THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD
This one hurt.
And it could be the game that knocks Astoria out of the playoffs.
An inspired Banks Braves basketball team did just enough at home to hang a devastating Cowapa League loss on the Fishermen, 55-54 and put the post-season hopes of Astoria in peril.
It wasn't one or two plays that changed the game. In fact, Astoria had two chances with under 6 seconds left in the contest on two separate in-bounds plays to wrest the lead from the scrappy Braves and couldn't convert.
"Our backs are against the wall now." said Chris Hunt, Astoria coach after the game. "We could have controlled our own destiny for a high seed into the post-season. Now we need some help."
In the last of three consecutive road games, Astoria never could shake Banks during the game, with neither team having any more than a 5 point lead in this closely fought contest. Up by two at 15-13 after the first quarter, Astoria found some offense in the defensive-minded Senior guard Josimar Macareno, who dumped in 5 points in the 2nd period. But with balanced scoring from the Braves throughout the contest, the teams were tied at the break, 26-26.
It was Senior Night at Banks as the team honored the lettermen who'd be playing their last home game of the season and the Braves responded with an inspired effort in the game, notably from Nathan Horlacher, who poured in 18 points on his 18th birthday, and wingman Jeff Stradling who added 10 for the Banks cause.
During the half, Astoria only spent 2 minutes in the locker room, as Hunt brought his charges back on the floor with over 6 minutes left in the half to begin their warm ups for the final two periods.
"I said all I wanted to say." stated Hunt afterwards in response to the early re-emergence from the locker room. "We missed opportunities and the was no sense going over and over it. We said what we wanted to say and that was it."
The game was back and forth again in the second half, with Banks holding the slim 37-36 lead going into the 4th quarter. Which is where Horlacher took over for the Braves. Dumping in 11 of his 18 points in the stanza, Horlacher almost single-handedly held off the challenge of the Fishermen, who had a couple of chances to win the game out-right due to their staunch defense.
Down one with just 5.5 seconds in the game and with no timeouts, Astoria needed a turnover, a steal, or a quick foul on Banks to have any chance. With Jordan Poyer defending the baseline, the Fishermen defense caused Banks to burn their last timeout before a five-second count was called. Then, with no timeouts left for either squad, Josh Marsh threw the ball inbounds over the outstretched arms of Poyer, but Macareno tipped the pass to Fishermen guard Brent Culver, who quickly found Brendan Landwehr on the right wing. As the clock ran down, Landwehr drove towards the basket, but lost control of the ball out of bounds, turning it back over to Banks with a mere 1.1 seconds remaining.
The last in-bounds play gave Astoria one more shot at redemption. Poyer deflected the Marsh entry attempt, this time right to Landwehr on the left baseline...the shot left Landwehr's hand 8 feet away from the basket before the buzzer sounded, but slid off the rim as the Banks faithful stormed the court. It was a bitter pill for Landwehr, who helped keep the Fishermen even with Banks by hitting 2 huge 3-point bombs in the fourth quarter, and his teammates to swallow.
Three Cowapa League road games for Astoria in the past week resulted in three losses by a total of 4 points. From second place to 4th just that quickly in this tough Cowapa League. Plus, continuing the season past the home finale against Seaside is now in jeopardy unless Astoria defeats the Gulls and gets some help. Either Scappoose (hosting Yamhill-Carlton), or Tillamook (entertaining Banks) must lose and Astoria must defeat Seaside for the Fishermen to have any chance at one of the three Cowapa League berths to the OSAA playoffs. If both Scappoose and Tillamook lose coupled with an Astoria victory, there would be a three-way tie for second place. If both the Indians and Cheesemakers win on Tuesday, then the season is over for the Fishermen.
The Astoria-Seaside clash can be heard on KAST 1370 AM, as the second half of a girls-boys doubleheader from the Brickhouse Tuesday night beginning at 5:32 pm.
ASTORIA - 15 11 10 18 - 54
Macareno 13, Robinson 12, Murray 10, Landwehr 9, Poyer 4, Alfonse 4, Anderson, Culver
BANKS - 13 13 11 18 - 55
Horlacher 18, Stradling 10, Quinones 8, Shulund 6, Marsh 5, Bayless 6, Rupp, Linehan, Moore
FIELD GOALS: AST: 20-58-35%, BAN: 20-42-48%
3 PT. FG'S: AST: 5-18-28%, BAN: 5-14-36%
FREE THROWS: AST: 7-11-64%, BAN: 10-13-77%
REBOUNDS: AST: 24, BAN: 27
And it could be the game that knocks Astoria out of the playoffs.
An inspired Banks Braves basketball team did just enough at home to hang a devastating Cowapa League loss on the Fishermen, 55-54 and put the post-season hopes of Astoria in peril.
