Vikings set to claim hardware for fourth straight year
BY Ray Rodriguez
Argus Observer
Thursday, March 5, 2009 10:13 AM PST
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| Argus Observer file photo
Vale teammates Shelby Mooney (left) and McKenzie Morcom (right) converge on Ontario’s Kim Boyd during summer ball action in this Argus Observer file photo taken in June. At 8:15 p.m. PST tonight, the Vikings square off against the No. 1-ranked Santiam Christian Eagles at Willamette University in Salem. |
Vale—During the early stages of summer ball, few would have thought the Vale girls basketball team could be in the position they are in.
Everyone except the Vale Vikings.
With a team of three seniors, five juniors, a sophomore and a freshman, the No. 8 ranked Vikings (15-10 overall) were thought to be in rebuilding mode.
Vale claimed second-place in the Eastern Oregon League and is on the road at Willamette University in Salem with a chance to take home some hardware for a fourth straight season.
Last season, Vale chalked up fifth-place honors, placed fifth in 2007 and added a fourth-place finish in 2006.
Still, it has been 16 years since their last state title and 19 years since winning a state crown at the 3A level.
If they claim a state crown this season, it will be deservedly earned as the Vikings square off in their “elite eight” opener against the No. 1-ranked Santiam Christian Eagles.
The Eagles have lost one time in 25 games this season and started out the year with 22 straight wins, until a 48-38 loss to No. 9 Harrisburg, on, Feb. 13.
That loss was merely a speed bump for Santiam Christian, who rebounded from the loss to Harrisburg with a 43-22 victory over its PacWest League opponent in a playoff game the following week.
Santiam Christian enters tonight’s game coming off a 38-26 victory Saturday over No. 13 Willamina in the first round of state action to advance to Salem.
On the year, Santiam Christian averages 54.5 points a game, second-best in the state, and is led by Tayla Woods, Nicole Barton and Rachell Kubler. The Eagles also boast the state’s third-best defense, which allows 32.8 points a game.
In the last seven games, since Jan. 30, the Eagle defense has held opponents to an average of 30.8 points a game, which for opposing teams means trouble.
When the Eagles hold teams to under 40 points, they are 17-0, and the Vikings have been held to less than 40 points on nine different occasions and have a 3-6 record in those games.
For Vale, they have won three straight, and 9-of-12, heading into Thursday’s game. Two of the losses were against the EOL champion Burns Hilanders and the other was against league foe Nyssa.
The No. 8 ranked Vikings are coming off a 42-28 victory on the road at No. 11 Gold Beach Saturday, where they held the Panthers’ leading scorer to three points.
The Vikings are led by freshman Amy DeLong, sophomore Brooke Hawkins and junior guard Shelby Mooney. On defense, head coach Jason Johnson has a stopper at his disposal in senior guard Michelle Kaaen.
On the year, Vale has held opponents to less than 30 points on seven different occasions, including the past three games where they have allowed an average of 25.3 points a contest.
When Vale allows 40 points or less, they have a record of 14-2.
Burns, the No. 2 team in the state, normally averages 50 points a game, and Vale held them to less than 45 points in both tilts, both Viking losses.
When Vale — which averages 42. 1 points a game — scores more than 45 points, they are 8-1, so if the offense gets to clicking, the wins usually come for the Vikings.
So now, the state dreams are still alive, but the first task at hand is a daunting one, to say the least.
First tip is slated for 8:15 p.m. PST. Log on to www.osaa.org to listen to the online feed.
