By Mike Weber
For Columbia Gorge News
HOOD RIVER — The Hood River Valley Eagles’ chance to reach the OSAA Class 5A girls basketball state playoffs for the first time since 1999 ended last week.
HRV remained alive in a close Northwest Oregon Conference race until the final day of the regular season. The No. 21-ranked Eagles (7-7 NWOC, 10-12 overall), guided by first-year Coach Zach Pauls and assistant Coach Greg Doss, kept their slim, mathematical playoff hopes alive following a, 44-38, home win Feb. 24 over the No. 20-ranked Putnam High Kingsmen (9-6 NWOC, 11-13 overall). The score was identical to an earlier contest between the two teams, which the Kingsmen won at home Jan. 22.
“It was a great win versus Putnam, and it really showed how for our team has come over the course of the year,” said Doss. “I think we really started to turn the corner in the game against Canby (a 52-49 road loss Feb. 12). From that point on we’ve played really well. We controlled the game versus Putnam from start-to-finish, which was great. It was a testament to the kids, and they all really stepped up and did a great job.”
Senior post Emily Doss (12 points, 11 rebounds) and junior Isa Rivera (14 points, 11 rebounds) helped lead the Eagles to the victory. Senior guard Mia Garcia (three points, three steals), senior guard Bella Howe (nine points), sophomore guard Honey Wampler-Bryan (two points) and junior forward Addi Van Metre (four points, five assists) also made offensive contributions.
The win solidified the Eagles’ position in the nine-team NWOC standings, as they remained in fifth place just behind the fourth place Kingsmen. The top four NWOC teams earn an automatic berth to the 16-team 5A state playoffs beginning March 7.
The Eagles had hoped to improve their playoff chance by getting another home win Feb. 27 over the struggling Parkrose High Broncos (0-14 NWOC, 1-20 overall). Both teams were ready to play, but OSAA officials didn’t show up for the game, which meant it had to be canceled.
“I’m not sure of the details but we were ready to play at game time,” said Greg Doss. “Unfortunately, the referees didn’t show up. In my long career as both a player and as a coach, I’ve never seen anything like this ever happen. It’s never even happened in summer league games either. It’s definitely a pretty rare situation for sure.”
Next up, the Eagles take on Milwaukie March 2 for senior night at HRVHS.
“We’re hoping that we’ll finish with a 9-7 record,” said Pauls. “Mathematically, we’re still alive, but Putnam’s final game was against Parkrose (March 2), so our chance to qualify for the playoffs isn’t very good. Putnam’s win over Canby (41-40 on Feb. 20) was a deciding factor that was favorable for them.”
A highlight for the Eagles this year was their man-to-man defense. HRV has the fifth ranked defense (39.76 points allowed per game average) out of 32 5A squads.
“Our seniors have been great this year and I’m really going to miss them a lot,” said Pauls. “They’ve helped establish a lot and they’ve created a lot of excitement in Eagle girls basketball this year.”
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