A look at Friday's games in the OSAA / OnPoint Community Credit Union 3A boys basketball playoffs:
De La Salle North Catholic 76, Brookings-Harbor 31 – Top-ranked De La Salle North Catholic broke on top 21-2 in the first quarter and forced 19 turnovers in the first half. “We played extremely tough defensively,” said head coach James Broadous. “The guys covered for each other throughout the game and communicated really well from start to finish.” Senior Theo Aclan had a strong game for the victors, recording nine points, six assists and a career-high eight steals. Senior John Pennickalso played well for DLSNC, contributing six points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steald off the bench.
Clatskanie 68, Burns 66 – Host Clatskanie trailed the Hilanders by 14 points entering the fourth quarter but staged a massive rally behind a press that created numerous turnovers. Dawson Evenson led the Tigers (15-7) with 22 points whileCooper Blogett added a dozen. Zane Taylor had 26 for Burns while Cade Tiller had 16. “We have to take our hats off to Burns,” said Clatskanie coach Deshaun Combs. “They truly gave us a hard test. It’s a true testament to our players how we never gave up.”
Nyssa 66, Rainier 61 – The Bulldogs led by as many as 13 at home but had to fight off a furious rally by the Columbians to come away with the win. After Rainier cut the lead to one in the fourth quarter, Wyatt Jensen hit a clutch triple for Nyssa, No. 6 in the OSAAtoday coaches poll, and Pedro Chavez and Jorge Ortiz combined to make 10 of 14 free throws down the stretch to clinch the win. Agustin Trujillo and Omar Jaquez combined for 41 points in the victory for Nyssa, which improved to 18-8. Easton Crape had 18 to lead Rainier (14-9).
Sutherlin 59, Umatilla 39 -- Payton Hope scored a game-high 21 points, including four three-pointers in the third quarter, to turn the game in Sutherlin’s favor. The Bulldogs, No. 7 in the OSAAtoday coaches poll, hit 21 of 26 free throws down the stretch to thwart Umatilla’s bid to get back in the game. Mason Gill (10 points and 10 rebounds) supported Hope’s scoring with a double-double for Sutherlin. Brandon Carr contributed 13 points and four assists. Uriel Garcia and Andrew Earl team for 27 in the loss.
Pleasant Hill 52, Catlin Gabel 46 – Host Pleasant Hill, No. 4 in the OSAAtoday coaches poll, raced to a 9-0 lead to start the game and maintained a lead of between five and 10 points for most of the contest. Stephen Parmenter led the Billies (20-5) with 14 points and Jonny Oljace added 12, including a rare four-point play at the end of the third that gave the home team a 10-point lead heading to the final quarter. Catlin Gabel got 17 points from Jett Sheng in the loss.
Dayton 75, Creswell 48 – Strong defense carried the second-ranked team in the OSAAtoday coaches poll to the home win. Dayton, which led by seven after one quarter and 14 at the break, pulled away in the third for the comfortable win. Payton Garrison led the way with 18 points on 9-for-9 shooting. Braeden Nowlin added 16 points and Lukas Findley and Tyler Spink contributed 10 points apiece.
Santiam Christian 65, Salem Academy 55 – A comfortable 14-point halftime lead for Santiam Christian, the No. 3 team in the OSAAtoday coaches poll, was cut to four in the fourth quarter, courtesy of five triples by the Crusaders. But the host Eagles were able to hold off Salem Academy by spreading the ball around. Seven different players scored points in the fourth for Santiam Christian. Ben Galceran, Koby Williamson and Josh Baugher combined for 40 points in the win for Santiam Christian (23-3). Bennett Bos led all scorers with 16 in the loss for Salem Academy. The Crusaders also got 15 points from Cole Hardy and 13 from Hayden Wakefield.
Amity 67, Horizon Christian (Tualatin) 50 – The Amity Warriors came from behind to defeat Horizon Christian on the road. Horizon Christian led until the last three minutes of the first half, when Amity surged into the lead. The Warriors went from up five at the break to ahead by 17 after three. Sophomore post Josh Wart had a career night, with 21 points and 16 rebounds. Senior guard Michael Duncan chipped in with 16 points. “We were just fortunate tonight to make a few more shots and close out the game against a very good, well-coached Horizon team,” said Amity coach Scott Nelson. “The boys definitely earned a hard-fought trip to the bay!”
