A10
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, December 5, 2018
WEDNESDAY
December 5, 2018
Tiger girls ready to prove potential
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Dayville/Monument Tiger
girls basketball team stepped onto
the Wheeler High School court Fri-
day to begin what they hope will be
a strong season.
If their victories at the Paul
Humphreys Memorial Tournament
over the Arlington Honkers, 34-23,
and Condon/Wheeler Knights, 38-
25, are any indication, the Tigers
could be on their way to fulfilling
their goals.
Head coach Taylor Schmadeka,
in his fourth year leading the team,
said his No. 1 goal for the girls is to
give a “perfect effort” — and he’s
confident about advancing to the
post season.
“Always play 100 percent every
game, no matter what the score is,”
he said.
He said his five starters are the
main returners and are showing a lot
of enthusiasm.
“They have an attitude of want-
ing to compete and win,” he said.
The team lost one talented se-
nior, Danielle Rhoda, to graduation
last season, but the remainder of the
team returned.
Three seniors are returning
starters, with two junior return-
ing starters, plus two sophomores.
Three athletic freshmen have also
joined the ranks. Schmadeka has
Kristi Emerson back as assistant
coach, and Cheyenne Perkins is
also joining as assistant coach this
year.
Dayville/Monument ended last
season with a loss to the Adrian An-
telopes early on at the High Desert
District 8 1A Tournament, follow-
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Dayville/Monument Tiger Sam Adams picks up a rebound during
Thursday’s practice scrimmage.
ing up with a win over the Harper
Hornets in the consolation round.
Now seniors, Faythe Schafer and
Kyla Emerson each scored 7 points
in the game with Adrian, and Court-
ney Nichols was also in the action.
Schafer said she’s eager to use
her last season as a springboard, and
she’s looking forward to developing
the team chemistry with their newer
members.
“I’m excited to see where the
season takes us,” she said. “We have
a lot of speed, and that will be a
good challenge for the other teams.”
Kyla Emerson, who has played
basketball since fourth grade, said
it’s the intensity of the game and
time on the court that draws her to
the sport. She said she appreciates
the opportunity to spend her final
season with the other girls and the
coaches.
“We have a strong team, and our
bench is good,” she said.
Nichols said she’s looking to im-
prove her shot. She’s developed a
good relationship with the team and
enjoys working with the younger
players, she said.
“I think our freshmen are going
to be super strong this year,” she
said. “They’re learning quickly.”
Schmadeka said the three fresh-
men are showing potential. He not-
ed freshman Aubreianna Osborne is
strong, and each freshman is show-
ing different strengths in their abil-
ities.
“The biggest thing will be court
time and getting a feel for the speed
of the game,” he said.
He said point guard Schafer will
be driving the ball to the basket and
commanding the floor more.
He expects Emerson and Nichols
to take on attacking the rim, as well
as playing aggressive defense.
“Aubrey Bowlus (a junior) is
stepping up as a post and getting a
lot of rebounds for us this year,” he
said.
Overall, he said, the teams’
greatest asset is their quick tempo.
“They’re working really well
together, and we’re going to utilize
our speed this year,” he said. “I be-
lieve we have a good chance to get
to the state playoffs and compete
there.”
Dayville/Monument
Tiger girls schedule
Dec. 7-8: @ Arlington Tournament,
3 p.m., 12 p.m.
Dec. 14-15: Tiger Tourney in Day-
ville (vs. Mitchell/Spray and Grant
Union junior varsity), 6 p.m., 4:30
p.m.
Dec. 20-22: Union Christmas Clas-
sic, TBD
Dec. 28: Alumni games in Day-
ville, 5 p.m.
Jan. 4: @ Long Creek/Ukiah in
Long Creek, 6 p.m.
Jan. 5: @ Harper, 3 p.m.
Jan. 8: vs. Burnt River in Dayville,
5 p.m.
Jan. 11: vs. Crane in Dayville, 5
p.m.
Jan. 12: vs. Prairie City in Monu-
ment, 2 p.m.
Jan. 18: @ Burnt River in Unity, 6
p.m.
Jan. 19: vs. Four Rivers in Monu-
ment, 2 p.m.
Jan. 22: @ Grant Union JV in John
Day, 5 p.m.
Jan. 25: @ Adrian, 5 p.m.
Jan. 26: vs. Jordan Valley in Day-
ville, 4 p.m.
Feb. 1: @ Huntington, 6 p.m.
Feb. 2: @ Crane, 4 p.m.
Feb. 5: @ Prairie City, 5 p.m.
Feb. 8: vs. Harper in Monument, 5
p.m.
Feb. 9: vs. Long Creek/Ukiah in
Monument (senior recognition), 2
p.m.
