As much as Stayton's girls basketball team is encouraged by its 12-0 start and No. 2 ranking in the OSAAtoday 4A coaches poll, the Eagles are keeping their early success in perspective.
They know that big tests lie straight ahead in the tough Oregon West Conference, which includes No. 1 Philomath and No. 4 Cascade, teams they shared the conference title with last season.
“Those two programs have just been dynamite for so long,” Stayton coach Tal Wold said. “It's been 10 years, and they're just good every year. It's awesome to be in there with them, but we're still trying to get our program to their level. We're not there yet. We still have work to do.”
Stayton made a jump last season in its first year under Wold, whose nine-year tenure at 5A Silverton included a 2016 state championship. The Eagles went 19-6, their most wins in five years, and reached the 4A tournament before quickly bowing out with two losses.
“We were thrilled to get there,” Wold said.
Four starters are back from that team in 5-foot-8 senior post Kenzi Hollenbeck, 6-0 senior wing Haley Butenschoen, 5-6 senior guard Brookelynne Morley and 5-8 sophomore wing Kourtney Samek. Hollenbeck and Butenschoen were Oregon West first-team picks.
With senior leadership and a strong sophomore class, Stayton is evolving into a state contender. The Eagles' only championships came in 1995 and 2007, which was their last appearance in the final.
“It's one of the most enjoyable groups I've had in 20 years,” said Wold, who went 180-46 at Silverton, where he still teaches middle school math. “Our seniors want to go out being the best they can be. We just want to find out how good we can be.”
The Eagles are dominating with their tenacious man-to-man defense. Last season, they held opponents to a 4A-low 29.0 points per game. They lead 4A again this season, lowering the average to 25.8.
“All of our girls have to be able to guard the ball, because we play straight man-to-man, we don't switch,” Wold said. “We don't do anything fancy.”
Butenschoen, a two-time state champion in the 800 meters, is the team's top defender. She typically draws the opposing point guard or a dangerous wing.
The rugged Hollenbeck, who played linebacker in football through the eighth grade, is an elite competitor. She also excels in softball and volleyball.
“She's kind of the glue of every sport she's played on,” Wold said of Hollenbeck, who averages 10 points and seven rebounds. “She's tough as nails.”
Sophomore wing Kathryn Samek (6-0), a reserve last season, has moved into the starting lineup and is averaging a team-high 14 points per game. Sophomore point guard Breeci Hampton, a transfer from Cascade, is averaging 10 points.
Wold said he was worried about adding Hampton to the mix but the fit has been “incredible.”
“It's my first transfer in 20 years of coaching,” he said. “One week into summer hoops, I was like, 'This is going to work out great.' They welcomed her with open arms.”
The Eagles are averaging 54.4 points per game, up from 47.4 last season. They have had six different leading scorers.
“We have a few more girls who can score this season,” Wold said.
Stayton's most impressive wins came in the semifinals and finals of its own SCTC Holiday Tournament in the days after Christmas. The Eagles dropped co-No. 5 Baker 52-36 and 5A No. 7 Springfield 48-44 on consecutive days.
In the only other game against a team currently ranked in the coaches polls, Stayton handled No. 9 Marist Catholic 54-23.
The Eagles will open Oregon West play Jan. 21 at Cascade.
jerryu@osaa.org
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