By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

Say the word “winter” and it often conjures up images of dark, dreary days and nights. But say “winter sports season” and things are looking pretty bright for the Burns Hilanders.

Burns’ boys and girls basketball teams both earned trips to the 3A state tournaments last year, the Burns wrestling team won its seventh straight state title and all three teams look solid for the upcoming season.

Boys basketball

When the Burns boys basketball team qualified for the state tournament last year, it ended a 27-year drought for the program, but head coach Eric Nichols said last year’s success has no real bearing on the upcoming season. “We don’t talk about last year too much,” Nichols said. “It was a different team than the one we have this year, and this year’s team has their own identity. Do we have higher expectations because of last year? No. We just ask the players to always do their best. If they do that, we’ll be OK.”

There are 30 players vying for roster spots on the frosh/soph, junior varsity and varsity teams, including a solid nucleus for this year’s varsity team. Caleb Feist, Dylan Thompson, Tyler Fenton and Carraig Colahan all logged a number of varsity minutes last year and will be looked on to lead the team this season. Joe Jarvis and Zach Dobson were named to the varsity squad for the state tournament, but saw limited playing time.

Although it may not look like it on paper, Nichols said experience is definitely a strength of this team. “They’ve played together for a number of years and they played probably 30 games this summer,” Nichols said. “The physicality of the summer games also helps the kids because basketball is played different here than over there (meaning the west side of the state).”

Not only can they play the game, they have a good understanding of the game as well. “I’d say they have a high basketball IQ,” Nichols said. “When I call a 30 second timeout and start rattling off in basketball vocabulary, they know what I’m talking about, and that’s good.”

Hilander fans can expect to see a team that not only likes to run the floor, but can also set up and execute a half-court offense. Nichols said he’s putting in a few more set plays for the offense to try and take advantage of any mismatches he sees on the floor.

With everyone back from last year’s team, Umatilla is the early favorite to win the Eastern Oregon League, but Nichols expects another wide-open race for the playoff spots. “It’s going to be a dogfight,” Nichols said. “Umatilla’s going to be good, as are Nyssa, Vale and Grant Union. We’re right in the mix as well, and with  Riverside, you just don’t know. But any of the teams are just an injury or two away from seeing a good season go bad.”

The Hilanders open their season on Tuesday, Dec. 2, when they host Ontario at Burns High School.

Along with Nichols, the coaching staff includes Jed Patterson, JV coach, Brendan McMullen, frosh/soph coach and varsity assistants Dave Toney and Nick Miller.

Girls basketball

Surrounded by her players, head coach Alice Herauf asked, “How many of you don’t have Dec. 2 circled on your calendar?”

A few hands went up, and Herauf stated, “Get it circled. That’s our first game, and we don’t have long to get ready.”

Of the 28 players out this year, six return from last year’s varsity (which placed fourth at state), including seniors Mattea Zabala, Ashley Schouviller and Courtney Toney, as well as juniors Jamie Higle, Brea Ribeiro and Taylor Lee. “We’re working on filling out the teams, and we’ve got a good group to work with,” Herauf said.

This year’s team has adopted three sayings as their mottos: “Better every day,” “Do whatever it takes” and “Leave no doubt.” Herauf said the team voted on the sayings, and she incorporates them into the practices.

When asked about the strengths of the team, Herauf said, “We have great team leaders and team chemistry.” She also praised the work ethic of the kids by pointing out that even though practice didn’t start until 9 a.m., most of the team had arrived by 8:30 a.m. and were doing skill work.

“As quick as we are, we’ll play an uptempo game,” Herauf said. “Plus the kids played a lot this summer, so it’s like we’re a season ahead.”
She added that she and her assistant coaches attended a number of coaching clinics in the off season to improve their skills. “We want to get better too,” Herauf said.

Returning to the state tournament is always a goal, and Herauf knows the road there is a tough one. “We’ve got a great schedule again this year. Not many home games, so fans will have to come out when we are here,” she said. “But hey, championships are won on the road.”

The Hilanders open their season on the road when they travel to Ontario on Tuesday, Dec. 2.

Herauf is assisted by Jake Thompson, JV coach, Terri Lee, frosh/soph coach and Amber Hodge, volunteer coach.

Wrestling

The Burns High School wrestling team is on the verge of making history. No team has ever won eight consecutive Oregon state wrestling titles, but the Hilanders have the opportunity to do just that this year.

“I think we have a pretty good chance at another title this year,” head coach Mark Hofman said. “I kind of wondered if we’d lose that feeling or desire, but that’s the ultimate goal for these kids. They want to carry on the tradition, and they’re motivated.”

Hofman said he has approximately 21 kids out this year and eight of them competed at the state tournament last year. They include  (with last year’s placing) Joe Drinkwater (1st), Brendan Palmer (2nd), Josh Cate (2nd), Pat Stampke (3rd), Dallas Root (4th), Dillon Root (6th), Mike Schaff and Kenny Withee.

There are several other wrestlers back for another year, and Michael Martin is one of the newcomers. “Michael’s out with an injury right now,” Hofman said. “He hasn’t wrestled before, but I think he can learn real quick.”

Hofman added that the underclassmen look pretty good in practice. “We put them in against some of the seniors and they’re right there,” Hofman said.

The team was strong in the light and middle weights last year, but a year’s time has seen some growth in the wrestlers. “From 140 to 171, we’re pretty loaded,” Hofman said. “I don’t know that we’ll even have someone at 103, and there are some other question marks. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Burns has been tabbed as the early favorite to win the 3A championship this coming February, but Hofman is wary of other schools. “I’m always scared of Nyssa,” he said. “They’ve got a good program, and if they get the numbers, you just never know. And Willamina should be tough.”

Rounding out Hofman’s staff are assistant coaches Ray Cate and Dally Swindlehurst.