Feb. 14-16: District Tournament in
John Day, TBD
Feb. 19: First round state playoffs
Feb: 22: Second round state play-
offs
Grant Union wrestling team up for season’s challenges
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
Grant Union Prospector
head coach Andy Lusco sees a
promising season for his wres-
tlers, even though potentially
difficult battles lie ahead.
Three state-qualifying team
members and several others
are returning, and five girls are
joining the team of 21.
Junior Drew Lusco, who
won the state title last year in
the 285-pound bracket in tri-
ple overtime, is back as well
as Russell Hodge and Ethan
Moore, who wrestled their way
to the state semifinals at 182
and 106, respectively.
Last season was Drew Lus-
co’s second visit to the state
competition — he placed fourth
at 220 as a freshman.
Coach Lusco, who is in his
seventh year leading the 2A
team, said, although they’re a
younger team and “a little bit
raw” in experience, the disci-
pline they’re showing in their
work habits is going to pay off.
“We want our wrestlers to
be physically and mentally
tough,” he said. “We believe
that all success on the mat
stems from these attributes.”
He said their practices and
conditioning are designed with
development in these areas in
mind.
The coaches continue to
emphasize to the wrestlers:
“Learn a few things, and do
them exceptionally well,” the
coach said.
“I enjoy the opportunity to
help our wrestlers learn to work
harder than they thought pos-
sible and become high quality
people who contribute positive-
ly in our community,” he said.
Tye Parsons is the assistant
high school coach, and Nate
Barber coaches the junior high
team and is an assistant high
school coach. Kyle Erickson
is assistant coach for both the
high school and junior high
teams.
At the first meet of the
season Nov. 30, Grant Union
defeated Vale 42-24, Lakev-
iew 36-30 and Irrigon 42-36.
The Prospectors fell 69-12 to
Burns.
A new team in the 2A/1A
Special District 4 this year is
Culver (2A). Echo will also
combine with Stanfield (1A)
this year.
Other district opponents
include: Adrian (1A), Crane
(1A), Elgin (1A), Enterprise
(2A), Heppner/Ione (2A), Im-
bler (1A), Joseph/Wallowa
(1A), Pine Eagle (1A) and
Union/Cove (2A).
“Culver makes things more
difficult,” coach Lusco said.
“They’ve won the state cham-
pionship for more than 10 years
in a row.”
He said the Culver Bulldogs
have a quality program and lots
of wrestlers on their team.
Grant Union will have an
early look at Culver as they
compete at the Bulldogs’ invi-
tational and girls tournament
Friday-Saturday, Dec. 7-8.
“Crane is another competi-
tor,” he said. “Our conference
Grant Union
wrestling
schedule
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Grant Union seniors Trinity Hutchison, left, and Sydney
Brockway are two new girls on the Prospector wrestling
team.
is always consistently tough.
We’re going to test ourselves
and rise to the challenge.”
He said the goal for the team
is to place in the top three at the
district tournament and, like
last year, send six wrestlers to
state.
Another plus for the team
this season is having several
wrestlers in varying weight
classes.
“We should be able to fill
almost all the weight classes, so
we’ll have a pretty solid lineup
in terms of dual meets,” the
coach said.
He said he believes several
of his returners will be strong
competitors.
“Drew (Lusco) has a shot
if he works hard and does his
part,” he said. “I think Rus-
sell Hodge, a state qualifier
last year, is going to be tough.
Ethan Moore, he’s going to be
tough, lightweight again.”
Other wrestlers the coach
said he expects will do well this
season include juniors Dami-
on Young, Quinten Hallgarth,
Logan McCluskey and Frank
Douglass, as well as sopho-
more Ben Henry and freshman
Justin Hodge.
Three senior wrestlers
are new to the team, Trinity
Hutchison, Sydney Brockway
and Grant LeQuieu.
Five juniors, five soph-
omores and eight freshmen
round out the roster.
Drew Lusco said he’s im-
pressed with the guys and girls
out for wrestling this year.
“Everyone has a good work
ethic and good attitude, and I’m
glad to be a part of this wres-
tling family,” he said. “This
season, I’d like to be state
champion again and be unde-
feated. For the team, I’d like to
Dec. 7-8: @ Culver Tour-
nament, TBD
Dec. 14-15: @ Elgin
Tournament, 1 p.m., 10
a.m.
Jan. 4-5: @ Jo-Hi Wres-
tling Tournament in Jo-
seph, TBD
Jan. 15: @ Burns/Crane
Duals in Burns, TBD
Jan. 18-19: Oregon Clas-
sic in Redmond, TBD
Jan. 25: Grant Union
Tournament in John Day at
12 p.m.
Jan. 26: Hood River Tour-
nament (girls only), TBD
Feb. 1-2: State Qualifier
(girls only) at Thurston,
TBD
Feb. 2: Bank of Eastern
Oregon Tournament in
Heppner at 10 a.m.
