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MyEagleNews.com Wednesday, November 27, 2019 B1 WEDNESDAY November 27, 2019 PRAIRIE CITY SPORTS PREVIEWS Panther boys hope for another look at state By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle The competitive Prai- rie City Panther boys have a target on their backs, so to speak, after making the state championship level for three consecutive years. Three seasons ago, coach Jonathan Gill led the team to the second round of state, and coach Sam Workman led them to the state tourna- ment the past two seasons. The Panthers earned the second-place trophy in 2018. Last year, seeded eighth going into the state tournament, Prairie City beat the top-seeded Sher- man Huskies in the quarter- finals, 52-48. They fell to the Nixyaawii Eagles 71-49 in the semifinal round, and lost a 3-point game to the Days Creek Wolves to place fifth, the Wolves third. Panther Levi Burke was named OSAA’s 2019 Player of the Year, and the previ- ous season, Panther Dorran Wilson, a 2018 graduate, was named Player of the Year. Both are now at the college level, with Burke playing for the Blue Moun- tain Community College The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Prairie City Panther Cole Deiter looks to score as Lucas McKinley lunges forward. Timberwolves in Pendle- ton and Wilson playing for the Treasure Valley Com- munity College Chukars in Ontario. Five Prairie City senior players graduated last sea- son — including Syd Hol- man, who was named an All-State honorable men- tion player — but the whirl- wind of success for the Pan- thers is not expected to die down anytime soon. “We lost some posi- tives and gained some pos- itives,” said head coach Bo Workman. Bo, the brother of Sam Workman, took on the role of head coach after a change in Sam’s work pre- vented him from continu- ing as coach this season. In his fourth year coach- ing the Prairie City var- sity girls team, Bo will lead Lucas McKinley Kaden Madden Carson McKay Opie McDaniel both teams with help from return- ing assistant coach Mike Workman, a longtime Cole Deiter basketball coach who is also Bo and Sam’s dad. Two additional assistant coaches, one for each team, are expected to be hired soon. The positives head coach Workman is looking at for the boys team include two seniors, guard Lucas McKinley and 6-foot-6 center Cole Deiter, who are in their fourth year as start- ers, and guard Jojari Field, a junior, who will be in his third year starting. “We should be com- petitive and be in the hunt this season,” Bo Workman said. “I’m looking forward to coaching both the boys and girls. We have a good group of freshmen, JV and varsity.” There were 22 boys out for the team on day one. “We’ve got the numbers, so we just need an aggres- sive defense and a little more full-court pressure,” the coach said. “We have some good leaders, and I hope some of those guys will step up and be leaders like they have in the past. They need to help each other and know when to kick it in and step up.” Mike, a Prairie City graduate, had his first coaching experience in Prairie City in 1987, then Mt. Vernon until the high school portion closed. He also coached at Grant Union, then Jordan Valley for several years. See Boys, Page B8 Girls basketball team returns all starters Five strong freshmen join the ranks By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle The Prairie City Pan- ther girls basketball team is beginning the season with all of last year’s starters return- ing, and additional talent, ready to hit the gas. Head coach Bo Workman hopes having the talent and a few more athletes this season — 12 this year, compared to eight last year — will trans- late into success. “Three of the seniors have started and had a lot of playing time,” he said. Three juniors, who were starters last year as sopho- mores, are all back, and five strong freshmen are also bringing their middle school experience to the team. Seniors are Rilee Emmel, Hailee Wall, Emily Ennis and Aleah Johns. Emmel scored 13 points against the Adrian Antelopes at last year’s High Desert League District tournament, landing three 3-pointers. She’s looking forward to bonding with her team during upcoming road trips. The Panthers will have six road games in December before they host the Echo Cougars on Jan. 10. Emmel said their offense is looking good this season. “We have bigger girls for post players, so I’m excited to see how it goes down low,” she said. “I’m excited for the numbers we have,” Ennis said. “My goal for the sea- son is to make it fun for my senior year