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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 2017)
Polk County Sports Polk County Itemizer-Observer • November 29, 2017 11A SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY, NOV. 29 Boys basketball: North Eugene at Central, 7 p.m. Century at Dallas, 7 p.m. McKenzie at Falls City, 7 p.m. Girls basketball: Central at North Eugene, 7 p.m. Dal- las at North Salem, 6:45 p.m. McKenzie at Falls City, 5:30 p.m. THURSDAY, NOV. 30 Men’s basketball: West- ern Oregon at Simon Fraser, 7 p.m. Women’s basketball: Saint Martin’s at Western Oregon, 7 p.m. FRIDAY, DEC. 1 Boys basketball: Central at Stayton, 7 p.m. Dallas at Wilsonville, 8:30 p.m. Falls City at Southwest Christian, 7:30 p.m. Perrydale vs. Gilchrist (at Lowell Tourna- ment), 4:30 p.m. Girls basketball: Cas- cade at Central, 7 p.m. Reynolds at Dallas, 7 p.m. Falls City at Southwest Christian, 6 p.m. Perrydale vs. Gilchrist (at Lowell Tour- nament), 3 p.m. Wrestling: Central at Tillamook Invite, TBA. Dallas at McNary Tournament, 4 p.m. SATURDAY, DEC. 2 Boys basketball: Perry- dale vs. TBA (at Lowell Tour- nament), TBA. Girls basketball: Perry- dale vs. TBA (at Lowell Tour- nament), TBA. Men’s basketball: West- ern Oregon at Western Washington, 7 p.m. Women’s basketball: Seattle Pacific at Western Oregon, 2 p.m. Wrestling: Dallas at Perry Burlison Classic, 9 a.m. TUESDAY, DEC. 5 Boys basketball: Put- nam at Central, 7 p.m. Dal- las at Hood River Valley, 7 p.m. Falls City at McKenzie, 7 p.m. Perrydale at Delphi- an, 7 p.m. Girls basketball: St. He- lens at Dallas, 7 p.m. Falls City at McKenzie, 5:30 p.m. Swimming: Central at Crescent Valley, 4 p.m. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 6 Boys basketball: Yon- calla at Perrydale, 7 p.m. Girls basketball: Falls City at Triangle Lake, 5:30 p.m. Yoncalla at Perrydale, 6 p.m. — Schedules Subject to Change QUICK HITS WOU basketball adds two to 2018 recruiting class MONMOUTH — Western Oregon’s women’s basket- ball team added two play- ers to its 2018 recruiting class. Tresai McCarver, of Ren- ton, Wash., and Rachel Rogers, of Los Molinos, Calif., are expected to join the Wolves next fall. McCarter is a 5-foot-5 guard from Kentridge High School and helped lead her school to a 4A state title. Rogers, a 5-foot-10 combo guard, averaged 26.4 points, 7.8 rebounds 4.9 steals and 3.1 assists per game last season and was selected as the Most Valuable Player of the Star League as a junior. She was named the league’s Co- MVP during her sopho- more year. STAT SHEET 1986 The last year that Western Oregon University’s women’s basket- ball team started a season 4-0. The Wolves defeated Humboldt State 64-62 on Nov. 21 to improve to 4-0. WOU hosts Saint Martin’s Thursday at 7 p.m. and Seattle Pacific Saturday at 2 p.m. 0 The total number of combined losses for Western Oregon’s men’s and women’s basketball teams. The men’s team enters league play with a 6-0 record. The women are 4-0. www.polkio.com LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer Taisha Thomas (44) looks to pass against Humboldt State on Nov. 21. Western Oregon’s women’s basketball team won 64-62 to improve to 4-0. COLLEGE BASKETBALL Wolves off to best start in three decades WOU hopes the process pays off By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — During Holli Howard-Carpenter’s tenure as head coach of Western Oregon University’s women’s basketball team, the Wolves have struggled to find success in the win col- umn. WOU posted eight or fewer wins in each of her first four seasons. But the winds of change may be blowing in Mon- mouth. The Wolves defeated Humboldt State 64-62 on Nov. 17, thanks to a game- winner by Savannah Heugly, to improve to 4-0 for the first time in 30 years. “A lot of us haven’t been in t h i s s i t u a t i o n b e f o re,” Howard-Carpenter said. “We have a lot of transfers who came from winning pro- grams, but as a team, the ex- Snook citement and the confidence is growing. The girls have trust in each other and want to do this for each other.” Getting to this point has been a process — one that has taken time. When Howard-Carpenter arrived at Western Oregon, it had been 11 years since the women’s basketball team posted a winning record. “Our first couple years, it was about changing the cul- ture,” Howard-Carpenter said. “After that, it was about getting in the personnel to be competitive. Now, this year, to me, is finally laying the foundation for future success.” See WOLVES, Page 12A LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer Jasmine Miller scored five points against Humboldt State on Nov. 21. Panther Auction returns Left: Mike Ainsworth served as the emcee for the Panther Auction on Nov. 18. The auction re- turned after a two-year absence. The event serves as a fundraiser for the Panther Club, which dis- tributes money raised to Central High athletics. Bottom: Attendees take part in a live auction on Nov. 18. Panther Club member Tanna Cable said they did not have final tal- lies available as of press time, but that the club was pleased with the turnout. TANNA CABLE/for the Itemizer-Observer PREP BASKETBALL Ehlers ready to lead Dallas By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer DALLAS — When Dallas High School began its search for a new girls bas- ketball coach, Tim Ehlers was ready to take his shot. He was an assistant coach for the junior varsity and varsity girls basketball teams at West Salem for the last two years and coached an AAU team. “I was looking for a head coach position,” he said. “When this one opened up, I talked with my family and decided it could never hurt to try. I felt like I was ready for a head coach position, maybe not at the 6A level, but at 4A or 5A.” Dallas fit the bill — with an added bonus. “It has that sense of community,” Ehlers said. “It’s close to Salem, but you still get that small, close- knit community.” Coaching was always something Ehlers saw him- self gravitating toward. “My senior year of high school back in Nebraska, we won a state champi- onship,” Ehlers said. “I had a wonderful high school coach who really instilled good things in us. It wasn't always just about basket- ball, it was about doing good things with your life. Coaching basketball pro- vides a chance to work with a group of kids that you can influence in a positive way.” “Tim is a great fit,” Dallas athletic director Tim Lar- son said. “He cares about the total student-athletes. He pushes them to be bet- ter every day, and basic fundamentals are a focus every practice.” See DALLAS, Page 12A Tip off • Dallas’ girls basketball team opens the 2017-18 season Wednesday (today) at North Salem at 6:45 p.m. • The Dragons’ first home game is Friday at 7 p.m. against Reynolds. • Dallas finished the 2016-17 season with a 14-11 record overall and an 8-6 mark in Mid-Willamette Conference play. www.facebook.com/pages/Polk-County-Itemizer-Observer/205062686252209 www.twitter.com/PolkIOSports