2B
COTTAGE GROVE SENTINEL March 4, 2015
M URRAY
Continued from 1B
experience with young players helped establish
his fundamental philosophy.
“I coach for the kids, and if I can teach them
something, then I’ve done my job. And yes, you
want to be competitive and you want to win.
Those are great things. But it’s more important to
instill what an honor it is to it to play this sport
and play it hard,” he said.
After coaching Murray for three years at Marist
and knowing his basketball pedigree (Murray’s
father, John, played at Oregon during the 1970s
Kamikaze Kids era), Schmerbach was not sur-
prised to see him blossom as his assistant at Sa-
cred Heart.
“Michael was a natural, and the program hasn’t
been the same since he left,” said Schmerbach,
who is now an assistant at Southern Oregon — his
Sky-Em Boys Basketball
Conference
W L Pct
Sutherlin
9 1 0.900
Junction C. 8 2 0.800
Sisters
7 3 0.700
Elmira
3 7 0.300
Sweet Home 2 8 0.200
Cott. Grove 1 9 0.100
Overall
W L Pct
17 7 0.708
16 9 0.640
15 8 0.652
10 15 0.400
6 14 0.300
5 19 0.208
Play-In Results
Sisters 44, South Umpqua 29
Cascade 53, Elmira 42
Yamhill-Carlton 43, Junction City 40
First Round Games
Sisters @ Scappoose
Madras @ Sutherlin
Sky-Em Girls Basketball
Conference
W L Pct
Sutherlin
10 0 1.000
Cott. Grove 7 3 0.700
Junction C. 5 5 0.500
Sisters
5 5 0.500
Elmira
3 7 0.300
Sweet Home 0 10 0.000
Overall
W L Pct
24 0 1.000
14 11 0.560
13 12 0.520
11 13 0.458
6 16 0.273
1 19 0.050
Play-In Results
Junction City 41, Cottage Grove 39
Sisters 38, Philomath 34
First Round Games
Baker @ Sutherlin
Sisters @ Henley
Junction City @ Valley Catholic
COTTAGE BOWL
League: Dynamic Trios
Date: Feb. 24
Team
W
Grandma's Rule
15
Swearengin Design 12
Cottage Bowlerettes 11
Advanced Eyecare 11
Golding Enterprises 10
H. Selective Log. 9
H's Rowdy Bunch 7
K. Family Merc.
2
New Creations
2
R's Beauty Salon 1
L
1
4
5
5
6
7
9
14
14
15
High Game: Jeralee Swearengin 195
Three-high Series
1. Megan McNary 560
2. Margot Gotcher 509
3. Patsy McNally 506
League: Ball and Chain
Date: Feb. 27
Team
Senior Funsters
Bowl Dozers
More Beer
Roman Numerals
Joe's Diner
Thunder Boltz
Cracker Jacks
Pin Pushers
Ally Oops
Party Patrol
W
7
6
5
4
4
3
2
2
2
1
High Game
Men: Andy Adams 255
Women: Robin Kwandt 212
Men Three-high Series
1. Andy Adams 691
2. Glenn Clark 656
3. Jim Chenoweth 655
Women Three-high Series
1. Vanessa Chenoweth 565
2. Robin Kwandt 490
3. Dana Miller 461
L
1
2
3
4
4
1
2
6
6
7
alma mater. “He was a tough, hard-nosed player
who did everything you asked of him. He under-
stands all the little things a team has to do to be
successful.”
Prior to his junior year, Murray attempted to re-
turn to competitive basketball.
“When you love something that much it’s hard
to let go,” he said. “So I though to myself, ‘why
not try?’ If I didn’t make it, I would know the rea-
sons why.”
He tried out for Southern Oregon and Northwest
Christian, and although he was more physically
mature than a couple years before, both schools
were set at the guard position.
“It was a hard transition and brought about that
defi ning moment of, ‘what am I going to do now?’
And still to this day I miss it,” Murray said.
After graduating with a degree in elementary
education, Murray returned to Eugene and be-
Team
Commonwealth F.
C.G. Speedway
Kelly's Trailer R.
Funseekers
Swearengin Design
Jerry Brown Co.
Bowling Stones
Cottage Bowl
Taylor's Towing
Covered Bridge U.
