McKenzie Sports Report - Dec. 14

McKenzie Varsity Sports Schedule This Week

The McKenzie Varsity Boys and Girls Basketball teams travel to Yoncalla on Thursday, December 14. Both games are currently scheduled for a 7:00 start, however, fans should check with McKenzie School District to confirm game times.

Cougars Claw Eagles In Prospect

The Prospect Charter Cougars entertained the visiting McKenzie Eagles last Tuesday, December 5, in a non-league boys and girls varsity basketball game. The Cougars are members of the Mt. Valley League. The Eagle girls team improved offensively, scoring their highest game points( up to this game), 23. That wasn't enough to overcome the Cougar attack, however, as the hosts dropped in 37 pts., handing McKenzie its fourth loss of the early season. There were no game stats available for this game at press time. McKenzie's Varsity Boys team didn't find much better fortune in Prospect as they battled hard but finished behind the Cougars, 50-32. McKenzie's Griffin Withalm led his team with 14 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 steals. However, the Eagle senior committed 7 turnovers as well. Turnovers plagued McKenzie this game; the team committed 38 total, a stat that Eagle Head Coach Neil Barrett will most assuredly address when his team regroups in practice. Sophomore Will Meister added 8 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals but committed a team-high 9 turnovers. Eagle freshman Rhys Hamlow finished with 4 points, 3 rebounds, a steal, and 8 turnovers. Junior Aytan Brown scored 2 points, grabbed 4 rebounds, had 3 steals and 4 turnovers, Thomas Hayes, a soph, added 2 points, 2 rebounds, 3 steals, and 4 turnovers, and freshman Masonn Burton scored 2 points, hauled down 6 rebounds and committed 3 turnovers. Eagle sophomore Jacob Peek finished with a pair of rebounds and turnovers alike, and sophomore Noah Borden added a turnover.

Eagle Girls Compete At Cow Creek Classic

The McKenzie Varsity Girls Basketball team traveled to Riddle, last Friday/Saturday, December 8 and 9 to compete in the Cow Creek Classic, which was hosted by Riddle High School. Friday, the Eagles tipped off versus the host Irish and lost a close battle, 33-26. Saturday, McKenzie played the Camas Valley Hornets and were stung 49-27. The loss dropped the young Eagle squad to its sixth loss of the season. Liliana Jones led her Eagle teammates with 13 points. No other game stats were available at press time.

McKenzie Boys Corral First Victory At Cow Creek Classic

The Eagle Boys rolled down the I-5 to Riddle and earned a victory last Saturday, December 9. The win, a 44-36 finish over Glendale, came in the second game of the Cow Creek Classic hosted by Riddle. Earlier, on Friday, McKenzie lost its first tournament game to Camas Valley, by a score of 60-32. The Hornets are currently the 7th-ranked Class 1A team in the State. With the loss (and subsequent win) the Eagles are now 1-5 on the season. Against Camas Valley, McKenzie's Rhys Hamlow led the Eagles with 13 points, 4 rebounds, a steal, and 4 turnovers. Masonn Burton dropped in 9 points, 3 boards, a steal, and 3 turnovers. Will Meister added 4 points, a rebound, and 5 turnovers, and Griffin Withalm finished with 3 points, a board, a steal, and 4 turnovers. Hayden Kimle finished his game with 2 points and 2 rebounds. Aytan Brown sunk a free throw, grabbed 3 rebounds, and had a steal and a turnover, Thomas Hayes hauled down one board and stole the ball once and Jacob Peek finished with a rebound and a turnover. On Saturday, when the Eagles stole a game from the Glendale Pirates, McKenzie overcame a team total of 25 turnovers and earned its first victory of the 23-24 season. The Eagles were led by Griffin Withalm, who scored 17 points, grabbed 6 boards, dished an assist, and had 6 steals and 5 turnovers. Aytan Brown supported the cause with 8 points scored, a team-high 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals, and a couple of turnovers. Will Meister added 7 points, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and committed 5 turnovers. Thomas Hayes scored 6 points, grabbed 9 boards, finished with 1 assist, 2 steals, and a turnover and Rhys Hamlow added 5 points, 6 rebounds, an assist, 3 steals, and 5 turnovers. Jacob Peek finished his game with 3 boards, one steal, and a turnover and Hayden Kumle secured 1 rebound, steals, and turned the ball over once. Masonn Burton finished with 5 turnovers. Eagle freshman Rhys Hamlow was selected to the All-Tournament team.