Canby's struggles from the field cost the Cougars two more high school girls basketball games last week - and officially eliminated the team from the Pacific-8 Conference playoff race.

While Canby took good care of the ball, committing only 12 turnovers in Dallas on Friday, the girls made just 19 of 58 field goals in losing 54-41 and falling to 3-8 in league play.

It was Canby's fifth straight defeat and second of the week. On Tuesday, the girls lost 54-36 to Newberg as the Tigers' Jenn Chesney scored 22 points.

"(Friday) was a game we really could have won, but once again it all came down to not making shots," Canby coach Ray Fields said. "It was also a case of us fouling too much. Dallas hadn't won a league game going into it, but we probably put them at the (free-throw) line 25 or 30 times. Of their 54 points, about 20 of them came on free throws.

''Foul trouble killed us from about the six-minute mark of the first quarter on.''

As a result, the Dragons were able to gradually pull away, beginning with a 16-6 run in the second period. By halftime, the Dragons were ahead 25-13, and they still maintained a comfortable lead (40-29) through three quarters.

For the game, Stephanie Rivers scored 13 points to lead a balanced Dallas attack that saw four players score in double figures.

Sophomore Laura Ivancie enjoyed a strong game for Canby, scoring 18 points, and teammate Kacy Goettel came through for eight points. But they were the only CHS players with more than four.

In Tuesday's road loss to Newberg, Chesney hit from all over the floor, canning a couple of 18-footers while also hurting the Cougars inside. That helped the Tigers build a 17-7 lead after the first quarter.

To their credit, the Cougars again took good care of the ball, but they had trouble putting it in the hoop, making 14 of 55 chances.

"We got within five at one point in the third quarter, but when you're not hitting shots you're not going to come back," Fields said.

Ivancie had 12 points and Goettel nine for the Cougars (10-10). Katie Skinner added six points and Megan Rock had four.

The girls were in action again Tuesday at home against McMinnville. The team is home again for Silverton Friday before wrapping up the season Feb. 15 in Tigard.

If only the district meet were this easy.

In the final tune-up before the regular season's biggest meet - the Pacific-8 Conference championships this Friday and Saturday in McMinnville - the Canby High School swim team earned an easy sweep against Dallas Thursday at the Canby Swim Center.

For the first time this season, the Cougar boys and girls won every race contested, resulting in a 118-30 blowout for the boys and a 120-51 rout for the girls.

That brought the boys league mark to 4-3 while it boosted the girls to 6-1 in Pac-8 action and 10-1 overall.

Now comes the true test: District this week in McMinnville, where state qualifiers and team trophies will be decided.

"This is probably our best chance to win district since I've been here," head coach David Biskar said of his girls. "McMinnville is the team to beat, but we've got a shot if things go our way. We have a chance to cap off a great season with a district championship."

But doing so will be no easy task. For starters, the Cougars are still nursing illness and injury - namely to key swimmers Kelsey Kraft (wrist injury) and Lateefa Hoover (sickness). Both will need to be healthy and on top of their game for Canby to have a chance.

On the plus side, the girls figure to defend their title in the 200-yard medley relay, and junior Lisa Champ is a virtual lock to qualify for state in the 100 and 200 freestyle races.

Canby also has high hopes for the 400 freestyle relay team and junior Sarah Anderson, who has an outside shot at state in the 100 free.

The Cougar boys won't have a legitimate shot at a district title, but they should get senior John Lyon to state in either the 500 free or 100 backstroke. Lyon was a state qualifier in the 500 in both his freshman and sophomore years.

District is set to begin with preliminary heats this Friday at 1 p.m. at the McMinnville Aquatic Center, 130 Park Dr., in McMinnville. Finals begin at the same location at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Those who win or meet a state-qualifying time qualify for the Class 4A championships Feb. 18-19 at Mt. Hood Community College. Others may make the cut as wild cards if there are spaces available.