W
14
11
8
7
7
7
5
5
4
2
L
0
3
6
7
7
7
9
9
10
12
Continued from 1B
MIDDLEFIELD MENS GOLF
Date: Feb. 23
Game: 2 Points
High Game
Men: Billy Brock 257
Women: Kayla Simmons 217
High Series
Men: Billy Brock 667
Women: Laura Cardoza 499
1t, Dave England, Mel Gowing,
Dick Winters, Jack Doleman BD
88. 1t, Jack Doleman, Leon Hayes,
Rudy Nellermoe, David Morris 88.
3, Larry Emery, Mike Cooney, Jerry
Pennington Dave Tooker 87.
Low Gross: 1, Doleman 73. 2t,
Emery 74. 2t, Mike Helms 74.
Low Net: 1t, Emery 65. 1t, England
65. 1t, Glen Hibner 65.
Closest to the Pin: No. 5, Hibner.
No. 7, Jake Cox. No. 14, Cox.
Longest Putt: No. 11, Helms.
League: 5 O'Clock Shadows
Date: Feb. 22
Date: Feb. 26
Game: 2 Best Ball
Team
Jenni and the Jets 2
Book Mine
Amigos Quatro
Mid State
V. Richenstain
Aces High
4 U Simple
Jim's Tire Factory
C.G. Vac and Sew
Ames to be True
All in the Family
W
7.5
5
5
4.5
4.5
4
4
4
3
0
0
L
0.5
3
3
3
3.5
4
4
4
5
8
4
High Game
Men: Bob McCarty 245
Women: Callena True 201
Men Three-high series
1. Ron Bascue 673
2. Aaron Ames 621
3. Robert Hand 615
Women Three-high Series
1. Cherry Bascue 533
2. Callena True 487
3. Elizabeth Risso 473
CG WOMENS VOLLEYBALL
League: Set & Spike
Date: Feb. 24
League: Meri Rollers
Date: Feb. 24
Team
Blue Sunshine
Emerald Valley
Moms Girls
Team Reliv
Treasure Chest
Ron's Girls
Simand Chiro.
Charlie's Angels
Lucky Ladies
Addi's Diner
Three Amigos
W
13
13
11
10
9
7
7
6
4
3
3
1, Larry Emery, David Morris, Jim
Wamsley, David Dreiling (-27).
2, Ron Ackerman, Russell Bryce,
Mel Gowing, Bill Avery (-24). 3t,
Glen Hibner, Gary Ingram, Frank
LaCosse, Jack Doleman (-19). 3t,
Mike Cooney, Dave England, Leon
Hayes, Dave Tooker (-19).
Low Gross: 1, Helms 73. 2, Emery
74. 3t, Ingram 75. 3t, Doleman.
Low Net: 1, Wamsley 60. 2, Morris
61. 3, Bob McCarty.
Closest to the Pin: No. 5, Dan
Pearson. No. 7, Tooker. No. 14,
Steve Lindholm.
Longest Putt: No. 12, Al Schweitzer.
L
3
3
5
6
3
9
9
6
12
9
9
High Game: Allie Simons 213
Three-high Series:
1.Allie Simons 591
Team
Timber Chicks
Olson Electric
Markham Electric
O Ducks
Nice Hits
Horners
Twisted Sisters
point.”
At this time, Murray is undecided on his future.
He currently does construction work in Eugene.
The schedule allows him the fl exibility to coach
during the after-school hours, but he doesn’t know
if it’s in his long-term career plans.
If he sticks with coaching, he is leaning toward
returning to Cottage Grove. Murray said he devel-
oped a good working relationship with Clawson
and would hate to leave the team after building a
rapport with the players.
"I was glad to hear that he branched out to girls'
basketball, and I hope that he sticks with it be-
cause he is an up-and-coming coach in the state,"
said Schmerbach. "I wouldn't be surprised to see
him coaching at a championship level within the
next few years."
G IRLS B ASKETBALL
2. Jennifer Fox 560
3.Jacki Jackson 514
League: Cottage Mixers
Date: Feb. 25
gan coaching eighth-grade boys in the Oregon
Amateur Basketball organization. After meeting
Marist head coach Bart Pollard at an open gym,
he was offered the J.V. boys’ job.
