Basketball all-stars earn 1A state praise

Martin was named the 1A Oregon Basketball Coaches Association Player of the Year and a first-team all-state honor for all of his individual and team accomplishments this season.

“None of this would have been possible without the help of all my teammates and my coach, Bill Blevins,” Martin said. “He was Coach of the Year for a reason. He works his tail off getting us in the best possible position to win every single game we play.”

Blevins had his name called as 1A Coach of the Year and Husky point guard Jacob Justesen and junior teammate Isaiah Coles picked up second-team recognition.

South Wasco County senior guard Travis Hayes earned a third-team all-state award for his play during the 2015-2016 campaign.

Splash Martin hit his spots

In the regular season, Martin averaged 17.3 points a game on 144 of 282 shooting for 51 percent, including 84 of 179 for 47 percent from 3-point territory. He also averaged 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 steals a game.

In two Big Sky Conference district wins over Horizon Christian and South Wasco County, Martin averaged 15 points a game in helping lead the Huskies to the championship.

In four state games, one in the sub-round against Joseph, Martin reeled off 19.5 points and 5.6 rebounds a clip to lead the Huskies to their first state championship since 1989.

“As with all individual accolades, these all-state awards are the result of the team’s success,” Blevins said. “The makings for the success of this group were forged years ago as parents took the lead with coaching at the youth level and traveling all over the Northwest to ensure their kids faced quality competition, even in the off-season. These players have continued to put time into improving their skills.”

Husky Floor General in a zone

As the season wore on, Justesen, a sophomore point guard, raised his all-around play for the Huskies, by adding scoring punch, along with rebounding and assists to his game to help his squad win their last six district and state matchups by an average of 17.5 points.

Justesen averaged 14.4 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals a game in 24 regular-season contests.

At districts, he scored 10.5 points, pulled down seven rebounds, dished off four assists and had five steals a game in two games.

In four state playoff tilts, Justesen averaged a double-double with 19.5 points and 10 rebounds a game on 51 percent shooting from the field.

“It means a lot to win this honor, considering I’m only a sophomore. For the other coaches and peers to recognize me like that is a great feeling,” Justesen said.

As he enters the upperclassman stage of his high school career, Justesen knows the work has to be more diligent, so he and the rest of the Huskies are prepared for the challenge of their role as the hunted as opposed to the hunters in 2016-17.

“I feel like all we have to do next year is just come play as hard or even harder than we did this year and we are going to be just fine,” Justesen said. “As for me, I’m just going to keep playing the same way I always have and try to keep my teammates as involved in the game as I can at all times.”

Power game vaults Coles

Given the early-season injury to Sherman post presence Kyle Fields, Coles was thrust into the spotlight more as a post player for the Huskies and he thrived in that role.

The 6-foot-1 inch junior finished second on the team with 15.3 points a game during the regular season on 149 of 250 from the field for 60 percent.

In his district tournament opener against Horizon Christian on Feb. 19 in Madras, Coles poured in 24 points and pulled down eight rebounds to lead the Huskies to a 72-48 romp.

In four state playoff matchups, Coles converted on 23 of 39 shots and averaged 16.5 points and 6.2 rebounds, finishing with 18 points in the Huskies’ 53-45 state championship victory over Columbia Christian.

Coles spread the love to Treve Martin, Maverick Winslow, Luke Martin, Keenan Coles, Alex Fields and the rest of his teammates for his state accolades, calling it a group honor to be on the OBCA second squad.

“It’s a true testament to our team and the work that we did in the offseason and during the season,” Coles said. “Having three all-state selections means that we played as a team, and next year, we are going to go for more than that.”

Sherman brings back its core for next year, so if health, togetherness, communication and desire remain a focal point, this Husky group can put up a good fight to defend their crown.

“As far as defending the title goes, that is our No. 1 concern and individual accolades come second to the team’s success,” Coles said.

Hard work leads to Hayes’ rise

With four seniors, five juniors and a sophomore on the roster, the South Wasco County Redsides won 22 games and finished inside the top-10 of the rankings, missing out on a Baker City berth after a state sub-round loss to Siletz Valley on Feb. 27.

With seniors like Brody Myers, Ellis Rager and Devan Dammann, the Redsides had plenty of leadership and firepower on the floor at all times.

But Hayes was a player, who was a 3-point marksman early in his career, but steadily opened up his arsenal with his driving abilities and mid-range game.

In his junior season, Hayes scored 14.6 points and had 3.4 steals a game to lead SWC to 13 wins.

This past year, the guard dropped 16.4 points, 2.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 3.1 steals a contest to help the Redsides nearly double their win total.

SWC Jim Hull credited practice, repetition and consistency for Hayes’ overall breakthrough.

“Travis worked at improving his game often showing up to the gym at 6:30 in the morning before school started and working on his game and skills,” Hull said. “This year, he became a much more rounded player. I have really enjoyed watching Travis grow as a player. This is a testament to his work ethic and determination to becoming the best basketball player he can.”

In his four-year career, Hayes was part of a program that went 70-37 overall for a 65 percent winning percentage and won 34 of 50 league contests.

Two of those seasons, SWC won 20 games and this past year, his group advanced to the district championship game.

In that game, Hayes scored 10 points, as the Redsides lost 37-33 to Sherman. Against Powder Valley in their state sub-round opener in Maupin, his final home game, Hayes led with 23 points on 9 of 18 shooting and added three assists and four steals to his line.

Hayes scored 14 points in SWC’s last game, a 25-point loss to Siletz Valley, but he takes with him the memory of leaving a winning legacy in place.

“My career as a Redside has been a blast,” Hayes said. “I couldn’t have asked for better role models my freshman, sophomore, and junior years and they shaped me into who I am as a player today. I’ve never been to Baker, but I don’t take that as our program hasn’t been successful. The season, with this team, was an amazing experience.”