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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 2019)
2B | SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2019 | SIUSLAW NEWS days. Most schoolyard games are just for fun but I say most meet the criteria of a sport: exertion, rules and a result. While my early games were mostly individual in nature, my fi rst team game was probably kickball during recess. I joined the Herm- iston swim team at the age of seven, played inter-city fl ag football, basketball and soft ball as I got older. Th ese were certainly considered sports while things like the “Ford Punt, Pass and Kick” and Elks Free Th row compe- tition were contests measur- ing individual skills. Th ere are still people ar- chosen by this writer. But is it a sport? It cer- tainly requires skill, there are defi nitely rules and we get results sometimes against people around the country playing the same hands. Maybe I will try darts or shuffl eboard. I just read an article about colleges off ering scholarships for E-sports as technology enters the sports-defi nition contro- versy. Th ey will be playing video games against a com- puter; using their thumbs. If this becomes accepted as a sport, thousands of young people may just forgo out- door activities — with Car- pal Tunnel syndrome be- coming the next most-oft en reported sports injury. I will be unwilling to call that a sport. What do you say? COAST DIS AL 02-7 1) 9 55 IL E guing as to which activities at Siuslaw High School are sports. Th e exertion level of the activity is the most ar- gued issue. Individuals and coaches see much greater exertion in volleyball, foot- ball, cross country, basket- ball, wrestling, baseball, soft ball and track than they due in bowling and golf, for instance. Th ere exists in these two latter sports skills needed, rules and results — the point being the bowler and golfer use exertion for a short period of time. But are they sports? As people age, the amount of exertion they can muster decreases. Sports for them change over time. Playing competitive bridge might be an activity going to have a better show- ing than last year, especially when we get into league play.” The Sailors were back on the court last night (after press deadlines) and will be on the road this Tuesday (Dec. 10) at Elkton. Girls tip off first at 6 p.m., followed by the boys game at 7:30 p.m. Recycling just one glass bottle saves enough energy to run a washing machine for 10 minutes. IC M ting a 16-point loss in the first game is “encouraging for the future,” Wolgamott said. “The league is wide open — and with the players we got, as long as we stay healthy and ready to play, I think we could make some noise this year. I’m excited to see it.” As for the girls’ game, which saw a 19-59 loss against Lowell, head coach Melissa Duffy and assistant coach Dan Gray stressed a newfound confidence in the team, which won only two games the year prior. “I saw a lot of confidence and motivation,” Duffy said. “Last year at the beginning of the season, the girls were shy. I gave them a goal of attempting at least three shots. That’s how timid they were. One of the girls came to me and said, ‘I’ve done the math and that’s not going to win us games.’ I said, ‘I know, but at least you’ll be shooting.’ That was half-way through the season where they started attempting a few more shots. This year, they’re already shooting more and taking more chances — which is a big improvement already.” Gray agreed. “I’m excited by how much the girls want to get better. This is a learn- ing process, and it’s going to 4 from 1B “He’s a senior and has been in the system for four years. He’s going to be a leader in our offense and defense. If he crushes it like that every game, he’s going to be a heck of a player.” Missing the game was JJ Neece, who will be returning soon after a solid season last year. “He’s developing a chem- istry with Justyce, where it’s a little nod and they know what to do,” Wolgamott said. “If we can get that in the game, I think that can give us some easy backdoor lay- ins and some fun basketball with that.” Finally, sophomore Joseph Shephard will be joining the team, having only signed up just a few days earlier. In fact, Shephard is so new that he doesn’t have a number assigned yet. But after a few practices he should be seen on the court in the coming weeks. Last year, the Sailors began the season with 19-64 loss against Days Creek, unable to pull off a win until the fourth game of the sea- son, against the Mohawk (43-36). Their next game was a 15-point loss to Lowell, a near mirror image to Wednesday’s game. Still, the Sailors made it all the way to the playoffs last year, so get- L SA PO Little JARED ANDERSON/SIUSLAW NEWS Mapleton’s Jahala Blake brings the ball down on a fastbreak against Lowell Wednesday night. And these are things that the team can work on, espe- cially with the confidence its players now possess. “For me, it kind of sucks to take a loss first thing out,” Duffy