Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 2015)
S PORTS Hermiston A8 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2015 Healthy Tigers off to a healthy season start Bulldog hoops team has an Ego — again Retired coach returns to the sidelines for one more season By SAM BARBEE By SAM BARBEE A year ago, with a new IRRWEDOOFRDFKWKH6WDQ¿HOG Tigers never reached their potential. A talented team, but riddled with key injuries, the 7LJHUV¿QLVKHGDQGRQWKH outside looking into the playoff picture window. Now, with another new coach, but no key injuries, the Tigers have jumped to a 3-0 record, a plus-97 point differential and is one of three teams in the 2A Columbia Basin Conference to have Sam similar numbers. Barbee The difference? FROM THE SIDELINES Dylan Grogan at quarterback. With the lanky junior out most of last season with a broken collarbone, the onus was on classmate Thyler Monkus to shoulder the offensive load. He took all the snaps, acted as quarterback and running back, and took a pounding. He amassed 40 carries on more than one occasion and threw it another 10 or 12 times. By the end of the season, he was worn down. He wasn’t quite as explosive. His long touchdown runs were cut short. He broke fewer tackles. You could just see the wear and tear taking an effect on the young man. But this year, but his EDFN¿HOGPDWHKHDOWK\DQG taking some of the carries, Monkus has returned to his old self. The junior running back — in just three games, mind you — has rushed for 572 yards and seven touchdowns. Grogan hasn’t been a slouch, either, rushing for 193 yards and seven touchdowns, and throwing for 351 yards and a score. Now, some of Monkus’ success is most certainly due to another year of age, maturity, strength, all that. But even the threat of Grogan, who’s careful ¿QGLQJKROHVDQGH[SORLWLQJ WKRVHKH¿QGVDQGWKHDGGHG weapon of Justin Keeney, has freed Monkus to be the home- run hitter he is. Then you add in Keeney, Makiah Blankenship and Abraham Gomez, the Tigers KDYH¿YHFRPSHWHQWUXQQHUVVR they aren’t relying on Monkus. Head coach Davy Salas knew that. He tries to spread carries evenly so that Monkus and Grogan are fresh late in games if needed. The return of Grogan has EURXJKWPRUHWR6WDQ¿HOG than just simply yards and touchdowns. Grogan is the emotional leader of the Tigers. 6DODVVDLGKH¶VD¿HU\FRPSHWLWRU who holds his own in tackling drills with any teammate from any position. Not having that emotional leader last year, 6DODVVDLGOHIW6WDQ¿HOGDWD big disadvantage. They didn’t have anyone to follow or energy to feed off. Now, with No. 4 under center, they have it. And the Tigers have made some statements, if small, with league play starting in Week 5. ³/DVW\HDUZDVWKHLU¿UVW down year for a lot of ’em’,” Salas said. “A 3-6 season, those kids aren’t used to a 3-6 season. It could be a blessing to have them think, ‘Wow, all we are is one injury away from a 3-6 season. We have to bring it every game. We can’t take weeks off. We can’t take plays off.’” ,IWKH¿UVWWKUHHUHVXOWVDUH DQ\LQGLFDWLRQ6WDQ¿HOGKDVQ¶W been taking plays or weeks off, and they’re healthy. For a small school with a small roster, health LVNH\6WDQ¿HOGKDVLW)RUQRZ As long as Grogan, Monkus and company are keeping defenses JXHVVLQJ6WDQ¿HOGZLOOEHD load in the CBC. Sam Barbee is a sports reporter for the Hermiston Herald and East Oregonian based out of Hermiston. He can be reached by email at sbarbee@hermis- tonherald.com or on Twitter @ SamBarbee1. Follow Herald Sports @HHeraldSports. It’s been almost 30 years since Dave Ego coached high school basketball, and he isn’t worried. The 68-year-old Hermiston resident was hired last week as Hermiston’s interim head bas- ketball coach in the wake of Jake McElligott’s resignation. But de- spite being away from the game for 27 years, Ego doesn’t think that will be an issue. “Ralph Miller said the game hasn’t changed in 40 years, but I’d venture to say it hasn’t changed in the last 40 either,” Ego said. “You just gotta know what the other guy’s doing.” The late-Ralph Miller was in- Staff Writer HERMISTONHERALD.COM Staff Writer ducted into the Na- ismith Basketball Hall of Fame and spent 41 seasons as a head basketball coach at Wichita, Iowa and Oregon Dave State. As coach of Ego the Beavers, he had just two losing sea- sons out of 20 and is the all-time winningest coach in program his- tory with 359 wins. Ego said his age is not an is- sue either, citing Duke University coach Mike Krzyzewski, who is also 68. Krzyzewski has coached