Basketball roundup: East Linn girls move on to state
East Linn Christian’s girls will open the 2A state basketball playoffs Saturday, Feb. 28, on the road at No. 6-ranked Bandon after splitting their league playoffs last week with a 46-41 win at Central Linn, and a 44-33 loss to league leader Crosshill Christian on Friday, Feb. 20.
The Central Linn win was the Eagles’ first in three match-ups this year with the Cobras, and it gave ELCA second-place in the final Valley Coast League standings.
“That was a super fun game to be a part of,” Coach Sierra Carrier said. “The girls showed up knowing that they were not going to accept third in conference and they were ready to win.
“We had every cylinder firing in every aspect of this team. We were crashing the boards, playing really solid defense, being patient and finding good shots. The girls set their standards for the rest of the year to an even higher level. Central Linn put up a good fight but we wanted it more.”
Maya Van Dyke led the Eagles with 17 points, while adding six rebounds, five assists and three steals. Maci Modderman added 16 points and 14 boards.
In the district championship game Friday, East Linn, ranked 11th coming into this week, faced No. 4 Crosshill, whose only VCL loss came from the Eagles in mid-January.
“We had a lot on our backs riding into this game,” Carrier said. “We had a season full of highs and lows but knew we had a good chance walking in on Friday.
“Unfortunately, things didn’t go our way,” she said of the 44-33 final score. We battled through injuries, missed shots, and getting into foul trouble.”
Modderman led East Linn with 10 points and five rebounds, while Van Dyke added eight points, three rebounds and six steals.
“Crosshill is a very solid team who earned that first place spot and having VCC player of the year on their team,” Carrier said.
East Linn hosted Bandon on Dec. 18, losing 39-28, but Carrier said this time may be a different result.
“Luckily for us, it is not over yet,” she said. “We’ve seen Bandon already this year and it was a good game, it was just early for us. We are ready this time.”
Warrior Boys Drop Games to Corvallis and West Albany
Coming off a six-game winning streak last week, Lebanon’s boys were hoping to solidify their status for post-season play.
Unfortunately, waiting in their way was Corvallis and league leader West Albany. Even with their best efforts on Tuesday, Feb. 17, Lebanon fell to Corvallis in a hard-fought battle, 59-50.
Reeling from that loss, the Warriors fell to West Albany 85-58 on Friday. Both losses were at home.
Corvallis is always a tough contest and this game was no different. The Spartans established a small lead in the first quarter. Lebanon battled back and tied the game going into the half. The third quarter was back and forth, with no team establishing any significant advantage. Midway through the fourth quarter, Corvallis was able to drain several threes, which gave them control at the end of the game. Lebanon was forced to play the foul/free-throw game but Corvallis made it happen from the charity stripe, giving them the final victory.
Lebanon’s shooting was 36.1% (18/46) from the field but only 11.1 % (2-18) from three-point land. The Warriors did shoot well from the free throw line 75% (12-18).
Contributors for Lebanon included Ryan Robinson who scored 23 points and had seven rebounds; Logan Large who scored 12 points, had five boards and four steals; and Gunner Miller who had six points, five rebounds and five assists.
West Albany, whose size, speed and skills make it the league leader at 15-0 coming into this week, set the tone early on and had a 20-11 lead at the first-quarter break.
The Warriors battled as best they could and went to half time down 40-26. West continued its dominance in the second half, extending its lead to 66-41 at the end of the third quarter.
Lebanon shot better at 46.6% (21/45) from the field but only 20% (4/20) from the three. Free throw shooting was very good at 92% (12/13).
Top contributors for the Warriors were again Large, who scored 18 points, had five rebounds, two steals and three assists; Robinson who scored 16 points; and Miller who scored 14 points, had two rebounds and three steals.
At 9-6 coming into this week, one game behind Crescent Valley (10-5), the Warriors are ranked 18th and have a chance to change their situation as they host Crescent Valley Friday, Feb. 27, at 5:30 p.m.
They play at Central on Tuesday, Feb. 24, then finish their regular season at South Albany on Tuesday, March 3.
— Mike Warner
Warrior girls dominated after dominating
After scoring a decisive 49-32 win over Corvallis earlier in the week, the Warriors fell 76-41 on Friday, Feb. 20, to Mid-Willamette Conference girls leader West Albany. Both games were on Lebanon’s home court.
West Albany has sufficient size, speed and talent to win the league and do well in the postseason, and although Lebanon came ready to compete, West was able to control the game and throttle the hosts’ efforts.
The Bulldogs led 22-10 after one quarter and 37-21 at the half. West continued its control the remainder of the game leading 65-34 at the end of three.
Lebanon’s shooting was a very real testimony to West’s defense.
The Warriors shot just 21.4% (15-70) from the field including 13.6% (3-22). from three. Their free throw shooting helped at 72.7% 8/11). Lebanon’s defense helped, creating 25 turnovers, but were out-rebounded by 12.
Top contributors to Lebanon’s efforts were Peyton Vorderstrasse who scored 15 points, had eight rebounds, and two steals, and Hazel Pepperling, who finished with 13 points, six rebounds, two assists and nine steals.
The Warrior girls, fourth at 8-5 in the MWC with three league games remaining, coming into this week, were two games behind South Albany (11-2), with West Albany (12-1) and Silverton (12-2) on top of the rankings. Lebanon plays on the road at Central Tuesday, Feb. 24, followed by the Warriors’ final home game Friday, Feb. 27, against Crescent Valley. They finish the season Tuesday, March 3, at South Albany. Ranked 12th, they are still in line one of the MWC’s four automatic playoff berths, but finishing out with three wins will be crucial to staying in or bettering their position.
The girls were dominant against Corvallis on Feb. 17 at Page Activity Center, though maybe not as much as some expected.
Wins in the Mid-Willamette Conference are never easy regardless of who you are playing, but Lebanon got the job done with s tough-fought 49-32 win.
The Warriors’ defensive pressure helped to control the game and they led 28-12 at halftime. They continued to dominate in the third quarter, outscoring Corvallis 12-6 to take a 40-18 lead into the final stanza.
The Spartans came back to outscore their hosts 14-9 in the fourth quarter resulting in the final score.
As always, the Lebanon defense was in complete control and key to the win.
The Warriors recorded 21 steals and forced 10 other Corvallis turnovers, which allowed Lebanon to score early and often. Lebanon’s shooting was not up to par, as the Warriors connected on 25.3% (20-79) from the field and only 16.6% (4-24) from the three. They were held to only eight free throws but made five,.
Contributors to the win were Pepperling, who recorded another double-double with 18 points and 17 rebounds; Piper Sewell who had 11 points, six rebounds, three assists and seven steals, and Vorderstrasse, who added nine points, six rebounds and three steals.
— Mike Warner