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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 2015)
JANUARY 7, 2015 HERMISTONHERALD.COM A6 WEDNESDAY, SPORTS PREP BASKETBALL • SCHEDULE A look at Hermiston boys put away La Grande area hoops BY SAM BARBEE HERMISTON HERALD H DSS\1HZ<HDU everybody. 1RZWKDWLWLV WKHQHZ\HDULWPHDQV one thing, among others: league basketball. Let’s jump right into it. $IWHUDVORZVWDUWWKH Hermiston girls have come on like gangbusters. 7KH/DG\%XOOGRJVKDYH ZRQVWUDLJKWJDPHV and look to be regaining WKHLUWRSWKUHH¿QLVKHU form from last season. (DUOLHUWKLVVHDVRQ, ZURWHWKDWWKH\PLJKW be in a rebuilding year, that it might take them time to get back to that level of basketball. Well, ,ZDVZURQJ7KH\FDQ SOD\$VRI0RQGD\ WKH\ZHUH7KH (XJHQHWRXUQDPHQW VZLQJRSHQHGP\H\HV and the thrashing of a GHFHQW.HQQHZLFNWHDP VROLGL¿HGWKHHJJRQP\ IDFH,¶OOWDNHLW,¶PDELJ boy. :LWKWKHZD\ Hermiston is playing, the girls should roll through OHDJXHQRSUREOHP7KH remaining nonleague JDPHV6XQQ\VLGH DQG/D6DOOH3UHS VKRXOGJRDORQJZD\LQ telling head coach Steve Hoffert and the players ZKHUHWKHWHDPLVDW7ZR ZLQVRYHUWKRVHWHDPV ZRXOGGRZRQGHUV(YHQ DVSOLWZRXOGEHJRRG 7KHER\VWKRXJKDUH a different story — not a bad story, just different. We keep talking about WKHQHZV\VWHPWKH football players needing more time to prepare for EDVNHWEDOOHWF,IHHOEDG ZKHQ,DVNKHDGFRDFK -DNH0F(OOLJRWWDERXWWKH ODWWHU,WVHHPVOLNHVXFKD QRQIDFWRUQRZ7KH\¶YH been playing basketball IRUDPRQWKQRZ7KH\ VKRXOGEHLQVKDSH%XW it is still a question. Football and basketball shape are different. Football is a sporadic, KHUN\MHUN\W\SHJDPH that is played in spurts, albeit intensely physical VSXUWV%DVNHWEDOOLV HORQJDWHG7KHSOD\ GRHVQ¶WVWRSEHWZHHQ DFWLRQ,WFRQWLQXHV almost unceasingly until it merely pauses for a number of seconds before picking up again. So, these guys are just getting into shape. :HNQRZWKDWVRUWRI %XWZH¶YHEHHQDEOHWR see improvement out of SAM BARBEE FROM THE SIDELINES Sports reporter WKH%XOOGRJV+HUPLVWRQ WRRND.HQQHZLFN WHDPWRWKHZLUHRQ Saturday but still only VFRUHGSRLQWV,WZDV WKHVHFRQGVWUDLJKWJDPH WKH%XOOGRJVZHUHKHOG WROHVVWKDQSRLQWV and the fourth time all year. Regarding league teams, keep in mind that Pendleton is playing good basketball. Hood River Valley is performing GHFHQWO\DQG7KH'DOOHV DOZD\VJHWVXSWRSOD\ +HUPLVWRQ,¶PQRW VD\LQJWKH%XOOGRJVZLOO JRLQWKH&ROXPELD River Conference, just WKDWWKH\ZRQ¶WEUHH]H