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About Polk County itemizer observer. (Dallas, Or) 1992-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 6, 2017)
Polk County Sports Polk County Itemizer-Observer • December 6, 2017 13A COLLEGE BASKETBALL SCHEDULE WEDNESDAY, DEC. 6 Boys basketball: Yon- calla at Perrydale, 7 p.m. Falls City at Triangle Lake, 6 p.m. Girls basketball: Falls City at Triangle Lake, 5:30 p.m. Yoncalla at Perrydale, 6 p.m. Writing his own chapter Dustin Triano arrives at Western Oregon looking to blaze his own trail By Lukas Eggen THURSDAY, DEC. 7 Girls basketball: South Eugene at Dallas, 7 p.m. Men’s basketball: Port- land Bible College at West- ern Oregon, 7 p.m. The Itemizer-Observer FRIDAY, DEC. 8 Boys basketball: Churchill at Dallas, 7 p.m. Girls basketball: Astoria at Central, 6 p.m. Wrestling: Dallas at Rose City Tournament, 1 p.m. SATURDAY, DEC. 9 Girls basketball: Central at Summit, 1:30 p.m. Wrestling: Central at Springfield Invitational, TBA. Dallas at Rose City Tournament, TBA. MONDAY, DEC. 11 Women’s basketball: Western Oregon at Oregon Tech, 6 p.m. TUESDAY, DEC. 12 Boys basketball: Put- nam at Central, 7 p.m. Glen- coe at Dallas, 7 p.m. Oregon School for the Deaf at Falls City, 7 p.m. Perrydale at Liv- ingstone Adventist, 7 p.m. Girls basketball: Dallas at Roosevelt, 7:15 p.m. Ore- gon School for the Deaf at Falls City, 5:30 p.m. Perry- dale at Livingstone Adven- tist, 5:30 p.m. Men’s basketball: West- ern Oregon at Tarleton State, 7 p.m. Swimming: Central at South Albany, 4 p.m. Dallas at Corvallis, 4 p.m. Women’s basketball: Western Oregon at South- ern Oregon, 5:30 p.m. — Schedules Subject to Change QUICK HITS WOU ATHLETICS/for the Itemizer-Observer Bottle drop adds extra dates DALLAS — The Bottle Drop fundraiser has added two dates at the Dallas Les Schwab — Saturday and Dec. 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If $5,000 worth of de- posits are raised before Dec. 20, the Field Turf fundraising drive will re- ceive an additional $2,000 from the bottle company. Regular bottle drop days are the last Saturday of each month at Les Schwab. Johnson named Coach of the Year MONMOUTH — Western O re g o n c ro s s - co u nt r y coach Mike Johnson was named the Great North- west Athletic Conference’s Men’s Cross-country Coach of the Year on Friday. This is the first time he has received the honor. Johnson helped lead the men’s squad to a conference championship, and a third- place finish at the NCAA Di- vision II West Region Cham- pionship. Senior David Ribich took first at the con- ference and region races. Revis earns all- region honors MONMOUTH — Western Oregon football player Paul Revis was named to the All- Super Region 4 team by the Division II Conference Com- missioner’s Association. Revis was named to the second t e a m and was one of 15 play- ers from t h e GNAC to be hon- ored. Revis Revis finished the 2017 season with 93 catches for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns. He holds school records for ca- reer catches (274), receiving yards (3,998), receiving touchdowns (32) and all- purpose yards (6,713). www.polkio.com Dustin Triano transferred from Gonzaga prior to the start of the 2017-18 season. MONMOUTH — Basket- ball is more than a hobby in the Triano family. It’s a way of life. Jay Triano played at Simon Fraser University, where he broke or tied 11 school records and played for the Canadian National Team from 1977-88. After retiring as a player, Jay worked as a color commentator and director of community relations for the then Vancouver Grizzlies. He has served as an assistant coach, and later head coach, of the Toronto Raptors, an as- sistant for the Portland Trail Blazers, and is currently the interim head coach for the Phoenix Suns. He’s also coached the Canadian Na- tional Team two different times. His son, Dustin Triano, is looking to write his own bas- ketball chapter with Western Oregon’s men’s basketball team this winter. — As Jay Triano worked his way up the ranks, Dustin got a front-row view of life of an NBA coach and a glimpse into the lives of players. “Ever since I was born, I’ve been around basketball,” Dustin said. “When he start- ed at the Grizzlies, I would go to games when I was 5 or 6. It’s something I’ve always been around. I’m a competi- tive guy. I found I liked to compete in basketball. I would say it was never forced on me, but I found I shared the same love for basketball as my dad.” See TRIANO, Page 14A COLLEGE ATHLETICS WOU rallies to support Team Lucy Fundraiser started to help Walker family cover expenses By Lukas Eggen The Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — The Walkers have been a part of the Western Oregon com- munity for decades. Ke l l e n Wa l k e r h a s coached the baseball pro- gram for the last 11 seasons. His wife, Tyler, was a soft- ball player at WOU and is a member of Western’s Athlet- ic Hall of Fame. The Walker’s daughter, Lucy, 3, was diagnosed with A c u t e Ly