By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

At the beginning of the basketball season, the Burns Hilanders girls team adopted the theme of “Leave No Doubt.” On Saturday, March 7, as the final seconds of the Class 3A State Tournament championship game at Willamette University in Salem ticked off, there was no doubt as to who the best team was.

After leading by one at halftime, the Hilanders outscored Santiam Christian 25-16 in the second half to come away with a 42-32 win and the first-place trophy.

“This was a sweet win for us,” Burns coach Alice Herauf said. “The team fired themselves up by saying, ‘It’s East versus West, No. 1 versus No. 2, public versus private.’ Then they went out and got it done.”

Despite getting some good looks at the basket, the Hilanders couldn’t get a shot to fall in the opening minutes of the game and found themselves trailing 6-0. Following a Burns’ timeout, the Hilanders’ Mattea Zabala knocked down a 3-pointer to spark a 13-0 run which stretched into the second quarter.

“During the timeout, I just told them that we have to do our stuff, work the ball inside and look for the cuts,” Herauf said. “Then Mattea goes out and drills the 3-pointer.”

The Eagles, led by Tayla Woods’ six points, battled back to grab a 16-13 lead with a little less than two minutes to go in the half.

The Hilanders’ Taylor Lee then worked herself free for two baskets to give Burns a 17-16 lead at the half.

The Burns’ defense took charge in the third quarter, holding the Eagles to just six points while the offense was busy putting 12 points on the board.

The Hilanders upped their lead to as much as 11 points in the fourth quarter, forcing the Eagles to foul and hope for the best. That strategy failed however, as Burns made 9-of-10 free throws to pick up the win and the state championship.

The state championship is the third for the Hilanders in the eight years they have been coached by Herauf and her assistants Jake Thompson and Terri Lee. The other titles came in 2004 and 2006.

“I’d like to thank the fans, the community for their support, and what a great crowd at the tournament,” Herauf said. “Plus I’ve got two great assistant coaches in Jake and Terri.”

Herauf also credited every player for the team’s achievement. “Without our bench acting as the scout team in practice, getting us ready, this wouldn’t have happened. Everybody is part of the win.”

Zabala scored 18 points to lead all scorers in the championship game and was the team leader in rebounds with 10.

Courtney Toney was also in double figures for Burns, finishing with 10. Ashley Schouviller added six points, Lee four, Jamie Higle and Brea Ribeiro had two each.

Zabala was also named the Qwest Player of the Game for Burns, while Woods was presented with the honor for Santiam Christian.

Woods led the Eagles in scoring with 13 points despite fouling out with 5:43 left to play in the game.

Following the presentation of trophies and individual medals, it was announced that Zabala and Ribeiro were both named to the All-Tournament First Team.

1    2    3    4   Final
Bur      9    8   12   13     42
S.C.      6   10    6   10     32

Zabala 6-12 5-6 18; Toney 3-5 4-6 10; Higle 1-1 0-0 2; Lee 2-4 0-0 4; Ribeiro 0-5 2-2 2; Schouviller 2-4 2-2 2.
Rebounds — Zabala 10, Toney 5, Lee 3, Higle 1.
Assists — Ribeiro 6, Zabala 4, Higle 2, Toney 1, Schouviller 1.
Blocked shots — Zabala 4.
Steals — Zabala 5, Toney 3, Higle 3, Ribeiro 2, Schouviller 2.
Fouls — Higle 5, Zabala 2, Toney 2, Schouviller 2, Lee 1.
Turnovers — Toney 4, Ribeiro 4, Higle 3, Lee 2, Zabala 1.

•••

The Burns Hilanders advanced to the Class 3A championship game with a 46-32 win over Warrenton on Friday, March 6.

Ribeiro scored 16 points, including two 3-pointers, and Zabala added 14 to lead the Hilanders to the victory.

Burns fell behind 5-2 early in the game, but their defense then kicked into high gear and forced several Warrior turnovers, which resulted in baskets and a 9-5 lead by the end of the first quarter.

