A10
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
WEDNESDAY
December 12, 2018
Unity is top goal for Tiger boys
By ANGEL CARPENTER
Blue Mountain Eagle
Surrounded by his team
in practice last week, Day-
ville/Monument Tiger head
coach Jeff Schafer told the
boys he respects and values
what each brings to the table.
“Your role is important,”
he said. “We build the team
by how you treat each other
on and off the court.”
He added, whether they
are on the bench or a starter,
he expects them to give their
all on the court.
All of last season’s play-
ers are back this year —
except a senior foreign
exchange student — plus
three more who’ve joined
the ranks. Seniors on the
team of 11 are Gabe Walk-
er-Hopkins and Cade Mil-
ton, and there are two
juniors, five sophomores
and two freshmen.
Cade
Milton
Gabe Walker-
Hopkins
“They all came back, and
it’s good to have a couple
extra to help out the team,”
Schafer said. “They’ll be a
great asset.”
Returning starters include
Walker-Hopkins,
junior
Drew Wilburn and soph-
omores Donovan Schafer,
Mark Thomas and JT Hand.
“DJ Howell (a sopho-
more) comes off the bench,
but he’s invaluable,” coach
Schafer said.
He said he’s looking to
Wilburn to be a good leader
this season, emotionally and
verbally.
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Dayville/Monument Tiger JT Hand shoots the ball
during a practice scrimmage. Others in the action, from
left, are Jaydon Hoffman, Wesley Adams, Drew Wilburn
and Mark Thomas.
“Drew is encouraging
the kids and keeping them
going,” he said.
The coach said Wilburn
and Walker-Hopkins both
hustle on the court.
Regarding Walker-Hop-
kins, Schafer added, “His
work ethic never stops, and
this is a great thing to teach
the younger kids.”
The coach said his three
other starters are also work-
ing hard.
He said Donovan, who’s
grown up playing ball, is
constantly working on his
skills and teamwork.
“And he’s grown a couple
inches,” the coach added.
Thomas is developing
into a good point guard, he
said, and Hand will be a
strong rebounder.
“The new guys work hard
and are eager,” Schafer said.
Schafer has assistant
coach Josh Williams back,
and new assistant coach
Andy Wilburn has also
joined this season.
Milton, who was on the
team his sophomore year, is
back.
He said he played foot-
ball with most of the basket-
ball players, and he’s look-
ing forward to being on a
team again.
“The goal is to work hard
and have fun,” he said.
Walker-Hopkins,
who
is in his fourth year on the
varsity team, said he’s been
impressed with how the
team has come together in
just the first few weeks of
practice, compared to last
year.
“I see that they’re young,
but they’re working together
really well and growing
exponentially,” he said.
Hand said teamwork,
trusting the coaches and
communication on the
court will be key for their
success.
Drew Wilburn said their
goal is to work as a team,
and he believes they’ll finish
strong this year.
“I’m pumped,” he said.
“I’ve waited all year to do
See Boys, Page A13
Grant Union girls claim victory at Columbia River Clash
By BRETT KANE
EO Media Group
The Grant Union girls took home
the big trophy after defeating Joseph
64-50 at the Columbia River Clash
championships.
The Prospectors scored on two turn-
overs in the first quarter and never
relinquished the lead.
“It was a great weekend with an
intense run,” said head coach Kristi
Moore. “We came in determined to
take it all the way, and that’s what we
did.”
Seniors Marissa Smith, Madison
McKrola and Kaylee Wright com-
bined for 8 points as the first quarter
wound down, and senior Hailie Wright
hit a half-court 3-pointer as the buzzer
sounded for a 22-6 lead.
The Eagles nearly matched the
Prospectors, 11-9, in the second, but
were still down 33-15 at the half. They
came out of the locker room to post 14
points over Grant Union’s 9 in the third
and nearly matched them again 22-21
in the fourth, trading scores until the
buzzer.
Prospector senior Alcie Moore hit
4 straight points in the final seconds to
secure the championship.
“I’m proud of the girls for their
intensity after three days of basket-
ball and two nights away from home,”
Moore said. “They continued to fight
until the very end.”
