Eagle boys play through trying circumstances

"Last week was the most challenging week of my coaching career. As hard as it was for all of us, it was amazing to see the community come together in support," said HRV head coach Christopher Dirks.

"Our coaching staff wants to share with all athletes and students that you are loved and there are always ways to get help if you need it."

The Eagles honored Baker before their game against Hillsboro. Baker was introduced as the team’s fifth starter — after the introduction of seniors Grady Williams, Aidan Smith, Sawyer Clemett, and Ethan Rivera. After the prearranged opening tip was controlled by HRV, play stopped, Eagle junior Matthew Fauth was subbed into the game and regular play ensued.

Hood River and Hillsboro struggled offensively, not surprisingly, considering the circumstances. The pace of play gradually increased and HRV took a 17-15 lead midway through the second quarter on a Rivera-to-Clemett pass and basket underneath.

HRV matched its biggest lead of the first half — eight points — on Smith’s three-point play with 2:21 before halftime. The Eagles methodically built on that advantage in the third period, twice building a 15-point margin. The first came on a Williams rebound and subsequent length of the floor dribble for a layup with 3:45 remaining. The second came at 41-26 with 2:29 on the clock on a Clemett follow of his own miss.

Hillsboro scored the final five points of the period to pull within 41-31. HRV built a 14-point lead to start the final period, before Hillsboro made things interested late. The Spartans outscored the Eagles 16-5 to pull within 50-47 with 3:55 remaining. Dirks called a timeout to settle his team.

Williams and Clemett connected again, as the latter took a feed off a baseline cut and converted a three-point play.

Hood River never led in the game at Putnam, falling behind 10-0 early and trailing by 10 points at halftime, 30-20. The deficit was 12 late in the third quarter before HRV started whittling away at the Kingsmen.

Hood River kept battling back, pulling within 42-35 with eight minutes remaining. The Eagles started the final period with a Clemett jumper in the lane. Grady Williams found fellow senior Aidan Smith open on a back cut to pull HRV within 44-39 with 4:26 remaining.

Clemett poked the ball away at the defensive end and then scored in secondary transition at the other end. His subsequent free throw to cap the three-point play made the score, 44-42, Putnam, at the 3:57 mark.

A 6-0 scoring run — capped by a fortunate ball save off an official which led to a Putnam layup — gave the host team some cushion at 50-42. But Clemett found Smith open in the right corner and the guard hit a 3-pointer to pull HRV within 50-45.

The Eagles would only manage a Clemett 15-foot floater over the final two minutes of the game and Putnam closed out the win.

"The kids in this program showed so much heart just showing up and putting a jersey on," Dirks said.