ZILLAH, Wash. – Sydney John Jr. wasn’t able to complete his prep track career as a senior this year at Zillah High School, but he plans to continue his running at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, where he will enroll this fall. John is graduating with an honors diploma from Zillah High School with a cumulative grade…
Category: Sports
Nixyaawii Community School Coach Shane Rivera talks to players during a time out in a game at the Class 1A State Tournament in Baker City in March. Rivera is resigning after an eight-year stint after he accumulated a 171-51 record that included a state title in the 2019 tournament. Standing behind Rivera are his three assistant coaches – Alan Crawford, Ken Mayfield, and Aaron Ashley.
Rivera resigns as NCS hoop coach
By Wil Phinney of the CUJ MISSION – Shane Rivera is resigning as head boys’ basketball coach after compiling a record of 171 wins against 51 losses in eight seasons at Nixyaawii Community School (NCS). Rivera took NCS to the Oregon Class 1A State Tournament five times, winning the title in the 2018-19 season. That year Rivera was Oregon Class 1A…
Julie Taylor, far right, was recognized by the City of Pendleton for her volunteer service as a volunteer Pendleton Youth Basketball (PYB) coach. Here she stands with her team, Team Taylor, of 3rd-4th graders. Back row from left, Brooklyn Jones (Taylor’s granddaughter), Tatum Ganuelas, Kaitlyn Lyda, Miranda Case, and Charlie Swisher. Kneeling, from left, Audrey Tribelhorn, Ayanna Star, Yasmin Ferman. Not pictured, Layla Berumen.
Taylor honored among Pendleton volunteers
The City of Pendleton has recognized Julie Taylor during National Volunteer Week, April 19-25, for the work she does in the local community. Taylor is a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) and the director of CTUIR’s Department of Children and Family Services. The City noted in a letter that Taylor served 27 hours coaching…
Mick Schimmel steals the ball away from a Siletz Valley dribbler in Nixyaawii’s 85-41 win Feb. 28 in the Eagles Nest in Mission. The win advanced the Golden Eagles to the Class 1A State Basketball Tournament in Baker City. Nixyaawii, the defending state championship, were to open play Thursday, March 5, against Trinity Lutheran, the team they beat in the title game last year. Trailing the play is freshman Shane Rivera.
CUJ Photo/Megan Van Pelt
NCS slashes Siletz Valley for Baker berth
By the CUJ MISSION – It was over before it started and when it ended it was emphatic. The Nixyaawii Community School boys raced to a 22-0 lead and built a 50-point cushion in the third quarter before freshman Shane Rivera finished it off with a dunk and an 85-41 win over Siletz Valley in a game that sent the…
Stockton Hoffman works against a defender on the edge of the paint.
CUJ Photo/Megan Van Pelt
Pendleton boys, girls finish IMC; prepare for round-one playoffs
PENDLETON – Dakota Sams broke his father’s school record for the most three-pointers in a game Feb. 25 when he hit nine against Ridgeway High School in Redmond. The 95-58 win for Pendleton High School was the final Intermountain Conference game for the Bucks, which won the league title and will play Willamette on the road Saturday, March 7. Pendleton…
Tyasin Burns, who was named Player of the Year in the Old Oregon League, posterizes Elgin’s Tristan Simpson in the first half of Nixyaawii’s 69-38 would-be victory Feb. 14. However, the Golden Eagles had to forfeit the game. Read about it below. At left, Magi Moses posts up Joseph’s H. Miller at the Old Oregon League finals in Baker City.
Photo by Robert McLean.
Nixyaawii boys wins Old Oregon League title
By the CUJ MISSION – The Nixyaawii Community School boys strung together what looked like seven conference wins in February, including the Old Oregon League championship in Baker City March 21 and 22. That would have given the Golden Eagles their second straight undefeated season in the Old Oregon League. But alas, their conference mark was marred on Valentine’s Day,…
The bench was going crazy as the Nixyaawii girls mounted a comeback against Elgin in their next-to-last conference game. From left, the coaches and players included Coach Kaitlynn Melton, Coach Taryn Doiminguez, Ally Maddern (hidden), Ivory Herrera, Christina Kaltsukis, Adilia Hart, Mackenzie Kiona, Susie Patrick, Chelsea Farrow (back to camera), and Celia Farrow.
CUJ Photo/Megan Van Pelt
NCS girls finish in wild one against Elgin
By the CUJ MISSION – A two-point loss to Elgin that had the Eagles Nest rocking Feb. 14 knocked the Nixyaawii Community School girls’ basketball team out of contention for the Old Oregon League district tournament. The girls were coming off a three-game winning streak and needed a win in their last two games against one of the two teams…