“Coaching J.V. was fi ne, but your last game is
your last game. The only real measurable out-
comes are: Did the kids have a good experience?
And did they learn something? I wanted to coach
at a higher level because you can play for some-
thing, and that teaches kids to fi ght for some-
thing.”
And although the girls’ season ended sooner
than expected, that type of heartbreaking fi nality
affi rmed his decision.
“This season wasn’t what I thought it would be,
but it was more than I could have hoped for and
wouldn’t change it for the world,” Murray said.
“Getting to the tournament would have meant
a lot to this team, but there’s always an ending
W
40
32
25
17
16
15
8
L
5
13
20
28
26
27
34
lead with under two minutes to play in over-
time, and Cottage Grove committed a turnover on
its very next possession as well.
The Lions also had uncharacteristic struggles at
the free-throw line, where they went 8-for-21 and
missed on an opportunity to take the lead at the
end of regulation.
“Obviously we’re disappointed and understand
that we didn’t play well enough to win,” said Lion
coach Kerry Clawson.
Cottage Grove (14-11) swept Junction City (13-
12) in the regular season, with both wins coming
by double digits. And after the Lions jumped out
to a 9-0 lead, they appeared to be on their way to
three in a row.
However, coach Liz Bolton was confi dent that
her Tigers would be able to put those previous
losses behind them and reverse their fortunes this
time around.
“We had more time to prepare for this game,
and we came in with a completely different mind-
set and game plan,” she said.
After the initial foray, Junction City capitalized
off of Cottage Grove turnovers and missed shots
to score in transition. And in their half-court game,
the Tigers saw opportunity in the paint against a
depleted Lion frontcourt. Junction City brought
down 11 offensive rebounds.
According to Clawson, usual starter Hannah
Arnold strained a hip muscle in practice; she was
only able to play for brief stretches of time. And
while Delia Nichols-Ferguson was effective in
her place, foul trouble meant more playing time
for Hannah Albrecht, who typically plays a wing
position.
“This team has showed tremendous resiliency
all season long, but we never caught a break as far
as injuries,” said Clawson, who noted that only
two players were available for every game this
season.
The Tigers opened the second half on an 8-2
run, but Conner Borigo scored seven of her game-
high 25 points in the third quarter to keep the Li-
ons within range.
Junction City increased its lead to 33-26 mid-
way through the fourth quarter and began milk-
ing the clock with each possession. However, this
lack of urgency may have cost them, as Cottage
Grove outscored the Tigers 7-0 down the stretch
to force overtime.
The Lions scored the fi rst two baskets of over-
time and appeared on their way to escape until the
fateful series of turnovers.
Clawson said that in hindsight she should have
considered calling a timeout to regroup after the
fi rst turnover but trusted that her team would know
how to respond in their 25th game of the season.
However, the Lions the allowed 50 seconds to run
off before fouling Junction City, leaving them
precious little time to run a fi nal play.
“It was tough, especially being a senior,” said
Sayles. “They came out ready to play and we
weren’t ready for it.”
Since winning the state championship in 2010,
Cottage Grove has yet to return to the state tour-
nament. Junction City moves on to face No. 3 Val-
ley Catholic in the fi rst round of the playoffs.
“When it’s close to being over, everyone on
this team plays their best,” said Tiger McKenna
Straube. “The playoffs are a whole new season,
and we’re really enjoying this moment.”
Saturday, Feb. 28
Junction City 41, Cottage Grove 39 OT
Junction City
7
Cottage Grove 13
12
6
10
7
4
7
8 — 41
6 — 39
Junction City: Graton 9, K. Thompson 9,
Hansen 6, N. Thompson 6, Straube 5, Devorak 4,
Mehlbreck 2.
Cottage Grove: Borigo 25, Neely 7, Thielman 4,
Sayles 2, Nichols-Ferguson 1.
League: CG Volleyball Association
Date: Feb. 26
Team
Patterson Cutting
Sets in the City
Smashers
War Eagles
Backer's Ballers
Lady Ducks
Ball Busters
*Total wins
W
4
4.5
3
3
3.5
0
0
TW*
36
32
24
23
19
7
1
Caring for your Health
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