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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 2020)
SPORTS WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020 HERMISTONHERALD.COM • A9 Hermiston’s Elliott is back in action Standout sophomore is on the basketball court 4 months after breaking his leg in football Photo contributed by Cody Bettencourt The Elks Northeast District Hoop Shoot contest was held Jan. 5 in Hermiston. Pictured are (back) Nick Bettencourt, Oregon State Elks Association vice president Northeast District, Corey Sweeney, Oregon State Elks Association Northeast District Hoop Shoot chairman, Julie Hull, Jason Hull, Doug Riggs, Oregon State Elks Association trustee Northeast District; (front) Charlotte Hansell (representing Milton-Freewater Lodge #2146), Ciciley Stefani and Cooper Stefani (both Heppner Lodge #358) and Christian Sanchez- Lamas (Hermiston Lodge #1845). By ANNIE FOWLER SPORTS EDITOR Chase Elliott still remem- bers the pain. The Hermiston sopho- more quarterback was mak- ing his fi rst start in the open- ing game of the season. The Bulldogs were at Pasco and things were looking pretty good late in the fi rst quarter with a 14-0 lead and posses- sion of the ball. Elliott had dropped back for a simple pass play when everything went awry. “I remember Trent (Pit- ney) was open,” Elliott said. “I stepped through, I was snapped down pretty fast and I hit the ground hard. It was the worst pain I have ever had.” A Pasco defender had rolled into Elliott’s left leg just as he threw the ball. Elliott suffered a hairline fracture of his femur and chipped the growth plate in his knee. “I could not imagine had it (femur) snapped in half,” Elliott said. “I didn’t have surgery, it would have closed off my growth plate. They let it heal on its own and told me not to do any- thing stupid.” Elliott was helped off the fi eld by coach David Faae- teete and trainer Dan Emery. “When they were carry- ing me off the fi eld, my one question was ‘Why,’” Elliott said. “I did the summer weight program, I ate right, and bonded with my team. Sitting there watching my team struggle (during the season) and knowing there was nothing I could do about it was hard.” Almost four months to the day that he got hurt, Elliott laced up his sneak- ers and started his fi rst bas- ketball game for the Bull- dogs — Jan. 3 at Southridge — much to the delight of fi rst-year coach Drew Preuninger. “I was at that (Pasco) game,” Preuninger said. “It was my fi rst Hermis- ton game ever. I was a little late, and it was the fi rst play I saw. When he went down, I told him my heart stopped. I knew he was going to be my starting point guard. I was disappointed he got hurt. I felt bad for him. He came back a lot quicker than any- one thought. It surprised all of us.” Elliott scored just two points in his fi rst game, Youths get nothing but net in Elks hoops contest HERMISTON HERALD Staff photo by Kathy Aney, File Hermiston’s Chase Elliott (10) watches his shot fl oat toward the basket during a Jan. 3 game as he and Southridge defender Justin Brown fall backwards. but over the course of six games, he is the Bulldogs’ second-leading scorer with 67 points (11.17 per game). “He has a different speed, a different gear that the other guys don’t have,” Pre- uninger said. “That’s why he has been able to step in and take over. I’m still kind of amazed. It doesn’t seem like he has lost a step — he’s aggressive and plays tough.” A lost season Elliott was injured with 1:50 to play in the fi rst quar- ter against Pasco, and Herm- iston was on top 14-0. The sophomore quarterback had completed 6 of 7 passes for 95 yards and a touchdown to Garrett Walchli to open the game. “It’s a shock to your con- fi dence,” Faaeteete said. “It’s nothing you expect to happen. At the time, we said we’d see what the doctors say, then have a plan from there. When we found out, we had to go back to the drawing board.” While Robert Sloan fi n- ished the Pasco game, it was junior Sam Schwirse who fi nished the season under center. “I think Sam did more than an effi cient job,” Faae- teete said. “Chase was there for Sam, and that was good. It’s good to see a kid con- tinue to show up. He