ECHO — On an emotional night for Echo and its community, the Cougars poured their heart and soul into a 48-29 Old Oregon League win over Pilot Rock on Friday, Jan. 9.
“The girls showed some real grit tonight,” Echo coach RJ Ramos said. “Pilot Rock came to play and wasn’t going to give up. They were very strong. It feels good to get the win tonight.”
Before the game, there was a vigil for former Echo players Rachel and Faith McCarty, their cousin Katelyn Heideman, and uncle David McCarty, who died in a helicopter crash Jan. 2 in Arizona.
The seventh-ranked Cougars wasted no time in taking control of the game with a 12-6 lead in the first quarter, and extended their lead to 21-8 at the half.
Each team had 10 points in the third quarter, then Echo closed out the game with a 17-11 run in the fourth, powered by 10 points from Jaycee Campbell.
“We struggled from the field (26.6%), but lucky for us, so did they (23.2%),” Ramos said. “Another solid performance from Jude (Royer), Kenzie (Hendrix) and Cam (Estes), and some serious points from Jaycee that helped push us through.”
Royer led the Cougars (11-2 overall, 2-0 OOL) with 14 points, five rebounds and four steals, while Campbell had 13 points and three steals, Estes 10 points, seven rebounds and six steals, and Hendrix seven points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Echo forced 26 turnovers and scored 17 points off the turnovers at the other end. The Cougars also scored 15 points off 3-pointers.
“The team effort, making sure almost every loose ball had one of our hands on it, was what kept us rolling,” Ramos said. “Every girl had a positive impact on the game.”
Pilot Rock (10-4, 0-1), which out-rebounded Echo 52-47, got 16 points and nine rebounds from Paige Hansen, while Autumn Severe had five points and five rebounds, and Hailey Severe four points and four rebounds. “Our team played so hard tonight,” Pilot Rock coach David Norton said. “We just struggled to hit shots.”
