E AST O REGONIAN TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2021 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @EOSPORTS | FACEBOOK.COM/EOSPORTS A11 Heppner stars help East to Shrine Game win Jackson Lehman and Jayden Wilson shine as East topples West 34-6 in 69th annual game By ANNIE FOWER and DAVIS CARBAUGH EO Media Group BAKER CITY — The defense did not give up a point, and the offense had its way as the East defeated the West 34-6 Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in the 69th annual East-West Shrine Game at Baker High School. “It was fun,” Heppner linebacker Jackson Lehman said. “We saw them the whole week and knew what to expect. It’s cool to go out and show them what we have.” “After the first quar- ter, we knew the other team couldn’t stop us,” said Baker’s Mason Van Arsdall. The annual game, which is one of the top fundrais- ers for the Shriners Hospi- tals for Children, featured the top 1A to 4A play- ers in Oregon. Follow- ing a cancellation due to COVID-19 last year, the game drew a large crowd to Baker City. Lehman was joined by Heppner teammate Jayden Wilson on the fi eld, while running back Blake Wolt- ers was on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. The fi rst quarter was the only timeframe in which the game was in question, with both teams starting off slow. The East Team received the ball to start the game, but Mazama quarterback Tristan Lee fumbled on the very fi rst play of the game. The East Team recovered the fumble, but turned the ball over on downs on the game’s fi rst possession. It was a rough fi rst drive, but the East Team would build momentum later in the quarter. Midway through the fi rst quarter, Heppner’s Jackson Lehman, who is headed to Eastern Oregon University, forced a fumble midway through the first quarter that was just the beginning of the long night for the West off ense. The East took a 7-0 with 4:40 left in the fi rst quar- ter as Wilson hit Mazama’s Cole Brosterhous with a 30-yard touchdown pass. The West Team clawed back early in the second, scoring off a Lee fumble that Junction City’s Riley Sangermano returned 35 yards for a touchdown. The following missed extra point was the clos- est the West Team came to taking the lead, as the play- ers from the east ran away with the remainder of the game. Gladstone’s Sebastian Peiff er scored three rushing touchdowns for the East, which led 21-6 at the half. Davis Carbaugh/The Observer The East Team’s Jayden Wilson (13) drops back in the pocket during the second half Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, at the annual Oregon East-West Shrine Game at Baker Bulldog Memorial Stadium in Baker City. The East Team defeated the West Team 34-6. Davis Carbaugh/The Observer The East Team’s Jackson Lehman (15) lines up to face the West Team on Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, during the annual Oregon East-West Shrine Game. The East Team defeated the West Team 34-6 at Baker Bulldog Memorial Stadium in Baker City. “He wa s a t r ai n ,” Lehman said of Peiffer. “He was trucking all of them. We knew he’d get 5 yards every time.” Lee and Brosterhous connected through the air early and often, adding a 60-yard passing touch- down in the third quarter to stretch the lead to 28-6. The duo’s chemistry was evident throughout the entirety of the game, but this is far from the last time they will play with each other. Both Mazama stars will play collegiate football for Western Oregon Univer- sity next year. Lehman and Mazama lineman Dom Hankins led the defense and controlled the line of scrimmage. “Dom was really cool,” said Lehman, who fi nished with 10 tackles, two strip sacks and a fumble recov- ery. “Our defense was filled with a bunch of studs. Our defense didn’t allow any points. It was incredible.” Wilson, who played in the Les Schwab Bowl last month, also played defen- sive back for the East. He is headed to Linfi eld Univer- sity. The West scored its lone touchdown in the second quarter, scoring off a fumble by Mazama quarterback Tristan Lee. Junction City’s Riley Sangermano returned the ball 35 yards for a touch- down. Pilot Rock’s M i ke Baleztena was selected to help coach the East, but he was put in COVID-19 quarantine (contact trac- ing) and wasn’t able to attend. The West won 43-10 in 2019, but with the win this year, the East stretched its lead in the series to 34-31-3. SPORTS SHORT CJ McCollum elected president of NBA Players Association By AARON FENTRESS The Oregonian PORTLAND — Trail Blaz- ers guard CJ McCollum has been elected president of the NBA Play- ers Association. McCollum, 29, replaces Phoe- nix guard Chris Paul who decided not to seek a third term. Boston forward Grant Williams, 22, has been elected vice president replacing Golden State forward Andre Iguodala. Both Williams and McCollum will serve four-year terms that end in 2025. “I am grateful for this opportu- nity to take over as the new presi- dent of the NBPA,” McCollum said in a statement. “Chris has done an incredible job over the last 8 years, strengthening the voice of the play- ers as a whole and using his plat- form to make sure our membership is taken care of on and off the court. I look forward to stepping into this role and to further grow- ing the game so that future players can continue to learn and benefi t from the Union’s work.” Paul served 8 years as president. “It has been an honor to serve in this position and to represent the diverse group of players that make up our incredible league,” Paul said in a statement. “I am extremely proud of all that we have accomplished at the Union in the last 8 years. ... I am confi - dent that CJ will continue to build on the work we have already done and I look forward to working with him to make our Union even stronger.” The NBPA directs the aff airs of the union including conducting collective bargaining relationship between the union and the NBA. Portland guard CJ McCollum shoots during the second half of a fi rst-round play- off series June 3, 2021, in Portland. McCollum, 29, has been elected president of the NBA Players Association. Craig Mitchelldyer, The Associated Press, File