the Blue Devils since 1980 and has amassed a head coaching record of 1,018-310 (88-26 in NCAA tour- QDPHQWVDQG¿YH1&$$FKDPSL- onships in 40 seasons. Ego coached the Bulldogs from 1978-1988 before moving into the administration, where he retired as principal in 2003. In those 10 seasons as coach, Herm- iston went 86-134 (65-95 Inter- mountain Conference) and 2-20 LQKLV¿QDO\HDU Ego is the father of Umatilla cross country coach Josh, former Beaverton girls basketball coach, Jay, and is the father-in-law of current Hermiston High Principal Tom Spoo. Before arriving in Hermiston, Ego was an assistant at Parkrose High School in Portland for three years, where he helped the Bron- cos to a 69-6 record, a state cham- pionship, and coached numerous Division I players, including Ray Blume (Oregon State), Rick Os- born (Oregon), and Steve Wood- side (Oregon State). Once in Hermiston, Ego led the Bulldogs to two league championships when Hermiston was a member of the 10-team Intermountain Conference. Ego takes over a program that ZHQWDQGORVW¿YHVH- niors from last year’s team. The program, also, has been the focus of much turnover in recent years, with three coaches in as many seasons. Athletic Director Blaine Gan- voa said Ego’s familiarity with the area, program and school will be an asset. “Mr. Ego will provide us a year of clear expectations and standards, giving stability to a program that has experienced substantial turnover in the past four years,” he said. “I think that the kids deserve something,” Ego said. “Four coaches in four years isn’t an en- vious position, and it’s an interim position because I’m not interested in a long-term position. We need to be able to give the kids in the com- munity something to be proud of. “What I’ve seen so far is we’ve got some kids who are ex- cited and want to be basketball players, and that path should be made easier.” Irrigon pulls away from Umatilla to it pretty dang well.” Umatilla (2-1) did catch a lot RI¿UVWKDOIEUHDNV5DPLUH]KDG D SDVV GHÀHFW RII D 8PDWLOOD UH- ceiver right into the hands of Fa- bricio Garcia on third down to keep a drive alive, and Ramirez scrambled for a good 20 seconds By SAM BARBEE Staff Writer EHIRUH¿QGLQJ6DQJXLQRDOODORQH At halftime of Umatilla’s non- in the back corner late in the sec- league football game against ond quarter. And every time Umatilla Irrigon, the Vikings had all the momentum. Jesus Ramirez hit made a move, Irrigon (3-0) had a Tristen Sanguino for a 14-yard response. After the Vikings took the touchdown pass in the back cor- ner of the end zone with 27 sec- opening kick-off and methodical- onds left in the second quarter to O\GURYHWKHEDOOGRZQWKH¿HOGLQ 14 plays ending in a Hunter Cook pull within six at 18-12. But that was as close as they plunge, Irrigon came right back would come. The Knights scored and scored in seven plays to tie 21 unanswered points in the sec- it, then scored on two plays after ond half to put away the pesky Umatilla’s punter whiffed at his Vikings 39-12 Friday night in RZQ¿YH\DUGOLQHWRWDNHD lead. Umatilla. Irrigon then took its turn with “We had to face a little adver- sity,” Irrigon coach Steve Sheller a methodical drive, going 65 said. “Umatilla got just about ev- yards in 13 plays resulting in a HU\EUHDNLQWKDW¿UVWKDOI6R,¶P Nate Verley touchdown pass to proud of the boys. I told them, I Austin Rice. It was Verley’s only STAFF PHOTO BY SAM BARBEE said, ‘We’re due for some bad. completion of the day and gave Let’s see how we react to it. And 8PDWLOOD·V-RVK'HYHULVWDFNOHGE\,UULJRQ·V2PDU9HUDMXVWVKRUW in that second half, they reacted See KNIGHTS, A9 RIWKHJRDOOLQHHDUO\LQ,UULJRQ·VZLQ)ULGD\QLJKWLQ8PDWLOOD After tight first half, Knights dominate second half Football: Millers overpower Bulldogs; Tigers win at home SPRINGFIELD 52, HERM- ,6721²$W6SULQJ¿HOGWKH Bulldogs continued its disap- pointing start to the 2015 season with yet another loss on Friday. Hermiston (0-3) kept it close LQWKH¿UVWKDOIDVWKH\WUDLOHG 20 at halftime before being shut- out in the second half. Bulldog quarterback Dayshawn Neal was dangerous on the ground in the game, car- rying the ball 27 times for 152 yards and two touchdowns. Neal only attempted seven passes, completing three of them for 27 yards. Sophomore running back Johnathan Hinkle carried the ball 20 times for 82 yards while senior Hayden Simon added 15 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown. The Bulldog defense struggled WRFRQWDLQWKH6SULQJ¿HOGRIIHQVH throughout, however, allow- ing 580 