admitted. “It’s hard on your confidence, but we have to look at all the improvements that have been made since the end of last season, and all the hard work they’ve done. From what I saw, I feel like we’re RV SE they had to withstand those punches and stay with it. If they do that, they’re going to be in the game.” And for the first half of the game, they rolled with the punches, starting half- time down just three bas- kets. It wasn’t until the game wore on, and exhaustion began to set in for the short bench, that the deficit grew. “I was really impressed with our defense the first half,” said Wolgamott. “They did a lot of good hustling. We basically had three first- year players on the court starting out.” There was freshman Kody Wierichs, who played hard on defense. “He’s not the biggest kid out there, but he was putting his nose in there, going for loose balls and hustling. He didn’t score but his defense really helped us out.” Phillip Burnett, a junior, is also suiting up on the hardwood for the first time. While he didn’t run up the score, “he was hustling his butt off all game,” Wolgamott said. “He created a lot of second-chance opportuni- ties for us. Even when he didn’t get the rebound, his hand was in there, causing the ball to be deflected. He was a hustle player and a tough kid as well.” Junior Jesse Hughes made his varsity debut this week, “and he gave us some good minutes out there, focused and ready to go.” The top scorer of the night was Justyce Wierichs, who secured 17 points for the Sailors. “He was definitely a dif- ference maker and led the charge for us,” Wolgamott said. “He’s been around the game, but I don’t think he’s actually played in a high school game.” Senior Nate Neece was right behind Wierichs, scor- ing 12 points for the night. “He was a monster all night long,” Wolgamott said. take a little bit of time for things to fully come togeth- er. But it’s our job to keep the girls positive and moving forward,” he said. “If they do that, we’ll be happy with where we finish.” The coaches’ enthusiasm came from how the team lost on Thursday. During the first half, Lowell was on its way to a blowout against the Sailors, creating an enor- mously comfortable lead of almost 30 points by half- time. “But the third quarter was played evenly,” Gray said. “If we just went by the second half score, it was 12-17. It was a very evenly played sec- ond half. We had some defi- nite jitters in the first quar- ter, and it led to a blowout early.” The Sailors learned to control the clock and began hitting their shots. “They were able to run an offense, which we weren’t able to do until the end of last season,” Duffy said. “To be able to see it happen a few times in the first game is promising for the season. … They’re better conditioned, they are playing more as a team, rather than for them- selves. I think that’s going to help in the long run.” And they have experi- ence, with five returning players this year including Jahala Blake, Opal Burruss, Brier Shird, Emily Stevens and Daleena Bender. Newcomer Heather Wierichs was the top scorer on Wednesday, bringing in 7 points and “at least one steal,” Duffy said of Wierichs, who also had four offensive rebounds in the game. As far as needed improve- ments, Duffy said the team needs to get comfortable using the entire court, as well as improving its com- munication. “And just overall court awareness,” she added. “That’s hard when you’re trying to remember the new things that have been crammed into your brain in the last couple of weeks.” CEN TR from 1B (54 MHS E W I TH A S The only locally owned & operated garbage company in Florence. We provide full service trash & recycling removal for commercial & residential accounts. Call us today for prices 541-902-7554 PO Box 1629 Florence OR 97439 ENTER YOUR PET NOW! Until December 6th We’re looking for the cutest critters to compete in our photo contest! Take a Shot at Our Petacular Grand Prize: Siuslaw News 148 Maple • P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 Pet Photo Contest Mail-In Entry Form The Winning pet will Your Name: _________________________________ win: Pet’s Breed: ____________________Age:________ Pet’s Name: _________________________________ Phone: ____________________________________ A PET’S WAG BAG * Prize may not include items from contest sponsors Email: ____________________________________ __Check Enclosed Make Check Payable to: The Siuslaw News __V/MC/D#____________________________ * Pets that have won in the past are not eligible to win. ___exp.____________ PLEASE NOTE, IF YOU WISH TO HAVE YOUR PHOTO RETURNED, PLEASE INCLUDE A SELF-ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE WITH YOUR ENTRY. Contest sponsored by these businesses: Here’s the Scoop on How to Enter… 1. Email your photo to mberg@thesiuslawnews.com. There is a $5 processing fee, we will call you for payment. 2. The most photogenic pet will be selected by our panel of judges. 3. 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