Staff photo by Kathy Aney/East Oregonian
Staff photo by E.J. Harris/East Oregonian
Staff photo by E.J. Harris/East Oregonian
Grant Union’s Madi McKrola (25) drives
to the basket Saturday during the
championship game of the Columbia
River Clash against Joseph.
Grant Union’s Hailie Wright looks to pass
the ball in front of Riverside’s Faith Rosen
in the Prospectors’ 54-34 win against
Riverside on Friday in Umatilla.
Grant Union’s Kaylee Wright drives
on Riverside’s Faith Rosen in the
Prospectors’ 54-34 win against Riverside
on Friday in Umatilla.
AWARDS
Grant Union 2A Blue
Mountain Conference
football awards
By Blue Mountain Eagle
Defensive backs
Garrett Lenz, senior, First
Team
Jordan Hall, sophomore,
First Team
Justin Hodge, freshman,
honorable mention
Linebackers
Russell Hodge, junior,
First Team
Taylor Hunt, junior, First
Team
Defensive linemen
Drew Lusco, junior, First
Team
Peyton Neault, sopho-
more, Second Team
Offensive linemen
Drew Lusco, First Team
Devon Stokes, sopho-
more, Second Team
Peyton Neault, honorable
mention
Receivers
Jordan Hall, Second
Team
Quarterbacks
Garrett, Lenz, Second
Team
Running backs
Russell Hodge, First
Team
Justin Hodge, Second
Team
Punters
Russell Hodge, First
Team
Peyton Neault
Russell Hodge
Drew Lusco
Prairie City 1A High Desert
League volleyball awards
By Blue Mountain
Eagle
Rilee Emmel,
junior, outside hitter,
Second Team
Emily Ennis,
junior, setter/right
side hitter, honorable
mention
Katie Hire, soph-
omore, setter/right
side hitter, honorable
mention
Hailee Wall, junior,
middle blocker, hon-
orable mention
Lane
Williams
Katie Hire
Hailee Wall
Jake
McHatton
Jonathan
Lawrence
Prairie City 1A High Desert
League football awards
By Blue Mountain Eagle
Lane Williams, senior,
long snapper, First Team
Jake McHatton, junior,
offensive line/center, Sec-
Rilee Emmel
Emily Ennis
Contributed photos/Tanni Wenger
Photography
Declan
Zweygardt
ond Team
Jonathan
Lawrence,
senior, punter, Second Team
Declan Zweygardt, soph-
omore, running back, honor-
able mention
Grant Union football player
receives all-state recognition
Grant Union Prospector football player
junior Drew Lusco was named to first team
all-state offensive line and second team all-
Drew Lusco
state defensive line.
Jordan Hall
SPORTS SCHEDULE
Aubrey
Bowlus
Devon Stokes
Garrett Lenz
Denali
Twehues
Faythe
Schafer
Kyla
Emerson
Dayville/Monument 1A High Desert
All-League volleyball awards
By Blue Mountain Eagle
Justin Hodge
Taylor Hunt
Faythe Schafer, senior, Setter of the Year
Kyla Emerson, senior, outside hitter, honorable
mention
Aubrey Bowlus, senior, outside hitter, honorable
mention
Denali Twehues, junior, setter, honorable mention
Friday, Dec. 14
Grant Union wrestling at Elgin Tournament, 1 p.m.
Prairie City boys basketball vs. Horizon Christian, 6 p.m.
Dayville/Monument basketball vs. Mitchell/Spray, girls 6 p.m.,
boys 7:30 p.m.
Grant Union basketball vs. Burns, girls 6 p.m., boys 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 15
Grant Union wrestling at Elgin Tournament, 10 a.m.
Long Creek/Ukiah basketball vs. Mitchell/Spray in Dayville,
girls 1:30 p.m., boys 3 p.m.
Prairie City basketball vs. Imbler, girls 4 p.m., boys 5:30 p.m.
Dayville/Monument varsity basketball vs. Grant Union junior
varsity, girls 4:30 p.m., boys 6 p.m.