October 29, 2015

McKenzie Varsity Sports Schedule This Week

The McKenzie Varsity Volleyball team travels to Elkton on Wednesday, October 28, for a First Round OSAA State Volleyball Championship Match. Match time is set for 6:00 pm . Should the Eagles win the match on Wednesday, the team will play Saturday, October 31, in the Second Round of the playoffs, with opponent, site, and time to be determined by the Final OSAA Rankings of the team's still viable.

McKenzie's Varsity Football team will host Alsea on Friday, October 30, in the last football game for both schools. Kickoff time is set at 7:00 pm.

DIG IT!! EAGLES SPIKE STATE BERTH

RIGHT?! You betcha'. These young 'Eaglets' are going to the State playoffs. Don't make the mistake of telling them that a team with 1 senior, 1 junior, 3 sophomores and 6 freshman isn't supposed to be headed for State. Most likely you would get that innocent look back that says "our coach told us to make some goals and that is all we did, right?"

Almost. Perhaps this team is a group of overachievers. That remains to be seen as they progress from here. What is evident, however, is that these youngsters have some grit. Maybe they still don't know any better, but they have listened and learned (some times by fire) to their Coaches and have shown remarkable growth.

That translated into two match wins last Saturday, October 24, at Mohawk High School, where the Eagles defeated both Mapleton and Siletz Valley in the Mt. West League Tournament, to earn the League's third seed to the OSAA State Volleyball playoffs.

McKenzie Head Coach Dan Brenner's team sent a message to their opponents. That is, this is the eighth consecutive season McKenzie has advanced to post season play! And with the youth on the active Varsity roster and with more 'anxious, deer-in-the-headlights-look, can't wait until I get there', youngsters currently in the wings of McKenzie Middle School Volleyball Coach Lorinda Marcy's program, the Eagles look to be set up for more fireworks in the future. That's what happens when you INVEST in a 'program'; one in which you do not allow your middle school and elementary teams to drop out. The investment pays a positive dividend multiple times over in small communities and schools especially. That is all the more reason McKenzie fans and patrons ought to consider following Coaches Brenner, Lipp, and Winningham and the Team to Elkton this Wednesday, October 28. The First Round Match will be held in one of the prettiest all wood gymnasiums anywhere and the small Elkton community is very proud of their team. Needless to say the second seeded Elks will be a tough road hurdle for McKenzie. But hey, I'm not yet bettin' against the Eagles. RIGHT?! You betcha'.

McKenzie Sinks Sailors, Wallops Warriors

McKenzie Head Coach Dan Brenner couldn't have asked for a better day at the races. His Eagle Varsity Volleyball team won the match it was supposed to and laid an upset on the next opponent to earn an 8th consecutive trip to State.

The 2015 Mt. West League Tournament kicked off with Lowell and Siletz Valley and the 2nd seeded Red Devils held to form in defeating the 3rd seeded Warriors. Fourth seeded McKenzie battled 5th seeded Mapleton next and defeated the Sailors, 3-1.

The Eagles came out strong and won the first two sets 25-14 and 25-17. McKenzie blinked for a second and Mapleton rallied, winning the third set 25-22. Coach Brenner settled his young troops and the team secured the match victory by winning the fourth set 25-17.

Out of the fire and into the frying pan, the Eagles stayed on the court to challenge Siletz Valley, who had the opportunity to rest, eat lunch and text 'whoever.' But it appeared the Warriors forgot why they had traveled from the Coast and it was apparent from the start of the match the Eagles were confident as to why they were there.

McKenzie was dominant in the first two sets, taking each by a 25-12 margin. However, history repeats itself, and the Eagles hiccupped in the third, much like in the previous match, losing 15-25. Coach Brenner, calm as always, adjusted his team's focus and the Eagles won the fourth set 25-18.

In the first match against Mapleton, Miyanna Hayes led her team with 9 kills. Jade Hayes was also very strong on attack with 7 kills and Cassidy Campbell added 6 more kills. Katelynn Caulley had 3 kills, Chloe Erdahl added 2, and Taylor Quirk and Anna McNutt each had 1 kill.

