Lebanon boys extend winning streak
With a convincing 76 to 52 win over Dallas Friday, Jan. 9, the Lebanon boys have improved their basketball record to 3-0 in league and 6-3 overall.
Three other teams, West Albany, Corvallis and Central boasted the same league record coming into this week. All three are on the schedule twice later this year.
The final score does not reflect how difficult the win was for the Warriors. The boys started out on fire establishing a commanding lead only to see that lead dwindle by half time. Clearly, the team went on cruise control for a while. Things got righted in the second half and they managed to pull away. The key to the game was defense. Lebanon forced 34 Dallas turnovers compared to only 10 of their own.
Shooting was problematic for the Warriors, as they shot less than 40% (24/63) from the field and less than 23% (6/27) from the three-point line. Thankfully, they shot nearly 85% (22/26) from the free throw line.
The offense was less than par. However, two players stepped up big time and managed to salvage the win for the Warriors. Stalwarts Logan Large and Gunner Miller combined to score a total sixty points to secure the win. Large scored thirty-three points, collected eleven rebounds and had six steals. Miller added twenty-seven points, four steals and three assists.
“We had a mind set that we wanted to push the ball up real quick and get back cuts and get to the hoop,” Large said. Said Miller: “We had a four-game winning streak and we wanted to keep it going. Things fell our way and everything worked out well for us.”
The Dallas win came after a 621-51 victory over Woodburn on Tuesday.
Coach Casey VandenBos has been quick to note that the Mid-Willamette Conference is the toughest in the state. Consequently, there are no easy victories on the Warriors’ schedule. Woodburn was a perfect example.
The game was a battle from start to finish. Lebanon was able to take a small lead at the end of the first quarter and they were able to extend that lead to ten by half time. The second half was much the same. Woodburn was able to cut into Lebanon’s lead but never able to erase it. Lebanon notched their fifth overall victory and second in league.
Once again, excellent shooting was a key to the victory. The Warriors shot 23 for 54 from the field including four for 15 from the arc. Lebanon recorded 12 assists on the made baskets. They also were 11 of 15 from the free-throw ;ome. Leading contributors were Large with twenty-two points, nine rebounds and three assists. VandenBos contributed fourteen points, Miller had thirteen and Robinson had eight.
Lebanon hosts Dallas on January 9 and Silverton at home January 13. Before playing on the road Friday, Jan. 16, at Corvallis.
– Mike Warner
Swimmers tune up at Albany Sprint Meet
Testing themselves against some of the top programs in their district, the Sweet Home swim team competed in a multi-team sprint meet Jan. 10 at the Albany Community Pool.
Head coach A. Jay Bronson said the meet provided a clear picture of where the Huskies stand. “It went great — this meet is more of a gauge as to where we are,” he said.
Sweet Home competed against Philomath, Cascade, Stayton, Crosshill Christian, Marist Catholic, Blanchet Catholic, Sisters, Salem Academy, Junction City and Kennedy. In the combined team standings, the Huskies placed fourth overall, finishing behind Philomath, Cascade and Stayton. The Sweet Home girls team earned a second-place finish behind Cascade, while the boys team placed fifth in a competitive field.
Several Husky swimmers recorded top finishes during the meet. Sophomore Khloe Sautel won the girls 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:02.81 and also captured first place in the 50-yard breaststroke in 34.42. Junior Lexi Rundell added another individual victory for Sweet Home, winning the girls 50-yard backstroke in 33.58.
Bronson said individual improvement has been a key focus early in the season. “On the girls’ side, I’m really proud of Lexi and Kylie dropping time,” he said.
That progress was also evident in relay events. Rundell, junior Ella Haggas, senior Kylie Melkvik and Sautel placed third in the girls 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 1:59.00, narrowly trailing Cascade, which won the race in 1:58.99.
On the boys side, senior Andrew Tolman won the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:06.50. Junior Grayson Savri finished third in the 50-yard freestyle and placed second in the 100-yard freestyle, while Austyn Hogan earned third place in the 50-yard backstroke with a time of 32.25.
Bronson also pointed to notable improvements from swimmers throughout the roster. “Malakai did great — huge time drops, same with Marshall,” he said. “Sadie coming off an injury and coming back was good luck, too.”
The meet concluded with the boys 200-yard freestyle relay and in the very last heat of the day, Tolman, juniors Henry Jones, Hogan and Savri combined to win first place with a time of 1:42:01. “I was really impressed with how all the relays did,” Bronson said. “Especially the boys 4×50 relay at the end — it was exciting.”
With district competition approaching, Bronson said the sprint meet provided valuable insight into the team’s readiness. “We still have a bit of conditioning to work on, as well as stroke work,” he said. “But we will get there.”
The Huskies’ goal for the postseason is already set. “Our goal this year is to try to get a trophy at districts,” Bronson said. “And I think we have a good shot at that.”
– Satina Tolman
Warrior wrestlers fourth in large field at Tigard Invitational
At the 2026 Tigard Invitational Jan. 10, the Lebanon boys wrestling team took home fourth place in a large field of 14 teams in the 4-6A level. The Warriors’ 186.5 points was behind only Grant (227.5), McKay (250.5), and Sherwood (304).
Lebanon was led by its three winners: Grady Cox (175), David Brandt (150), and Seth Wynn (165).
Miller Swanson (175) took second as he was defeated by teammate Grady Cox in the final.
Third-place winners were David Mitchell (144) and Chase Brescheurs (106).
Next week, both the boys and girls teams will take on Central in duals on Jan. 14, beginning at 6 p.m. at Central High School.