By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

ELMIRA, Ore.-  They did it.  They finally got over the hump.  It took overtime to do it, but the Stayton Lady Eagles finally broke into the playoff bracket for the first time in years.

The win itself, 64-55, broke a three-game losing streak as the game brought the Lady Eagles closer as a team while looking forward to continuing their season.

“I think the game really brought our team together and got us out of the slump we were in,” said Alyssa Lindemann.  “But we were all ecstatic about being able to move forward in the bracket especially since our school’s basketball program hasn’t done it in years.

“It’s a great opportunity for our team and we are all looking forward to play another game.”

Down to their final quarter of the season down 36-29, Stayton came to life with a 16-9 fourth quarter to force a overtime with the score all knotted up at 45-all.

Lindemann, who led all scorers with 22 points, scored 10 of the Eagles 19 Overtime points to help advance the Eagles to the bracket of 16.

Free Throws were crucial in the extra four minutes as the Stayton converted  9-of-15 from the charity stripe.

For Head Coach Melissa Hollenbeck, she was impressed with how her squad finished and fought to advance, but the now the focus is onto whoever they’ll face next.

“The girls finished Strong,” said Hollenbeck.  “This was a great team win and will now advance for the first time in a long time to State Playoffs. We will find out after tomorrow night’s games where we will play either Friday or Saturday of next week.”

Lindemann added three steals to her 22 points.  Tess Hendricks had 15 points, four assists and brought in six rebounds in the win.  Madison Anderson also had six rebounds and Mariah Hollenbeck had three steals.

1st      2nd       3rd      4th     OT    Final

Stayton          8         16          5         16     19      64

Elmira            7          13         16       9        10      55

Stayton: Lindemann, A. 22, Hendricks, T. 15, Doran, R. 12, Hollenbeck, M. 9, Ikea-Mario, M. 3, Cates 2, Martinez 1, E. Lindemann, Sheppard, Anderson.

Elmira: J. Smith 13, Olsen 10, Blunt 9, Jensen 8, Webber 7, Stone 4, Anderson 4.

3pt:  Stayton 11 (A. Lindemann 4, Doran 4, Hendricks 2, Hollenbeck 1)  Elmira 2 (Jensen 2)

Jeremy McDonald is a professional sports journalist in the Salem/Portland area and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalist in Oregon with B.S. degrees from Southern Oregon University in Journalism (2011) and Health/PE (2013).  Got a story idea? Email him at jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com or on Twitter at @J_McDonald81