CHS sets two
more swim records

Another close call fails to go
Canby's way in Newberg

By Sean Patterson
Canby Herald

Another close game, another frustrating loss for the Canby High School girls basketball team.

For the fourth time in the last five games, the Cougars lost a game that could have gone their way, this time coming out on the short end of a 46-40 score against Newberg Friday night at Newberg High School.

It was an all-too-familiar scenario for Canby: Play the opposition close for three-and-a-half quarters, then watch the other team make its free throws or hit a big shot to seal victory in the closing minutes.

"If there's an award for 'close but not quite,' I think we might get it," Canby head coach Jim Schmieding said. "It's frustrating, but at the same time, you can't fault our girls' effort. These kids don't know the meaning of the word quit."

The Cougars (7-12, 4-7) could have easily gotten down on themselves when they fell behind by seven points heading to the fourth quarter.

But rather than fold, the Cougars rallied and actually took a two-point lead with just over three minutes to play. Unfortunately, the team didn't have an answer for post Shawna Damon, whose clutch baseline jumper in the closing minutes seemed to "take the wind out of our sails," Schmieding said.

"She made a tough 10-foot shot to give them a two-point lead, and we never quite recovered," the coach said. "We also lost Kacy (Goettel) to fouls late in the game, so that didn't help either."

Damon wound up with a game-high 19 points, and she scored nine of her team's 11 second-quarter points.

Canby stayed close by getting a total team effort and a solid all-around game from Laura Ivancie, who finished with nine points, six rebounds, three steals and two assists. Teammates Lisa Erwert and Michelle Boeckman added seven points apiece, and Lindsey Boeckman finished with five.

Canby also got a lift from Beth Smith, who scored four points after pouring in 19 during the jayvee game. And Julia Hill came on to spell Goettel despite feeling ill.

The visitors grabbed a 12-6 lead after one period before Newberg began going to Damon inside. Her second-quarter outburst helped forge a 17-17 tie at the break.

The Tigers regained the lead with a 16-9 run in the third quarter, only to see Ivancie and company make things interesting in the fourth.

"It really wasn't one person who carried us, although Laura did have an outstanding game," Schmieding said. "I feel kind of like Ernie Kent and the University of Oregon men's team. They keep fighting hard but aren't getting the wins to show for it. That's been us."

The loss dropped Canby to 4-7 in Pacific-9 Conference play with five games left on the schedule. To make the playoffs, the Cougars would virtually have to win out the rest of the way, Schmieding said.

The girls were home for Tualatin Tuesday night and will be at Dallas next Tuesday, Feb. 6. They are off this Friday.

Stayton wins Capital
Conference showdown with NM

In a clash of two of the top teams in the Capital Conference, the Stayton Eagles defeated North Marion 53-47 in high school boys basketball play last Friday in Stayton

The game was close the entire way, with Stayton staying up on the visiting Huskies by four points almost the entire night.

"It was close the whole way," North Marion basketball coach Jason Scanlon said. "We played a great game, we just didn't box out on the defensive end and gave them some offensive boards that hurt us."

There was also a huge free-throw shooting advantage for the Eagles. North Marion was 2-for-4 from the line while Stayton was 15-for-18.

"We just didn't get to the free- throw line," Scanlon said. "In a game that was this close, that is big (in reference to the free throw disparity).

The Huskies led after the first quarter, 11-10, but Stayton came back in the second to take a 25-21 halftime lead.

In the third quarter, North Marion was able to inch a little closer, outscoring the hosts 14-13 to draw within three at 38-35.

In the fourth period the Huskies cut the deficit to two points several times but couldn't get some key rebounds, and Stayton was able to keep it a two-possession game. The Eagles outscored North Marion 15-12 in the final frame to give them the six-point margin of victory.

Adam Kraft led a well-balanced scoring attack for the Huskies with 12 points. Ryan Krause added 11, while Josh and Steve Miller each had nine.

The loss dropped North Marion to 2-3 in league play, tied with Molalla for fourth place. The Huskies got a chance to break that tie, however, as the two teams squared off Tuesday at North Marion High School.

The boys games, which have begun at 5:45 p.m. to date, will begin at 7:30 p.m. beginning with this Friday's away game with Sweet Home.

Friday's contest marks the start of a three-game road trip for the Huskies.

They will also play at Sweet Home Feb. 2 and Cascade on Feb. 9. They return home Feb. 16 against Central, with game time set for 7:30 p.m.

Cougars up to challenge
against state's best

By Sean Patterson
Canby Herald

If it was a challenge the Cougars were looking for - a test to give them a good idea of what to expect at the Class 4A state wrestling tournament - they went to the right place Saturday.

Canby joined 15 other schools at a Hillsboro tourney Saturday and came away with third place, behind only 4A powers Crater and Newberg.

Seven placers, two of whom emerged as champions, led the way for the Cougars.

"A lot of questions are answered at a tournament like this," Canby head coach Dan Nugent said of the competition. "Eight of the top 10 4A schools and two top 3A schools were in attendance, making it one of the best tournaments of our season.

''As a team, we can be proud of our top finish on the varsity side and very happy about taking home the first-place trophy in the second-varsity tournament.''

Canby's varsity contingent scored 138.5 points on the day, trailing only Crater (171.5) and Newberg (157). Meanwhile, the Cougars' second-varsity team finished with a meet-high 228.5 points, outclassing Crook County (221.5) and Crater (196).

Canby's second-varsity placement marked the program's highest since the team began attending the tournament more than a decade ago.

Leading the way at the varsity level were Ian Gadberry and Garret Miyake, both of whom went unbeaten at their respective weights. Gadberry showed why he's ranked No. 1 at his weight, as he recorded two pins and a major decision on his way to reaching the 119 finals.

Once there, Gadberry handled second-ranked Justin Pearch of Oregon City 5-1. "Ian's mastery of technique and competitive attitude are as good as anybody's in the state right now," Nugent said.

Miyake was also impressive, getting three wins to reach the 130 finals against Kenny Sessler of West Linn. In one of the night's most entertaining finals, Miyake came back from a one-point deficit in the final 40 seconds to get a takedown and take the 7-6 decision.

Meanwhile, at 215, Canby's Steve Schrader pulled out an overtime victory over Chad Plaistad of Oregon City in the 215 semifinals. The Canby grappler used his "bury the head" takedown to seal the victory. He went on to get second place in the weight.

Canby also landed a third place when Jared Wilson edged out Oliver Anderson by a 3-2 count at 160. Canby's other placers were Jeff Wilson, fourth at 171, and the pair of Pete Savory and Marc Koch, fifth at 152 and 189, respectively.

Koch, giving up 10 pounds at 189, scored a win over Oregon City's Lucas Buyas to claim fifth. He was the team's only junior to score place points, as the other six are all seniors.

Savory, meanwhile, helped his district seeding chances with a pin of Newberg's Jared Rienhard in the fifth-place match.

Canby's second varsity squad didn't sport a champion, but four wrestlers - Nate Krytenburg (130), Josh Gustafson (152), Brian Sauvain (171) and Justin Ables (189) - all got second.

Collectively, Canby earned top-six placements in 13 of the 14 second-varsity classes.

Looking ahead, the Cougars are home for a dual with Tigard Thursday at 7 p.m. and on the road for an eight-team South Albany tourney this Saturday. It will begin at 10 a.m.

CANBY DOMINATES WOODBURN: Canby picked up its fifth Pacific-9 Conference win against no losses with a dominating 67-4 defeat of Woodburn Thursday on the road.

The Cougars won all but one match and got pins from Stephen Schantin (112), Gadberry (125), Brock Ellis (140), Jared Wilson (160) and Scott Doman (275). The Bulldogs forfeited five matches.

The win lifted Canby to 18-1 on the season.