Cardinals place third at state
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Tyler Brown goes for the sh«>t
with Imbler trying to block it.
...more photos o n page I.
By Anne Morter
The lone b o y s’
varsity team went into the
S ta te
1A
B asketball
Tournament ranked number
nine, but came home with the
third place hardware after a
long weekend o f close and
exciting games in Baker City.
Their trophy is the first state
basketball for the boys’ team
since 1961 The Cardinals
proved they could play with
any o f the team s there,
d efeatin g num ber tw o
ranked Crow, playing
number one ranked Imbler to
the bitter end and fighting off
a form erly num ber tw o
ranked
South
W asco
County
Individually, the
Cardinal’s Tyler Brown, a
ju n io r, was the only
unanim ous
A ll-S tate
sele c tio n in the b o y s’
division after a fantastic
effort leading the team.
The march to the
trophy began with a tough
match-up against Crow on
Wednesday. Coming into the
tourney, Crow was ranked
number two in the state and
proved to be a quick and
scrappy opponent. The
Cougars jumped out to an
early lead 8-1 before the
C ards got their rhythm
Thanks mainly to tw o 3-
pointers by Tyler Brown and
one by Kelly Thom pson,
lone pulled even with Crow
at the end o f the first period,
16-16. From the end of the
first to early in the second,
lone
reeled
o ff
14
unanswered points and went
on to outscore Crow in the
second quarter, 20-9, giving
them a 36-25 lead at the half
In the third, lone
stretched their lead to 17
points in the early going
before Crow went on a 13-4
rampage to cut the Card’s
margin to nine, 50-41, to
start the fourth. Crow kept
the momentum going and
with six minutes remaining in
the game, pulled to within
tw o points, 50-48 The
C ards responded w ith
critical baskets by Brown,
Thompson and back-to-back
buckets by Nick Christman
to hold their lead With both
Arthur Ekstrom and Tyler
Raible fouled out o f the
game, the Cardinals used
clutch free throw shooting to
fend off the Cougars With
ju st under three m inutes
rem aining, the C ardinals
went to the line 12 times,
making 10 to build the final
winning margin o f 70-64.
T hom pson led all
sco rers w ith 21 points,
shooting 67 percent from the
floor and 80 percent from the
line Brown had 18 points
and tremendous rebounding
effort with 18 boards. Tony
Bolin was in double figures
for the Cards with 12 points
Also scoring for lone were
Raible with nine, Christman
with six, Ekstrom with two
and Alan Rietm ann with
two The Cardinals held a
39-30 rebounding edge over
the Cougars.
lone shot 50 percent
from the floor for the game
(24-48), 60 percent from the
three-point line (3-5) and 61
percent from the free throw
line (19-31.) Crow shot 43
percent from the floor and
just 50 percent from the free
throw line. Like most o f the
games over the weekend, it
was a physical match up with
Crow racking up 28 fouls to
the Card’s 16.
“This was the second
time this season that we took
on a second ranked team in
the state The kids once
again resp o n d ed w ith a
terrific defensive game,” said
C oach D ennis Stefani
“ Kelly T hom pson had a
great game along with Tyler
Brown. But I really feel that
our inside defense o f Tyler
Raible, Arthur Ekstrom and
Dan L ong made the
difference in this game It
was also very nice to come
into the tourney and get that
first win That always takes
the pressure off.”
The win over Crow
moved lone into the semi­
finals w in n e r’s b rack et
where they ran into a tall and
form idable
o p p o n en t,
Im bler N ine o f the 14
players listed on their roster
are 6 foot 1 inch or over,
with two starters over 6 foot
6 inches and all w ere
experienced seniors The
Panthers, who played in last
year’s 2 A Tournament, were
undefeated and for the most
part, untested during this
season To the Cardinals
cred it, they w ere not
intimidated by the Panther’s
height or reputation. During
the course o f the game, the
lead changed hands 12 times
with five ties as the Cardinals
played one o f their best
games o f the season, hanging
with the touted Panthers
until the very end The hard
fought battle ended with
Imbler prevailing, 68-61.
Imbler jumped out to
a 6-0 lead before Brown
swished the first three o f his
four first-quarter 3-pointers
The lead seesawed through
the first quarter and ended
22-21 in favor o f Imbler
when Brown made a four
point play at the end o f the
quarter Brown set the torrid
pace for both teams in that
first quarter, scoring 13 o f
the te a m ’s 21 points
Together, both teams put 43
points on the board in the
period
The offensive output
cooled in the second quarter
as both defenses picked up
the pace The Cards scored
nine to the Panther’s eight,
leaving the teams tied at
halftim e, 30-30 Im bler
scored first in the third
period and threatened to get
away from the Cardinals,
stretching their lead to 10
points with three minutes to
go. But Christman hit two
baskets and a free throw,
Bolin hit another and Brown
knocked in a 3-pointer with
less than 10 seconds
remaining in the third to pull
back within four, 43-47.