total yards—299 on the ground and 281 through the air. Penalties were an issue for both teams as they combined for a staggering 34 penalties for 327 yards. Hermiston hits the road again The Tigers (3-0) remained un- defeated with running back Thy- ler Monkus’ three touchdowns STANFIELD 32, GRANT leading the way. He ran 26 times 81,21 ² $W 6WDQ¿HOG WKH for 173 yards, and Justin Keeney Tigers slugged it out with the added six carries for 60 yards. Prospectors in an old-fashioned Quarterback Dylan Grogan was 10-of-16 passing for 128 yards defensive battle on Friday. “It was one of those defensive and ran 10 times for 32 yards and ball games where we just had a touchdown. to grind it out on the ground,” Jason Fitzpatrick led them in VDLG¿UVW\HDUFRDFK'DY\6DODV receiving with two catches for 51 “Both sides had two turnovers, yards. both sides were stiff on defense 6WDQ¿HOG KRVWV ,PEOHU WKLV and both sides were strong week in a non-league game at 7 against the run.” p.m. on Friday. this week to play Lewiston (ID) at 7 p.m. on Friday. Tigers fall short against Rockets took a 10-9 lead. But Pilot Rock, also with a renewed volleyball vigor, played better down the stretch, taking Game 3 by three points. “We’ve built our mentality this whole summer, and we’ve been to camps to build our men- By SAM BARBEE Staff Writer tality,” junior Rockets setter Os- trom said. “The team last year Coaches don’t generally be- would have let that (match) go. lieve in moral victories. They We really focused on keeping our view wins as wins and losses as mentality: ‘So what? You made losses. %XWZKLOHEXLOGLQJD6WDQ¿HOG STAFF PHOTO BY SAM BARBEE an error. We’re gonna get the next one. And you better be ready.’” volleyball program essentially Pilot Rock head coach Elain- IURP WKH JURXQG XS ¿UVW\HDU 6WDQÀHOG·V.DWLH%XUQVJRHV na Howland said her squad was Tigers coach Angie Connell will IRUDEORFNDWWKHQHWGXULQJ shorthanded with some injuries take a moral victory after a close 6WDQÀHOG·VÀYHVHWORVVWR3LORW 3-2 (25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 26-24, 5RFNDWKRPHRQ7KXUVGD\LQERWK and an illness, and compliment- HG 6WDQ¿HOG RQ LWV LPSURYHPHQW 9-15) Columbia Basin Confer- WHDPV·OHDJXHRSHQHU from a 4-19 record a year ago. ence opening loss to Pilot Rock ³6WDQ¿HOG LV TXLWH D ELW LP- trom had 17 assists, and Megan RQ7KXUVGD\LQ6WDQ¿HOG proved this year, I have to hand “The girls proved that they are Glynn had 15. After winning Game 1, Stan- it to them,” Howland said. “We gonna be a team people have to ¿HOGIRXQGLWVHOIGRZQ saw that a bit in summer league compete with,” Connell said. Katie Burns led the Tigers 19-12 in Game 2. But the Tigers, that they were quite a bit im- with eight kills, and Brittin with improved morale, according proved this year. But for us, Braithwaite and Larissa Castel- to Connell, fought back to make we’ve stepped up. Our game is lanos had two each. Abby Rigby the set interesting. Pilot Rock (7- a lot higher than it was last year. led the match with 15 kills, and VFRUHGWKH¿UVWVL[SRLQWV This is just a smidgen of what we Kayla Deist wasn’t far behind of Game 3 as well — giving the have.” Down two sets to one, Stan- ZLWK0DGGLH*ULI¿QKDGIRXU Rockets nine straight points to aces for the Tigers, was perfect end Game 2 and start Game 3 — ¿HOG QHHGHG WR FRPH XS ZLWK D from the serving line and had EHIRUH6WDQ¿HOGZHQWRQDUXQRI big fourth game, and they did. four assists, to boot. Tehya Os- its own. The Tigers eventually The Tigers almost gave the game Rockets start slow, finish strong against much improved Tigers away after leading 22-18 and al- lowing a Pilot Rock run to push the set past 25 points. An accu- rate push winner from Maddie *ULI¿Q DW WKH QHW JDYH 6WDQ¿HOG a 25-24 lead, and eventually the game, pushing the match to a de- FLGLQJ¿IWKVHW Pilot Rock all but owned Game 5. After taking a 5-1 lead to start the set, the Rockets never led by fewer than three points and led by DVPDQ\DVQLQH6WDQ¿HOGWULHGWR make a run, but it was too little, too late. 6HQLRU 6WDQ¿HOG RXWVLGH KLWWHU Larissa Castellanos said the team needs to keep pushing to improve. “We can’t take it for granted,” she said, “because teams are gon- na be working just as hard as we DUH :H KDYH WR ¿JKW IRU HYHU\ point like we did tonight and just keep pushing, and keep our spirits up, and be mentally tough. That was big for us tonight.” 8QLRQ6WDQÀHOG Coming off its exciting league opener against Pilot Rock, the 6WDQ¿HOGYROOH\EDOOWHDPFRXOGQ¶W keep the momentum on the road See TIGERS, A9