Game One of CVC Basketball in the books: Sprague, West boys win
South Salem boys fall in non-league game. Girls winners are West, McNary
Regular season basketball was finally played locally Friday night in the Central Valley Conference. Here is a brief rundown of the action, starting with the boys.
Sprague 61, McNary 51
The visiting Olympians jumped out to a big early lead, and held off a second half Celtics rally to open the CVC season with a victory.
Sprague was up 17-6 after the opening period at McNary. The Olys used a smothering man-to-man defense to limit Celtic scoring opportunities while Grayson and Braxton Long and Dukkati Witherspoon collected most of Sprague’s points in the quarter.
McNary whittled down the lead to 29-22 at halftime. The Celts were paced in the period by seven points from Ethan Wollangk. Sprague’s Braxton Long countered with eight points of his own in the quarter, and had 12 points at half.
In the third quarter, McNary managed to cut the Sprague lead down to as few as four points, but could not get any closer. Sprague’s Braxton Long hit a three-point shot as time expired in the period to counter a Celts three-point play at the other end—maintaining a ten-point Oly advantage at 46-36.
The two teams battled to a draw in the fourth quarter with 15 points each—and the final score of 61-51.
McNary’s leading scorer on the season—all conference guard Steven Adams—was held scoreless in the first half. He got on the board with a pair of three pointers in the third quarter and finished with ten points. Wollangk topped the Celts with 13 points, and Ayden Dallum also had ten points.
For Sprague, Grayson Long (16 points) and Braxton Long (15 points) had big games. Three other Olympians—Jarod Stanley, Camden Ayres, and Dukkati Witherspoon chipped in eight points each.
McNary has a non-league game next Tuesday, travelling to South Eugene. Sprague will be at home with a CVC game against North Salem.
West Salem 70, North Salem 26
The defending CVC champion Titans jumped out to a big lead at home Friday night, and cruised to an easy win over a young North Salem squad.
The Vikings played gamely early, trailing just 21-15 at one point in the second quarter. But West went on an offensive run, and led 38-17 at half.
The Titans extended the lead in the third before bringing on the reserves. North Salem managed just nine points in the entire second half.
West was led by Jackson Leach and Demari Hall, who both scored 14 points. North Salem’s Keplan Barram was the top Viking scorer with seven points.
West Salem hosts South Salem next Tuesday, while North will travel to Sprague in Central Valley Conference play.
Non-league results: Sunset 66, South Salem 55.
GIRLS RESULTS-CVC Basketball
West Salem 79, North Salem 21
The defending champion Titans had no problems with a young North Salem squad in recording their first victory of the conference season, cruising to a 58-point road win.
The Titans had a 47-11 advantage at intermission.
West Salem had four players in double figures, topped by Emma Zuniga with 19 points, and Karlee Martirano with 17.
North Salem was led by Pip Simmons with eight points, while Jackie Bier chipped in with seven for North.
West will play at South Salem next Tuesday in girls action, while North will entertain Sprague.
McNary 54, Sprague 41
The McNary Celts won on the road at Sprague to join West Salem atop the CVC girls standings after the first league contest of the year.
The game was close until late in the fourth quarter. The Celtics lead by five at halftime, and built the larger lead for a time in the third quarter. But with seven minutes left in the game, McNary was up by just six.
The deficit for Sprague ballooned to a dozen in the fourth quarter, thanks to good fundamentals utilized the Celtics.
“McNary did what they do well - be physical, push the tempo, and capitalize on their opponents’ mistakes,” said Sprague head coach Kevan Hanson.
“I’m super proud of my girls for competing for all 32 minutes. We need to limit our mistakes, shoot better, and rebound better to beat a great team like the Celts.”
“They take after their coach (Mike McShane), and he is a heck of a coach.”
McNary was led in scoring by the senior duo of Ava Rubio (14 points) and Avery Buss (10).
Sprague sophomore Carly Skogstad led all scorers with 20 points.
The Celts will have a non-league home game next Tuesday against South Eugene, while Sprague visits North Salem in CVC play.
Sunset 54, South Salem 32
South Salem begins CVC play Tuesday at home vs. West Salem. They picked up a non-league loss Friday night on the road at Sunset.
South coach Adrian Lewis says the host Apollos came out aggressive at the very start, playing with energy at both ends of the floor, while hitting their first 3 three-pointers of the game. On the Saxon side, the team was struggling with its own problems before the opening tip.
“It was a tough week for us,” said Lewis. “Half the team was battling illness and we had a starter out due to injury.”
Lewis says South’s situation takes nothing away from Sunset’s solid performance during the game.
For the Saxons, Brook Tate led the scoring with 13 points, while Brezlyn Schwalm added 7.
South will entertain West Salem in CVC action on Tuesday.