The fourth quarter
saw the lead change hands
four times. The Cards took
their first lead since early in
the third quarter, 53-52 on a
Christman bucket with 5:10
to go in the game Imbler hit
two free throws to regain the
lead before Christman hit
another basket to put lone
back in front again 55-54
with 3:45 remaining in the
game Imbler then took the
lead for good and took
advantage o f the double
bonus to slowly widen the
lead to the final 68-61
margin.
Brown led all scorers
w ith 28 p o in ts, which
included five 3-pointers.
Christman also came up big
for the Cards with 17 points
O ther sco rers for lone
included Bolin with six,
Thom pson with six, and
Raible and Rietmann with
two each
lone shot 45 percent
from the floor (23 o f 51) and
62.5 percent from behind the
three-point line (5-8 ) The
team struggled a bit at the
line, making just 10 of 16 for
54.5 percent Imbler shot 43
percent from the field (26 of
54) and just 17 percent from
behind the three-point arc (2
o f 12). After shooting no
free throws in the first half,
connected on 14 of 23 in the
second half for 61 percent
Imbler used their significant
height
ad v an tag e
to
o v erp o w er lone in the
rebounding department, 44-
23.
“The kids got what
they wanted all year- a shot
at the number one team in
the state And the kids
responded with their best
gam e o f the y ear,” said
Coach Stefani. “We had our
chances in this contest, but
the breaks you need to win
the big games didn’t go our
way. Either way it was a
great game and I feel it was
the championship game ”
Stefani also noted that
Brown had a terrific game,
as did the post players inside,
despite the height difference
Stefani
com m ended
Christman on another big
game, coming up with some
outstanding plays late in the
game
The loss against
Imbler pitted the Cardinals
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 9, 2005 - THR EE
against South Wasco County effort to get the win over
fo r the fo u rth tim e this South Wasco,” said Coach
season From the start, it was Stefani. “This was the best
apparent that both teams finish for lone since 1961
w ere determ ined to win O nce again o u r defense
lo n e held a slim 14-11 made the difference, and the
Individuals earning a
advantage after one, but entire team played with a
South Wasco nailed a 3- trem en d o u s am ount o f spot in the Oregon State
pointer at the end o f the emotion and heart This was YABA A ll-S tar Bow ling
second quarter to tie the a terrific way for the season Tournament, in Hermiston
game at halftime, 23-23. The to end for a group o f kids on March 12 and 13, are
Redsides went on a run in the that worked their tails off all Fleppner High S c h o o l’s
Myah Southworth and lone
third quarter, hitting three 3- season.
pointers along with a couple
“This was a great High S c h o o l’s B rittn e e
o f twos to open their biggest season, one o f the best in a DesBouillons. Southworth
fo u rth
and
lead o f the gam e, seven long time for lone boy’s placed
points, putting the score at b a sk e tb a ll,” co n tin u ed DesBouillons placed sixth
36-29 with 2:42 remaining in Stefani. “These kids have out o f 34 competitors at The
the third quarter The Cards worked so hard to get to the D alles D istrict B ow ling
responded with a 3-pointer State T ournam ent and Tournament, held Feb 20
by Brown to pull within dedicated them selves to The top six bowlers on each
three Ekstrom scored on the m aking sure th at they o f the boys’ and girls’ teams
next two possessions to keep preformed well when they qualify for state
Placing in the district
pace with the R edsides, got there. It was nice to see
girls’
team
competition was
making the score 39-36 in everything come together
favor o f South Wasco at the for them This is a bunch of Hermiston, first; The Dalles/
end o f three
great kids and they deserve Wahtonka, second; lone #1,
The fourth quarter all the honors they have third; Heppner, fourth, lone
was wild with eight lead achieved This team really #2, fifth and Umatilla, sixth
d istric t
team
changes and eight ties, as came together as the year B o y s’
placed
each team scram bled to progressed; not only as an co m p etitio n
co n v ert
on
every offensive team, but what H erm iston #1, first; The
o p p o rtu n ity . W ith 1:38 made me so happy was to Dalles/W ahtonka, second;
rem aining, R aible hit a see how much pride they H erm iston #2, th ird ;
basket to open up the widest took in the defensive side o f Heppner, fourth; Umatilla,
lead o f the quarter, 52-49. the ball. The defense was fifth; and lone #2, sixth Only
South W asco ’s Stephen what took this team to where the first and second place
Kresse answered with a trey, they are They will all walk bow ling team s go on to
one o f his five in the game, away from this season with state.
to tie the score again 18 a lot of pride and memories.”
seconds later With 42.5
seconds left, South Wasco’s
Palmquist hit a free throw to
put them up by one, 53-52.
K T’S Veranique, a junior
lone didn’t score on their
Broken Black Mini Rex doe.
next possession and then
Veranique continued
turned the ball over with
her
w
inning
streak in
16.6 seconds remaining,
E num claw , WA at the
seem ingly p u ttin g the
Evergreen Rabbit Breeders
Redsides in the driver’s seat.
