February 25, 2016

McKenzie Varsity Sports Schedule This Week

The McKenzie Varsity Girls Basketball Team travel to Elkton on Tuesday, February 23, to participate in the OSAA State 1A Basketball First Round playoffs. Game time is set for 6:00 pm.

McKenzie Girls State Bound!

Jorden Smith Leads Eagles Into State Playoffs

When you choose a team captain, you expect that individual to exhibit maturity, skill and leadership qualities that inspire a team towards its collective goals. McKenzie Captain Jorden Smith embodied all of those worthy attributes at Central Linn last Saturday, February 20, as the senior basketball player led her team to a hard fought 39-30 victory over the upstart Alsea Wolverines. Smith scored 16 points to lead all scorers in the contest and added 6 steals, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 turnover. Alsea was led by freshman Abbie Lowther, who drove through the Eagle defense for 14 points.

The win assured McKenzie Head Coach David Duncan's team a return to the OSAA State 1A Girls Basketball Playoffs for the eighth consecutive season. This will be the fourth appearance for a Coach Duncan team. Last year, the Eagles earned a berth in the OSAA State Championship Quarter Finals (Elite Eight) held at Baker City. At Baker City the Eagles were 0-2, losing to North Douglas and Elkton.

At Central Linn on Saturday, McKenzie locked horns with Alsea in the Mt. West League Tournament game that ultimately decided the third and last League seed to the OSAA State Playoffs. The Eagles finished third in the MWL Regular Season and Alsea, finished fifth but upset Triangle Lake, the fourth place finisher, to qualify for the seeding game. The youthful Wolverines, with just one senior on the roster, were riding a four game win streak coming in Saturday, while the Eagles were hoping to regain their composure following a tough 39-41 loss at Siletz earlier in the week.

What ensued was a knock-down full out fight for survival between two very focused combatants in a contest that might have been the best game of the day. It became readily apparent from the game's tip-off, that the Officiating Crew (who did a fine job) were going to allow the girls to play, so to speak. What that meant to both teams was that this game would be decided by an all-out physical effort, and both teams rose to the occasion, making their respective schools and communities proud. Give credit to the Wolverines, they set the game tone right from the start, controlling the tip and going on a 7-0 run that had Eagle fans sweating nervous.

McKenzie freshman Jade Hayes scored the first bucket for the Eagles at the 5:05 first quarter mark and promptly stole an Alsea inbounds pass prompted by a full court McKenzie press. Hayes laid the steal in for the second Eagle bucket closing the gap to 4-7, but the Wolverines, led by freshman Lowther (three straight baskets), responded by going on a 6-0 scoring run and pushed their lead to 13-4 to close out the first period. Both teams challenged each other aggressively while attempting to establish some sort of dominance and this first quarter was marked with sloppy passing and turnovers on both sides. The Eagles were easily out-rebounded as Alsea who effectively crashed the boards and blocked out.

McKenzie Coach Duncan got his team's attention between quarters as they broke out and outpointed Alsea 11-0 for a 15-13 lead with 4:35 remaining in the first half. McKenzie turned the game around with their effective full court press, forcing Alsea to turn the ball over and set up Eagle baskets.

Two McKenzie scores came from Smith drilling home back to back 3 point shots at the beginning of the scoring run. With the halftime McKenzie lead extended to 21-15, the Eagle fans could finally dig into their now cold popcorn and talk about the good ole' days when they sat in the Central Linn gym supporting earlier Eagle teams.

Meanwhile, Alsea Head Coach Ricki Hendrix (MWL Coach of the Year) was plotting a recipe for Eagle indigestion as she brought her young players back out of the locker-room with even more resolve. But this time the Eagles were ready, and game on. All bets were now off and the teams pulled out all stops. Alsea held McKenzie to just four points in the third quarter while scoring eleven, taking a 28-25 lead going into the final quarter.

Eagle freshman Jade Hayes scored McKenzie's first lay-up in the third period with 2:50 on the score-clock and Smith drove the lane for the only other Eagle score with only 6.8 seconds left. Smith was fouled on her shot but missed the free-throw. Smith leadership skills continued to rally her team as the senior point guard calmly sank her third long ball from the arc with 7:05 showing in the game, knotting the game at 28 all. McKenzie's Idgie Williams, playing one of her best games of the season, followed with a rebound put back at 6:08 to regain the lead for the Eagles. McKenzie would not relinquish that lead the rest of the game, but somebody forgot to tell the Wolverines and to their credit, the underdogs from the Coast Range kept it interesting and close right to the end.

