THE GORGE — South Wasco County’s boys basketball team, led by senior Jason Hull, finished its Big Sky League schedule unbeaten and is preparing for its semifinal district playoff game Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. in Maupin.
The third-ranked Redsides (23-2 overall, 13-0 Big Sky) will play the winner of a Feb. 18 quarterfinal game between Klickwood and host Condon.
South Wasco won its final league contest Feb. 10, 95-35, over Klickwood. The 6-foot-4 Hull scored 53 points, including a school record 12 3-pointers (12 for 14). He also has broken the all-time Class 1A career scoring record with his 2,347 points (and counting). Two other Redside players also average double-figure scoring: 6-foot-6 senior Rowen Huff and 6-1 freshman Ryker Thompson. Hull is averaging 35 points a game this season and will look to add to his scoring total as the Redsides embark on the postseason. Coach Jim Hull’s team won 13 conference games by an average margin of 31 points. South Wasco’s losses were 54-50 to Class 2A Crosshill Christian on Dec. 6, and 58-44 to Pilot Rock on Jan. 15.
The Big Sky boys basketball playoffs begin Feb. 18 with two quarterfinal games: Horizon Christian (14-9, 7-6) hosts Lyle/Wishram (12-9, 7-6); and Klickitat (13-8, 7-6) is at Condon (16-7, 9-4). The Horizon-Lyle winner plays Feb. 20 at Ione/Arlington (16-8, 10-3) opposite South Wasco in the semifinals. The Big Sky boys third-place game is Feb. 21 at noon at The Dalles High School, while the championship is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Kurtz Gymnasium.
Horizon qualified as the Big Sky West’s No. 2 seed by beating Klickwood, 61-53 on Feb. 13. Senior Ben Chapman led the way for the Hawks with 24 points. The two teams tied in the final league standings with 7-6 records, but Horizon earned the higher seed into district because it swept its two-game series vs. Klickwood.
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