was still invested in his team- mates. That’s who he is. It sucked for him — he’s always used to competing — but he found a way to be of help.” On Sept. 10, Elliott was told his football season was over. He tweeted “defi nitely tough to hear about the sport I love but God’s got a plan for me and I’ll be back next season better than ever.” Elliott had a pretty seri- ous looking brace on his leg for a couple of weeks, but it was more for stabilization, and would not allow him to bend his leg. He used a wheelchair at school for some classes, and crutches for others. And, he was there for his team. “I tried to go to practice as much as I could,” said Elliott, whose mom Shan- tel was his chauffeur. “I was trying to help Sam when I saw something, and was there for quarterback talk. My mom felt the pain for me. She made sure I stayed on stop of everything.” Return to action Elliott followed his doc- tor’s orders, and put in the work to make sure he could get back on the basketball court as soon as possible. “I got cleared Dec. 16 or 17,” Elliott said. “I did what I could. Every day during Christmas break I would come in (to the gym) with Coach P and get my practices in. He was pretty excited to have me back, and I was happy with full activ- ity and being able to run.” And just like football, Elliott was there for his teammates. “When he was hurt, he was there every day,” Pre- uninger said. “It was good to see him there even if he couldn’t play. He puts in the work. He’s in the weight room every day at 6 a.m. He’s got a good work ethic.” He also was able to relieve his mom of her chauffeur duties after Thanksgiving. The Elks Northeast Dis- trict Hoop Shoot contest — which represents Elks in Hermiston Lodge #1845, Heppner Lodge #358, Milton-Freewater Lodge #2146, Hood River Lodge #1507, The Dalles Lodge #303, Condon Lodge #1869, Enterprise Lodge #1829 and Baker Lodge #338 — was held Jan. 5 in Hermiston. There were 34 kids representing seven of the lodges that competed at the district contest. The local age group winners included: Boys 8-9: 1 Cooper Ste- fani (Heppner, 17/30) won in shoot off; Girls 8-9: 1 Ciciley Stefani (Heppner, 16/25). Boys 10-11: 1 Chris- tian Sanchez-Lamas (Hermiston, 16/25), 3 Brody McDaniel (Hep- pner, 16/30); Girls 10-11: 3 Healy Hisler (Heppner, 11/25) Boys 12-13: 3 Mason Orem (Heppner, 17/30); Girls 12-13: 3 Araceli Madrigal (Hermiston, 14/30) The fi rst place contes- tant in each age group will compete at the State Elks Hoop Shoot contest Feb. 8 in Silverton. The win- ner in each age group will move on to compete at the regional contest in March in Pasco — these kids will shoot free throws against winners from the Elks Area 8 states of Alaska, Wash- ington and Idaho. Regional winners will then com- plete at the national level in Chicago. For more information about the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Hermiston Elks Lodge will host an open house Saturday, Jan. 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appetiz- ers and beverages will be available. MEDICAL DIRECTORY Call Today! 541-289-5433 1060 W. Elm, Suite #115, Hermiston, OR (across from Good Shepherd Medical Center) www.apd4kidz.com Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm COMPREHENSIVE CARE A BETTER WAY TO ORAL HEALTH Ryan M. Wieseler, D.D.S, PC 541.567.8161 • 995 Orchard Avenue • Hermiston www.desertdentalsmiles.com Lions shut down Dawgs in 2nd half for big win By ANNIE FOWLER SPORTS EDITOR Hermiston has played some good basketball as of late, and last week it looked as if the Bulldogs might be in the hunt for another upset. The Bulldogs trailed 30-25 early in the third quar- ter on Jan. 14, but Ken- newick clamped down on defense and pulled way for a 68-40 Mid-Columbia Con- ference victory at the Lions Den. “We lost our will to com- pete, I think,” Hermiston coach Maloree Moss said. “We couldn’t fi nd the bucket after we cut it to fi ve. We kind of rolled over when things didn’t go our way.” The Lions (11-1, 8-1 MCC) are at the top of the MCC standings with Chi- awana, and handed the Riv- erhawks their fi rst loss last week. “I can’t complain,” Lions coach Daron Santo said. “They are really coming together as a team, espe- cially