MHS Basketball Girls News
Tough Buff season ends
Thanks to Madraspioneer.com
Facing teams seeking girls' baskeball playoff berths didn't help Madras' quest for a second Intermountain Conference victory.
    The White Buffalos lost to The Dalles, a team needing to win its final two games to qualify for the 5A playoffs. Then Bend came to Madras seeking a victory in hopes of finishing second in the IMC.
    Both visiting teams won although Bend finished as the third seed behind Mountain View. Madras completed its season at 6-17 (1-13 in IMC play).
    "This wasn't the season I or the girls anticipated," Buff coach Becky Burchell said. "Not having a consistent starting lineup all season was a factor. We had girls trying to play with injuries throughout the season."
    The injured players included post Krista Haugen, who was forced to miss the final two weeks of the season due to a shoulder injury. Senior guard Shirelle Adams missed several games due to a knee injury as did junior wing Chrishana Johnson due to various leg injuries.
    Bend 61, Madras 46: The visiting Lava Bears took an early lead and gradually expanded that margin.
    Bend led 14-11 at the end of the first quarter and 29-25 at half. The visitors outscored the Buffs 32-21 in the second half.
    "We had a good first half," Burchell said. "We were playing great team ball, passing and running our offense."
    That half was a contrast to the game at Bend in which Madras trailed by 20 at halftime.
    Briana Stacona led the Buffs with 17 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Adams added 13 with fellow seniors Yolanda Yallup putting in seven and Jacoba Smith, five. It was also the final game for Whitley Ruiz, Griselda Reyes and Jaycelene Frank.
    The Dalles 49, Madras 34: In the rematch, the EagleIndians had the big rally.
    It came after the Buffs jumped ahead 11-1 early in the game and led 19-12 as the first quarter ended.
    A trey by Stacona plus a steal and layup helped Madras to the early lead. So did five more points by Stacona on a trey and two free throws.
    Smith also drained a free throw after being fouled on an inside shot. The senior Smith added two inside baskets later in the quarter off passes from Adams. Ruiz also added an 18-footer to give her team 19 points in the quarter.
    "Everything was working well at the start," Burchell said. "We were playing good team basketball, moving the ball, blocking out to get rebounds and looking to score."
    The Buff offense slowed down with foul problems. Both Stacona and Yallup picked up their third fouls early in the second quarter.
    The Dalles capitalized by hitting 7 of 8 free throws in the second quarter. The EagleIndians forced a 27-all halftime tie.
    An third-quarter early trey gave the visitors the lead.
    Once ahead, The Dalles remembered the first game. Back on Jan. 5, Madras rallied from a 16-point halftime deficit to win on a last-second shot by Stacona.