Ontario off to the happy rock in Gladstone
Tigers kick off state with 10th best offense
By: Ray Rodriguez
Argus Observer
Tuesday, March 3, 2009 11:02 AM PST
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| RAY RODRIGUEZ | ARGUS OBSERVER
Ontario’s Robert Keyes (left) drives past a La Grande defender last week in Greater Oregon League action. The Tigers kick off 4A state playoff action tonight. |
Ontario—The 4A boys state basketball playoffs kick off at 7 p.m. tonight and the Ontario Tigers kick off action on the road against Andy Applebee, Jake Chappell and the Gladstone Gladiators.
Gladstone (12-9 overall), of the 4A Capital League, enters playoff action on a roll of sorts, as they have won three straight games, after suffering a miserable February, where they lost four of five games, and were on the outside of the playoffs looking in with a 9-9 record.
The three wins, coming in high-pressure, elimination games against North Marion and Estacada (2), helped the Gladiators slide into the playoff picture.
The Gladiators averaged 53 points a game and allowed 48.9 this season with the 11th ranked defense in state.
They have some tough wins against Stayton and a 37-33 loss to No. 2 ranked Tillamook but some head-scratching losses to 3A Burns and Sweet Home.
Now the test for Gladstone is against an Ontario team that has gone through the rigors of what many can call a roller coaster type of season.
Ontario (11-13 overall), who finished third out of four teams in the 4A Greater Oregon league, has lost seven games on the year by four points or less, and have not had an above-.500 record since December.
They have won two straight games against league foes La Grande and Mac-Hi going into state playoff action.
The Tigers are blessed with athleticism and stout perimeter shooting, led by all-league standouts Josh Mejia (first-team), Tad Anzaldua (first-team), Jordan Lang (second-team) and Dan Heninger (honorable mention).
Ontario has the eighth-best strength of schedule among 40 total 4A schools and boasts the 10th best offense in the entire state with a robust 57 points per contest.
The winner of this game will play again Friday night on the road, at the No. 2 ranked Tillamook Cheesemakers (20-1 overall).
