Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 22, 2020)
2B | SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2020 | SIUSLAW NEWS SHS from 1B The Siuslaw Cheerleading squad performs the ara- besque as part of the opening in its routine at state last week in Portland, where the team placed eighth. Straley said. When the team arrived at Portland’s Memorial Coliseum for state competition, they were coming off a long night from the drive, which led to a lot of tiredness right before the routine. “They went out there and left whatever tiredness and issues they had away from the mat and performed the best they possibly could, one of the best things they’ve done all year. I’m really proud of them,” said Straley. The best part of the routine was the arabesque. “It was a stunt that they did last year at state, Straley said. After all of their practicing they had it down — but when they actually performed it, the arabesque came down. It went up and it fell.” Little from 1B learning — when my daugh- ter was tangled up and tak- en roughly to the hardwood court. When the offi cial called traveling aft er a foul had obvi- ously occurred, I stood up and shouted some “not-so-sports- man-like” words directed at the offi cials. Naturally, at the same time I was vocalizing my displea- sure, the gym went completely quiet. Everyone in the stands and on the court heard my words. As the athletic director from Cottage Grove walked the baseline, I was already say- ing goodbye to my wife. While being escorted out of the gym, I asked if I might return for the varsity game as my oldest daughter was play- ing. Th e next day, I wrote an apology letter to the offi cials and the Cottage Grove athletic department. Sailors from 1B do and where they’re sup- posed to be defensively,” Duffy said. “Look for the good, easy shots and not make dangerous passes into well-guarded territory.” But she also reminded the team of how far they had come, beginning the season with a 10-game losing streak. “We reminded them we were quite a lot farther than anybody expected us to get this season. To go out, play hard, do the absolute best we can, and put it all on the court,” said Duffy. Getting this point was an enormous task for Sailors, who only had two weeks to train the students before the season’s first game. “And one of those weeks was over Thanksgiving break. We didn’t have all the girls we needed,” Duffy said. The goal was to win six games in the season, a tall or- der considering they had only won two games in three years. “The playoffs were not a thought in my mind when we started the season, and then definitely after 10 losses. I never considered it, and the fact that we made it is kind of unreal,” Duffy said. Things turned around for the team when they played Crow. “We were able to make up 10 points in two minutes. So, they believed then that, ‘Oh my gosh, we can actually do this,’” Duffy said. “And their style of play changed and con- tinued to develop throughout the season.” This history was well known to Mapleton fans, who showed up in force on Wednesday night, packing the stands. “It was good to see the crowd there, even though there wasn’t a boys’ game af- terwards,” Duffy said. “When we play before the boys, we always wonder, “Are they here because they’re getting here early for the boys’ game, or do they actually want to see us play?’ Having that crowd there really inspired the girls.” When the starting line-up was called, Mapleton boys basketball coach Weric Wol- gamott played the drums while they came out. “They did the lights and really tried to recapture the I believe many offi cials are not properly trained as OSAA offi cials. You are only as good as the training you receive. I was in the Pacifi c Univer- sity Referee Association for fi ve years from 1970-1975. I spent six weeks learning the OSAA rulebook and prop- er court positioning. I was taught by Coach Buckiewicz, a Pac-Eight basketball offi cial. I refereed over 400 games in that span, oft en offi ciating two games a night for fi ve nights a week. In 1976, I joined the East- ern Oregon Referee Associa- tion. During the fi rst meeting, we were given the new OSAA basketball rule book. We were told there would be a test in one week. I studied just the newer rules and felt confi dent of passing. Little did I know that, during the test, several indi- viduals raised their hands to ask questions about some of energy from last Thursday,” Duffy said. “Juline Walker got up and had everybody do the wave and got everybody pumped up. Lou Burruss was starting the chants on the oth- er side of the floor. It really helped.” The team came out strong in the first quarter, taking an early lead — which they held throughout the first quarter. “Siletz scored a few times and that put them on their heels a little bit,” Duffy said. “We got outran in our tran- sition defense a little bit, that took the girls by shock and took a little air out of their tires. But at the end of the third quarter, we were back in the mindset that if we want to, we can win this.” The Sailors were able to claw back out of an 11-point deficit, behind by only 5 at one point. “Another minute and a half, we might have won. But there’s nothing we can do about that now,” Duffy said. Briena Jensen led the night with 17 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Trinity Holmes with 8 points. Heather Wi- erichs with 5, Emily Stevens scored 3, with Roni Granger, Brier Shird and Opal Burruss scoring 2 points, and 1 point from Daleena Bender. The mood in the locker room after the game was mel- ancholic, according to Duffy. “We had high hopes to continue on, and it was hard,” she said. “There’s seven girls on the team that will have the chance to play on next year, but there were two girls [Bender and Holmes] where this was it for them. While it’s a much better ending than we had last year, we still would have liked to do more. I’m sure that they’re happy and proud of what they accom- plished this year, but until you’re the champion, you want more.” “The difference in Trini- ty from the beginning of last year is big,” she said. “She played one year in middle school, then didn’t play fresh- man and sophomore years. When she came into prac- tice, she wasn’t confident and didn’t have good ball control. She didn’t think she could do very much. But she changed mentally and with her physi- cal confidence over the course of the season. She became a beast on the floor.” the questions. Answers were given verbally to the entire room so each and everyone would pass the test. Now I knew why I was giv- en 12 technical fouls my prior year as the Spray High School girls’ varsity basketball coach; these offi cials did not know the rules. Just a side note: All 12 tech- nical fouls were rule-related and not judgment calls by the offi cials. Many school districts in the State of Oregon do not