The Eagles were superb from the service line as they recorded 26 service aces in the match. Again, Miyanna Hayes led her team with 7 aces, Kanyen Kamrath was deadly with 6 aces, Campbell had 5, Hailee Lowry (always smiling) finished with 4 key aces, and Quirk and Caulley each added 2 more. McNutt finished the day with 18 assists, Caulley with 6 and Miyanna Hayes with 1.

Defensively, Campbell was credited with 3 total blocks, 1 solo. Miyanna Hayes was just as strong defensively as she was offensively, as she led her team with 10 digs and she had 7 serves received but just one serve error. Quirk, the Eagle Libero, added 9 digs from the backline. Kamrath finished with 4 digs, Campbell and McNutt each added 3 and Jade Hayes had 2 digs.

Coach Dan Brenner had an easy pick for his Eagle Player of the Match with Miyanna Hayes, stating she was "dominant in all phases of the game, serve, kills, receive, and digs." Indeed, Hayes continued her strong play in the second match versus Siletz Valley. The Eagle Captain led her team again in kills with 16.

Campbell recorded 6 kills, Erdahl had 5 kills and Jade Hayes and Lowry each added 1 kill. Kamrath was again deadly from the service line as she nailed 7 service aces, Lowry had 5 'smilin' aces, Miyanna Hayes added 4, Quirk 2, and Campbell had 1 ace. McNutt led her team with 17 assists, followed by Caulley with 5, Chelsie Smith, Paige Lowry, and Kamrath each with 1 assist.

Defensively, Campbell and Jade Hayes each rose to the Warrior offensive challenge with 5 total blocks, 2 solo and 4 total, 1 solo, respectively. Miyanna Hayes had 3 block assists. Quirk, the senior Eagle Captain, was solid from the back line Libero position as she tallied 21 digs. Kamrath finished the match with 10 digs, Miyanna Hayes with 7, Caulley and McNutt, each with 3 digs, and Smith, Erdahl, and Hailee Lowry with 1 dig apiece. Quirk had 28 serves received and only 4 serve errors in the match. Kanyen Kamrath was tabbed for the Eagle Player of the Match by Head Coach Dan Brenner for "super serving and great passing".

McKenzie Lands SixFor All-League Honors

McKenzie finished fourth in the final Mt. West League standings, but the League's Coaches still placed two Eagles on the League's 2015 First Team All-League. McKenzie's two Captains proved why they were chosen to lead their team this season as both senior Taylor Quirk and junior Miyanna Hayes were both voted onto the First Team.

Lowell junior Anna Cardwell was tabbed as the Mt. West League Most Outstanding Player. Red Devil teammate Chelsea Byrne, Siletz Valley's Lexi Metcalf and Kaetlin Bayya and Maegan Jones of Eddyville Charter rounded out the rest of the First Team All-League selections. Jones made the First Team despite her team winning just one match all season. Surprisingly, the Regular Season League Champion Triangle Lake Lakers did not have one athlete placed on the League's First Team.

McKenzie junior Katelynn Caulley was voted to the Third Team All-League, and Jade Hayes, Kanyen Kamrath, and Cassidy Campbell, all freshmen, were voted to the MWL Honorable Mention Team.

Mohawk's Church Delivers Fire/Brimstone SermonIn Rout Of Eagles

Indian senior Isaac Church, put on a quite a show at Finn Rock, last Friday night (October 23), leading his eight-man football team to its second win of the 2015 season.

Mohawk put on a full-scale rout over the win-less Eagles, defeating McKenzie Head Coach Neil Barrett's team 84-34. The lopsided loss dropped McKenzie into the 1A football cellar rankings, 40th out of 40 teams this season. The Eagles (0-8) have one game left on the schedule, against Alsea (1-7), fortunately at the friendly confines of Wade Thomas Stadium. Unfortunately the Wolverine bus just left Finn Rock the week prior with a 78-18 thumping of the Eagles on board.

