Polk County Sports
12A Polk County Itemizer-Observer • January 13, 2016
Mark: Pirates recover from slow start
Continued from Page 10A
The surgery was sched-
uled for October of 2014.
Bibler had the support of
family and friends, but it
was his faith that helped
him stay positive.
“I prayed and I prayed
and said if I make it out of
this, I’m going to do every-
thing for you Lord,” Bibler
said.
The surgery was success-
ful, but Bibler was forced to
miss school and sports as he
recovered.
“I was in ICU for a couple
of days and I was out of
school for two weeks,” Bibler
said. “I never got to play
football that year.”
His recovery didn’t keep
him down for long. By De-
cember of 2014, Bibler was
back on the basketball
court and he was ready to
approach his play on the
court, and life in general,
with a new-found determi-
nation.
“I went and got this tattoo
to represent my faith and
my love for God,” Bibler
said. “I know my teammates
will give everything they
have and I’m ready to give it
my all, too.”
Bibler entered his senior
season ready to grow on the
court, but began on the
bench.
The senior wasn’t about to
let that deter him.
“I felt like I could have
done better than being on
the bench,” Bibler said. “If
we’re going to succeed, we’re
all going to have to improve,
so I’m going to start that.”
Early in the season,
Bibler’s workouts weren’t
done once practices ended.
He continued to do speed
workouts at home, dribbling
before lunch at school, and
focusing on his defense and
3-point shot during prac-
tices.
The result has been earn-
ing a role in the starting line-
up, providing the Pirates
with a versatile player who
can play in the paint or be-
yond the arc.
“Spencer first got in be-
cause Kirk (Fairchild) went
down with some health is-
sues,” Perrydale coach Mike
making his mark this sea-
son.
Devin Cruickshank
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Devin Cruickshank has become a starter for Perrydale.
Lowry said. “We didn’t miss
a beat. He’s gotten better on
offense and gives us a little
better shooting. I’m sure our
point production has gone
up since he’s been in the
lineup.”
Bibler’s not the only one
During his freshmen,
sophomore and junior sea-
sons, Cruickshank rarely
saw significant minutes on
varsity.
“I didn’t really expect to
start that much (this season)
because I hardly ever got in
the games in varsity,”
Cruickshank said. “All of
sudden, I was kind of
thrown into it.”
He has responded well,
not only as a scoring leader,
but as a calm presence run-
ning the offense.
“Devin has been one of
those guys who constantly
h a s s c o re d a ro u n d 1 0
points,” Lowry said. “He has
improved a lot with han-
dling the ball and handling
the pressure to help us get
into what we need to do on
offense.”
Much of Cruickshank’s
success has come from a
willingness to sacrifice indi-
vidual statistics to help the
team win.
“I don’t like individualism
on the court,” Cruickshank
said. “I want to move the
ball around and get us an
open shot. As long as we
win, if I don’t get any points,
I’m fine with that.”
That unselfishness has
coincided with the Pirates’
five-game win streak.
“Everyone was doing
more individual things than
as a team,” Cruickshank said
“We started looking at why
we were losing. We started
playing more as a team and
saw that we play a lot bet-
ter.”
The Pirates host Crosshill
Christian on Friday, which
entered the week in first
place in the Casco League.
The game represents a
test to see just how far Perry-
dale has come — and a mo-
ment that could help define
their season.
“We have room to get bet-
ter, but I think we could
have a fun run for the rest of
the year,” Lowry said. “I
think the sky’s the limit for
us. I think we can do some
big things.”
Legacy: Senior places fourth at Brunner Invitational
Continued from Page 10A
While he looked up to his
older siblings, they weren’t
about to let him off easy.
“Not so much advice, just
beating up on me,” Duna-
gan said, smiling. “At home,
we’d always get into fights
and wrestle at home.”
Dunagan isn’t alone as the
youngest of a trio of broth-
ers. Senior Cody Janssen has
also seen two older brothers
wrestle for the Dragons,
while the Rebischke family
had three former wrestlers
at Dallas.
A competitive nature be-
tween siblings is essential
for success, Dallas coach
Tony Olliff said.
“A family has to foster a
culture of, ‘I’m not going to
baby you,’ in order for the
boys to be successful in this
sport,” Olliff said. “Once the
family has fostered that cul-
ture, my work is mostly done
FALLS CITY ROUNDUP
Mountaineers down
Crosshill Christian
Itemizer-Observer staff report
FALLS CITY — Falls City’s
girls basketball team cruised
to a 49-22 win over Crosshill
Christian on Friday. Brittany
Va r n e y
scored a
game-high
19 points,
while Alli-
son Kidd
added 16
points to
lead the
M o u n -
Varney
taineers.
