HOOD RIVER — Hood River Valley’s boys basketball fortunes took a decisive turn for the better this past week, when the Eagles won two league games.
A defensive change played a role in one of the wins, as Coach Christopher Dirks’ team employed a 1-2-2 zone to stymie a talented Centennial squad at Vannet Court. The 56-46 victory also showcased an HRV offense that showed patience in running its halfcourt sets against a much taller opponent (with three starters at 6-foot-11, 6-7, and 6-6).
The Eagles followed up the home win against Centennial on Jan. 20 with a workman-like, 61-46 victory on Jan. 22 at Putnam in Milwaukie. As a result, HRV improved to 3-3 in Northwest Oregon Conference play (6-9 overall) and is locked in a three-way tie for fourth place in the standings. The top four NWOC teams automatically qualify for the Class 5A state playoffs.
Centennial, which is part of that 3-3 tie along with Hillsboro, committed nine first quarter turnovers as Hood River played the passing lanes and never let the visitor’s daunting front-line players get too many scoring chances. There were six ties and five lead changes in the middle two periods, as HRV held a 34-31 advantage with eight minutes to play. Hood River overcame a five-point deficit with a 9-0 scoring run at the end the third quarter.
Centennial held its last advantage at 38-36 with 5:45 remaining. It was 40-40 when JJ Poole sparked a 9-3 Eagle scoring run. He assisted on a Maverick Hockett three-pointer and then made one of his own during the spurt. Centennial would get no closer than four points in closing.
Poole finished with 16 points, senior Talon Britt added 14 and Grant Dunn scored 12.
Those three also figured greatly in the Eagle scoring against Putnam. The Kingsmen led 14-10 after the opening period before HRV got hot in the second and third quarters. Hood River took control of the game with a 34-21 scoring advantage during that span.
Poole, who had a game-high 19 points, hit three of his five three-pointers during the decisive stretch; Dunn, who had 16 points, added two of his three. Britt scored 15 points. It was his left-corner three-pointer with 3:10 remaining off an assist from Deacon Ybarra which seemed to ice things for HRV.
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