and my brother’s team,” he
said. “That’s what my life is
wrapped around.”
But football wasn’t
always his first love.
“When I was younger,
my favorite sport was base-
ball,” he said. “I was more
free because my dad wasn’t
coaching me.”
When he was older,
Fernandez realized his dad,
who played high school foot-
ball at Riverside, helped him
beyond measure.
“I appreciate all he did
for me,” Fernandez said.
“I’m decent in high school
because of him.”
Team
Burns
Vale
Irrigon
Umatilla
League
3-0
1-3
0-0
0-1
Overall
5-1
4-3
8-1
6-2
1-6
2-4
4-4
Overall
5-1
5-1
5-0
3-5
3-3
3-3
2-1
1-4
1-5
0-4
0-5
1A OLD OREGON LEAGUE
Team
Imbler
Powder Valley
Nixyaawii
Wallowa
Cove
Joseph
Griswold
Elgin
Pine Eagle
League
3-0
1-0
1-0
1-1
1-2
0-0
0-0
0-1
0-2
Overall
3-2
7-0
5-3
5-2
2-4
1-4
1-6
0-1
0-5
PREP GIRLS SOCCER
5A INTERMOUNTAIN
CONFERENCE
Team
Redmond
Hood River Valley
Ridgeview
The Dalles/Dufur
Crook County
Pendleton
League
1-0-0
0-0-1
0-0-1
0-0-0
0-1-0
0-1-0
Overall
4-1-0
1-4-1
0-4-1
2-2-0
0-2-0
0-5-0
3A/2A/1A SPECIAL DISTRICT 6
Team
Riverside
Nyssa
Umatilla
Stanfield/Echo
Four Rivers
League
2-0-0
1-0-0
0-1-0
0-1-0
0-2-0
Overall
5-1-0
3-1-0
1-2-1
0-3-1
0-5-0
PREP BOYS SOCCER
5A INTERMOUNTAIN
CONFERENCE
5A INTERMOUNTAIN
CONFERENCE
Overall
7-1
6-3
5-3
3-4
2-7
0-6
3A EASTERN OREGON LEAGUE
Protector:
League
4-0
3-1
2-0
1-1
1-3
0-1
0-2
1A BIG SKY LEAGUE
Team
Heppner
Weston-McEwen
Stanfield
Umatilla
Irrigon
Riverside
Grant Union
Kathy Aney/East Oregonian
Team
Heppner
Grant Union
Union
Weston McEwen
Stanfield
Enterprise
Pilot Rock
MID-COLUMBIA CONFERENCE
League
4-0
4-0
3-1
2-2
2-2
1-2
0-3
0-3
0-3
3-5
1-6
2A BLUE MOUNTAIN
CONFERENCE
Team
Chiawana
Kennewick
Kamiakin
Richland
Walla Walla
Hermiston
Pasco
Hanford
Southridge
2A BLUE MOUNTAIN
CONFERENCE
Pendleton’s Payton Lambert (32) hauls in a touchdown pass during the 26-6 defeat of the
Hood River Eagles on Saturday, March 20, 2021.
0-2
0-2
Overall
9-1
3-6
5-4
1-4
Team
Hood River Valley
Pendleton
Ridgeview
The Dalles/Dufur
Redmond
Crook County
League
3-0-0
1-0-0
1-1-0
1-1-0
0-2-0
0-2-0
Overall
3-2-0
1-1-0
3-3-0
2-2-0
1-5-0
0-5-0
3A/2A/1A SPECIAL DISTRICT 6
Team
Nyssa
Riverside
Umatilla
Irrigon
Four Rivers
League
1-0-0
0-0-0
0-0-0
0-0-0
0-1-0
Overall
2-3-0
2-2-1
2-2-0
0-5-0
0-4-1
ON THE SLATE
THURSDAY, MARCH 25
SATURDAY, MARCH 27
Prep football
Hermiston at Chiawana, 7 p.m.
Irrigon at Umatilla, 5 p.m.
Prep girls soccer
Hermiston at Walla Walla, 2 p.m.
Prep slowpitch softball
Hermiston at Pasco (2), 4 p.m.
Prep football
Weston-McEwen at Heppner, 2 p.m.
Prep volleyball
Ridgeview at Pendleton, 11 a.m.
Hermiston at Pendleton, 3 p.m.
Prep girls soccer
La Grande at Hermiston, noon
McLoughlin at Riverside, 1 p.m.
Umatilla at Stanfield/Echo, 1 p.m.
Prep boys soccer
McLoughlin at Riverside, 3 p.m.
Prep cross-country
Walla Walla, Southridge at Hermiston,
3 p.m.
FRIDAY, MARCH 26
Prep football
Pendleton at Redmond, 7 p.m.
Stanfield at McLoughlin, 7 p.m.
Joseph at Echo, 7 p.m.
Pilot Rock at Ione/Arlington, 7 p.m.
Prep volleyball
Echo at Bickleton, 5 p.m.
McLoughlin at Riverside, 1 p.m.
MONDAY, MARCH 29
Prep volleyball
Stanfield at Echo, 6:30 p.m.