HEPPNER
G T
50¢
azette
imes
VOL. 138
NO. 10 8 Pages
Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Morrow County, Heppner, Oregon
Lady Mustangs win 2A state
championship
By Russ Nichols
Four years ago when
Robert Wilson took over
the coaching helm for girls’
basketball, he had only 13
girls and the team finished
with a 2-17 record. Just
four years later the Lady
Mustangs were competing
for and winning a state
title. The amazing trans-
formation concluded with
winning the 2A state cham-
pionship in Pendleton on
Saturday night against the
highly favored Coquille
Red Devils.
The state tournament
began late Thursday night
with an opening game
against the third ranked
Oakland Oakers. Oakland
had only three losses in the
year but that did not stop
the Mustangs who handily
beat the Oakers 48-39. The
Mustang’s leading scorer
was Sydney Wilson who
had 21 points and eight re-
bounds. Senior Jacee Currin
had another solid game with
15 points, six assists and
eight rebounds. Madison
Combe added seven points,
Madison Ashbeck had three
points and Madelyn Nich-
ols contributed two points.
In the semi-finals match
on Friday, the Lady Mus-
tangs met up with league
opponent the Enterprise
Outlaws. The two teams
had already met three times
in the season with the Mus-
tangs holding a 2-1 edge in
those games. All the games
had been close, so Coach
Rob Wilson said he knew
it would be a battle. Even
though it was another close
game, the Mustangs led
from the start and never
looked back winning by
a 39-32 margin. Sopho-
Sydney Wilson takes the ball
down the court.
more Sydney Wilson had
a double-double with a
game high 16 points and 11
rebounds. Jacee Currin add-
ed nine points along with
two steals and two assists.
Madison Combe scored
six points and had two re-
bounds. Jenna McCullough
had five points and five re-
bounds. Sophomore Made-
lyn Nichols had three points
and secured six rebounds.
Madison Ashbeck, Marlee
Mitchell and ZaBrena Mas-
terson all added valuable
playing minutes.
The two victories set
up a championship game
against the one loss Co-
quille Red Devils. The Red
Devils who had been a
3A school, just dropping
to 2A, placed 4 th in the
3A tournament just one
year prior. The Mustangs
knew the game would be
tough, but Coach Wilson
assured them that if they
played their game, they
had a good shot at the title.
The Mustangs had a slow
start getting down early by
a score of 14-4. A solid de-
fensive 2 nd quarter brought
the Lady Mustangs back in
the game trailing by only
two at half time. The Red
Devils started the 3 rd quarter
on a hot streak extending
their lead to 31-19. With
one-minute left in the quar-
ter the Mustangs trailed by
a score of 33-22. A couple
quick baskets and the Mus-
tangs pulled to within seven
points starting the 4 th quar-
ter. The huge contingent of
Heppner fans and students
ignited the building with
their support and cheers.
Starting the final quar-
ter, the Mustangs’ defense
became a showcase of hus-
tle and determination. The
Red Devils struggled to
score while the Lady Mus-
tangs offense continued to
roll. With less than two min-
utes to go, the girls pulled
away with a four-point lead.
With under a minute to play
the Red Devil’s top player
Morgan Baird completed
a three-point play to close
the gap at 41-40. The Mus-
tangs could not convert on
a one and one free throw
attempt which gave Co-
quille a chance. The girl’s
defense was up for the task,
stopping Coquille thanks
to an incredible block by
Jenna McCullough. As the
ball was loose on the floor,
the Red Devils managed a
questionable time out. This
gave Coquille one final
chance at victory. A 10-foot
jumper by Coquille was no
good and a mad scramble
for the ball ensued. In the
Above: Heppner Lady Mustangs, 2019 2A state champions. Below: Everyone celebrates the win.
end Madelyn Nichols se-
cured the ball as the clock
expired, giving Heppner the
victory.
