Craig nets 29 in Silverton's 66-44 win at West Albany
Sophomore Wertz adds 14 points for the Foxes; Sophomore Starwalt scores team-high 21 for the Bulldogs
Oregon 5A second-ranked Silverton defeated seventh-ranked West Albany 66-44 on the road Friday night.
Defending 5A state champion Silverton (16-2, 10-1) remains tied with South Albany (14-4, 10-1) at the top of the table while West Albany (13-5, 7-4) stays put at fourth in the Mid-Willamette Conference, the most competitive 5A league in the state.
Silverton’s senior transfer Hadley Craig led all scorers with 29 efficient points, including 12 from three-point range.
“Hadley plays with confidence and composure. She works hard and she's having fun,” said Silverton coach Alyssa Ogle. “Having her in the mix has been great. She stepped in without skipping a beat and went right into the flow with us.”
Flow is an excellent word to describe Silverton’s game on Friday night. The Foxes played in rhythm, and everything seemed to go right for the defensive-minded team.
“We did a great job defensively, and that fuels our offensive end,” said Ogle.
Sophomore Marley Wertz and junior Allie Mansur added 14 and 9 consistent points, respectively.
“Marley is just so quick and athletic that if she can get that first step, she can beat somebody to the basket and get into the paint,” said Ogle. “She did a great job of finishing last night.”
Wertz scored 12 of her 14 points on tough drives to the rim.
All of Marley Wertz 14 points.
West Albany started the game out strong, led by sophomore Payton Starwalt. She scored 21 points, including 12 from deep behind the arc.
Starwalt tallied 11 of the Foxes’ 19 first-quarter points, including a buzzer-beater logo three to put West Albany ahead 19-14 and give the Bulldogs a momentum boost going into the second frame.
Payton Starwalt’s first quarter logo three.
Sophomore Karlee Martirano drained a left wing three, assisted by Starwalt, on Silverton’s first possession of the second quarter. Martirano scored 10 points, all in the first half.
“We all agreed that we needed to step it up defensively,” said Ogle. “That’s where our identity is, defense to offense.”
Silverton answered with an 8-0 run led by Craig and Wertz to level the score 22-22. The teams matched short runs — 5 and 5 — to keep things even.
In the middle of Silverton’s run, Starwalt’s outstretched leg landed on the floor strangely and she fell. Play stopped. She rose cautiously and hobbled off the court with the support of two teammates holding her up. The Bulldogs led 27-25 with 2:43 left in the second frame when Starwalt went to he bench.
Tied with less than a minute remaining in the second quarter, Craig hit an unanswered three to put Silverton ahead 32-29 and swing the momentum to the Foxes going into the halftime break.
“Hadley did a great job leading us, knocking down shots, and making plays,” said Ogle. “She's confident in her teammates, and her teammates are confident in her.”
West Albany started the third quarter with Starwalt on the court and 4 quick points, including two from the free-throw line after the referee called a technical foul on Silverton’s bench. The Bulldogs regained the lead 33-32, but it was for the last time.
“[Starwalt] is very good, and it is hard to simulate her deep three in practice and prepare for that,” said Ogle. “Allie Mansur did a really good job just pestering her and being in her space in the second half. And I think that frustrated them.”
Turnovers and a touchy technical foul called for dissent plagued West Albany in the third frame. Silverton took full advantage and continued its offensive flow with a 19-5 run, including 13 unanswered points. The Foxes pulled away in the third quarter, ending it with a 51-36 lead.
Hadley Craig hits a step back three during Silverton’s third quarter run.
Starwalt showed signs of life for the Bulldogs in the fourth quarter as she hit another three, stole the ball for a coast-to-coast layup, and converted 1-of-2 from the free throw line after drawing a foul.
But Craig continued to find buckets for the Foxes by driving to the rim, posting up in the paint, and shooting from midrange. After going to the line from another technical foul, Craig hit both. She drew a foul at the rim on the next play and scored 1-of-2 from the charity stripe to put Silverton ahead 66-44 with less than two minutes left.
The game was out of reach for West Albany as the remaining time ticked off the clock.
“Hadley had a big game, but defensively and across the board, this was probably one of our biggest team wins,” said Ogle.
Silverton hosts Corvallis (13-4, 9-2) on Tuesday. Corvallis sits at third in the conference standings within striking distance of the top two. The Foxes defeated the Spartans 53-51 in the teams’ first meeting.
West Albany will travel to Oregon 5A third-ranked South Albany on Tuesday for the second time the crosstown rivals will meet in league play. The Bulldogs upset the Redhawks 50-49 in the first matchup between the teams.
State rankings are from the OSAA Coaches Polls.