HRV girls: It might not have been pretty, but Friday’s 39-37 overtime road win against Vancouver’s Heritage High was a much-needed shift in momentum for the Hood River Valley High School varsity girls basketball team as it heads into the start of Columbia River Conference play.
After a slow start that saw the Eagles score just seven points in the first half (including a one-point second quarter), the girls came out fresh after halftime, tied the score by the third quarter and matched points in the fourth to force an overtime period.
A highlight of the game came from senior wing Jestena Mattson, who led the team with 16 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals. With HRV’s chances for the win dwindling away with the clock, Mattson posted up from long range, took a shot and sank the buzzer-beater three to force an overtime period. The Eagles then outscored Heritage 7-5 to claim the come-from-behind victory.
Other highlights came from Kelsey Wells, who had 15 points and eight boards and from Marlie Bloomster, who had a team-high 12 rebounds and six blocks.
The girls were on the road Tuesday for their final non-league game of the season against Stevenson, where they’ll look to build momentum before Friday’s CRC opener at home, 7 p.m., against the 10-5 Pendleton Buckaroos.
“Going into the league play on Friday, we are going to have our work cut out for us,” Coach Scott Walker commented. “The girls have been working really hard in practice to take care of the ball in the full court press and also in our half court sets. Our defense is really putting pressure on the ball, which I like, and we have been working hard on weak-side help. Right now the other three teams in our conference are ranked in the top 10 in the state; we look forward to the challenge.”
HRV boys: In another remarkably high-scoring game, the Hood River Valley High School varsity boys basketball team broke the sound barrier Friday night in Stevenson with a 101-92 win over the 7-4 Bulldogs. The win marks the first time in recent memory – certainly in the last several years – that the Eagles have broken the 100-point threshold, and the number boosts the team’s season points total to 958, which remains the highest in the state at the 5A level.
Four Eagles scored double digits in the win; Parker Kennedy led with 20 points, six boards and three assists, while Skyler Hunter had 15 points, Scottie Ziegner had 14 and Tyrone Stintzi had 13.
At 7-7, the Eagles are No. 2 in the Columbia River Conference as they start their nine-game league schedule this Friday night at Pendleton.
“We are excited to start league play,” Coach Steve Noteboom said. “Pendleton has the best record in the league and are ranked 5th in state. We are coming off a great game that was a big confidence booster for the players. Our goal is to be one of the top three teams in league and to make it into the round of 16 for playoffs.”
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