m p h o b l a s t i c Leukemia in November, the WOU community stepped up to help raise money for her treatment. The Walkers had noticed a difference in Lucy. At first, they attributed changes in behavior to a cold she had been fighting and other life events. But over time, they be- came more worried. “Our once energetic, fun loving and lively girl was now lethargic, unable to walk more than a short dis- tance and was constantly complaining that she didn’t want to do anything,” the Wa l k e r s w r o t e o n t h e fundraising page. “It just didn’t make sense.” Doctors told the Walkers to go directly to Doernbech- er Childrens Hospital in Portland. “The hour and a half drive to Portland seemed like an eternity,” the Walkers wrote. Once they arrived, it was confirmed. Debbie Wakem, mother of WOU baseball player Justin Wakem, helped organize a fundraiser to help cover medical costs at www.you- caring.com/thewalkerfami- ly-1011671. WOU athletics depart- ment and the Student Ath- lete Advisory Committee will also be selling #LucyStrong T-shirts at all home games for $12. All proceeds will go to the Walkers. Wakem, who lives in Port- land, has had experience working with families who have battled various illness- es. When she heard what the Walkers were facing, there was no doubt what she would do. “I had gotten word that Lucy was diagnosed with leukemia,” Wakem said. “They had been at the hos- pital, I want to say about three days at that point. I reached out to them to see if I could stop by.” Wakem had talked with other families who had dealt with illnesses and asked what was most helpful. The answer, Wakem said, was the simple things, like blankets. When she visited the Walkers, she heard some dif- ficult news. “The doctor came in and forewarned them that they heard the Ronald McDonald House was full,” Wakem said. “I looked at the Walkers and told them if that’s really the case, I don’t know how close you have to be to the hospital, but our home is open to you.” The Walkers took Wakem up on her offer and have been living at her home since Nov. 7. Wakem has helped in any way she can, whether that means watching Lucy’s sis- ter, Gracie, or giving emo- tional support. There was initial reluc- tance by the Walkers to agree to a fundraiser, but Wakem said travel costs to and from Portland, hospital stays, meal costs and more can add up quickly. See LUCY, Page 14A WOU ATHLETICS Western Oregon will sell Team Lucy shirts at home games. CENTRAL ROUNDUP DALLAS ROUNDUP Boys basketball goes 2-0 Girls basketball earns a pair of victories Itemizer-Observer staff report INDEPENDENCE — Cen- tral’s boys basketball team defeated North Eugene 55- 45 on Nov. 29 and Stayton 48-43 on Friday. Peter Mendazona scored a team-high 14 points against North Eugene. Kaleb Kanto- la added nine points. Jesse Cable led the Pan- thers against Stayton with a game-high 14 points. Men- dazona scored 13 points and Kantola added 11 points. “Friday was a real learn- ing experience,” coach Tim Kreta said. “We found our- selves down by 13 at the end of the first quarter and needed to make a few de- fensive adjustments. Our kids did a really good job chipping away each quarter and staying the course and sticking to our game plan.” After giving up 23 points in the first quarter, the Pan- thers allowed just 20 the rest of the game. Central played Putnam Tuesday after press time. The Panthers host Mil- waukie Tuesday at 7 p.m. GIRLS BASKETBALL WINS TWO: Central’s girls basketball team opened its season by de- feating North Eugene 85-20 on Nov. 29 and Cascade 57-26 on Friday. Meagan Mendazona scored a game-high 13 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Cascade. K atelyn Trevino added 12 points. The Panthers host Astoria Friday at 6 p.m. be- fore playing at Summit Satur- day at 1:30 p.m. WRESTLING PLACES SEC- OND: Central’s wrestling team finished second at the Tillam- ook Invite on Friday. The Pan- thers will compete at the Springfield Invitational Satur- day at 10 a.m. Itemizer-Observer staff report DALLAS — Dallas’ girls basketball team defeated North Salem 40-29 on Nov. 29 and Reynolds 56-15 on Friday. The Dragons played St. Helens Tuesday after press time. Dallas hosts South Eugene Thursday at 7 p.m. before playing at Roosevelt Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. W R E S T L I N G TA K E S THIRD: Dallas’ wrestling team placed third at the Perry Burli- son Wrestling Classic on Sat- www.facebook.com/pages/Polk-County-Itemizer-Observer/205062686252209 urday. R yan Bibler (120 pounds) finished first. Haydn Millard (113) finished second and Cael Morrison (106) took third. Dallas will compete at the Rose City Championship Friday and Saturday. BOYS BASKETBALL GOES 0-4: Dallas’ boys basketball team lost to Century 70-49 on Nov. 29 before falling to Wilsonville 72-25 on Friday, Eagle Point 60-43 on Saturday and Springfield 75-46 on Sun- day. Dallas hosts Churchill Fri- day at 7 p.m. and Glencoe Tuesday at 7 p.m. www.twitter.com/PolkIOSports