“The girls came out with a
lot of energy, intensity and
focus,” Falls City coach Micke
Kidd said. “It was nice to see
them taking the basketball to
the basket rather than set-
tling for outside shots.”
The Mountaineers
opened the week with a 30-
25 loss to Perrydale on Jan. 5.
“We were down one with
about a minute left, and
down three with 10 seconds
Kidd
left,” Kidd
said. “It was
a very close
game in the
s e c o n d
half.”
Va r n e y
had seven
p o i n t s
against the
Pirates.
Falls City (6-5 overall, 2-3
Casco League) played Jewell
Tuesday after press time.
The Mountaineers host C.S.
Lewis Academy on Friday
and Willamette Valley Chris-
tian on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
BOYS BASKETBALL DROPS
TWO: Falls City’s boys basket-
ball squad lost a pair of league
contests. The Mountaineers fell
to Perrydale 62-26 on Jan. 5
and Crosshill Christian 69-36 on
Friday. Falls City (2-8 overall, 0-5
Casco League) faced Jewell
Tuesday after press time. The
Mountaineers host C.S. Lewis
on Friday and Willamette Valley
Christian Tuesday at 7 p.m.
Itemizer-Observer
Athlete of the Week
Andy Avgi
Western Oregon
Avgi, a senior, showed why he is the
leader for Western Oregon’s men’s bas-
ketball team. Avgi scored a game-high
34 points against Seattle Pacific, helping
the Wolves to a 96-90 overtime win. He
then scoured a game-high 24 points in a win over Saint
Martin’s on Saturday. Avgi was named the Great Northwest
Athletic Conference’s Player of the Week for his efforts as
WOU improved to 12-3 overall.
Kylie Nash
Central High
Nash, a senior, helped Centrals’ girls
basketball team end nonleague play and
begin Mid-Willamette Conference play
with a bang. Nash scored a game-high
18 points on Jan. 5, leading the Panthers
to a 46-31 win over Beaverton. Nash then added nine points
during Central’s 44-26 victory over South Albany on Friday
night. The victories helped Central enter the week 6-4 over-
all and 1-0 in MWC play.
To submit nominations for the Itemizer-Observer Athlete of
the Week, contact Sports Editor Lukas Eggen at 503-623-2373
or leggen@polkio.com by 9 a.m. on Monday.
because the boys have a
drive to compete with their
older siblings. That drive
leads to success.”
Dunagan, who placed
fourth in the 160-pound
class at the Brunner Invita-
tional on Saturday, finished
sixth at state as a junior.
Down to his final year
with the Dragons, Dunagan
wants to make his senior
year his best one yet.
“The goal is a state cham-
pionship as a team and indi-
vidually,” he said. “That’s ba-
sically it. That’s all I want
this year.”
On the mat, Dunagan has
become more thoughtful in
his approach, always think-
ing about his next three
moves and adjusting on the
fly.
He’s also bringing more
focus and intensity during
practices as he hopes to
achieve the perfect ending
to his high school career.
“Because it’s my last
year, I know I don’t have
another chance,” Dunagan
said. “I have to make the
most of this year. I’m work-
ing the hardest I’ve ever
worked this year. I know
there are guys out there
who can beat me. I’m just
going to have to work on
my technique, get better
cardio and work harder
than them.”
Team results
• Dallas placed second in
the team standings at the
Brunner Invitational on Sat-
urday. Redmond took first.
• Clay Coxen (182
pounds) placed first.
• Dawson Barcroft (106),
Sammy Chung (126), Noah
Sickles (132), Cody Janssen
(152) and Tanner Earhart
(160) placed second in their
respective weight classes.
Identity: Dallas to host rival Central
Continued from Page 10A
“I think every single kid
we had was in foul trouble,”
Brautigam said. “We have to
be more disciplined on de-
fense.”
On offense, the Dragons
found success to varying
degrees.
Savage, a 6-foot-7 post,
gave the Dragons a tower-
ing player inside the paint.
Her presence inside al-
lowed teammates to find
open shots.
That inside-out found
success in spurts, but play-
ers must be more consistent
in their execution,
Brautigam said.
“We moved the basket-
ball in and out well to start
the second half, and then
we stopped,” Brautigam
said. “That consistency is
something we have to find.”