McKenzie sophomore Paige Lowry extended the McKenzie lead to 32-28 with a nifty left handed turnaround lay-up and Smith followed with a free-throw and a lay-up assisted by Lowry at the 2:15 mark. With the score now 35-28 in favor of McKenzie and time running down, Eagle Coach Duncan's team ramped up the full court pressure and converted Wolverine miscues into insurance points. Miyanna Hayes extended the lead to 37-28 with a field goal and Williams added the capper with a steal/field goal at 1:30. Lowther would score Alsea's last basket with 1:15 left in the game as McKenzie ran out the clock and both communities appropriately applauded a fine effort on the part of their respective teams.

Other McKenzie stats were Jade Hayes who scored 8 points, had 9 rebounds, 4 steals and an assist, and Miyanna Hayes who added 7 points, 6 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 turnovers. Paige Lowry scored 4 points, had 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 7 turnovers. Idgie Williams also scored 4 points, had 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 turnovers and Kanyen Kamrath added 6 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, and 2 turnovers. The Eagles shot 34% from the field but made only 4 free-throws out 14 attempts for 29%.

McKenzie now travels south to Elkton to take on the Skyline League's second seed to the OSSA State Playoffs. Elkton finished the regular season with a 12-1 League record and 21-7 overall. The Elks are currently ranked 10th in the latest OSAA State 1A Girls Basketball rankings.

Eagles Land On Mt. West All-League Teams

McKenzie senior Jorden Smith has been selected by the Mt. West League Coaches to the 2015-16 MWL Girls Basketball All-League First Team. Smith earned Second Team honors last season as a Junior and was selected for the Honorable Mention Team as a sophomore. The Eagle point guard led her team this season in points per game and points scored, averaging 10.8 ppg for a total of 226 points and was the lone McKenzie player to average double figures in scoring. Smith also led her team in assists per game (3.8), was second in steals per game (3.0), and third in rebounds per game (5.3).

Four other Eagle players were selected to the other MWL All-League teams. Freshman Jade Hayes was selected to the MWL All-League Second Team, Junior Miyanna Hayes to the Third Team, and senior Idgie Williams and sophomore Paige Lowry were placed on the Honorable Mention Team. In her first year of Varsity Basketball, Jade Hayes averaged 8.8 points per game, second on the team. Hayes also led her team with 7.2 rebounds per game and 3.1 steals per game. Sister teammate Miyanna Hayes, despite having to overcome an ankle injury throughout much of the season, averaged 7.3 ppg., third on the team, and 5.8 rebounds per game, second on the team.

Eagle senior Drew Hamlow was selected by the MWL Coaches to the League's Third Team and was joined by sibling teammate, junior Chanse Hamlow, who was placed on the Honorable Mention Team. Drew Hamlow finished the 2015-16 season averaging 10.8 points per game for a total of 269 points and was the only Eagle player to average in double figures. He also led his team with 6.3 rebounds per game, was second in assists per game with 1.2, and was third in steals per game with 1.0. Chanse Hamlow fought through an injury filled season and still averaged 6.3 points per game, the only player other than his older brother to average more than 5 ppg. this season for the Eagles.

Mt. West League All-League Teams

Mt. West League Girls Basketball 2015-16 All-League Teams:

First Team: Anna Cardwell (Most Outstanding Player) and Daisy Schnee- Lowell, Taylor Steinhauer- Triangle Lake, Kaetlin Bayya- Siletz Valley, Abbie Lowther- Alsea, and Jorden Smith- McKenzie.

Second Team: Makenna Pennel- Triangle Lake, Lexi Metcalf and Makenzee Watson- Siletz Valley, Arielle Reed- Alsea, and Jade Hayes- McKenzie.

Third Team: Marisa Owsley, Lily Lane, and Jenna Martini- Lowell, Carissa Bottensek-Triangle Lake, Alyssa Richards- Mapleton and Miyanna Hayes- McKenzie.

