Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 2010)
Heppner G azette-Tim es, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, February 24, 2010 - FIVE Cardinals take second in Big Sky District Championship The lone C ardi nals had the Big Sky Dis trict Championship in their sights in one fantastic a ball game on Saturday, Febru ary 20, before Nixyawii picked up a long rebound and swished an even longer three at the buzzer to take the win 59-57. The heart breaking loss culminated an exciting tournament run for the Cardinals w ho won games on Thursday and Friday before ending up second place in the Big Sky on Saturday. The Cards kicked off the district tournament taking on Horizon Christian of Hood River on Thursday, February 18. In the first half, the lone team sizzled with Matt Hams scoring 20 of his game high 26 points and Zac Orem knocking down four three pointers and scoring 14 points. At the half, lone led 38-26 and looked ready to run away with it. But the Hawks were not quite ready to concede. In the third quar ter, Horizon was matching Zac Orem three-pointer for three-pointer. With 3:10 left in the third, the Hawks hit a three to pull within four points and followed with another bucket to nar row the lead further, 45- 43. In the last 40 seconds. Tanner Rietmann hit a shot and Zac Orem hit his sixth trey of the game and put the lead back to seven, 50- 43. The Cards led by nine early in the fourth but the Hawks chipped away at the lead and when lone went stone cold at the free throw line (1-9 in the fourth) the Hawks got to within one 57-56 with 22 seconds on the clock. Adam Collin and Zac Orem went to the line for two shots each and Orem was able to put one down to make the lead a tad more stable at 58-56. The Hawks worked to get one shot off in the closing seconds but it was way off and the Cardinals hung on to win 58-56. Matt Hams led all scorers with 26 and Zac Orem added 23. The Cards shot 44% from the floor and the Hawks shot 49% for the game. “This as a great win to get to open district,” said Coach Dennis Stefani. “Matt and Zac each had a huge first half to give us a good lead at halftime. Once again, our free throw shooting almost cost us but we were able to hold on for the win.” The win sent the Cards to the semi-finals where they met the number one team from the Big Sky West, South Wasco County. For the past five years, South Wasco has been a basketball nemesis for the Cardinals and their ranking as well as sharp-shooter, Steven Larlee commanded respect again this season, lone jumped out to a 14- 11 first quarter lead but stalled a bit in the second. The Redsides led 21-19 at the half. The Cards were able to bust things open in the third. RJ Ramos had his best quarter this season when he went on a 10 point scoring rampage, canning two threes in a row and following up with two more baskets. Zac Orem hit back to back threes in the last two minutes of the quarter as the Cards outscored South Wasco 21 to 8 to build a 40-29 lead heading into the fourth. Down the stretch, the teams swapped scores before Matt Hams hit back- to-back layins off steals to build the gam e’s biggest lead, 50-35 with just over three minutes to play. But Larlee did not allow the Cards to coast to the win as • i The lone Cardinals took second place at Big Sky District Tournament this past weekend. -Photo by Theresa Crawford ball that set up Nixyaawii for the winning shot at the buzzer,” noted Coach Stefani. “I’m very proud of the kids. We are playing very good basketball right now.” Matt Hams led the team with 22 points, very close to his amazing season average of 22.7 points per game. Tanner Rietmann had a big game in the paint with 14 points and 16 rebounds. Rietm ann averaged 8.3 boards per game. The C ards shot 43% compared to Nixyaawii’s 36% but they had to combat ten three-pointers from the Golden Eagles. The Cards had just II turnovers and the Eagles had just nine, meaning not many mistakes happened in the game. The Cards had an outstanding rebounding night, tallying 50 boards to just 25 for Nix. Adam Collin helped out Tanner Rietmmann with 11 boards and RJ Ramos added eight. he almost single-handedly it was clear the Cards were Dennis Stefani. “Both teams drug the Redsides back into determined to not let the played hard and it was a contention. Back-to-back high-flying Golden Eagles game that could have gone threes with under 1:30 to go get away. Throughout the either way.” put the Redsides within six game, Nixyaawii's lead was Although the loss points but the Cards stayed never more than four and was heartbreaking for the cool to take the 52-45 win. lone held the biggest lead team on the floor, the stand Zac Orem led the in the game at eight with ing room only crowd in team in scoring with 19 2:49 left in the third. It was attendance knew they had points, shooting 50% from at that point, though, that it seen something special. the field and canning four started to rain three pointers “At the end, it was a long three-pointers. Matt Hams for Nixyaawii. The Eagles rebound and a bounce of the added 15 and RJ Ramos hit six treys in a row on had 10. The team shot 48% their way to eight three’s from the floor while the in the last quarter and a Redsides managed 38%. half, some easily from NBA Tanner Rietmann had nine range. With 37 seconds left lone Se rebounds but the Cards were in the game, the Eagles nior Matt Hams hit a long three to go up won the Jason out-rebounded 32-26. “What a great win 56-54. Zac Orem, who had Halvorsen Spirit for this team,” said an ec struggled from long range o f B a s k e t b a l l static Coach Dennis Ste in this game, knocked down aw ard. Each year, fani. “These kids wanted fo a huge three for the Cardi the award goes to end South Wasco’s streak nals with 19 seconds on the a boy and a girl against us so they went clock to put lone up by one. who best exem out and played a terrific Nix had a final possession plify the spirit of team game to get it ac and when their first shot basketball. Quali complished. 