By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

PENDLETON, Ore.– The goal has changed for Kyle Buse and the Gervais High School Girls Basketball team following their 39-30 defeat to Bandon Thursday afternoon at the Pendleton Convention Center.

The shots weren’t falling, but the fight was there.  So was the passion and the fire.  Overcoming a 17-4 deficit, the Cougars pulled the Tigers in close in the 2A State Quarterfinal match-up, but couldn’t finish the job as they fell to play Stanfield Friday morning at 9am.

Adjusting of the goals was the talk in the locker room following the defeat pointed Buse as they’re trajectory changed to a new one.

“We were talking about adjusting our goals, we got a new path.  We were heading for one path, and now we’re on the other side of the bracket.  We need to refocus our minds a little bit.  But overall, I told them that I was proud of the fight that they had,” Buse said.  “We had a lot of things stacked against them and not going their way, but they still fought hard and held onto their defense and gave us a chance at the end.”

It was a positive they can build from as they face a Stanfield team that hung tough with Salem Academy in the Quarterfinal opener Thursday, falling to the Crusaders 49-39 that eventually set up Friday morning’s match-up at Pendleton High School.

“One thing that we’re going to come out with is that we’re going to come out hungry,” Buse said.  “The girls had a little bit of excited energy there at the beginning of the game (today).  We wobbled our legs a little bit with our shots.  But we finished really well and we’ll be able to take the momentum and run with it.”

Olivia Boyd led Gervais with 11 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in the defeat.  Olivia Thompson led Bandon with 10 points.  Makenna Vlerck had a game-high ten rebounds for the Tigers.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald