Central Oregonian

Logger girls end year on positive note

Mitchell gets first league playoff win in more than a decade

Lon Austin

March 07, 2013

Short on numbers, but long on heart.

That was the story of the Mitchell Logger girls basketball season.

The Loggers finished the season with just seven girls. Adding to the player shortage were nagging injuries and illness, which caused players to miss games.

“We started the season with four of 10 girls playing high school basketball for the first time,” said head coach Tim Foster. “Two girls moved during winter break, dropping us to eight, then we had a series of injuries and illness.”

Still, the team was able to finish the season on a high note. Although they finished with just a 7-13-1 record, the Loggers finished their season with a win over Harper at the High Desert League playoffs.

The win was the first playoff win for Mitchell in more than a decade.

“Our goal coming in was to win at least one game at the district tournament,” Foster said. “The girls played their hearts out, showing a lot of perseverance and toughness. They battled for everything and played great together.”

Although they came up short in a bid to reach the state playoffs, Mitchell gave Jordan Valley a scare in their final district playoff game. The Loggers were 15 points down in the early going before battling back to within five points late in the contest. Jordan Valley survived to take a 46-37 win. Still, Foster was pleased with the never-say-die attitude.

“We were a step slow and looked tired,” he said. “But we never quit and we got close. We just ran out of steam.”

Three Mitchell players earned all league recognition with Farrell Fox and Miranda Holt making the second team and Jenna Perry-Zapara named honorable mention.

Fox was also named the team’s most valuable player while Perry-Zapara was named best defender. Sarah Tolton was recognized as the team’s most inspirational player while Maya Loerzer was named most improved.

The Loggers lose Fox, Perry-Zapara, and Jenna Apperson to graduation, and according to Foster, they will be missed.

“It will be hard to replace our seniors,” he said. “Those three have worked really hard to improve and become consistent players.”

Foster expects Holt, Tolton, Jordan Apperson, and Laci Domenighini to play big roles for the Loggers next season. Now they are just looking for more players to fill out the roster.

“We will again have to look to the dorm and any new students to fill out the team,” Foster said.