WKURXJK%XWPD\EHWKH\ ZLOO7KDWUHPDLQVWREH seen. 0RYLQJQRUWK Umatilla basketball is fun WRZDWFK 7KHJLUOVDUHZLWK their only losses coming WRXQGHIHDWHG$SRZHUV Kennedy and Union and to solid 4A team La *UDQGH([FOXGLQJWKH points they put up over +DUSHU+XQWLQJWRQWKH Lady Viks are averaging SRLQWVSHUJDPH :LWKWKDWKRZHYHU LWMXPSVWR7KH\DUH RQHRIWZRJLUOVWHDPVLQ DQ\FODVVL¿FDWLRQLQWKH HQWLUHVWDWHWRVFRUH points, so far, and one of WHDPVRYHUDOO7RSXWLW in perspective, Hermiston KDVSOD\HGJDPHVDQG has scored just more than SRLQWV8PDWLOODKDV SOD\HGJDPHVDQGKDV VFRUHG Umatilla should roll through its league slate. $VRI0RQGD\9DOHLV EXWKDVRQO\SOD\HG a collection of mediocre ,GDKRVFKRROVDQG VXIIHUHGDIRXUSRLQWORVV to La Grande. Riverside LVVPDOODQGZLOOVWUXJJOH ZLWK8PDWLOOD¶VVL]H and speed, and Nyssa KDVDOUHDG\EHHQEORZQ RXWE\8PDWLOOD,¶P H[SHFWLQJWKH/DG\9LNV WRWDNHWKH(2/FURZQ 7KH8PDWLOODER\V are steadily improving. ,QWHUHVWLQJO\HQRXJK they have actually scored more points than the VHYHQWKUDQNHG/DG\ Viks, but they’ve also DOORZHG7KH\DUH -DNH 0F(OOLJRWW JRW KLV ¿UVW KRPH ZLQ DV WKH head coach of the Hermis ton boys basketball team 7XHVGD\ QLJKW DV WKH %XOO GRJV UDOOLHG IURP DQ ¿UVWTXDUWHUGH¿FLWWRGRZQ WKH WKUDQNHG $ /D *UDQGH 7LJHUV EH KLQG'LOORQ=LPPHUO\¶V points and Keegan Craf WRQ¶V ³,W IHHOV QLFH´ 0F(O OLJRWW VDLG DIWHU WKH ZLQ ³,¶PSURXGRIKRZWKHER\V IRXJKWJRLQJGRZQHDUO\LQ WKH¿UVWTXDUWHUDQGFRPLQJ RXWLQWKHWKLUGTXDUWHUÀDW EXWWKHUHDUHVWLOOWKLQJVZH QHHGWRZRUNRQ´ 7KH ZLQ JLYHV WKH %XOO GRJVDOLWWOHELWRIEUDJ ging rights over the neighbor WRWKHVRXWKDVZHOO ³(VSHFLDOO\ SOD\LQJ DJDLQVW WKHVH JX\V´ =LP merly said. “We’ve been SOD\LQJ WKHP VLQFH ZH ZHUH \HDUV ROG DQG LW¶V nice to beat them for the last time.” After making all three SRLQWDWWHPSWVLQWKH¿UVW TXDUWHU DQG JRLQJ RI in the second, La Grande cooled considerably in the second half, hitting 2 of 4. Hermiston’s perimeter de fense tightened up, forcing 7LJHU VKRRWHUV WR SXW LW RQ the deck instead of taking ZLGHRSHQV ³,W¶V NLQG RI EHHQ RXU problem other games, too, WHDPV PDNLQJ V´ =LP PHUO\ VDLG DERXW WKH %XOO GRJV¶SRLQWGHIHQVH³6R ZH¶UH ZRUNLQJ RQ FORVLQJ out better.” 7KH ¿UVW TXDUWHU ZDV DOO La Grande. 