defensively.” After a slow start that saw the Lions take an 11-3 lead, the Bulldogs (7-6, 4-5 MCC) got a three-point play from Bailey Young, and 3-point- ers from Jazlyn Romero and Katelyn Heideman to pull within 15-12 at the end of the quarter. Hermiston kept the pres- sure on in the second, get- ting 3s from Heideman, Romero and Mia Hernandez to trail 30-23 at the half. “I’m super proud of the way we played in the fi rst half,” Moss said. Young hit a basket to open the third quarter and pull the Bulldogs within 30-25, but they would not score again for 4 minutes. In the that span, the Lions went on a 9-0 run. In the fi nal 27 seconds of the quarter, Madeline Gebers and Maya Thornton drained 3s to give Kenne- wick a commanding 46-30 lead. “We switched it up defen- sively and went more man,” Santo said. “They struggled with that. That third quar- ter was huge, we got our momentum back.” The onslaught continued in the fourth quarter as the Lions went on a 22-10 run. Jayden Ray and Hernan- dez each had four points in the fourth for the Bulldogs. “They are No. 9 in the state for a reason,” Moss said of the Lions. “Their coach is good, and their players trust it.” Hernandez led the Bull- dogs with 13 points, while Heideman added 10. Gerbers scored 10 of her game-high 19 points in the fourth quarter. Meilani McBee, who has commit- ted to Hawaii, chipped in 17 points, and Avery Fiander added 15. “I was really proud of Madi,” Santo said. “She really struggled in the fi rst half.” MCC boys basketball KENNEWICK 83, HERMISTON 35 — Ken- newick’s Ayoni Benavi- dez scored a game-high 26 points to lead the Lions to an MCC win over the visiting Bulldogs. The Lions led 23-5 at the end of the fi rst quarter, and 42-16 at the half. “The biggest concern for me is the kids’ effort,” Hermiston coach Drew Pre- uninger said. “I need to fi nd a group that will give a con- sistent effort. I think they can give me a little more.” Hermiston (2-11, 1-8 MCC) played without Ivan Rangel (ankle injury), who was injured in the Richland game last week. “We hope to get him back next week,” Preuninger said. “He is a big body, and he’s physical.” Chase Elliott led the Bull- dogs with 12 points, while Jaiden Ruloph and Tyler Lin each had six points. Benavidez, the MCC’s leading scorer, needed just seven points before the game to join the 1,000th-point club. Benavidez hit two free throws, a basket, and a 3-pointer from the top of the key just 2:53 into the game to reach the milestone. Jack Pyu added 11 points for the Lions (8-4, 6-3 MCC), who had all but one player score. GIRLS BOX SCORE Hermiston 12 10 7 10 — 40 Kennewick 15 15 16 22 — 68 HERMISTON — Heideman 10, Ray 4, Her- nandez 13, Romero 6, B.Young 7. KENNEWICK — Av.Fiander 15, Ai.Fiander 4, Flores 3, Thornton 7, McBee 17, Geb- ers 19. BOYS BOX SCORE Hermiston 5 11 11 8 — 35 Kennewick 23 19 20 21 — 83 HERMISTON — Ruloph 6, Pitney 2, Lin 6, Elliott 12, Ramos-Barron 2, Moreno 3, Jai. Ramirez 4. KENNEWICK — Pyu 11, Benavidez 26, Chavez 9, Moses 5, Dickinson 3, Collier 9, Mayer 3, Mayovsky 6, Knapik 2, Bai.McEl- roy 5, Bra.McElroy 4. Eye Health & Vision Care Robert D. Rolen , O.D., LLC Optometric Physician 115 W. Hermiston Ave. Suite 130 541-567-1837 LET US BE THE ONE THAT HELPS! • Adult, Child and Family Therapy • Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment • Mental Health and Crisis Services • Confidential and Professional Care LIFEWAYS PENDLETON Crisis Phone: LIFEWAYS HERMISTON 331 SE 2nd St., 595 NW 11th St., 866-343-4473 Pendleton, OR 97801 Hermiston, OR 97838 Office: 541-276-6207 WWW . LIFEWAYS . ORG Office: 541-567-2536 HERMISTON FAMILY MEDICINE & URGENT CARE Sports & Dot Physicals • Minor Injuries • Family Care • Minor Surgeries We accept Medicare & some Advantage Medicare plans NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY HOURS: Mon.-Sat. 7:30am-7:00pm 541-567-1137 236 E. Newport, Hermiston (across from U.S. Bank) DENTURES Blue Mountain Denture Center TROY STEWART - LICENSED DENTURIST 1300 6th St., Suite G, Umatilla, OR 97882 2194 Court Ave., Baker City, OR 97814 (541) 519-4696 • (541) 523-4752 To advertise in the Medical Directory, please call: Jeanne at 541-564-4531 or Audra at 541-564-4538
