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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 1, 2017)
Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, March 1, 2017 A9 WEDNESDAY March 1, 2017 Contributed photo/Angie Johnson Grant Union’s Clay Johnson, red singlet, overpowers his Oakridge opponent, Seth Sidwell, in quarterfinal action at the state wrestling championships. The event was held Feb. 24-25 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland. Two Grant Union wrestlers take state podium Johnson finishes in second, Lusco fourth By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Four Grant Union Prospec- tor wrestlers took on competi- tion at the 2A/1A OSAA state championships on Feb. 24-25 at the Veterans Memorial Col- iseum in Portland. Taking spots on the po- dium for Grant Union were senior Clay Johnson, who fi nished second in the 138 weight class, and freshman Drew Lusco, who placed fourth in the 220 weight class. Prospector junior Dillon Maley, competing in the 220 weight class, won a match, but lost in the consolation semifi nals to Lusco. Grant Union junior Toby Boatwright, a fi rst-year wres- tler, lost his fi rst match to a top-seeded senior wrestler in the 285 weight class and lost a consolation match. “The coaches are very proud of the effort of all four wrestlers,” said Grant Union head coach Andy Lusco. “Toby is a fi rst-year wrestler who qualifi ed for state and wrestled tough against the state champion. Dillon Maley also wrestled well and won a match over a good opponent. Drew wrestled very well los- ing 3-2 to the eventual state champion. Clay is a four- time qualifi er who has been a leader in the program and a huge part of the resurgence of Grant Union wrestling.” See WRESTLERS, Page A10 EO Media Group/Matt Entrup Pilot Rock’s Rachel Willingham drives between Grant Union’s Kaylee Wright (23) and Mariah Moulton (25) during their 2A girls basketball state playoff game Saturday in Pilot Rock. Lady Pros advance to state tournament Special Olympians to host law enforcement for basketball showdown Grant Union prepares for Kennedy Trojans By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Eagle file photo Grant County Special Olympics is hosting local law enforcement for a basketball battle on Thursday, March 9, at Grant Union Junior-Senior High School in John Day. In the photo: Charley Fronapel goes up to score with fellow Special Olympian Caleb Madsen in action in the 2015 game. Grant County Special Olympians will host local law enforcement for a friend- ly basketball battle at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 9, at the Grant Union Junior-Se- nior High School in John Day. There will be audience-in- volved Minute-to-Win-It games at halftime, and a bake sale and a pie auction. The cost of admission is $3, or $10 for a family. The Special Olympics ath- letes are also seeking spon- sors, and those who donate $25 or more will be men- tioned on the game program. The event benefi ts Grant County Special Olympics with proceeds used to pay for delegation fees, uniforms and travel expenses for competi- tions. See SHOWDOWN, Page A10 EO Media Group/Matt Entrup Pilot Rock’s Sara Weinke (20) and Bekah Roe battle for a loose ball with Grant Union’s Trinity Hutchison while the Rockets’ Kayla Deist (10) watches during their 2A girls basketball state playoff game Saturday in Pilot Rock. The Grant Union Prospector girls basketball team advances to this week’s OSAA 2A State Champion- ship quarterfi nals after edging out a 49-42 victory on Saturday over the Rockets in Pilot Rock. Grant Union will face the Kennedy Trojans at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 2, at the Pendleton Con- vention Center at the tournament. If Grant Union beats Kennedy, they’ll continue to the semifi nals at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the conven- tion center, and the championship game will be held at Pendleton High School at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The Lady Prospectors had a good running start at Saturday’s competition, outshooting the Rockets 16-9 in the fi rst quarter, and they led by nine points at halftime. The Rockets picked away at the Prospector’s cushion, but Grant Union led 34-33 going into the fourth. Down the stretch, Grant Union drained some critical shots, including Hailie and Kaylee Wright with two two-point shots each, Mariah Moulton with a three-pointer and Madi McKrola and Trinity Hutchison adding two each. “This was a great win for us,” said Grant Union head coach Mark Mosley. “The girls were focused all week and prepared.” The team shot 45 percent from the fi eld. Softball camp set for March 11 Prairie City boys’ postseason halted by Hosanna Christian Coach: ‘We’re going to get right back at it’ By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle The Prairie City Panthers were halted on their path to the state championship tour- nament Friday as the Hosanna Christian Lions sprinted to a 55-33 win at the Round Two state playoff game. Prairie City ends a suc- cessful season, which includ- ed a second-place fi nish and sportsmanship award at the Feb. 16-18 High Desert Dis- trict Tournament and a 12-3 league record in the regular season. Coming off a home win Feb. 21 over the Echo Cougars in Round One, the Panthers faced Hosanna Christian at the Lions’ court on Friday after a six-hour bus ride. Prairie City had the fi rst ad- vantage when Levi Burke got the tipoff to teammate Brogan McKrola, but the Lions, short- ly after, batted the ball away. The Panthers got it back, only to have the Lions steal again, fi nding the basket. Hosanna Christian, with seven seniors, kept their of- fensive energy up in the fi rst quarter for a 13-5 lead over Prairie City. Prairie City kept pace with Hosanna Christian in the sec- ond quarter, the Lions gaining 14, the Panthers 13. See PANTHERS, Page A10 See LADY PROS, Page A10 Blue Mountain Eagle Contributed photo/Nancy Hitz Prairie City Panther Levi Burke, left, gets the tipoff at the start of the Round One state playoff game against Hosanna Christian in Klamath Falls. The 2017 Grant Union softball camp will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at the Seventh Street Complex soft- ball fi eld in John Day. Youth in second grade and up will learn the basics of softball with help from Grant Union softball coach DeAnna Nash, coaching staff and the high school team. The cost is $20, which includes a T-shirt, and scholarships are available. Participants are asked to bring a sack lunch. Grant Union senior Dauna Bishop is coor- dinating this year’s camp for her senior project. Registration forms can be picked up at Humbolt Elementary School or Grant Union Junior-Senior High School. For more information, call Bishop at 541- 620-4161 or Nash at 541-575-1799, ext. 54.
