A18
Sports
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, March 7, 2018
STATE
Continued from Page A13
Prairie City was able to
cash in on some defensive re-
bounds and a steal in the third,
and Holman blocked one of
John Keeler’s jump shots.
The Panthers scored 18 to
Pacific’s 12, but the Pirates
held on with a 61-47 lead.
Prairie City subbed in
some younger players in the
final minute of the fourth,
and Brandon Horrell brought
down a defensive rebound
and Jayden Winegar scored
2 points for the Panthers in
the final 30 seconds of the
game.
Wilson was named Prai-
rie City’s Player of the Game
with 14 points.
Jack Lehnherr, at 6-foot-
9, was a force for Pacific and
was Player of the Game for
the Pirates with 12 points.
For the Eagle/Cheryl Hoefler
Pacific Pirate John Keeler (34) passes the ball as Prairie City Panthers Syd Holman (23)
and Lucas McKinley are ready on defense during Saturday’s final game at the OSAA 1A
State Championships at Baker High School.
“That guy was tough and
could play ball — he wasn’t
just big,” Workman said, add-
ing, “It was a very good team.
We knew we were going to
have trouble with them, and
we did.”
Workman said his team
had a successful year.
“I was thinking we were go-
ing to be contenders all year,”
he said. “They played together
well, and it was a fun year.”
Workman said teamwork
continued to make the differ-
ence this year.
“They just work well to-
gether,” he said. “The older
kids are already on the same
page — they already know
where the other guy’s going
to be, and Dorran, he knows
where they’re going to be be-
fore they get there. He plays
very smart basketball.”
Wilson, as the sole Panther
senior, will leave big shoes to
fill, the coach said, but he add-
ed the team is only going to be
better, and bigger.
Six out of the 12 team
members are freshmen, and
Workman said he expected
them to step up this year, and
they did — “especially De-
clan Zweygardt, Jojari Field
and Jayden Winegar.”
Burke,
Holman
and
Charles Lawrence will return
as seniors next season.
Burke said the state cham-
pionship was an “intense ex-
perience.” He said beating
Sherman, the team that won
the state title last year, was es-
pecially rewarding.
“It was amazing, every-
body was getting involved,
and everybody was contrib-
uting equally, two or three
getting rebounds and two or
three assisting,” Burke said.
“You usually don’t see that
anymore. Usually it’s one-
man show.”
He added, “We wanted
it bad, and we had to push
through, and we knew we
could do it. We were com-
posed, ready to do it and con-
fident in ourselves.”
Field said it was great to
play against seasoned teams
and having a big crowd to
cheer them on.
“I feel like with this great
experience and that next year,
when we play against good
teams, I won’t be as nervous,
and I’ll be more prepared,” he
said. “I’m really proud of all
my team members this year,
and I know we’ll be right back
at it next year.”
GIRLS
Continued from Page A13
Contributed photos/Tanni Wenger Photography
The Grant Union boys basketball team poses with its sixth-place trophy from the OSAA
2A Boys Basketball State Championship Saturday in Pendleton.
BOYS
Continued from Page A13
against Kennedy, earning 13
points with one steal, one
block and six rebounds.
“Taking sixth wasn’t the
goal, but it was fun to go over
with the team and play the last
three games with them,” Zack
Deiter said. “The tournament
overall was a good experience.”
Stokes agreed.
“It was great to be able to
end the season with this team
the
at the state tournament, since
we’ve been together so long,”
he said.
The five seniors, Zack De-
iter, Stokes, Reimers, Weaver
and McDaniel, have played the
sport together since their grade
school years.
Wright said it has been a
long time since the Prospector
boys made a trip to state.
“I think the boys handled
themselves very well,” he said.
“I was very pleased with how
the boys played and kept their
composure, especially against
corner’s
HOT
SH T
EEK
OF THE W
MARIAH WRIGHT
School: Grant Union
Grade: 12
Parents: Michelle Conkey &
Rodger Wright
Sport: Basketball
teams we’ve never seen be-
fore.”
“We had a strong finish,” he
added. “We beat Toledo — that
was one of the better basketball
teams that we played. They
were a great, solid basketball
team.”
Wright said, although they
will lose five seniors, he ex-
pects they’ll still be a compet-
itive team next year.
“They have the experi-
ence,” he said. “If we get them
again, I don’t think they’re
going to have any problems.”
Contributed photo/Tanni Wenger Photography
The Grant Union girls basketball team poses with its
fourth-place trophy after the OSAA 2A Girls Basketball
State Championship Saturday in Pendleton.
with 22 points in the game,
followed by Hutchison with
12, Moulton 9, Hailie Wright
6 and McKrola 5.
Grant Union had a 4-point
lead in the first and 6-point
lead at the half before they be-
gan pulling away.
Kaylee Wright, McKrola
and Moulton each brought
down defensive rebounds in
the first 2 minutes of the third,
which led to scoring opportu-
nities.
Grant Union outshot Oak-
land 16-9 for a 46-33 lead go-
ing into the fourth.
The Oakers whittled away
at the Prospectors’ lead,
climbing within 7 points at the
three-minute mark. Although
Oakland outscored Grant
Union 11-8, the Prospectors
stayed ahead for the 10-point
win, Hutchison and Kaylee
Wright combining for 8 in the
quarter.
