Free throws seal win

Alaina Adams calmly stepped to the free-throw line and hit four of her six free throw attempts in the final 1:17 of Monday night’s Mid-Willamette Conference showdown with Silverton.

Gabe Johnson then followed with two swishes from the charity stripe with 12.9 seconds left to seal the Spartans’ 48-45 win.

It was a much different ending than three games earlier when the Spartans failed to convert from the line and it cost them a win against crosstown rival Crescent Valley.

That loss still stings, but Monday’s win takes some of it away.

The Spartans (11-4, 4-1) are now all alone in second place, a half game behind the Raiders (9-5, 4-0), who should dispatch of Lebanon on Tuesday.

Monday’s game was eerily similar to the CV game, as the Spartans led 43-40 with 31 seconds left. They led 48-42 with 30 seconds left against CV, only to see the Raiders storm back to score six points and force overtime, where they eventually won 52-49.

But this time, the Spartans made free throws to make sure there would be no miraculous comeback. Even a buzzer-beating three by Silverton was meaningless — because they hit free throws.

“I know after that last shot when (Silverton) made that 3-pointer and it counted, I realized that if we hadn’t made our free throws, that could have definitely hurt us,” Johnson said.

There was definitely a different feeling in the closing moments than against CV.

“I just think that we believed in ourselves and were determined to win,” Johnson said. “I know after that loss against CV we didn’t like it so as a team we all stepped up.”

The Spartans were able to overcome a great deal of adversity on Monday.

They had to play without Eva Oriakhi, who is out this week with a knee injury. Oriakhi has started the last three games and has been a bright spot both offensively and defensively this season for the Spartans.

Karly Laney was sick and did her best to give the Spartans some minutes with the absence of Oriakhi, but she wasn’t able to play in the second half.

McKenzie Redberg was still a little under the weather after leaving Friday night’s game before halftime and heading home.

They failed to score in the closing 7:20 of the first half, allowing Silverton to turn a 20-14 deficit into a 23-20 lead at intermission.

None of that seemed to matter as the Spartans did what was needed.

“It’s a big step for us,” Adams said. “As a team last year, we never really believed in ourselves. We were more individuals out there and we have been uniting more as a team. Tonight we really pulled together to win and not give up.”

That shows how much this team has come together.

“As a team, we can trust each other and we depend on each other,” Johnson said.

The Spartans won a game in which they shot poorly, and had players missing or not at full strength.

“Actually winning and not playing as well as we can makes it a big win,” Adams said.

First-year coach Joe Williamson doesn’t like to put too much stock in a single win or a single loss. He said as much before and after the CV game, and reiterated that point on Monday.

But inside he had to be pleased with the win and where the Spartans are at five games into the MWC schedule.

“I want to keep it in perspective, but it is a really big win for these girls and their confidence and to see where they’re at,” Williamson said. “I am happy that I saw obvious growth from the CV game and I’ll take that and we’ll work toward Dallas on Friday.”

Corvallis 48, Silverton 45
SILVERTON 12 11 6 16 — 45
CORVALLIS 15 5 11 17 — 48
Silverton: Brynna St. Paul 14, Palmer 10, Bazzi 9, Cox 7, Stadeli 4, King 4, Kuenzi, Milliron, Mosher
Corvallis: McKenzie Redberg 16, Johnson 15, Adams 10, Gerner 4, Westly 2, Seitz 1, Schrock, Kar. Laney, Kay. Laney
JV: Silverton 73, Corvallis 42
Frosh: Corvallis 47, Silverton 17