1 feel great bounced off, the lone crowd ties considered are Pictured is Matt Hams with Cathy Hal- for the seniors s they now held their breath. A long spirit floor lead- vorsen. -Photo by Theresa Crawford realize they are in the state rebound put the ball back ership, selfless in the hands ofNixyaawii’s ness, contribution playoffs.” and to our school and it The win guaran Shawn Simpson who hit the and sportsmanship. Janelle means a lot to me. I am teed the Cards either the shot of his life, a long-range Keever of Dufur also re excited and grateful to have number one or two seed three point swish at the ceived the award. my name on the plaque in into the state playoffs, de buzzer to give Nixyaawii “It is a very big our trophy case honoring pending on the outcome the w in. honor to receive the Ja Jason.” “This was one of son Halvorsen ‘Spirit of of the championship game This is the second against Nixyaawii, staged the best basketball games Basketball’ award,” stated time in 15 years that the Saturday night February I have been part of during Matt Hams. “I know what award has made its way 20. From the opening tip. my tenure here," said Coach it means to the community home to lone. ______________________________________________________________________________________ Hams receives Jason Halvorsen Spirit of Basketball award imply T he B est Back Row-Asst. Coach Jim Swanson, Kevin LaRue, Alex Fetterhoff, Zac Orem, Adam Collin, Christian Cederquist, Tanner Rietmann, Matt Hams, Evan Rietmann, R.J. Ramos, Head Coach Dennis Stefani Front Row-Alex Rietmann, Micah Stillman, Marco Juarez. Not Pictured-Gunner Jessen A $6 H o s a n n a C hristian a t I one $4 W ednesday , F ebruary 2 4 th 6 :0 0 B usiness &- I ndividuals wish to say "C ongratulations C ardinals " S tate P layoff G ame T hese 2Morrow Energy Allstott Construction, LLC B P0E #358 Elks Lodge Bank of Eastern Oregon Boardman Foods, Inc. Columbia Basin Electric Coopera tive. Inc. Dances With Mules Dean s Pendleton Athletic Company Devin Oil Company, Inc Dobyns Pest Control Eastern Oregon Orthopaedic Gar Aviation. Inc. Hale Farms. LLC Heppner Family Foods WT. LLC lone Market and Deli Gregory Jones, DMD J Keithley Construction » dults children Les Schwab Tire Center Lexington Auto Body & Towing Lexington Pump Mark Bruno Construction Mike's Mobile Slaughter & Processing Morrow County Fair and Rodeo Morrow County Grain Growers Morrow County Recreation District Murray s Drug and Country Rose Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo P2L Excavating, LLC Pea Ridge Embroidery & Signs Inc Pendleton Grain Growers. Inc. Peterson's Jewelers Pettyjohn's Farm & Builder s Supply Ramos Brothers Ranches. Inc. Seitz Aviation Sherrell Chevrolet The Stable of Youth Sykes Publishing, LLC V & D Construction Wheatland Insurance Center. Inc Woolery House Perry and Anne Alleman Allen and Nancy Anderson Mark and Melisa Bruno Family Loyal and Betty Bums Michael and Deanna Camp Family Louis and Betty Carlson John and Barb Collin Family Helen Crawford June M Crowell Becky Doherty Bnan and Peg Doherty Family Darrell and Paula Emmel Family John and Martinda Flynn Family Tom and Artynda Gates Dick and Rosie Graham Betty Gray «even and Linda Haguewood Family Ron and Karen Haguewood Frank and Cathy Halvorsen Joe and Linda Halvorsen Family Craig, Paul and Matt Hams Wayne and Dianna Hams Deacon and Erin Heideman Family Helen M Heideman Loren and Della Heideman Craig and Janet Holland Family Dale and Karen Holland Family Bob Hubbard Bill and Nancy Jepsen Jim and Gina Jepsen Andre and Susan Kendrick Family J. L Kincaid Ranch Skye and Penny Krebs Family Robin and Melissa LaRue Del and Linda LaRue Buzz and Jeanette Logan Jim and Eileen McElligott Joe and Jen McElligott Family Virgil and Debbie Morgan Family Perry and Kathy Morter Ralph and Anne Morter Family Howard and Dianne Mullins Duane and Linda Neiffer Jarrod and Alison Ogden Family Eric and Brandi Orem Family Joe and Anita Orem Family Darrin and Camie Padberg Family Dustin and Karen Padberg Family Marvin and Tanna Padberg Jason and Tara Proudfoot Family Joel Peterson and Lea Mathieu Family Rick and Anita Peterson Dave and Debbie Radie Bmk and Lynn Dee Ramos Family Keith and Judy Rea Betty Rietmann Bill Rietmann Gregg and Shelly Rietmann Family Joe and Donna Rietmann Family John and Kerry Rietmann Family Dean and Florene Robinson Rocking T Ranch Ryan and Allison Rudolf Family Dick and Nancy Snider Dennis and Misti Stefani Family Dorothy Stefani Bnan and Lorie Sullivan Jim and Monica Swanson Rod and Glenda Taylor Jean Ann Turner Steve and Vicki Wagenblast Sherron Woodside