Show on March 5 This doe
But as South Wasco was in-
won Best Opposite o f Breed
bounding the ball, Kresse
in Show A and Best of Breed
w as w histled for a foul KT’S Veranique
against Thompson, sending
K T’S Bunny Barn and Reserve in Show in
Thompson to the line for a had a successful February Show B In the Mini Rex
c ritical one and one show ing th eir Mini Rex Specialty Show, Veranique
o p p o rtu n ity . Thom pson rabbits. Visiting Victoria, was beat by her sister, KT’S
calmly swished both to put B C., on Feb 19 and 20 for Eclipse for Best Opposite of
the Cards on top by one with the VIRBA Shows, Kathy Breed.
The next shows for
those same 16 6 seconds on Tellechea and Pam Renfro
the clock. South W asco brought home two Best of Tellechea and Renfro will be
brought it down court, but Breeds and a Reserve in in Kennewick, WAon March
B row n tipped th eir last Show with K T’S Tarot, a 19 and Central Point on
second shot attempt to seal senior Black Mini Rex doe M arch 26. They will be
the victory, 54-53.
Feb
26 found traveling to Belton, TX,
Brown again led all Tellechea and R enfro in A pril 1 for Mini Rex
sco rers w ith 24 points, Nampa, ID at the Snake Nationals where they will be
followed by Christman with River Rabbit Club shows. showing 15 o f their rabbits
16, Thompson, Raible and They won Best o f Breed and There is expected to be
Ekstrom with four each and Best Opposite o f Breed in breeders from all over the
Bolin with two. Brown had both shows and in Show B United States, Canada and
11 rebounds as the Cardinals they won Best in Show with Japan with estimates o f over
1500 Mini Rex entered
out-rebounded the Redsides
33-30 Bolin and Thompson
had five assists each and
Bolin had three steals. Both
On M arch 6, a follow ed w ith 22 and
teams shot 42 percent from w arm , sunny day, 12 Cutsforth came in with 21.
the floor. South W asco shooters spent the afternoon Hodges had high lady at 16
actually made more field competing on the trap field hits.
goals than the Cards 22-19
Annies w ere then
In singles shooting,
and seven of those field goals Kelwayne Haguewood hit a shot with Barry M unkers
were 3-pointers but as has perfect 25 out o f 25 shots winning two and Rob Crum,
been the case in th eir JeffCutsforth followed with Goodhead and Schlichting
p rev io u s m eetings, free 23 out o f 25 shots and Mark each winning one
throws told the story South S chlichting and
In w eek five o f
Rob
Wasco only went to the line Ashbeck came in with 22. Winter League shooting, the
five times, making two while Deona Hodges was high lady team o f Peck and Schlichting
the Cards were 13 o f 23 with 14 out o f 25 hits.
is on top with 483 points out
from the line
In
handicap o f 500. Close behind are
“This was a huge win shooting, Schlichting hit 23 team s
M unkers
and
for us It not only got us third out o f 25 shots. Dick Haguewood with 480; Crum
place in state, but it proved Goodhead and Haguewood and Crum with 477; Ashbeck
that our game against Imbler
and Childers with 473 and
was for real The kids were Transportation
Mortimer and Cutsforth with
very tired as they put plan update
469.
everything into the Imbler
The next shot will be
game, but they came out and meeting to be
held on March 13 at 12 p m
responded with a very strong held
Come on up and enjoy and
aftern o o n at M orrow
There will be a joint
workshop with the Planning County Gun Club
Two qualify for
state bowling
tourney
Bunny Barn has successful
February showings
«ÎJ^
Morrow County Gun Club news
WEDNESDAY FETTUCINE NIGHT
(Fettucine with garlic toast) from 5-8 p.m.
Seafood Fettucine $7.95
Chicken Fettucine $6.95
Vegetarian Fettucine $6.95
Salad bar $2 extra
PRIME RIB EVERY FRIDAY
from 5-9 p.m.
JO H N 'S PLACE
MAIN STREET. HEPPNER
Commission and the County
Court to review M orrow
C o u n ty ’s
draft
Transportation System Plan
(TSP) on March 15 at 7 p m
The meeting will be located
at the S tokes Landing
Community Center, 195 NW
Opal Place, Irrigon The
com m unity is invited to
attend and learn about the
county’s current and long­
term transportation needs,
industrial lands access needs
and its plans for enhancing
the county road system for
everyone who uses it
Marriage
Licenses
March 1: E lias
Mendoza Ortiz, 49, Irrigon
and Kathleen Joy Davison,
50, Irrigon, Thomas Dean
Roberts, 30, Irrigon and
Andren C Ford, 32, Irrigon,
Calixto Perez Rubio, 40,
B oardm an and E lvira
Sanchez S au sed o , 28,
Boardm an, and Denis S
Claustro, 24, Boardman and
Marla E Echevarria, 21,
Boardman