Mohawk's Church literally burned up the field last Friday as he amassed 331 yards rushing on just 11 carries and scoring 5 touchdowns. The Mohawk senior proved to most fans viewing why he should be in the serious conversation determining the League's Most Valuable Player. Indian teammates Cody Brewer, who normally plays on the Mohawk line, and freshman running back Wyatt Belden, scored 3 touchdowns and 2 touchdowns from the backfield in the game respectively. Mohawk didn't leave any doubt on the field as they went into their locker-room at halftime with 64 points already scored.

McKenzie senior Running Back Drew Hamlow led his team rushing with 94 yards gained on 9 carries and one touchdown. Junior Quarterback Chanse Hamlow added 74 yards on 16 rushes and he scored 2 touchdowns on the ground. Sophomore Ian Dundon, in his first offensive backfield experience rushed 7 times for 8 yards and Danny Quirk rushed once for minus 3 yards. Chanse Hamlow finished his night at the office hitting 9 pass completions out of 24 pass attempts, good for 197 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.

Freshman backup QB Quirk completed 1-3 for an additional 37 yards. Drew Hamlow caught 7 passes for 191 yards total, and scoring 2 touchdowns. Quirk added 3 completions for 43 yards. Defensively, senior Jordan Evans, who recovered 3 fumbles, led the Eagles. Dundon also had 1 fumble recovery. Malakai Taylor-Ide finished the game with 8 total tackles, 4 solo, Drew Hamlow had 7 total with 4 solo, Dundon had 6 total, 1 solo, and James Rimmer finished with 6 total, 3 solo. Cassidy Bergen added another 6 total tackles, 2 solo, Jermiah McGlasson finished with 5 total, 2 solo, Quirk had 5 total, 3 solo, Codee Clark had 3 total, 1 solo, Evans had 3 tackle assists, Chanse Hamlow had 2 total, 1 solo, and Scot Willis finished with 1 tackle assist.

McKenzie Head Coach Neil Barrett chose Danny Quirk as his Eagle Player of the Game overall, Drew Hamlow as his offensive Eagle Player of the Game and Jordan Evans as the defensive Eagle Player of the Game.

McKenzie Hoops Gals To Sponsor 3 on 3 BB Tourney

The McKenzie Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball Programs are sponsoring a 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament on Saturday, November 14. The fund raising event will be held at the new McKenzie High School gymnasium with team registration starting at 9:45 am and games tipping off at 10:00 am. Team cost to enter is $30.00 per team and is for high school age and adults only.

Tournament rules include having at least one male and one female on the court floor at all times, up to four players per team, team match-ups will be made by blind draw following registration, and players will call their own fouls. Still feel like you have some hoop left your sneakers? Well, sneak on down and show the folks what you got!

Mt. West League Volleyball Update

The Mapleton Sailors finished their 2015 Mt. West League regular season schedule in fifth place and were host last Thursday, October 22, to the sixth place team, Alsea, in a Mt. West League First Round Playoff match. The Sailors defeated the Wolverines in a five-set battle, 24-26, 24-26, 25-20, 25-15, and 15-11. With the win, Mapleton moved on to face the fourth seeded McKenzie Eagles while Alsea's 2015 season came to an end.

Saturday, October 23, third seeded Siletz Valley dropped three straight sets to second seeded Lowell, to open the 2015 Mt. West League Tournament Championship held at Mohawk High School. The second match of the day featured fourth seeded McKenzie versus Mapleton. The Eagles defeated the Sailors and in a back-to-back match, went on to defeat the Warriors of Siletz Valley. The win earned the Eagles the Mt. West League's third seed to the OSAA State Volleyball Championships.

In the MWL Tournament Championship Match, second seed Lowell upset the Triangle Lake Lakers, 3-1, earning the Red Devils the number one seed to the OSAA State Championships, a First Round Bye and a Second Round home match. The Lakers, must play a First Round Match, but will host. Crosshill Christian, with an overall record of 16-7 and representing the Casco League as a number three seed, will travel to Triangle Lake on Wednesday, October 28.

McKenzie travels to Elkton on the same Wednesday to meet the second seeded Elks from the Skyline League.

McKenzie River Reflections