and to make it memorable.” Johns said she’s see- ing a lot of potential in the underclassmen. “I’m excited to see how they progress through the season,” she said. “My goal is to make the most out of this year.” Wall said she’s also eager to see how the freshmen play this season. “I’m looking forward to what we’ll bring out this year,” she said. “We made a team goal to make it to state, hit some good milestones and make it a fun year.” Workman began his ten- ure as varsity girls coach when this year’s seniors were freshmen. “They’re the leaders,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll have PRAIRIE CITY GIRLS BASKETBALL SCHEDULE Dec. 6: @ Joseph, 6 p.m. 2 p.m. Dec. 7: @ Imbler in Joseph, noon Jan. 24: @ Burnt River in Unity 6 p.m. Dec. 13: @ Badger Tournament vs. Council (ID) in North Pow- der, 6 p.m. Jan. 25: vs. Jordan Valley, 2 p.m. Dec. 14: @ Badger Tournament vs. Tri-Valley (ID) in North Pow- der, 1:30 p.m. Dec. 20: @ Sherman in Moro, 4:30 p.m. Jan. 10: vs. Echo, 6 p.m. Jan. 17: vs. Dayville/Monument, 6 p.m. Jan. 18: vs. Ukiah/Long Creek, a little deeper bench to give players some rest at times.” Workman, who also coaches the boys varsity team this season, has his father Mike Workman back as assistant coach. Mike said they always have high hopes at the begin- ning of the season. Youth wrestlers place well in recent tournaments Having greater numbers is one of the positives this season. “We have some strong freshmen coming in,” Mike said. “(They were) highly successful on the junior high team — I don’t think they lost many games.” He said the teams in the Feb. 14: @ Adrian, 5 p.m. Feb. 20-22: High Desert League District Tournament, John Day Jan. 4: vs. Cove, 2 p.m. Rilee Emmel Feb. 8: @ Dayville/Monument in Dayville, 2 p.m. Dec. 30: @ Crane, 5 p.m. Jan. 3: @ Imbler, 6 p.m. Emily Ennis Feb. 7: @ Harper, 5 p.m. Feb. 15: vs. Crane, 2 p.m. The Eagle/Angel Carpenter Hailee Wall Feb. 1: vs. Four Rivers, 2 p.m. Dec. 21: @ Hood River JV in Hood River, 4:00 p.m. Prairie City Panther Kat Ashley, right, races down the court during practice, and Rilee Emmel stays with her. Aleah Johns Jan. 31: @ Huntington, 6 p.m. league they’re watching out for include the Adrian Antelopes, Jordan Val- ley Mustangs and Crane Mustangs. “Crane’s a powerhouse the next couple of years,” Mike said. “They’re defi- nitely a contender for a state title, no question. They’re one of the favorites.” Other teams in the 1A High Desert League include: the Dayville/Monument Tigers, Long Creek/Ukiah Feb. 25: 1st Round State Playoffs Feb. 28: 2nd Round State Playoffs March 4-7: State Champion- ship, Baker City Mountain Lions, Burnt River Bulls, Four Rivers Falcons, Harper Hornets and Hun- tington Locomotives. Juniors, who were starters last year as sophomores, are Abbey Pfefferkorn, Saman- tha Workman and Katie Hire. Bo said the team is sharpening their skills on defense. “We’ve got the numbers to play a little more aggres- sive defense,” he said. “I see us being competitive.” Grant Union volleyball team raises $3,000 for mammogram program By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Fourteen out of 25 Grant County Wrestling Club members earned first-place finishes at the Nov. 16 Pendleton Tournament. The team was in the top 10 out of 30 teams present, winning 72 out of 101 matches. “These kids should be very proud of them- selves, improving every week,” said Stephanie Parsons, the team’s media representative. At the Nov. 23 Union Tournament, sev- eral Grant County wrestlers placed first in their brackets, including 6-year-old Tenley Parsons, who was competing for her first time. Union Tournament competitors included: Porter Adams, Miles Ballou, Ginny Clarry, Tristan Clarry, Collonnie Clement, Dawson Clement, Leo Dedmore, Hank Giffin, Levi Hueckman, Blake Kimball, Cody Knowles, Jack Knowles, Zander Lambeth, Weston Lieual- len, Wyatt Lieuallen, Owen Parsons, Taylor Par- sons, Kayleb Rogers, Zeke Rookstool, Beau Van Cleave, Jerett Waddel and Carter Wyant. Contributed photo/Stephanie Parsons Several Grant County Wrestling Club mem- bers placed well at the Saturday, Nov. 23, Union Tournament. Pictured are Jerett Wad- del (first), Taylor Parsons (third), Owen Parsons (first), Halle Parsons (back) and Tenley Parsons (first). This was Tenley’s first time competing. Contributed photo Grant Union volleyball head coach Ali Abrego, center (holding check), presents a check for $3,000 to Jena Knowles of the Blue Mountain Hospital District. The team raised mon- ey to support the BMHD mammogram program through their annual Dig Pink events held in October.
