PILOT ROCK — Nixyaawii jumped out to a big lead in the first quarter, then held on late in the game to stun No. 8 Pilot Rock 57-56 on Tuesday, Jan. 13, in Old Oregon League play.
“What a game,” Nixyaawii coach Aaron Noisey said. I am so proud of my kids for how they played and stuck together. Pilot Rock is a good team. They are in the top 10. The defense we put out there today showed the team growth and individual growth we have made.”
Irvin Stewart scored 12 of his 17 points in the first quarter as the Golden Eagles (5-8 overall, 1-0 OOL) flew out to a 22-8 lead. Sun Schimmel had five points in the second as the Rockets pulled within 32-26 at the half.
“We have had some big leads on some good teams,” Noisey said. “In the past, we have fallen apart, but today when they made those runs, we came together and lifted each other up. We controlled what we could control. We came together as a group and helped each other out.”
Pilot Rock put together a 30-25 run in the second half, with Schimmel scoring 12 in the fourth quarter, but the Rockets still came up a point short in the end.
Kash Bronson added 16 points for the Golden Eagles, while Cashis Bevis had 10 and Jeffrey Van Pelt seven.
“I liked the way we moved the ball today,” Noisey said.
Schimmel led the Rockets (12-3, 101 OOL) with 21 points, while Tate Thacker added 13 and Gage Williams 11.
It was the first game Nixyaawii played against Schimmel after he transferred to Pilot Rock this year.
“I love Sun, he is such a good kid,” Noisey said. “He is a really good basketball player and such a great kid. I miss him being in our hallways and coaching him because he is such a great kid. It was kind of weird coaching against him after coaching him for two years and watching him grow. I just have to focus on the kids I get to coach and help them become good young men.”