Feb. 9: Pine Eagle Tourn-
ment in Halfway at 10 a.m.
Feb. 15-16: District Tour-
nament in Halfway at 8
a.m.
Feb. 22-23: State Tourna-
ment in Portland, TBD
see at least five guys go to state
and some of the girls.”
Brockway said she decid-
ed to go out for wrestling after
learning her sister, sophomore
Sophie Brockway, signed up.
“I thought I’d give it a try
my senior year,” she said.
She said she’s been learning
takedowns, drills and the basics
in practice.
“It’s good conditioning,”
she said. “I hope it turns out to
be a good season, and I want to
watch my teammates improve
too.”
Trinity Hutchison made a
switch from basketball to join
the wrestling team.
“I wrestled when I was little,
but this is my first year in high
school doing it,” she said. “I’m
really enjoying it so far.”
She said she’s inexperienced
but hopes to be successful.
“I’m listening, learning and
working hard,” she said. “I’m
looking forward to the year.”
LeQuieu, who also made a
shift from basketball to wres-
tling, said his goal is to learn
the fundamental moves and
techniques.
“This is by far one of the
hardest high school sports I’ve
ever played,” he said. “We have
really great coaches teaching
us, and we’re definitely one big
family.”
This is junior Russell
Hodge’s third year on the high
school team, and he’s been
wrestling for 11 years. His goal
is to place first at the district
tournament and advance to
state and place well there.
He said what he enjoys most
about the sport is “the fact that
you can’t blame anyone else” if
you lose.
“If you really want it, you
have to put 100 percent into
it,” he said. “It’s physically de-
manding, which makes it fun.”
S PORTS R OUNDUP
Grant Union
boys compete
at Sherman
Tournament
Grant Union junior Mason
Gerry stepped up for the Pros-
pector boys in their 59-48 win
over the 2A Culver Bulldogs at
the second day of the Sherman
Tournament in Moro.
“He didn’t take a lot of out-
side shots, but took it to the rim
and had awesome rebounding,”
said Grant Union head coach
Kelsy Wright. “He had an all-
out great game.”
Senior Jacob Vaughan
earned 22 points for Grant
Union and senior Tanner El-
liott had 11 offensive rebounds,
several put-backs and shot
well from the free-throw line,
Wright added.
The 2A Prospectors lost
their first game of the tourna-
ment on Friday, 57-28, to the
1A Sherman Huskies. Last sea-
son, the Huskies were Big Sky
District champions.
Missing a couple key play-
ers for their first outing, Grant
Union fell 62-35 to the Burns
Hilanders Nov. 28 on the road.
The team travels to the
Umatilla Tournament Thurs-
day-Saturday, Dec. 6-8 where
they will face 1A Nixyaawii on
day one.
Wright is expecting Thurs-
day’s game to be a tough match
up.
“They have phenomenal
shooters and press the whole
game — it doesn’t matter if
they’re up by 50 or down by
50,” he said.
Grant Union girls
work out first-
game jitters
The 2A Grant Union Pros-
pector girls came out with a
73-22 win Friday over the 1A
Sherman Huskies, which host-
ed a tournament in Moro last
weekend.
The Prospectors had a close
loss Saturday 41-39 to the 2A
Culver Bulldogs.
In their first game of the
season, Nov. 28, Grant Union
fell 58-47 to the 3A Burns Hi-
landers.
Head coach Kristi Moore
said it was a competitive
game, and her team worked
hard, making a run in the
fourth quarter to try to close
the gap.
“We missed some critical
shots and some layups which
reflect the start-of-the-season
nerves,” she said. “Burns is
a great team with intense de-
fense. We know that we need
to continue to work on re-
bounding.”
Senior Kaylee Wright had
20 points in the game, earning
11 in the fourth quarter.
Grant Union next travels to
the Thursday-through-Satur-
day Umatilla Tournament, and
they will host Burns at 6 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 14.
Prairie City boys
start season with
two wins, girls
lose two
The 1A Prairie City Pan-
ther boys started their sea-
son on a positive note on the
road.
The team beat the 1A
Joseph Eagles 55-52 on Fri-
day.
Panther head coach Sam
Workman said his team
was a little “rough around
the edges” and noted it was
both teams’ first game of
the season.
“Levi (Burke) did well
— they all did well,” he
said. “We didn’t shoot as
well as we wanted to but
came out with the win.”
In Saturday’s game
against the Enterprise Out-
laws, a team that moved
from the 2A to 1A class,
Prairie City came out with a
64-57 win.
Workman said it was a
close game, and the Out-
laws were catching back up.
“They forgot to miss,
and we couldn’t hit,” he
said. “My big guys had to
work.”
Prairie City will travel to
the Friday-Saturday Con-
don Christmas Tournament
where they will face Ione
and Condon/Wheeler.
See ROUNDUP, Page A13