After scoring four points in the first quarter, Ribeiro dropped in eight in the second quarter as the Hilanders outscored Warrenton 14-6 for a 23-11 halftime lead. The Hilanders’ defense also did their part in the first half, forcing 18 turnovers and coming up with 14 steals.

The Hilanders led 34-18 by the end of the third quarter, and after seven more points by Zabala in the first half of the fourth quarter, both coaches cleared their benches.

Zabala and Brooklyn Campbell of Warrenton were selected as the Qwest Players of the Game for the two teams.

1    2    3    4   Final
War      5    6    7   14     32
Bur      9   14   11  12    46

Ribeiro 6-10 1-3 16; Zabala 6-15 1-4 14; Schouviller 2-3 3-3 7; Higle 2-8 1-1 5; Lee 1-1 0-0 2; Nonnenmacher 0-0 1-4 1.
Rebounds — Zabala 8, Lee 5, Schouviller 3, Ribeiro 2, Toney 1.
Assists — Zabala 5, Ribeiro 4, Higle 2, Toney 1, Schouviller 1, Lee 1.
Steals — Higle 6, Zabala 5, Ribeiro 4, Shouviller 3, Toney 2, Lee 2, Root 1.
Fouls — Zabala 3, Higle 2, Toney 1, Ribeiro 1, Schouviller 1, Root 1, McConnell 1.
Turnovers — Zabala 8, Ribeiro 3, Higle 1, Fisher 1, Toney 1, McConnell 1.

•••

The Hilanders showed they were a force to be reckoned with in the opening game of this year’s Class 3A State Tournament as they completely dominated the Myrtle Point Bobcats in a 54-17 win.

Burns’ defense had the Bobcats treed every step of the way as they forced 36 turnovers and recorded 38 steals. By giving up just  17 points, the Hilanders set a new 3A record for least amount of points scored by an opponent.

Burns broke the game open in the second quarter by outscoring Myrtle Point 18-5 and taking a 27-10 halftime lead.

Things didn’t get any better for the Bobcats in the second half, as the Hilanders outscored them 15-4 in the third quarter, and then held them to just three points in the final period.

Ribeiro dropped in 15 points to lead Burns in scoring, and she was also named the Qwest Player of the Game for the Hilanders.

Toney finished with nine points and Lee added eight.

1    2    3    4   Final
Bur      9   18  15   12     54
M.P.      5   5     4    3      17

Ribeiro 6-8 3-4 15; Toney 3-5 2-3 9;  Lee 4-4 0-0 8; Higle 1-3 5-6 7, Zabala 2-6 2-2 6; Fisher 1-2 2-3 4, Schouviller 1-4 0-1 2, McConnell 1-1 0-0 2, Siegner 0-0 1-2 1, Nonnenmacher 0-1 0-0 0, Root 0-1 0-0 0, Dinsmore 0-1 0-0 0.
Rebounds — Zabala 7, Toney 4, Lee 4, Ribeiro 1, Root 1, Fisher 1.
Assists — Ribeiro 8, Toney 5, Zabala 2, Schouviller 2, Lee 1, Fisher 1.
Blocked shots — Zabala 2.
Steals —  Toney 10, Ribeiro 7, Schouviller 5, Lee 5, Zabala 3, Higle 2, Nonnenmacher 2, McConnell 2, Root 1, Fisher 1.
Fouls — Ribeiro 3, Toney 2, Higle 2, Lee 2, Zabala 1, Schouviller 1, Siegner 1.
Turnovers — Zabala 6, Fisher 4, Toney 3, Ribeiro 2, Higle 2, Lee 2, Schouviller 1.

“It was the defense that won this tournament for us,” Herauf said. “We played against three of the best point guards in the state and kept them in check.”

Herauf also praised her team’s leadership. “The three seniors, Mattea, Courtney and Ashley were team captains, and they were tremendous leaders all year long.” Herauf stated. “Another team motto was, ‘Take a stand, leave a legacy.’ Led by these three seniors, we did that.”