THE GORGE — So far so good for the Dufur High School Ranger girls basketball team, which has emerged as the team to beat this season in Big Sky Conference play.
Coach Aimee Bell’s 10th-ranked Rangers are 8-2 entering league play, with their losses coming by two points to 2A Heppner (8-4) and at the third ranked 1A team, Country Christian (9-2) of Molalla.
Dufur has employed a full-court press this season to accompany its inside game, led by junior Hailee Pechanec (transfer from South Wasco), and returning starting post Cadence Young — also a junior. Senior guard Makaila Miller controls things out front with her ball-handling skills and outside shooting touch.
The Rangers should know how they stand in league play Jan. 9, as they’re scheduled to play in Maupin against South Wasco County, last season’s Big Sky district champion. The Redsides have endured arguably the toughest 1A schedule in the state of Oregon thus far.
Coach Carly Johnson’s team has one win, but a closer look provides evidence that the Redsides are not a typical 1-8 team. South Wasco’s losses have come to teams which have a combined 61-16 record, including top-ranked Imbler (8-1), North Clackamas Christian (8-0), and Southwest Christian (9-1).
Trout Lake (6-2) got off to a 5-0 start to its season under returning Coach Steve Allaway. The Mustangs have been led by senior sharp-shooter Emma Patterson, who helped them to state playoff berths the past two seasons.
Sherman County is 4-7 this season under returning Coach Steve Kaseberg. Forward Addison Smith is one of three seniors on the Huskies’ roster.
Horizon Christian School (5-5) won four of its first six games, before losing three of its past four. Coach Kaitlin Lopez has just one senior this season, two-time returning starting guard Georgia Haynie.
Commented