It didn’t take Tal Wold to make himself right back at home at Stayton High. Wold, who coached the Silverton girls to five league titles, the 2016 state Class 5A title and three other state trophies, returned to the Eagles this season.
Wold, who previously coached the Stayton boys, turned in a 19-6 record with the girls in his return and took the Eagles to the Class 4A state tournament. But it was the stretch run in the Oregon West that leads me to believe that Stayton fans are in for some happy days ahead.
The Eagles finished the first half of the league season at 3-2 after losing to Philomath and Cascade. Stayton was able to score just 15 points against Philomath. But Stayton ran the table in the second half, downing Cascade by 3 and Philomath by 3 to force a 3-way tie for the title. They took an eight-game winning streak to state after going on the road to Marshfield and drilling the Pirates 50-28 in the play-in round.
The second Philomath game was classic Wold. His team trailed 24-11 at the half but held the Warriors to 8 second-half points while chipping away with 3-pointers by a pair of freshmen.
Wold’s teams always play defense, they never quit and they always seem to find a way offensively … even when it seems there isn’t a way.
“Being able to beat two really good teams in Cascade and Philomath in the 2nd round was awesome,” Wold told Our Town. “That may have been something a year ago that seemed impossible, so it really gave the girls concrete evidence that they were improving and doing the right things.”
Wold credited his predecessor, Wendi Nyquist, for leaving “a full cupboard. I can tell she valued character because the girls were very coachable and compassionate. The two surprises for me would be how well our freshman played and how well the 11 girls meshed as the season went on.”
Freshman twins Kourtney and Kathryn Samek and Zuri and Zinea Andersen are among the 10 players Wold has returning. Only steady post Liv Smart graduates.
“It was a great year,” said World, “and I love the girls we have coming back in the program.”
Juniors Kenzi Hollenbeckl and Haley Butenschoen were named first team all-Oregon West. Smart was a second-teamer and Kathryn Samek and junior Brookelynne Morley received honorable mention. Wold was named coach of the year.
“I am looking forward to summer and getting back in the gym with the girls,” Wold said. “We have some real specific skills individually and as a team that we want to improve on. There is real clarity with what we need to do to improve and that excites me.”
Cascade boys basketball: The Cougars’ boys squad took third in the Class 4A tournament at Forest Grove. The top-ranked Cougars, who finished 22-5, fell in the semifinals to No. 4 Baker, then took out Marist by 10 points to claim third. Cascade, which won 4A titles in 2022 and 2023, placed Landon Knox and Anthony Best on the all-tournament team. Knox, a 6-0 junior guard, was second in the tourney with 65 points. Best, a 6-7 junior, was second in rebounds with 24.
Earlier, Knox was named player of the year and Justin Amaya coach of the year after the Cougars’ 9-1 Oregon West season. Best and Kaiden Ford made the first team and Droiy Comstock was placed on the second team. Kaden Holm of Stayton was a second-teamer.
Cascade girls basketball: The Cougars’ girls squad also took third at state via a 35-33 win in the third place game against Oregon West rival Philomath. Cascade senior standout Maddie Dustin was named first-team all-tournament, with sophomore Rozalynn Schmunk placed on the second team. Dustin scored 50 points, second in the tourney. Schmunk scored 34 points and added 28 rebounds, second in the field.
Earlier, Dustin was named player of the year in the OWC, which ended in a three-way tie with Cascade, Philomath and Stayton all at 8-2. Olivia Bennett of the Cougars was named to the third team, Schmunk was a second-teamer. The Cougars finished 19-8 in their second year under coach Nick Randall.
Regis boys basketball: The Rams finished 4th in the Class 2A tournament in Pendleton, taking down East Linn Christian 72-59 in the game for fourth. Regis entered the tournament seeded No. 2 but was bounced by Mannahouse Academy 46-45 in the quarters on a night in which the Rams hit just 5 of 33 3-pointers. Julius Pokorny of Regis scored 41 points and made the all-tourney team. Earlier, Isaiah Koehnke (first team), Pokorny (second team) and Lucas Koehnke (third team) were honored by theTri-River Conference. Regis finished 27-4.
Regis girls basketball: The Rams’ girls squad also qualified for Pendleton, took out Stanfield in overtime in the quarters and advanced to the semifinals before falling to Bandon. Regis (22-8) finished fifth overall, with sophomore Clara Persons (32 points) being named first-team all-tourney. Hadley Foster also had a strong showing, with 42 points, 33 rebounds in a tournament-leading 98 minutes. Earlier, Persons and Foster both were named to the all-Tri-River Conference first team, with Adele Otter earning a spot on the third team.
Dance/drill: The Stayton/Cascade cooperative squad took fifth at the OSAA championships held March 15-16 at the Oregon State Fairgrounds Pavilion. The team competed in the 5A-4A-3A-2A-1A pom category and totaled 72.61 points, trailing only champion Parkrose (80.64), Lebanon (77.42), Milwaukie (76.36) and Centennial (74.75).