Honorable Mention Team: Cheyenne West and Kennedy Hartwig-Triangle Lake, Joanna Linstrom and Julia Trachsel- Siletz Valley, Josi Hays, Gabrielle Gibney and Hannah Rodet- Mapleton, Anna Chilcote and Natalie Olsen-Alsea, Idgie Williams and Paige Lowry- McKenzie. The 2015-16 Mt. West League Coach of the Year is Ricki Hendrix-Alsea.

Mt. West League Boys Basketball 2015-16 All-League Teams:

First Team: Angel DeAnda (Most Outstanding Player), Daniel Lindstrom, and Tyler Sjostrom- Siletz Valley, Cameron Slaven- Lowell, and Tyler Curington- Mohawk.

Second Team: Mitch Riberal and Ryan Sinnett- Lowell, Gunner VanCleave- Triangle Lake, Charlie Helms- Siletz Valley, Hunter Simington- Mapleton, and Neil Faxon- Eddyville.

Third Team: Cory Hern- Lowell, Janson Richardson, Carson Wynn, and Alex Amezcua- Triangle Lake, Tyee Rilatos- Siletz Valleyk and Drew Hamlow- McKenzie.

Honorable Mention Team: Pierce Gossler- Lowell, Dominic Wells, Tyler Packebush, and Nick Smith- Mapleton, Trent Kinion and Ryan Landers- Eddyville, Cody Brenner and Josh Binder- Mohawk, and Chance Hamlow- McKenzie.

McKenzie Basketball Senior Night

The McKenzie Athletic Department honored its 2015-16 senior basketball athletes on Thursday, February 11. The Eagles graduate four basketball athletes this year, three from the Girls team, Taylor Quirk, Idgie Williams, and Jorden Smith and one from the Boys team, Drew Hamlow.

Jorden Smith, also a varsity letter winner in Baseball and Football, earned Mt. West League honors as a All-League Second Team member her junior season and Hon. Mention Team status her sophomore season. Smith also participated on the last two Eagle teams to qualify for the OSAA State Finals at Baker City, last season and Smith's freshman year.

Idgie Williams, has also participated in volleyball and track and field while at McKenzie. Williams has qualified for the OSAA State 1A Track and Field Championships the last two seasons and finished 7th in the 100 meter hurdles.

Taylor Quirk played her first varsity basketball this season but the athlete has also participated the last four years in volleyball and last season in track. Quirk served as an Eagle Volleyball Captain the last two seasons, was selected to the Mt. West League Volleyball First Team as a Libero and was voted to the Oregon 1A Volleyball All-State Honorable Mention Team.

Drew Hamlow has played four seasons varsity basketball for McKenzie as well as four seasons in football, three seasons track and field, and two seasons of baseball. Hamlow was voted by his teammates as Most Improved Player in football and baseball his freshman seasons and received the McKenzie Coaches Award in Track and Field and was a member of the 6th place 4X400 meter relay team at the OSAA State 1A Track and Field Championships his sophomore season. Hamlow also was voted to the 2A/1A Mt. View Conference Baseball All-League Second Team last season and the Mt. West League Football All-League Second Team this fall.

Mt. West League State Basketball Playoffs

Lowell girls will represent the Mt. West League as the League's top seed to the 2016 OSAA State 1A Basketball playoffs. The Red Devils defeated Siletz Valley Early College Academy 54-40 last Saturday at Central Linn to win the MWL Tournament. Lowell (13-1, 17-6) earned a First Round bye and will host a Second Round game on February 26. Siletz Valley will host a First Round game on February 23 versus the third seed out of the Casco League, Willamette Valley Christian (10-6, 15-8). McKenzie

(10-4, 14-12) will travel to Elkton (12-1, 21-7) for a First Round game on Tuesday, February 23.

Siletz Valley Early College Academy (12-0, 18-5) ran the Mt. West League table following a 69-47 rout of Triangle Lake at the MWL Boys Basketball Tournament on Saturday at Central Linn. The Warriors won the MWL top seed to the OSAA State 1A Boys Basketball Playoffs and will host a Second Round game on February 27. Triangle Lake (8-4, 12-13) as the MWL second seed, hosts a First Round game on Wednesday, February 24 against the Perrydale Pirates (1-2, 19-7), the third seed out of the Casco League. Lowell (10-2, 16-6) crushed Mohawk, 62-24, on Saturday at Central Linn and as the MWL third seed will travel on Wednesday, February 24 to Powers (9-4, 15-6), the Skyline League's number two seed.