Millers come out victorious over TD

In all four of her varsity seasons, TD post Olivia Starks has been a part of a program that has won 64 percent of its games, but has not been able to climb over that Round 1 mountaintop.

The senior cashed in her chips with all-league status and memories of being a part of something profound.

“The emotion I am feeling right now speaks for itself,” Starks said. “It was just a privilege to get to know and play with every single one of those girls. They meant a lot to me.”

In the 32 minutes played, the Riverhawks held one lead and that lasted less than a minute, as Springfield erased a 6-5 deficit with a 9-0 run in a span of 1:36 to go ahead by a 14-6 margin through one quarter.

Brooke McCall sank TD’s lone field goal in the second period, but the Springfield duo of Klym and Cielo Gonzalez combined for 10 points to lead a 12-4 run and a commanding 26-10 halftime lead.

“We had a couple of our key starters go out with foul trouble, so it left it up to different players to step up and score points,” said Klym, who was a first-team Midwestern Division selection. “We proved to ourselves that we can get through adversity and play well as a team.”

Early in the third quarter, Springfield (17-7 overall) posted its largest lead of the game, at 31-10, with five minutes and 42 seconds left, but The Dalles never relented.

Kailin Hoylman hit a free throw, Starks canned a jumper and Hoylman capped a 6-0 spurt with a 3-pointer to inch the Riverhawks to a 31-16 deficit with 4:26 on the clock.

Later in the third, TD senior Morgan Goslin swished a jump shot and then Starks hit two free throws to get the Hawks to a 33-22 score with possession of the ball and less than a minute left.

However, Klym sank four straight free throws and added a 3-pointer in a 7-2 run to put Springfield ahead, 40-24 entering the fourth quarter of play.

On three occasions in the final period, the No. 11 Riverhawks (13-12) shaved the lead down to 14 points, but could not sustain a rally and Springfield connected on its free throws to keep the distance.

The Millers, who make a return trip to state after a two-year hiatus, hit on 15 of 22 free throws in the second half, 9 of 14 in the fourth quarter.

They went 21 of 31 for the game, as there were a combined 54 attempts from the line and 49 fouls called.

After Klym, Hannah Durbin had nine points, Gonzalez hit on eight and Hannah Eddens added six points, for a Springfield team that hit 16 field goals, four from long distance.

“I’m very proud of the girls and what they were able to accomplish this year,” said TD head basketball coach Dan Telles. “We knew going in that we were going to have some trouble. In the first half, we just didn’t match their intensity and it hurt us. But, the girls fought and never let down.”

Hoylman paced the Riverhawk offense that hit 13 field goals with nine points.

McCall had eight points and the duo of Cimmiyotti and Starks had seven points apiece.

The Dalles went 13 of 23 from the line, 11 of 16 in the second half.

Even though the season ended one win short of a preseason goal, Telles acknowledged that his team was able accomplish a lot, especially given the age, depth and experience throughout the roster.

Of the 11 active players, six are underclassmen and Cimmiyotti and Jennifer Bonham will be returning seniors.

“We have all of the talent. We have so much talent, we just need to get stronger. If we get stronger, then next year we will have it. We will be undefeatable,” Hoylman said. “We can do anything we want to do, we’ve just got to believe.”

Starks, a former all-league player, Goslin and Conklin, a 2014-2015 second-team all-league winner, each leave a legacy of winning 63 of 98 games.

That trio provided depth in the paint, toughness and a skill level that played a large role in the Riverhawks’ success.

“The seniors have done a great job of being unselfish and leading the team,” coach Telles said. “They led this team with their actions and their work ethic. We are going to have a hard time replacing them, especially their height.”

Cimmiyotti, McCall, Bonham and Karen Jesch are expected to come back next season as posts and wings, with guards Hoylman, Iliana Telles, Jodi Thomasian, Ivorie Taylor and a few incoming freshmen filling in other roles on the depth chart.

After what transpired Saturday, this is an important offseason for the Riverhawks moving forward.

“We have a few sophomores who are pretty amazing and they are coming back,” Bonham said. “We are only losing three seniors, but we have the talent that is coming up to be able to have pretty much the same team next year. We made it really far this year. If we can get stronger over the break and work towards improving next season, we can come back and get as far, if not further, than we did this year.”