By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
TURNER, Ore.– After 44 long years. Dating all the way back to when they won the 1981 Class A State Title, the Scio Logger Boys Basketball team has finally done it.
They finally return to the State Playoffs.
They had the heartbreak last year, falling short to Taft of snapping the drought. After losing to Dayton on Wednesday up at Dayton, Saturday’s game against Santiam Christian had them back in a do-or-die moment with their 3A State Playoffs hopes alive.
They led 29-25 at the halftime break over the Eagles in what was becoming a tight battle for the final Automatic Bid. The third quarter was just as close with Scio leading 46-39.
It made those final eight minutes that make-or-break moment for them.
Played well, they did. They made sure that this Scio Curse wasn’t going to extend to a 45th year. A 17-9 fourth quarter helped ice what would become the Curse Breaker for the Loggers to punch their ticket since Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark was in the theaters, and the home computer was just becoming commonplace in homes.
“I’m just excited for the community. It’s been since 1981, and we’ve been working at this for a very long time. I’ve known these kids since they were knee high, and for them to put together today and get out here and actually get a win is huge,” said Scio Head Coach Nathan McIntyre. “Today, we played a full four quarters instead of giving them something to come back on us. Last time we played them, we gave them an opportunity in the third quarter and they came back and we ended up having to win it in the fourth. Today, we just clicked and played all four quarters.”
Now. As they await their first round opponent. It’s a return to work in uncharted territory that is the playoffs. But the Loggers hope it’s just another day in the office that results in a possible victory as they now begin the journey to Coos Bay.
Josh Riddle led the Eagles with 20 points. Hunter Courtney led the Loggers with 27 points, and Rhordan Meadows scored 14 points for Scio.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