As the buzzer sound-
ed, the team, coaches and
fans rushed the court. The
cheering was loud enough
to be heard back in Hep-
pner. The Lady Mustangs
had secured the first girls
basketball state champi-
onship in 33 years, and the
school’s 6 th state title ever
in all sports. The Mustangs
leading scorer was Sydney
Wilson with 22 points and
12 rebounds. Jacee Currin
added 10 points, seven re-
bounds and five assists. Se-
nior Jenna McCullough had
four points, nine rebounds,
two blocks and two assists.
Madison Combe added
three points and Madi-
son Ashbeck two points.
Madelyn Nichols and Mar-
lee Mitchell combined to
shut down Coquille’s guard
play, and freshman ZaBrena
Masterson provided a spark
off the bench securing two
rebounds.
Following the victory,
the trophy presentation and
all tournament teams were
announced. Sophomore
Sydney Wilson and senior
Jacee Currin were both
selected to the first team all-
state tournament teams. The
team then commenced with
the net cutting ceremony
and photo shoot.
“I am speechless,” said
Coach Wilson. A sentiment
that was shared by many
who would have never
believed this could happen
this year. Coach added, “I
knew if we played our game
as a team and used the tools
that we learned throughout
the year, we would be com-
petitive.” The team motto
for the year was: Trust your
coaches, trust your players
and trust yourselves. This
proved to be the winning
recipe.
Mustangs previous state
championship win - 1986
Heppner wrestlers compete at
state tournament
Trevor Antonucci and
Carson Brosnan competed
in the OSAA State Wres-
tling Championships held
at the Veterans Memorial
Coliseum in Portland Feb.
22 and 23. The two-day
tournament hosted all divi-
sions of high school wres-
tling in the state of Oregon
with a total of 952 male
wrestlers. For the first time,
the state championships
had a separate division for
female wrestlers where 56
women competed in four-
teen classes.
Trevor started the day
off in the 113-pound class,
wrestling the number three
seed from Reedsport, Chris-
tian Solomon and ended up
losing a tough match 12-5.
Carson wrestled the number
two seed from Coquille,
Brayden Clayburn, in the
160-pound class and lost by
pin at the 3:59 minute mark.
These losses put Trevor and
Carson in the consolation
bracket.
Next Trevor wrestled
Tony Florez from Coquille
and won by a pin in just
one minute. Carson then
wrestled Hepner Forster
of Vernonia, beating him.
He and Hepner battled for
almost four minutes before
Carson pinned him.
Since both boys sur-
vived the first day, they
would wrestle on Saturday
in the consolation finals.
Antonucci wrestled first
against Shawn Long of Ver-
nonia, pinning his opponent
quickly in just one minute
and 57 seconds. Brosnan
then wrestled number four
seed from Colton, Joseph
Moore. The match went the
full distance with Carson
winning by major decision,
14-4. These two victories
put both Antonucci and
Brosnan in the champion-
ship round for third and
Coach Mike Royer, Missy Eubanks, Lana Reid, Cindy Stroeber, Penny Connor, Theresa Lind-
say, Cathy Martin, Sandy Turner, Tina Davidson, Dana Reid, Missy Turner and Andrea Ball
celebrate Fillies first place finish in state tournament. -Archive photo.
fourth place.
Trevor wrestled Den-
nak Towne from Glide with
the match going back and
forth for the first two rounds.
Then Dennak caught Anto-
nucci and pinned him at the
five-minute mark. Carson
wrestled Sebastian Garcin
from Lowell, the number
three seed, and lost by a pin
at the three minute, 11 sec-
ond mark. These losses put
both boys in fourth place
position.
A spokesperson told the
Gazette, “Antonucci and
Brosnan represented Hep-
pner with pride, hard work
and perseverance and both
came away with medals
and many memories of a
thrilling state championship
experience.”
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Carson Brosnan is named
the winner in his match.
Trevor Antonnuci is award-
ed the win.
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242 W. Linden Way, Heppner • 676-9422 • 989-8221 (MCGG main office)