have the money to adequately pay for certifi ed offi cials for each level of competition. As the number of offi cials gets small- er, there are fewer number of offi cials assigned to games. Oft en, in basketball, it is com- mon to see the same offi cial working in two of the three games on any given night. Th is increases nightly pay for the offi cial, but it also in- creases their responsibilities. At one point on Wednes- day night, Holmes attempted to steal the ball from a Siletz player and ended up dragging on the floor, refusing to let go. It wasn’t an uncommon oc- currence for her. “That’s Trinity in a nut- shell,” Duffy said. “She didn’t miss practices, she came in as much as she could, she was always asking questions and trying to improve. She was a really good leader off the court, too. As a captain, peo- ple felt comfortable talking to her about team dynamics. She was impartial and able to help them in a way that kids some- times don’t want help from adults. That’s really great to have.” As for senior Bender, she began last year getting into a lot of foul trouble. “She would go into a game and in a minute or two, have two or three fouls,” Duffy said. “That happened a few times this year, but she got herself under control.” Bender’s specialty was her work at the free throw line, which was in fine form during the final minutes of Wednes- day’s game. “Deleena has the most beautiful shot from around the free throw line. Anywhere in that arch around the free throw line, it’s almost a guar- anteed two points. It is so beautiful,” Duffy said. Along with having a great shot, Bender always had a positive attitude on and off the court. “She never caused any problems and worked so hard in practice,” Duffy said. “I’m proud that I’ve gotten to work with her and get to know her.” For the season overall, Duffy and coach Gray were filled with pride and opti- mism for the future. “All the girls really worked hard,” she said. “I said to them in the locker room that if they didn’t want basketball to be over this year, that’s perfectly acceptable. There’s spring ball and summer ball and we can keep going. I already had a girl ask me for spring ball this year. There’s a desire to want to get better. “I think if the team keeps playing together and work- ing together like they did this year, then next year playoffs are a real possibility, and may- be even a higher seed.” Speak your peace. Write a Letter to the Editor today. Email Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com week for them. I was like, ‘Well, if we do this, you’re not going to have a break.’ I want- ed to give them a break, espe- cially with how proud I was of them at state. I don’t want to drain them so they’re not giv- ing their spring coaches 100 percent.” Ending the competition season on a high note was good enough for the team. “I look forward to next year coming back, new and improved,” Straley said. “I have ideas for things to add to our expectations as a team and our routine for next year. I know I want them to achieve more next year, and I know they want to as well. We can only grow from here.” COURTESY PHOTO Expressly because it failed the year before, Straley insist- ed that the team keep the stunt in this year’s routine. “I wanted them to be able to redeem themselves,” she said. “They were all worried about it. I was like, ‘It’s not going to fall this year.’ I think that was one of their proudest moments, getting that stunt up at the end of the routine.” Saturday was the final com- petition for the girls, who are now shifting to spring sports. While they were thinking of attending the Oregon Cheerleading Coaches Association’s championship, the girls were too busy. “I have a lot of members of my team who are doing spring sports, and that starts next Offi cials need better training; offi cials need more compen- sation. Without either of these, we may see the schoolyard meth- od of “Call your own fouls” on the fi elds and courts in the future. Carolyn Taylor Senior & Disability Services Volunteer Spotlight Thanks to all of the dedicated volunteers who devote their time and passion to making our community and our world a better place. Carolyn has been a Senior Companion in Florence for 25 years. She previously taught in high schools, coordinated projects for San Francisco State University Foundation, and was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Russia. An Alabama College for Women graduate, she holds M.A. and Ph. D. degrees from The Ohio State University. Do you part and volunteer today to help support these organizations in our community. To include your organization in this directory, please call us @ 541-997-3441 Florence Food Share Ask us about volunteer opportunities. 2190 Spruce Street • P.O.Box 2514 Florence, Oregon 97439 (541) 997-9110 info@fl orencefoodshare.org Habitat for Humanity Would you like to have fun while helping others? Volunteer as a Cashier or Donation Ambassador At Florence Habitat for Humanity Contact Floyd at (541) 997-5834 Helping Hands Coalition We are in need of volunteers on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays. We need volunteers to serve food, set up for meals and also prepare meals beginning at 11:00 am and fi nishing at 2:00pm. New Location: Community Baptist Church, 4590 Hwy. 101, Florence (Across from Fred Meyer) Meals on Wheels and Cafe 60 Meals on Wheels are available to people over the age of 60 who cannot get out much due to illness or advanced age and who are not eating properly, regardless of income. Cafe 60 is available for those who prefer to make new friends in a dining room setting. 1570 Kingwood, PO Box 2313, Florence 541-997-5673 laneseniormeals.org Memory Care Respite of Florence Come join the team! Memory Care Respite of Florence is looking for new volunteers to spend time socializing, playing games, listening to music, and having coffee and lunch with our participating senior citizens. Our program depends on volunteer power to stay afl oat and time is running out! If you’re at all interested in socializing and relaxing with seniors while their loved one takes a break, please email us for more information. We need more volunteers like YOU to keep our program going. Contact us at memcarerespite@gmail.com Oregon Coast Humane Society relies heavily on volunteers. There are many opportunities to volunteer and a variety of skills and talents are always in need. Volunteer interest forms may be found online, at the shelter and at our Thrift Shop on Bay Street. www.oregoncoasthumanesociety.org/volunteer/ Peace Harbor Volunteers Join the Peace Harbor Hospital Volunteers, you will fi nd an area of interest in a caring organization. 400 9th Street, Florence 541-997-8412 ext. 2218 Us Too Florence Saving men one PSA test at a time. “Someone to talk to...who understands!” 541-997-6626 maribob@oregonfast.net www.ustoofl orence.org
