#2 SAC escapes, 34-32; #1 Royals Roll, 66-43 

PENDLETON– # 2 Salem Academy escaped with a 34-32 win over unranked Lakeview in the late quarterfinal. SAC’s win sets up the much-anticipated rematch with #1 Portland Christian on Friday. Meanwhile, #1 Portland Christian rode a 42-26 halftime lead to a 66-43 quarterfinal victory over #4 Heppner in the dinner quarterfinal.

In earlier action, #3 St. Mary’s never trailed in a coast-to-coast 53-40 win over #5 Scio in Friday’s afternoon quarterfinal. The Crusaders will face #7 East Linn Christian Academy, which ran past #9 Oakland, 48-30, in the early quarterfinal.

The 2010 2A girls quarterfinals are in the books. The common theme and buzz inside the Convention Center has been the whistle-happy officiating crews that had early and immedite impact on three of the four games on Wednesday.

#2 Salem Academy 34 – Lakeview 32

A week after struggling to get by a NWL #4 seed, #2 Salem Academy (TRC #1) needed a last-second shot to get by unranked Lakeview, 34-32, in the late girls’ quarterfinal. For the third consecutive game, the Pendleton officiating in the first half  dramatically affected – but not necessarily decided – the outcome of the game.

When Crusader post Danielle Vander Stoel picked up her 3rd foul with 1:04 remaining in the first period, SAC coach Rene Houle had to reach deep into his bag of tricks to try and salvage what was supposed to be a blowout win over an unranked, .500 opponent. With Vander Stoel sidelined, Lakeview went to work and led after one period, 10-9. A sluggish second period saw SAC outscore the Honkers, 7-4, to take a narrow 16-14 lead at halftime.

The two teams battled to an 18-18 second half tie, with Salem Academy winning on a clutch move by junior Hannah Flores. With the game tied at 32-32, Lakeview coach Nicole Muller called timeout. Her team worked the ball to the key where Kinsey Seaton put up what looked to be the go-ahead basket. But Vander Stoel took a huge risk and swatted the shot without picking up her 5th foul. SAC took over with 1:30 remaining and went to work running down the clock.

With possession and the clock running with about 15 seconds to play, Houle began frantically trying to get the attention of either or both officials to call timeout. After enduring a game full of whistles, Houle couldn’t get one when he needed it most. Finally, one official joined the rest of the crowd in acknowledging Houle’s effort and stopped play with 8.9 seconds to go.

On the ensuing play, SAC worked the ball low into Vander Stoel, who was tied up at 3.9. But the possession arrow went to SAC, which prepared to inbound the ball under the Lakeview basket. Sophomore Meadow McAllister quickly zipped a bullet to Flores, who streaked in from the right side, took the inbounds pass, shot and was fouled. When Flores’ shot went in with 1.4 seconds to play, Houle and his #2 Crusaders could breathe easier, even when Flores’ foul shot rang off the rim for a game-ending miss.

The Crusaders’ win sets up the much-anticipated rematch of the 2008 championship game, won by Salem Academy 37-30. This year, SAC slipped by St. Mary’s into the #2 spot in the coaches poll and even picked up a 1st place vote over Portland Christian in the last edition. There should be no shortage of motivation for either team. Salem Academy (22-3) comes from what many consider the toughest 2A league in the Tri-River Conference, which placed three teams in this bracket. Vander Stoel is the only current SAC player who played in the 2008 tournament and championship game. On the other hand, PC’s Kaely Maltman and Jessica Beliel were starting sophomores that lost to a veteran SAC team featuring four 4-year seniors in Kelsey Barth, Elizabeth Barrett, Elizabeth Beatty and Meagan Swenson. Few neutral observers expect SAC to hold PC to 30 points again, and nobody expects Houle and PC’s Tom West to sit in a six minute stall.

(L) Lakview's Courtney Wilson is fouled by SAC's Danielle Vander Stoel (her 4th); Ellie Gould (R) led SAC with 11 points.

Photos by Bruce McCain

Complete set of game photos at SAC vs. Lakeview

Flores finished with 9 points and seven rebounds. But the hero for SAC may have been sophomore Ellie Gould, who led the Crusaders with 11 points, including three huge 3-pointers. Gould also hauled in a game-high 11 rebounds. Vander Stoel was rendered ineffective with four fouls and two points.

Lakeview got nine points from Katie Stofleth and eight from Kinsey Seaton. The Honkers (16-11) will face #4 Heppner in Thursday’s 10:45 consolation bracket game.

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#1 Portland Christian 66 - #4 Heppner 43

Top-ranked Portland Christian (NWL #1) got off to a slow start, but hit its stride in the second period as the Royals improved to 27-0 with a 66-43 quarterfinal win over #4 Heppner (BMC #2). Senior Kaely Maltman, NWL POY and a leading candidate for 2A POY, made the most of her 10th start at Pendleton by scoring a game-high 21 points in only 24 minutes. Junior PG Brittaney Niebergall added 16 points and senior Jessica Beliel 13 more for Tom West’s team, which advances to Friday’s 6:30 pm semifinal game.

This game matched the lowest and highest scoring offenses in the tournament and each team just about hit its season average. After leading only 16-13 after one period, PC got into its groove in the second period with a 26-point burst to take a 42-26 lead at halftime. The second half was much less frantic, with PC outscoring Heppner 24-17 in the second half.