It wasn't one or two plays that changed the game. In fact, Astoria had two chances with under 6 seconds left in the contest on two separate in-bounds plays to wrest the lead from the scrappy Braves and couldn't convert.
"Our backs are against the wall now." said Chris Hunt, Astoria coach after the game. "We could have controlled our own destiny for a high seed into the post-season. Now we need some help."
In the last of three consecutive road games, Astoria never could shake Banks during the game, with neither team having any more than a 5 point lead in this closely fought contest. Up by two at 15-13 after the first quarter, Astoria found some offense in the defensive-minded Senior guard Josimar Macareno, who dumped in 5 points in the 2nd period. But with balanced scoring from the Braves throughout the contest, the teams were tied at the break, 26-26.
It was Senior Night at Banks as the team honored the lettermen who'd be playing their last home game of the season and the Braves responded with an inspired effort in the game, notably from Nathan Horlacher, who poured in 18 points on his 18th birthday, and wingman Jeff Stradling who added 10 for the Banks cause.
During the half, Astoria only spent 2 minutes in the locker room, as Hunt brought his charges back on the floor with over 6 minutes left in the half to begin their warm ups for the final two periods.
"I said all I wanted to say." stated Hunt afterwards in response to the early re-emergence from the locker room. "We missed opportunities and the was no sense going over and over it. We said what we wanted to say and that was it."
The game was back and forth again in the second half, with Banks holding the slim 37-36 lead going into the 4th quarter. Which is where Horlacher took over for the Braves. Dumping in 11 of his 18 points in the stanza, Horlacher almost single-handedly held off the challenge of the Fishermen, who had a couple of chances to win the game out-right due to their staunch defense.
Down one with just 5.5 seconds in the game and with no timeouts, Astoria needed a turnover, a steal, or a quick foul on Banks to have any chance. With Jordan Poyer defending the baseline, the Fishermen defense caused Banks to burn their last timeout before a five-second count was called. Then, with no timeouts left for either squad, Josh Marsh threw the ball inbounds over the outstretched arms of Poyer, but Macareno tipped the pass to Fishermen guard Brent Culver, who quickly found Brendan Landwehr on the right wing. As the clock ran down, Landwehr drove towards the basket, but lost control of the ball out of bounds, turning it back over to Banks with a mere 1.1 seconds remaining.
The last in-bounds play gave Astoria one more shot at redemption. Poyer deflected the Marsh entry attempt, this time right to Landwehr on the left baseline...the shot left Landwehr's hand 8 feet away from the basket before the buzzer sounded, but slid off the rim as the Banks faithful stormed the court. It was a bitter pill for Landwehr, who helped keep the Fishermen even with Banks by hitting 2 huge 3-point bombs in the fourth quarter, and his teammates to swallow.
Three Cowapa League road games for Astoria in the past week resulted in three losses by a total of 4 points. From second place to 4th just that quickly in this tough Cowapa League. Plus, continuing the season past the home finale against Seaside is now in jeopardy unless Astoria defeats the Gulls and gets some help. Either Scappoose (hosting Yamhill-Carlton), or Tillamook (entertaining Banks) must lose and Astoria must defeat Seaside for the Fishermen to have any chance at one of the three Cowapa League berths to the OSAA playoffs. If both Scappoose and Tillamook lose coupled with an Astoria victory, there would be a three-way tie for second place. If both the Indians and Cheesemakers win on Tuesday, then the season is over for the Fishermen.
The Astoria-Seaside clash can be heard on KAST 1370 AM, as the second half of a girls-boys doubleheader from the Brickhouse Tuesday night beginning at 5:32 pm.
ASTORIA - 15 11 10 18 - 54
Macareno 13, Robinson 12, Murray 10, Landwehr 9, Poyer 4, Alfonse 4, Anderson, Culver
BANKS - 13 13 11 18 - 55
Horlacher 18, Stradling 10, Quinones 8, Shulund 6, Marsh 5, Bayless 6, Rupp, Linehan, Moore
FIELD GOALS: AST: 20-58-35%, BAN: 20-42-48%
3 PT. FG'S: AST: 5-18-28%, BAN: 5-14-36%
FREE THROWS: AST: 7-11-64%, BAN: 10-13-77%
REBOUNDS: AST: 24, BAN: 27
posted by Danny Havel at 10:45 AM
1 Comments:
You bet this one hurt. They all have. One thing that word in the community is talking about is why with such a talented group of players Hunt seemed to only go with his starting five and run them to exhaustion.......Everyone in the league used a lot more of their bench. Faulkner should have seen floor time. Culver seemed to bring energy when he got time. Davis brought something to the table......In talking to some past players this seems to be the one area Hunt needs to improve on.....
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