By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

AMITY, Ore.–  If there was any time for good perseverance going into the postseason, it was now.  Against a Top-5 team like Santiam Christian.  With the League and State Playoffs on the horizon.

In their 50-47 win over Santiam Christian, Amity’s shots weren’t falling as they were used to.  The Eagles aggressive play aided in that as Santiam Christian was able to throw the hometown Warriors through a loop on their Senior Night.  That aggression led into the Eagles offense, created foul issues for Amity and aided Santiam Christian in the rebound game with the road Eagles team holding leads of 19-13 in the second quarter and 35-30 going into the fourth quarter.

All the Warriors needed was a spark to stabilize them.  Some consistency, and it came in the final frame of the game as the quarter started with back-to-back Eliza Nisly lay-ins within the first 40 seconds of the frame that brought them to one of the Eagles.  Santiam Christian got a basket before Amity got another five points to take a 39-38 lead with 3:26 left in the game and all-of-a-sudden the Warriors had some pep in their step with now the lead on their side and some momentum.  

Their first meeting was close, 44-35 down in Adair Village on January 18.  Nerves were there as they are with big games like this, but they weren’t about to make an about face to what has gotten them to this point in the season.

“It was really our defense.  We came out  in the fourth quarter, got a few good stops, a few steals and ran the floor well and that always gets us going.  Our defense never fails us,” said Ellie McMullen. “This was a big game.  SC is a good team and it was close last time too so we were nervous at first , but I think we let it work itself out.”

It took until this final frame for it to work itself out. but when it did, the machine that Amity built was clicking on all cylinders.  Their lead eventually was pushed out to 45-38 with 1:42 left in the game.  And with Santiam Christian pushing strongly against them, cutting the lead to 45-41 and then 46-43, the Warriors pushed back and rebuilt their lead to 50-44 before a late Eagle three-pointer made the final score a one-possession game by game’s end.

“Perseverance is huge for us.  We strive on being able to play our defense,” starts Megan Scharf.  “When we can’t hit shots, when we can’t run our offense we strive on our defense.  So the fact that we were down at the end of two quarters and we were able to come out with the win is absolutely huge for us.  It shows us that we have that perseverance  to play in the upcoming playoff games.  This was a huge win for us because it shows us that we are the best team in this league and that we can compete with any team in the state no matter if they’re in our league, out-of-our-league, no matter what we can preserve against any team in the State.”

The Warriors locked up the regular season title and the number one seed going into the PacWest Conference league playoffs that start next week as Amity travels to wrap up the regular season against Jefferson on Saturday.  Alysssa McMullen scored 15 points and Sara Grove added another 10 points in the win.  On their Senior Night, Ellie McMullen scored four points and Scharf added another five in the victory Thursday.

Santiam Christian’s Maddie Fields had 13 points, Tayla Yost scored 11 and Mia Fullbright contributed another nine in the defeat as the Eagles hosts Dayton Saturday to close out the regular season.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald