When the basketball schedules pop up on the OSAA website I immediately put the Stayton-Cascade dates on my calendar.Why? Because there is no better rivalry in the Stayton, Santiam Canyon or Silverton area that I cover.
Take Jan. 24th’s doubleheader for example. The gym at Stayton was full, a new oversized flag was introduced along the north wall, an Oregon National Guardsman blew the roof off with his rendition of the national anthem and fans ate it all up along with tubs of popcorn and bottles of water and the occasional McDonald’s takeout bag.
Everyone knows each other.
Everyone is glad to be inside and out of the cold and decked out in warm, durable boots. The two teams care about every play and every possession and play like their hair is on fire.
The two schools do it again Feb. 9. Mark it on YOUR calendar. I will be out of town that day, which made being on site Jan. 24 a must. With that as an introduction, here is a look at the high school hoops scene in the region:
Boys: Cascade won a Class 4A title a year ago, in a tournament that featured a Cascade-Stayton quarterfinal. The Cougars are under new management, with Justin Amaya taking over for Calvin Molan. Amaya caught the rivalry mood perfectly by going on the road to Stayton in a gold sports coat with black polka dots. The gold coat magic seemed to work, with the night ending in Cascade’s favor 97-52.
Cascade, 12-2 overall and ranked No. 3 at presstime, lost Kellen Sande and big man Dominic Ball this year, but returns twin dynamos Samuel and Spencer Horne.
The 6-3 peroxided pair tortured Stayton, combining for 42 points and 6 3-pointers. Their long wing spans are perfect for Amaya’s 1-2-2 press and they seem to have motors that just won’t quit. Set up a 2 on 2 tournament and I’ll take the Hornes in a heartbeat. They will run you out of the gym.
Stayton is 11-4 and ranked seventh.
The Eagles lost some key playmakers this year, Oregon West player of the year Jacob Axmaker and versatile wing Gabe Wigginton, but big man Garrett Callsen (22 points vs. Cascade) is back for his senior year and coach Aaron Muhic has Gavin Berning and Jace Aguilar on hand to nail the big shots.
A big challenge for both Cascade and Stayton is that the Oregon West is stacked, with Philomath ranked No. 1 and North Marion 5th.
The team or teams that emerge to represent the OWC in Forest Grove for the 4A tournament will be playoff tough.
Regis, which took fourth last year in the 2A tournament in Pendleton, has added Diego Aguilar, a transfer from Jefferson.
The spring-loaded 5-10 senior unloaded on Santiam for 28 points on Jan. 10 in a 58-57 loss. He has playmaking partners in Isaiah Koehnke and Noah Koenig to assist. The Rams are ranked 11th and are 11-7 overall (they played three 6A teams plus 5A Silverton in the preseason) and 6-3 in the Tri-River East, battling with 6-2 Kennedy for second place behind unbeaten Santiam.
The Rams hold the lone league win against Western Christian, which is tied for first in the Tri-River West with Salem Academy. Another trip to Pendleton for Regis and coach Jason Koehnke looks quite possible.
Girls: Cascade is playing for the first time in more than 30 years under someone other than Mark Stevens.
Nick Randall, who served under Stevens, is 6-6 overall and 2-0 in Oregon West play with a team that features multiyear starter Meah Carley and playmaking junior Maddie Dustin.
Stayton is 8-7 overall and 1-1 in league after falling 57-50 to Cascade.
The Eagles, always scrappy under coach Wendi Nyquist, are led by post players Liv Smart and Kenzi Hollenbeck and sharpshooter Lydia Bielenberg. Of those three only Bielenberg is a senior.
Regis is 14-5 overall, 6-3 in the Tri-River East and ranked 9th in Class 2A, with a lineup that includes nary a senior starter.
Coach Bart Stepp starts three freshmen – Clara Persons, Mackenzie Schacher and Hadley Foster – plus juniors Kaylee Silbernagel and Adelle Otter.
“The freshmen that are playing varsity have the potential to be very successful basketball players at Regis,” Stepp told Our Town. “They have played lots of basketball together growing up and have a good feel for the game. A big part of the first half of the season was incorporating them in with our experienced upperclassmen and getting them used to playing with each other. I’m looking forward to the next month of basketball.”
That goes for me, too.
Football: Stayton-area athletes earned nine spots on the Class 4A all-state teams. Ty Borde and Cody Leming of Stayton earned a pair of honors, Borde at second-team linebacker and honorable mention running back, and Leming as second-team punter and honorable mention at quarterback.
Other Eagles honored were Brock Hubert (second team DL), Kale Hubert (honorable mention linebacker), Gabe Erickson (honorable mention OL) and Jace Aguilar (honorable mention wide receiver), Cascade placed one player, honorable mention defensive back Karsten Sande.
Officials Needed: The Oregon Athletic Officials Association and the Oregon School Activities Association are recruiting officials for the high school spring sports seasons.
There is an immediate need for umpires in baseball and softball. Becoming a high school official has several benefits, including staying involved in athletics, maintaining good physical condition and earning extra spending money, said OAOA Executive Director Jack Folliard.
“Oregon has an urgent need for officials in all sports,” Folliard said. “Officials provide valuable service to high schools and students, make a positive impact in the community and build relationships.”
Those interested in becoming a baseball or softball umpire should visit
www.newofficials.org.
