LINCOLN CITY — With a pair of solid 3A-3 PacWest Conference wins last week to close out the regular season, the Taft High School boys basketball team earned itself a home playoff game earlier this week.
With their 78-56 win Feb. 6 at Jefferson and last Friday night’s 72-66 defeat of Scio in the regular season finale at Lincoln City, the Tigers secured a second-place finish in the final conference standings. They also earned a home league playoff game Tuesday night against Amity, which split its regular season games with Taft.
In the win over Jefferson, sophomore guard Zack Hankins was the go-to guy for the Tigers, scoring 12 of his 21 points in the third quarter. Sophomore forward Kol Tolan scored 10 for Taft in the Tigers’ 30-point second quarter, and finished with 18, and junior Jackson Nightingale tallied eight of his 13 points during that second quarter burst.
Taft junior guard Kai Bayer did the majority of the heavy lifting for the Tigers in the win on senior night over Scio. His 10-for 11 effort from the foul line and trio of three-pointers helped him pace a trio of Taft double-digit scorers with 27 points. Tolan scored 11 and Nightingale added 10 points.
Taft went into Tuesday night’s playoff game against Amity winners of four of its previous five. The Tigers’ last defeat came Feb. 1 in a 57-45 loss on Amity’s hardwood.
ELSEWHERE:
Cubs upset Warriors
Junior Rory Barber scored 12 of his game-best 18 points in the first half Feb. 5 at Spangler Court in Newport as the Cubs ran up a 13-point halftime lead in posting a signature win for the program, a 49-42 defeat of No. 4 Philomath. Three days later on Feb. 8, Newport traveled to post its second straight 4A-3 Oregon West Conference win in a 68-37 dismantling of Sweet Home.
Playing Philomath for the second time this season following the Warriors’ 57-33 defeat of the Cubs on Jan. 19 in Philomath, Newport did some fine work at the free-throw line, sinking 21-of-26 from the charity stripe on the night. The NHS defense stood tall as well, limiting Warriors star Preston Kramer to 17 points.
Junior guard Ethan Bruns dropped in a pair of 3-point buckets and finished with 11 points in Newport’s victory over Philomath, and sophomore guard Aaidyn Bokuro added seven on 7-for-10 free throw shooting.
The Cubs, who began the week 3-4 in conference, 11-7 overall, sought their third straight Oregon West Conference win Monday night at home against Stayton, before taking to the road for a Valentine’s Day non-league game at Estacada.
On Thursday, Feb. 15, Newport closes the home portion of its regular season schedule by hosting a 7 p.m. OWC battle against No. 2 Cascade, then finishes the regular slate Tuesday, Feb. 20, at No. 7 North Marion.
Irish end on high note
Waldport entered its annual “Fight for the Fish,” 2A-3 Valley Coast Conference game Feb. 8 at rival Toledo having lost its previous seven, including a 55-34 loss at home on senior night Feb. 5 to Bandon.
Inside a raucous and vocal gym in Toledo, Irish senior guard Johnny Miller sent the visiting crowd into a frenzy with a late 3-pointer and the Waldport defense defended one final Boomer shot attempt to earn a hard-fought 48-45 victory.
The Irish led by as many as 10 points in the first half before the Boomers closed the second quarter on a 9-2 run, capped by Tyson Socha’s trey at the halftime buzzer, cutting the Irish intermission lead to 21-19.
A bucket in the paint by Waldport senior Noah Tysman with 4:35 to play in the fourth quarter put Waldport up 43-38, but the Boomers rallied, and took a 45-43 lead with 2:06 left on a basket from sophomore Evan Putnam. Waldport sophomore guard Kelden McNeil answered with a basket to tie it at 45-45 with 1:53 on the clock, setting the stage for Miller’s heroics.
Miller led the way with 15 points, and McNeil added 12 as Waldport closed the campaign 4-12 in conference games, 8-17 overall.
The Boomers, who received 10 points from Socha, finished at 0-16, 1-23.
ECS wins three
The Eagles certainly picked the right time to go on a 1A-3 Mountain West League winning streak.
Eddyville Charter picked up a trio of league wins last week, scoring a 51-47 home win Feb. 6 against Mohawk, a 55-33 victory Feb. 8 at rival Siletz Valley, and a 48-47 nail biter last Saturday at Alsea.
With the wins, the Eagles sat at 5-7, 8-13 entering their Monday night league game at Mohawk. Eddyville Charter closes the regular season with a 6 p.m. battle Wednesday, Feb. 14, in Eddyville against Siletz Valley.
Warriors go 1-2
After dropping the Eddyville Charter game and surrendering a forfeit loss Feb. 9 to Triangle Lake, the Warriors broke their three-game Mountain West League losing streak with a 49-15 win Feb. 10 at home against Mohawk.
After hosting a Monday night league game against Crow/City First Christian Academy, Siletz Valley, which began the week 7-6, 7-12, finish the regular season Wednesday, Feb. 14, at Eddyville Charter. ville Charter game and surrendering a forfeit loss Feb. 9 to Triangle Lake, the Warriors broke their three-game Mountain West League losing streak with a 49-15 win Feb. 10 at home against Mohawk.
After hosting a Monday night league game against Crow/City First Christian Academy, Siletz Valley, which began the week 7-6, 7-12, finish the regular season Wednesday, Feb. 14, at Eddyville Charter.
Most Popular
Comments / 0