The Dragons (5-5 overall,
1-0 MWC) host Central
Wednesday (today) and
South Albany Friday at 7
p.m. before playing at Cor-
vallis on Jan. 20. This three-
game stretch will help set
the tone for league play, but
the team could be missing
some key players.
Dallas hopes to have
Sarah Zwicker, who has
missed multiple games be-
cause of a box fracture in her
right hand. Starting point
guard Olivia Nelson left Fri-
day’s game with a concus-
sion and will be re-evaluated
later this week. Injuries have
been a constant presence
throughout the season, pre-
venting the Dragons from
playing at full strength.
“We’ve dealt with more
adversity this year than all
my coaching years com-
bined,” Brautigam said.
“We’re still figuring out who
we are as a team and what
kind of identity we’re going
to have this year, but I saw
more positives than nega-
tives (on Thursday) and I
think we’re just going to
keep getting better.”
The Dragons will get a
chance to show how much
they’ve grown starting
Wednesday (tonight). In re-
cent years, Dallas worked to
realize its potential on the
court with varying degrees
of success in league play.
This season, players are
eager to show things may
be different this year and
that the Dragons are ready
to stand amongst the
league’s top teams.
“I think (Thursday’s) win
will help us show other
schools that we’re not the
same team as last year,”
Savage said.
DALLAS ROUNDUP
Boys basketball opens league play with win
Itemizer-Observer staff report
WOODBURN — Dallas’
boys basketball team de-
feated Woodburn 54-30 on
Friday to open Mid-
Willamette Conference play.
Senior Everett Minahan
scored 20 points to lead the
Dragons (5-5 overall, 1-0
MWC) to the victory.
Minahan
Dallas
played
Central
Tu e s d a y
after press
time.
T h e
Dragons
play at
South Al-
bany on Friday before host-
ing Corvallis Tuesday at 7
p.m.
SWIM TEAMS FALL TO
CORVALLIS: Dallas’ boys and
girls swim teams lost a dual
meet to Corvallis on Jan. 5.
Jolie-Rae Ford placed irst in
the 200-yard freestyle in 2
minutes, 5.36 seconds to lead
the girls. Elizabeth Dressel
took irst in the 500 freestyle
(6:00.86).
Ryan Kennedy led the boys
with a irst-place inish in the
500 freestyle (5:49.59 and a
second-place inish in the 200
freestyle (2:09.98).
Parker Ford took irst in the
50 freestyle (27.26).
The Dragons will host the
Dallas Invite on Jan. 21.
CENTRAL ROUNDUP
Nash, Chavez lead Panthers to wins
Itemizer-Observer staff report
INDEPENDENCE —
Central’s girls basketball
team opened Mid-
Willamette Conference play
with a 44-26 win over South
Albany on Friday.
Fre s h m a n E l i z a b e t h
Chavez scored a game-high
12 points, while seniors
Kylie Nash and Alex Alvarez
added nine points each.
The Panthers (6-4 overall)
also defeated Beaverton 46-
31 on Jan. 5 to close out
their nonleague season.
Nash scored a game-high 18
points to lead Central.
Chavez scored 13.
The Panthers play at Dal-
las Wednesday (today) at 7
p.m. before hosting Cres-
cent Valley Friday at 7 p.m.
Central plays at Lebanon on
Jan. 20.
BOYS BASKETBALL OPENS
MWC PLAY WITH WIN: Cen-
tral’s boys basketball squad
defeated South Albany 68-54
CALEB WALLACE/for the Itemizer-Observer
Central senior Kylie Nash looks to drive to the hoop
against South Albany on Friday night.
on Friday in its MWC-opener.
Harkie Bal scored a game-high
23 points, while Alec Barba
added 22 points to lead the
Panthers to the victory. “The
kids came out strong in the
irst half, led by Harkie Bal and
Alec Barba,” coach Tim Kreta
said. “I was
r e a l l y
proud of
the way
they com-
municated
on the loor
a
n
d
worked to
get their
Barba
teammates
open shots.” The win snapped
a three-game losing streak.
Central (5-5 overall) hosted
Dallas Tuesday after press
time. The Panthers play at
Crescent Valley on Friday be-
fore hosting Lebanon Tuesday
at 7 p.m.
WRESTLING GOES 1-2:
Central’s wrestling team went
1-2 at Lebanon’s four-way
duals on Jan. 6. The Panthers
defeated Corvallis 48-33 and
lost to Dallas 63-15 and
Lebanon 57-22. Central hosts
South Albany Wednesday
(today) at 7 p.m. before taking
part in the Oregon Classic on
Friday and Saturday in Red-
mond.