By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
STAYTON, Ore.– The Oregon West Conference once again proved that there is no easy nights. Its DNA of tough games night-in and night-out re-emerged Tuesday night between Stayton and North Marion in Stayton.
The Eagles led 29-25 at the break and built themselves a nice solid eight-point lead during the third quarter. Their ability to jump after the rebounds helped Stayton build that lead. Any advantage you can find to separate yourselves in a game like this was crucial.
That crucial aspect of the moment became more evident when the Huskies eventually worked their way back into Tuesday’s game. By midway through the fourth quarter, following a Reece Hartenstein three-pointer, it was all tied up at 41-41. It was that grit, that determination that North Marion showed. It was just an example of what this league is all about. There is no quit. You can’t let down for too long because these squads will just sneak up on you if you don’t clamp down.
“We got a lot of grit. Even when something doesn’t go our way, we’re going to bounce back no matter what. This first round of league has been tough, but I know we’re going to be up for the next round, and we’re going to play like nothing happened,” said Reece Hartenstein. “Just grinding every day on-and-off the court. It sucks, but we got to know that it’s not going to get any easier from here on out. We got to get ready for our next opponent at Newport. It’s going to be a battle, but we’re ready for it.”
As the old saying goes, basketball is a game of runs. And with them up 51-49 in the closing minutes of the game, Stayton had one more outburst left in them to separate themselves from North Marion. It wasn’t a major run, but the 6-0 run they went on going into the final minute of the game was all the Eagles needed to swing momentum back into their favor to close out the 60-55 home victory to close out the first loop through OWC play.
“We knew that it was going to be a close game, so for us to come out and get those runs and stay constant with those runs is huge for us. It was a huge part for us taking this win,” starts Stayton’s Ethan Whieldon. “(We need to) definitely come out stronger in the first half of the game, try not to be a second half team so much, and just prepare for those good teams.”
Whieldon scored a game-high 32 points for the Eagles, who will host Cascade next Tuesday to start the second loop through league. Ean Dillingham contributed another ten points for Stayton. Reece Hartenstein scored 18 points, including four three-pointers that all came in the fourth quarter, while Cade Hartenstein led the Huskies with 20 points. Lucas Fowler also hit four threes as the junior finished with 12 points, North Marion heads to Newport,
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
