BOYS BASKETBALL
Tuesday, Feb. 11
CHS hosted Pleasant Hill after this issue went to print. Visit ScorebookLive.com and OSAA.org for scores and updates.
Monday, Feb. 17
CHS at Harrisburg, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 19
CHS vs. Santiam Chr., 7:30 p.m.
WHY2WATCH: After losing two preseason games back-to-back after winter break, coach Jesse Thomas said his team set a goal to win out for the rest of the regular season. With only three games left against three opponents that they’ll play for the third time this year, Thomas said they continue to prepare for every opponent, bringing their A-game. To conclude the regular season, Creswell will be led by its eight seniors, Kai Apo, Tyler Frieze, Payden Criddle, Dallton Dewey, Austin Gabriel, Gauge Smith, Dawson Sharkey and Ruben Moreno in their last home game against SC. Before clinching first in the Mountain Valley League, the last home game had the potential to determine league champions – a weight that is happily gone, he said.
Coach speaks: ”I’m happy for them when they have success and I hurt for them when they don’t. I don’t coach for me, I coach for them. I want them to experience the things that I did, and I want to do everything I can to help them get there,” Thomas said.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Tuesday, Feb. 11
CHS hosted Pleasant Hill after this issue went to print. Visit ScorebookLive.com and OSAA.org for scores and updates.
Monday, Feb. 17
CHS at Harrisburg, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 19
CHS vs. Santiam Chr., 6 p.m.
WHY2WATCH: It’s true that Creswell is in a rebuilding year with a young team. But another factor, that even OSAA recognizes when ranking teams, is how difficult their schedule is.
During this rebuilding year, three of the five teams in the Mountain Valley Conference are in the 3A Top 10. Having only five teams in the league, they also get to play each one three times, instead of the standard two. Creswell has one win in the regular season, but is still ranked 22nd in 3A state, higher than a lot of teams that have three or four wins in the regular season.
Coach speaks: ”I don’t like excuses in general so when people tell me that we’re young or have had a hard schedule, it doesn’t mean that we should use that as a crutch. I’m proud of the girls because they haven’t either, even though people have given them the opportunity.”
WRESTLING
Friday, Feb. 14 – Sat., Feb. 15
3A-Special District 3, Umpqua Community College, 4 p.m.
WHY2WATCH: Creswell girls competed last week at the Southern District Regionals and this weekend, it’s the boys’ turn. Competing against the nine other teams in their district, the top three from each weight class will automatically qualify for the OSAA State Championships on Feb. 28-29. Creswell will have 11 athletes participating at Districts – 10 if Jurny Halvorson’s knee injury hasn’t been cleared. When it comes to participation numbers, Creswell has the fourth-highest number of athletes attending, which hasn’t been the trend throughout this season. Forced forfeits from not having an athlete to fill a weight class has been a key factor in most of Creswell’s losses.
Coach speaks: ”We’ve dedicated our entire season to this weekend. Every practice, every meet and every hard twist and turn that we’ve been through as a team has led up to this moment, just like it did last weekend for the girls. We just need to keep our heads right and then we’ll have a great showing at state,” said head coach Mario Perez.
CHEERLEADING
Saturday, Feb. 15
OSAA Cheerleading State Championships, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 9 a.m.
WHY2WATCH: When your cheerleaders are the ones performing, who cheers for them? Everyone who has had a squad on their sidelines when they were the ones competing. Through rebuilding years, bad weather and blowout games, the cheerleaders are always there to show school spirit and build up their teams when they need it. Creswell’s cheerleaders haven’t been lacking in effort, putting in time for extra practices while preparing for their own competition season.
Coach speaks: ”This weekend is the most important one, so it’s pretty fitting that we’ll finally have our entire squad back together. It’s tough to be competitive against the large schools we are grouped with, so we are focused on crushing the goals we’ve made as a team, like sticking our stunts, nailing our timing and beating our previous scores,” said coach Christine Bandey.