Among the individuals to watch will be Tualatin's Chris Kish and Matt Sorlien, Tigard's Lacey Garrett, Newberg's Alison Reddick, Forest Grove's Chelsea Keown and McMinnville's Katie Klein.

Canby's Champ qualified for two events last season and two as a freshmen. She is also a key to the success of the relays.

"Tualatin should take the boys meet, but the girls meet is pretty wide open," Biskar said.

Last Thursday, Canby dominated an undermanned Dallas squad. Boy wins came from Robert Street in the 200 freestyle (2:02.62); Corey O'Brien in the 200 individual medley (2:11.07) and 100 free (54.73); Lyon in the 50 free (24.11); Erin Koch in the 100 butterfly (58.12) and the 100 breaststroke (1:08.09); and Ben Sigler in the 100 backstroke (1:18.55). In terms of improvement, Loren Renhard set a best time in the 200 IM for second (2:56.77), and Mitchell Ferschweiler got a six-second p.r. in the 100 fly (1:23.04) for third.

Likewise, the CHS girls didn't lose a race despite the absence of Hoover and Lindsey McEvoy, who was out of town.

Champ won both her races, the 50 free (25.6) and the 100 fly (1:05.08), and victories also came from Anderson in the 200 IM (2:24.58), Kari Rittenbach in the 200 free (2:13.27), Michelle Maier in the 100 free (1:03.41), Laura Stone in the 200 free (1:03.89), Bridget Crorey in the 500 free (6:20.29), Jean-Marie Peterson in the 100 back (1:09.95) and Kraft in the 100 breast (1:17.09).

Desa Swaim also swam well, getting a second in the breaststroke (1:19.15).

A slow start hurt North Marion's chances against crosstown rival Woodburn Thursday night, but a handful of Husky wrestlers further helped their district seeding cause with some critical wins.

The Bulldogs won the Capital Conference dual 48-27, dropping North Marion to 1-5, as Woodburn won the evening's first four matches and cruised from there.

More importantly, the Huskies' Jason Roberts (130 pounds) and Justin Willis (171) remained unbeaten in league.

"Both of those guys have earned a first or second seeding for district for sure," North Marion head coach Mike Robinson said. "Jason will probably be a top seed, although Cascade's Mike Unger will probably drop down from 135 and he is also undefeated.

''Justin figures to be No. 1 after dominating yet another guy. But we won't know for sure until Sunday, when we have our seeding meeting.''

In the meantime, North Marion will get its final tune-up before district when Sisters and Sheldon drop in for a visit Wednesday. Sisters, a Capital Conference school, only has nine varsity wrestlers, however, so it won't count as a league dual.

The district tournament is set for next week, Feb. 18-19, in Stayton.

First-round matches begin at noon on Friday and at 11 a.m. on Saturday, with finals bouts scheduled for that night from 6 to 10 p.m.

The Huskies go in with a handful of wrestlers who have a good shot at reaching the Class 3A state tournament. Those who place first or second at district earn that honor.

In addition to Roberts and Willis, Zach Martushev figures to be a big factor after compiling a 5-1 league mark at 135 pounds. He endured his first conference loss of the year last Thursday, falling 16-5.

Robinson also has high hopes for Kyle Russell, a 119-pounder who, at 3-3 in league, may be a fourth seed. He is coming off a 7-1 win over Woodburn's Richard Keymolen last week.

Another solid state contender is Jason Ellingson, who has been a consistent winner as a heavyweight.

"Each of those guys has a shot," Robinson said. "A lot of it depends on seeding and who they have to face in what round. Hopefully, people will recognize the accomplishments of our guys, many of whom have had a great year."

North Marion's Thursday winners also included Shey McKeon, who won by forfeit at 125; Roberts, who got a pin in 58 seconds at 130; Clayton McKeon, a forfeit winner at 152; and Willis, who needed less than a minute to get a pin at 171.