The game began with a quick foul against Niebergall, which set the tone for the first period. As in the Scio-St. Mary’s game, these tournament officials have shown zero tolerance for the slightest contact by either team. The crew of Robert Harnack (NE Oregon) and Robert Cesena (Klamath Falls) called eight fouls against PC in the first four minutes and 21 fouls against both teams in the first half. But the Royals adjusted to the whistles, blowing open the game in the second period.

The Royals’ shot only 48.2% from the floor, but made 4 of 9 from 3-point range. Heppner shot 35.6% on 16 of 45 attempts. Both teams were .500 from the line with Heppner hitting 10 of 20 and PC making only 8 of 16 attempts.

(L) PC's Brittaney Niebergall drives for two of her 16 points; (R) Heppner's Erin Price scores against PC

Photos by Bruce McCain

 Complete set of game photos at PC vs. Heppner

Junior post Joanna Patton led Heppner (20-5) with 16 points, including 10 in the first half. No other Mustang scored more than five points in the game. Heppner drops into Thursday’s 10:45 am game against the loser of Salem Academy and Lakeview.

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#3 St. Mary’s 53 - #5 Scio 40

The last time St. Mary’s (SCL #1) faced a team dressed in black with orange trim, Nestucca’s Kelsea Hurliman ended the Crusader’s title hopes with a last-second shot in the 2009 semifinals. In Wednesday’s quarterfinal opener, St. Mary’s faced another league POY in Scio’s Sami Devore. As it turns out, the Crusaders had little to worry about as St. Mary’s advanced to Friday’s semifinals with a 53-40 win over the Lady Loggers, the TRC #2 seed.

St. Mary’s never trailed in this game, bursting out to an 8-0 lead en route to a 16-8 first period lead. The Crusaders led 31-19 at the half, despite being whistled for 11 personal fouls. Both teams played pressure man-to-man defense the entire game, with several different Crusaders taking turns smothering Devore, who was held to just 3 points in the first half. Devore was a nonfactor in the game, finishing with 7 points on 1-8 shooting and five turnovers.

The bright spot for Scio was the play of senior Haley Guest, a TRC 2nd team pick. Guest led all scorers with 26 points, including 14 of 22 free throws. Guest also led Scio with 10 rebounds from her guard position.

St. Mary’s balanced attack was led by Kylee Bates and Abby Steinsiek, who scored 14 points apiece. Veronica Valdez scored eight points before fouling out with 2:43 to play. St. Mary’s shot 46.3 % from the floor, making 25 of 54. But the Crusaders were a horrific 2 for 21 from the line. This game was a whistle-fest, with St. Mary’s called for 24 fouls and Scio 23. The Loggers made 20 of 35 free throw attempts, but were only 10 of 39 (25.6%) from the field.

(L) Abby Steinsiek's 14 points of the bench led St. Mary's; (R) Scio's Haley Guest led all scorers with 26 points.

Photos by Bruce McCain

Complete set of game photos at St. Mary's vs. Scio

St. Mary’s turned out to be too deep and experienced for Scio, which was making its first Pendleton appearance in the lifetime of the Logger players. Like so many first-timers before, the Loggers (22-6) join Oakland in Friday’s 9:00 breakfast-bracket game.

St. Mary’s (22-2), making its 3rd straight Pendleton appearance, has not lost to a 2A team all season and will play East Linn Christian Academy – another TRC team – in Friday’s 1:30 pm semifinal.

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#7 East Linn Christian Academy 48 - #9 Oakland 30

This game presented an intriguing match-up between a league champion and #1 seed with a questionable schedule against a #3 seed from arguably the toughest 2A league in the state. Following ELCA’s convincing 48-30 quarterfinal win, it was clear that the Mountain View Conference still has a long way to go to catch up to the level of play in the Tri-River Conference.

ELCA (TRC #3) was simply better at every aspect of the game – shooting, running the floor, blocking out, rebounding and especially defending. ELCA 1st team picks Hannah Whitehead (19 points) and Maurisa Bates (11 points) nearly single-handedly outscored the entire Oaker team. Oakland had no answer for Whitehead, a TRC 1st team pick, who repeatedly drove virtually uninhibited for one uncontested layin after another.

But ELCA’s defense was the key to this game. The Eagles came out in an aggressive man-to-man defense that confounded the Oakers (MVC #1), who quickly fell behind, 8-0. ELCA opened a 19-9 lead in the second period, then extended that lead to 27-9 before taking a 27-11 halftime lead. Oakland’s zone posed no problem for ELCA, led by Whitehead’s stellar point play. Whitehead’s 13 first half points outscored Oakland’s team.

(L) ELCA's Hannah Whitehead scores two of her game-high 19 points; (R) Oakland's Chelsea Spencer scores for Oakers

Photos by Bruce McCain

Complete Set of Game Photos at ELCA vs Oakland

ELCA’s defense held Oakland to 22.9% from the floor, including holding the Oaklers’ Brittany Baimbridge to seven points on 2 of 10 shooting. Taylor McLean led Oakland with 10 points, seven coming in the first half. Offensively, ELCA shot 46.5% from the floor for the game.

With the win, the Eagles (23-6) advance to Friday’s 1:30 pm semifinal. Oakland (20-7) drops into the morning bracket for the second straight year and will play at 9:00 am.