Eagle girls split games, stand at .500

HOOD RIVER — Hood River Valley split two nonleague girls basketball games this past week, keeping its record at .500 at 2-2.

The Eagles won at home on Dec. 9, 41-39, to Class 4A Madras, but lost, 40-37, on Dec. 11 at 6A Gresham.

HRV was in position to win the game at Gresham, but a cold spell on offense — and some turnovers — enabled the Gophers to come from behind for the win. The Eagles trailed the entire first half, but tied the game, 19-19, early in the third period when Addi Van Metre scored down low.

Bella Howe’s 3-pointer from the left wing gave HRV a 28-23 lead with 5:40 remaining in the quarter. Gresham clawed back behind 6-foot-1 freshman post Naomi Richards, pulling within 29-25 at the end of three quarters.

Van Metre scored for HRV off a pass from Isa Rivera with a minute gone in the final period, but the Eagles went cold until a minute remained — when Van Metre pulled down an offensive rebound and scored. That made the score 36-33; Hood River closed with four free throws in the final seconds, but it wasn’t enough after Lute Falepapalangi’s three-point play with 20 seconds remaining.

Van Metre scored 14 points to lead HRV, which plays at Sandy on Dec. 16 and then has three games in the Interstate Shootout, Dec. 20-22, at Lake Oswego High School.