Grant Union Player of the
Game was Kaylee Wright
with 22 points and five steals.
Hutchison had 12 points and
seven rebounds, and Moulton
had 9 points.
Oakland Player of the
Game was Grace Whitten with
20 points.
Kaylee Wright said she’s
glad they made it to state three
years in a row.
“We did exceptionally well
for being there three years in
a row, and I hope to go back
next year,” she said. “Our team
worked really well. Winning
as a team at state is always an
awesome feeling, and we got
to show people what we can
actually do.”
Hallgarth, in his first year
as head coach, said his philos-
ophy for the girls was to play
in the moment and keep their
composure at all times, to play
hard for their teammates and
be a great teammate. He said
there are great athletes on the
team, but also great people.
“Our defense is what kept
us in the fight all season long,”
he said. “They knew that if
we play hard on defense, we
would have a chance to win
any game.”
He said seniors Moulton,
Mariah Wright and Whitney
McClellan will be missed.
“The team, coaches and I
will truly miss these three se-
niors and all that they accom-
plished this season,” he said.
He said the bench had a lot
of playing time and experience
this season, and he expects all
but the three seniors to return.
“If we can get our summer
ball on track this year, our girls
should make another run into
the post season,” he said.
Dayville brings 5th annual Bunny Hop 5K Run and Walk
What I like best about my sport: “It is my
favorite sport, and everyone involved made it better.
Making it to state the last three years was exciting.”
Coach’s Comment:
“Mariah is a great teammate. She has been committed
to the team and her goal was to play a ton on varsity.
Her work ethic this summer and this season
has paid off. She never misses a practice
and was instrumental to our success as a
team all season long.”
- Coach Casey Hallgarth
PROUD SPONSOR OF GRANT COUNTY ATHLETES
100 E. Main • Stoplight in John Day
541-792-0425
Grant Union’s Duane
Stokes shoots a free throw.
Grant Union Player of the
Game was Kaylee Wright with
16 points, and Moulton had 11
points. Faith Bible Player of
the Game was Izzy Steerman
with 19 points.
Grant Union was off to a
fiery start against Heppner.
The Prospectors met up
with Heppner early in the reg-
ular season, on Dec. 16, with a
50-39 win.
Grant Union kept a lid on
the Mustang basket in Friday’s
first quarter, outscoring Hep-
pner 16-7.
Kaylee Wright racked up
10 points in the quarter, which
included two 3-pointers and
2-2 at the free throw line.
McKrola added 4 points and
Hailie Wright added 2.
Prospector Makenna Cul-
ley opened the second quarter
landing a 3-point shot, and
Grant Union continued to
dominate the game.
In the fourth, Heppner
came within 8 points of Grant
Union 54-46, but then the
Prospectors ran away with the
16-point win.
Kaylee Wright scored 2
points at the free-throw line,
followed by a steal and a bas-
ket. Alcie Moore grabbed a de-
fensive rebound with Kaylee
Wright cashing in on a layup
and 2-2 at the free-throw line.
Grant Union Player of the
Game was Kaylee Wright with
32 points, seven steals and
seven rebounds. McKrola had
8 points.
Heppner Player of the
Game was Sydney Wilson
with 17 points.
Grant Union, the No. 4
seed, ended the tournament on
a high note, defeating the No.
3-seeded Oakland Oakers.
Kaylee Wright led the team
43954
Blue Mountain Eagle
The city of Dayville will
hold its fifth annual Bunny
Hop 5K Run and Walk on Sat-
urday, March 31.
Registration is at 8 a.m.
at the Dayville School gym,
and cost is $10. Runners may
purchase a $10 Bunny Hop
T-shirt if they preregister by
Friday, March 9.
Participants will be bused
to a location on South Fork
Road where the race will be-
gin at 9 a.m., ending at Day-
ville City Park.
Prizes will be awarded to
the fastest runners, and draw-
Eagle file photo
Participants in the 2015 Dayville Bunny Hop 5K head
north on South Fork Road toward the finish line at Dayville
City Park. This year’s event will be Saturday, March 31.
ings for prizes will also be
held.
The Buddy the Elk Award
Congratulations Michal Madden, Top Producing Agent
for Eastern Oregon Realty seven years running.
Give Michal a call for all of your real estate needs: 541-620-4408
44218
Principal Broker Jerry Franklin shared that Michal exhibits a high degree of professionalism and
exceeds her clients and co-workers expectations each day with a helpful and positive attitude.
of $50, donated by Old West
Federal Credit, is given to
the fastest youth division
runner, up to age 13, who
finishes on their own. The
award is named after a friend-
ly elk who joined racers on
the course in 2016, follow-
ing them all the way to the
park.
Emma Winkelman orga-
nizes the event, with help
from city recorder Ruthie
Moore and others.
“It’s always fun with the
Easter Egg Hunt that fol-
lows,” Moore said. “It’s a
great family event.”
The Easter Egg Hunt, also
sponsored by the city, starts at
10:30 a.m. or later if 5K par-
ticipants are still streaming in.
We would like to thank the community and all
the fans from Grant County for all their support
this season for the Prairie City Boys Basketball
Team. Your support and love for them at every
game did not go unnoticed. Showing up to
support them as they followed their DREAMS at
the State Tournament was amazing. What a
journey they had and so deserved.
The Burke Family
44571