Super Soph. Center Heidi Halemeier led the undefeated 2A #1 Santiam Wolverines (9-0) into Don Carey court, and against the 4A #3 Stayton Eagles (7-2), in an OSAA Endowment game matchup of neighbors. The result was an early Christmas gift to Santiam canyon basketball fans. Halemeier’s double double led all scorers with 17 pts. & 11 RBs, including 9 pts. in the first qtr. The Eagles answered with 6 3’s, 3 by Jeni Gabriel, who led the Eagles in scoring with 14, and rebounding with 6. The outside shooting was the difference in a defensive battle.

The Wolverines inside offense took the advantage early, getting several scores off the second pass in the paint. Their lack of long range shooting ultimately ended that, as the Eagles found they didn't need to extend the defense to 25' as they were early, and when they pulled it in to 18-20', the passing lanes closed up. That alone wouldn't have been enough, as the Eagles were unable to capitalize on several Wolverine miscues on Eagle inbounds plays. But the Eagle outside shooting provided a working margin. This forced the Wolverines to press on offense, which produced some hurried passes and shots. Then, late in the game, that margin allowed the Eagles to force the Wolverines to foul, and they made enough free throws to maintain the margin.

Both teams played an aggressive man defense all night long, but the Wolverines, who often press, chose not to do so, a concession to the Eagles' greater depth, and the need to conserve their intensity. The Wolverines used only 2 players off the bench, while the Eagles had gone 9 deep in the first quarter alone. The aggressive Wolverine defense shut the Eagles down for the second half of the first quarter, and only Gabriel's 2 3's kept the Eagles close.

In the second quarter, the Eagle defensive adjustments turned the tables, shuting the Wolverines out until almost the mid-point of the quarter. Natasha Crisman's 3, followed by 2 Courtney Cremer free throws on Halemeier's foul, and after a Wolverine turnover, another Cremer bucket erased the early Santiam lead. The last half of the second quarter was an even battle, and the game was tied at 17 late when Crisman's runner down the right side of the key put the Eagles ahead by 2 at the half.

Jakira Ballard tied it for the Wolverines to open the third quarter. Cremer lost the dribble off her leg rolling against Halemeier, but the Wolverines turned it back over. Halemeier & Cremer were squaring off on both ends, and both produced blocked shots. Gabriel and Halemeier traded buckets, then Crisman put the Eagles ahead for good, with a 3, and a ft on Halemeier's first foul at the 5:05 point.

The Wolverines turned up the defense still another notch, and after Gabriel dropped a 3 in, it would be about 3 minutes before the Eagles would score again, when Crisman added a 3. But the Eagle defensive intensity was also up, and the Wolverines also went over 3 minutes without scoring, and had no field goals for over 5 minutes to finish the third quarter.

The fourth quarter saw a combination of even greater defensive intensity, and the Eagles' working their margin and the clock. Cremer put the Eagles up by 9 with a bucket on the first Eagle possession of the final quarter. However, it was the last bucket from the field the Eagles got, and it would be over 5 minutes before the Eagles could score again. However, the Wolverines managed only 2 Ashley Walczak free throws until after a time out at the 3:36 point. Halemeier finally broke the stalemate in the paint, but after an Eagle timeout, picked up her 3^rd. foul. Cremer made only 1 of 2 free throws, but Kim Hoover cut the margin to 4 with 2 free throws after Cremer picked up her 3^rd. foul.

However, Hoover got her 4^th. foul, and put the Eagles into the bonus with 2:06 left. Cremer made 3 of 4 fts. to push the lead back to 7 at 39-32. Kelsey Atkins' steal looked to be the sealer, but she couldn't convert a free throw, and then fouled out trying to stop Halemeier, and it was still a 5 pt. game at 39-34. The Eagles reached the double bonus with 1:11 left, and that proved the difference, as both Gabriel and Cremer made only the second of 2 fts as the Wolverines were forced to foul to prolong the game. Hoover and Halemeier pulled the Wolverines back to 42-37, but the Eagles ran time down, then Crisman closed it out with a pair of fts with 3.1 sec. left.

The Wolverines shouldn't fall in the polls, considering the quality of their effort and their opponent, and will be favored to win their tournament next Friday & Saturday. The Eagles will be well prepared by this test for the Stayton Holiday classic, which they will host next Thursday thru Saturday, playing first the Central Panthers.

Eagle coach Chad Meadors acknowledged the Wolverines' effort, observing that "We knew we were going to get a real battle from them. They will go far. We had to step it up, and match their intensity in the second half." Meadors was happy with the outside shooting against the tough Wolverines, noting "We'll take it!" Meadors also was pleased with Gabriel's solid game, pointing out "Jeni is still fighting thru some nagging (physical) things, but she is our leader. She has the responsibility to make the decisions for us, and she is making every decision right."

Wolverine coach Joy Lease, while somewhat disappointed is seeing the unbeaten string ended, was positive, stating "It was good for us to see tough defense like the Eagles play. We, and especially Heidi, won't face another player like Cremer until the playoffs. It was great experience."

The battle in the paint between Cremer, established as the force in the post in 4A, and the emerging star Halemeier, who had the best individual game of the night, was as good as billed in the pregame. But in the end, it was the Eagles' "do everything" Gabriel that the Wolveines couldn't quite contend with.

Santiam - Heidi Halemeier 17, Kim Hoover 8, Ashley Walczak 7, Jakira Ballard 4, Amy Flores 1, Kara Stair, Sara Wellsandt. 3s - none. FTs 11-18 (61 %) (Hoover 6-10). RBs 25 (Halemeier 11).

Stayton - Jeni Gabriel 14, Courtney Cremer 13, Natasha Crisman 13, Kelsey Atkins 4, Alyssa Johnson, Abbie Pyncy, Amanda Mack, Tana Braus, Carrie Garrison, Sarah Crowell. 3s - Gabriel (3), Crisman (2), Atkins. FTs 12-20 (60 %) (Cremer 7-11). RBs 25 (Gabriel 6).

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