Ontario’s hoopsters driving for fourth at state
By Ray Rodriguez
Argus Observer
Friday, March 14, 2008 11:26 AM PDT
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| Ray Rodriguez | Argus Observer
Ontario’s Stephanie O’Connor (left) leans in for a short jumper while Seaside’s Meagan Potter defends during the second half of their 4A state consolation game Wednesday at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis. O’Connor scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead Ontario to a 73-66 win, and moved the Lady Tigers into the consolation game against Cottage Grove Friday. |
Corvallis — In a matchup many thought could be the 4A state championship final, Ontario and Cottage Grove look to pick up the pieces and hoist a fourth-place trophy.
Both teams lost in first round action, but rebounded with solid wins Wednesday morning.
The Lady Lions got 19 points from Reed Levings, and 18 points and eight rebounds from Kaitlyn Kronberger in their 50-46 win over Newport. The Lions shot 63 percent in the second half and used a 30-17 second half run to overcome a nine-point halftime deficit.
All season long, Cottage Grove, who plays out of the 4A Sky ‘Em division, has been storming through the competition. Three times the Lions have put together long winning streaks after suffering a defeat.
At one point in the season, the Lions rattled off 13-of-14 wins before losing 38-32 in state quarterfinal action to Sutherlin.
Cottage Grove (22-5 overall) averages 47.3 points a game, and the defense allows a stingy 37.7 points per contest.
“Cottage Grove is a very good team. They have had a really good season,” Ontario coach Jon Buck said. “They have two really good players in the Levings girl and the Kronberger girl. Those two are the main ones we have to key to stop. We have to play defense on everyone of course, but we need to help, to rotate and do all the good defensive things.”
Buck said the Lions can play a fast game similar to Ontario, and can also slow the game down in a halfcourt set. The Tigers may have to adjust defenses on the fly.
Ontario had its 12-game winning streak snapped Tuesday by Hidden Valley, who earned a berth in the state championship game after a 35-32 win over Marist. The Mustangs take on Sutherlin in the finals at 6:30 p.m. PST tonight.
After the disappointing loss to the Mustangs, Alla Dzhidzhiyeshvili and the Tigers rebounded in style with a 73-66 win over Seaside Wednesday in a consolation round action in Corvallis.
In the game, Dzhidzhiyeshvili scored 28 points, had nine steals, eight rebounds and four assists. The offensive output was a record in 4A state basketball play, but the record was short-lived as Newport’s Rylee Peterson scored 29 points about two hours later in the Cubs’ loss to Cottage Grove. Another record was set by both Ontario and Seaside, and that was most points scored. The 139 total points shattered the previous record of 125.
The Tigers entered state action with the second-best offense in the 4A ranks, and Buck said the key for the Tigers to play their patented up-tempo style and get out on the break.
“We have to play our game, and that is playing fast and to get up and down the court,” Buck said. “I say, not be too wild, but we like a fast game.”
The Lions institute a man defense and a zone defense from time to time to stop opposing offenses, the veteran coach said his team needs to be prepared for everything.
This is the final time the Lady Tigers will hit the court in the 2007-2008 season, and Buck said he is proud of his team and all the girls have to accomplish.
At the beginning of the year, there were so many unknowns as to how the Tigers would fare since they had only four seniors on the roster and had several players yet to start a varsity contest. They performed admirably, chalking up yet another Greater Oregon League title, and made the strides necessary to get to this point, Buck said.
“Regardless of the outcome of this game, they have had a great season. And really, regardless of what happened in this tournament, it has already been a great season,” Buck said. “They have been a great bunch to work with, and are really enjoyable to work with. They played hard every night. Sometimes, you get teams where you worry if they’re going to come out and be ready to play. You never had to worry about that with this group.”