7KH7LJHUVKLWWKHLU ¿UVWWZRVKRWV²ERWKV² ZLWKRQHFRPLQJIURP'HU ek Yohannan and the other IURP -DNH 3RZHOO +HUP iston didn’t score until WKH PDUN WR PDNH WKH SAM BARBEE PHOTO Chase Knutz (21) of Hermiston shoots over La Grande’s Blaine Kreutz (22) as teammate Dillon Zimmerly boxes out Brandon Dall GXULQJWKHÀUVWKDOIRI+HUPLV- ton’s 51-44 win Tuesday night in WKH'DZJKRXVH FRXQWEXW%UDQGRQ'DOO KLWDDQG+HUPLVWRQFRP mitted its third turnover of WKHTXDUWHUDQGZDVEHKLQG 'DOO¶VEDVNHWZLWK OHIWJDYH/D*UDQGHDQ DGYDQWDJHDQGD=LPPHUO\ jumper brought Hermiston EDFNWRZLWKDPLQXWH left. 7KH %XOOGRJV PRXQW ed a charge in the second TXDUWHUE\VFRULQJWKH¿UVW ¿YH SRLQWV RQ DQ $XVWLQ 1DLOORQDQGDSXWEDFNE\ Landon Gammell. Hermis ton and La Grande traded baskets, and Hermiston WUDLOHG ZKHQ =LP PHUO\ KLW D OD\XS DQG ZDV IRXOHG +LV SRLQW SOD\ EURXJKW +HUPLVWRQ ZLWKLQ DSRLQWDWDQGDIWHU D 3RZHOO EDVNHW WKH VFRUH ZDV WLHG RQ D =LPPHUO\ ZLWK WKUHH PLQXWHV OHIW LQ WKH¿UVWKDOI ³, ZRXOGQ¶W FDOO LW VPRRWKHU´ 0F(OOLJRWW VDLG RI WKH VHFRQGTXDUWHU RIIHQVH ³:KHQ ZH FDPH EDFN = =LPPHUO\ KLW D ELJ LQ D VFDWWHUHG FRXUW :H GLG UXQ VRPH VHWV ZHOO and got Keegan some good ORRNVRQOREVEXWZHJRWD ORQJZD\VWRJR´ +HUPLVWRQ WUDLOHG at the half, partly due to bet ter perimeter defense, but partly from La Grande’s in DELOLW\WRPDNHDIUHHWKURZ RUHYHQJHWWRWKHOLQH7KH 7LJHUV ZHQW RI RQ WKH night. La Grande tried to take control in the third quarter and made three consecu WLYHEDVNHWVZKHQ'DOODQG 3RZHOOKLWSRLQWVKRWVDQG <RKDQQDQKLWDEXW*DP mell, Naillon and Chance Flores all had baskets to SXOO +HUPLVWRQ ZLWKLQ WZR DW <RKDQQDQ KLW DQ RWKHU ² KH KDG IRXU RQ the night, but Cole Smith JRWDOD\XSWRJRZLWKDIRXO to cut La Grande’s lead to three. Smith missed the free WKURZ EXW WKH PRPHQWXP FDUULHG RYHU IRU WKH %XOO dogs. 7KHIRXUWKTXDUWHUVWDUW HGZLWKDQ+HUPLVWRQ run that all but put the game DZD\ IRU WKH %XOOGRJV Crafton scored on a nice VHW SOD\ WKDW HQGHG ZLWK D OREIURP=LPPHUO\1DLOORQ KLWDDQG&UDIWRQKDGWZR more baskets to give Herm LVWRQ D VHYHQSRLQW OHDG LW ZRXOGQ¶WUHOHQW7KHEDOOV WKDW ZHUH IDOOLQJ IRU /D Grande earlier kept rattling out, and Hermiston made WKUHHRI¿YHIUHHWKURZVLQ WKH¿QDOPLQXWHWRVHDOWKH ZLQ ³,W¶VDIHHOJRRGZLQ´ 0F(OOLJRWW VDLG ³<RX FDQ FHOHEUDWHIRUKRXUVDQG pat yourself on the back, EXW ,¶P JRLQJ WR JR KRPH tonight and get ready for WRPRUURZ¶V SUDFWLFH DQG move on. We need to get better, OK? We played ZHOO LQ WKH IRXUWK TXDUWHU We need to build on that. 7HDPV DUH HLWKHU JURZLQJ or they’re dying. We gotta JURZIURPWKLV´ SEE HOOPS/A7 GO SEE IT Wednesday, January 7 No events scheduled Thursday, January 8 Swimming Hermiston @ Hood River, 2:45 p.m. Wrestling Hermiston @ Yelm (WA), 7 p.m. Friday, January 9 Wrestling Hermiston @ Gut Check Challenge in Olympia (WA), 9 a.m. Boys Basketball 6WDQ¿HOGYV:HVWRQ0F(ZHQSP (FKRYV-RVHSKSP Girls Basketball 6WDQ¿HOGYV:HVWRQ0F(ZHQSP (FKRYV-RVHSKSP Saturday, January 10 Wrestling Hermiston @ Gut Check Challenge in Olympia (WA), 9 a.m. (FKR6WDQ¿HOG#5LYHUVLGH7RXUQDPHQWDP Swimming +HUPLVWRQ#7KH'DOOHVLQ+RRG5LYHUDP Boys Basketball +HUPLVWRQ#6XPPLWSP 8PDWLOODYV9DOHSP (FKR#1L[\DDZLLSP Girls Basketball Umatilla vs. Vale, 5 p.m. (FKR#1L[\DDZLLSP $OHHVKD:DWVRQOHIWLVDVRSKRPRUHRQWKH8PDWLOODJLUOVEDVNHWEDOOWHDPDQGLVWKHÀUVWRSWLRQRQRIIHQVH SAM BARBEE PHOTOS Dancing her way to the court Umatilla’s Aleesha Watson trades slippers for sneakers BY SAM BARBEE HERMISTON HERALD %HIRUH PLGGOH VFKRRO Umatilla’s Aleesha Wat son didn’t even consider playing basketball. 6KH ZDV EXV\ GRLQJ something else that re quires balance and foot ZRUN DQG DWKOHWLFLVP ,W too, requires a uniform and special shoes and SHRSOH WR FRPH ZDWFK 7KHFURZGDSSODXGVJRRG performances and cheers success. 7KDW WKRXJK LV ZKHUH WKH VLPLODULWLHV HQG ZLWK basketball. ,Q KHU RWKHU DFWLYLW\ WKHUHLVQRZLQQHURUORV HU 7KHUH LV QR RSSRQHQW Skill comes from muscle memory after spending KRXUV GD\V ZHHNV LQ D studio. :DWVRQ ZDV D EDOOHUL na. ³,ZDVEXV\ZLWKGDQF ing all the time,” the Umatilla sophomore said. ³7KH EDODQFH KHOSV D ORW 7KDW WUDQVIHUV RYHU UHDOO\ QLFHO\ ,W KHOSV D ORW ,¶P JODG,GLGEDOOHW,WUHDOO\ KHOSVZLWKEDVNHWEDOO´ 7KHQ VHYHQWK JUDGH came around for Watson. Almost all of her older siblings played basket ball, and Watson said WKHLU H[SHULHQFHV KDG been positive. People told her she should try out, and she did. 7KUHH\HDUVODWHU:DW VRQ LV D WZR\HDU VWDUWHU for the Lady Viks and a top option on offense. “She’s different than DQ\RWKHUJLUO,KDYHULJKW QRZ´ 8PDWLOOD KHDG FRDFK 6FRWW %RZ VDLG ³6KH¶V WKH RQH DOZD\V ZLWKDEDOOLQKHUKDQG$V DQ HLJKWKJUDGHU FRPLQJ up, in her younger years, VKH DOZD\V KDG D EDOO LQ KHUKDQG6KHZDVDOZD\V outside in the morning, Umatilla sophomore guard Aleesha Watson (left) didn’t start playing basketball until seventh grade because she danced EDOOHWLQVWHDG shooting outside in the FROG 6KH MXVW KDG WKDW µ, ZDQW LW¶ DWWLWXGH 6KH¶V DOZD\V KDG WKDW DQG LW¶V SD\LQJRIIULJKWQRZ´ Other than basketball, Watson runs track and cross country, but basket ball is her love. ³,W¶V YHU\ YHU\ JRRG for Umatilla for having her, but basketball’s al SEE WATSON/A7