Bits & Pieces: A moving hoops win, NFL playoffs, Adieu, Coach Dufault
Small, but significant sports briefs from Winter of 2024
Not all interesting or significant sports stories involving local faces involve pages of detail. Bits and Pieces is a feature that is aimed at showcasing such items. Here are the items for this edition.
A Personal Victory
Tyler Allen—who cut his teeth as head basketball coach at 6A South Salem High School several years back, with a couple of elite eight finishes in Portland prior to 2020—is now the head coach at 5A Central High in Independence. He received the Central job last summer after shockingly losing his job at Silverton after one season—in an abrupt action that left him disheartened. (To read the earlier story about Coach Allen’s abrupt job change, read here.) But the welcoming atmosphere at Central helped to heal the wounds.
Still, he would be coaching the Panthers against his former team twice each season in the powerful Mid-Willamette Conference.
Last Thursday, the Panthers downed the Foxes in dramatic fashion, handing the Silverton its first conference loss. It was an emotional night for Tyler.
“After the game I was texted by a handful of friends, coaches, and former players (from South Salem) asking ‘how it felt’. And all I could say was ‘exhausting.’”
The script couldn’t have been written any better with the dramatic finish and late game heroics—a 62-61 double overtime victory for Central.
Still, Coach Allen couldn’t help but personalize the game a little before it began.
My message to my team before the game was that this matchup wasn’t about me,” recalls Tyler.
“I didn’t want to make it about Coach Allen vs. Silverton.”
But in the same breath, Allen told his squad that when it comes to being successful—in a purposeful way—you have to make your effort personal.
The coach asked his team to embrace the idea, saying “we are all making this game personal.”
And the Panthers took it to heart, according to Allen.
“From the moment they stepped on the court I saw a focus, determination, and fire in my team that I had never seen before. That drive carried them all the way through the game. It was a proud moment for sure as their coach.”
The game was a nail-biter at the end.
Central’s Esteban Chavez had to hit 2 free throws to tie the game, and nailed them both. The Panthers then played tight defense, and Silverton missed the game-winning attempt.
In the first overtime, the Panthers’ Jack Holestine was able to penetrate and spin in the lane with a five-foot fade away to tie the game with 30 seconds left. Again, Silverton missed the final shot in the extra period, moving everyone to a second OT.
In the second overtime with 19 seconds remaining, Central guard Andrew Eames got the ball on a broken play and attacked the rim for a layup to put his team up by one. One more possession for Silverton, a miss and a Panther rebound clinched the win for the home team.
While the victory was a decided plus for Central and their new coach, Allen says he holds no ill-will towards Silverton High, the basketball program, or the players.
“I loved my year at Silverton. Those are some of the most respectful, hard-working, classiest boys I’ve ever coached,” he recalls.
“Every one of them made a point to come up to me before or after the game and say Thursday night and say hi.”
Allen also spoke glowingly about Silverton Coach Jamie McCarty—who directed Silverton to the 2022 5A championship game, and then stepped down before the 2023 season. He was re-hired after Tyler was let go following a single season as the Foxes’ head coach.
“I have no animosity towards anyone on my amazing coaching staff who are now under Coach McCarty. I also have the upmost respect for Coach McCarty and all that he has done for that school.”
Central (2-2) and Silverton (3-1) meet again February sixth in Silverton for their second conference showdown. The intensity should be high once again.
Former Sprague footballer in street clothes, but with his team for NFL Playoffs
The Houston Texans are headed to the NFL playoffs this weekend—filling the AFC South champions slot in the process. But a Salem prep star will have to watch from the sidelines or the team booth after season-ending surgery.
Oregon State tight end and former Sprague star Teagan Quitoriano had surgery in December after suffering injuries a few weeks earlier. Media reports say the 6-6, 260-pound Quitoriano had successful groin and oblique surgeries and is expected to recover in the offseason.
Teagan has been an effective blocker for the Texans, but caught just two passes for 33 yards this past season. He was drafted by Houston in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL draft.
The Texans host the Cleveland Browns in the Wild Card round on Saturday afternoon. The game will be televised on NBC.
Quitoriano’s mom Bobbi—who lives in Polk County—says that her son expects to spend time upstairs at NRG Stadium, which hosted the College National Championship football game earlier this week.
Coach Scott Dufault By the Numbers
OSAA records reflect an impressive record for outgoing football coach Scott Dufault, who informally announced the first week of January that he was stepping down at South Salem High after 24 years—the only football coach at South in the 21st century.
South Salem went 141-100 during Dufault’s time at the helm, according to those OSAA records. The Saxons advanced to the postseason 17 times in Default’s 24 years as head coach and won league championships in 2000, 2001, 2008, 2014, 2015, and 2023. Not bad, eh? The now 60-year old Dufault also coached for four years as head coach at McKay High School, where he took the Scots to the postseason twice.
Dufault’s mom—Val Dufault, has presented a photo and video memory book to her son for his time at South. She also served as South’s team statistician—with her husband Dave as a spotter—for most of Scott’s time with the Saxons. Lots of personal photos and a couple of football video clips featuring his sons—her grandsons who also played under Scott at South Salem. His daughter was also an outstanding athlete for the Saxons.
Also a note that most Saxon fans will recognize: Guido Caldarazzo Stadium, South’s home football field and surrounding facilities, is named after Dufault’s late father-in-law. Caldarazzo was Dufault’s boss (principal) at McKay. It was there he met his future wife, Anne Marie.
Again, good luck to Scott Dufault as he prepares for retirement life beginning this summer.