Playing is more fun than watching

Leah Seitz wasn’t feeling all that great about her performance following Tuesday’s big win over West Albany.

She should have.

After her performance Friday night, she felt much better.

Seitz came off the bench to give the Corvallis High girls basketball team a spark as the Spartans pulled away for a 69-35 win over South Albany in their first road game of the Mid-Willamette Conference season.

Seitz had two rebound baskets in the first quarter and added a 3-pointer later in the half as the Spartans built a 35-18 lead.

She ended with nine points and had six steals in the most action she has seen in a game this season.

“It was a lot more fun,” Seitz said. “No offense, I love cheering people on on the bench but it was a lot more fun getting in there because that is what you practice for.”

Seitz saw more action after starter McKenzie Redberg left the game early in the second quarter with an illness and went home at the half.

“I felt like I kind of had to make up for Z because I know that she’s a stealer, she’s a 3-pointer shooter, so I tried to do that.”

She did and it was a big lift for the Spartans (10-4, 3-1), who got past South Albany (0-15, 0-4) and can now focus on their showdown with Silverton (3-1 MWC) on Monday.

“She was one girl who put out a lot of energy tonight,” CHS coach Joe Williamson said of Seitz.

Gabe Johnson had another strong night, leading the way with 24 points and 10 steals.

Katie Schrock, Eva Oriakhi and Karly Laney each added six points as 11 of 12 players who played scored.

There was a scary moment in the third quarter when Oriakhi went down with an apparent right knee injury.

She was on the floor in pain but was smiling after the game.

The injury seemed to fire up the Spartans, who put together a nice run and began to pull away.

“I think when she got hurt we were like, ‘Why are they pushing us around?’ ” Seitz said. “This is stupid. We’re stronger than them. This is annoying. We need to make up for what just happened. I think it was kind of like a little fire under our butt.”

That kind of effort is what the Spartans are learning they need to play with.

“I feel like we are still learning and we don’t always give our 100 percent, but I know that we are trying our hardest and I know that it’s going to happen soon that we have a perfect game,” Seitz said.

Corvallis 69, South Albany 35
CORVALLIS 19 16 14 20 — 69
SOUTH ALBANY 7 11 10 7 — 35
Corvallis: Gabe Johnson 24, Seitz 9, Schrock 6, Kar. Laney 6, Oriakhi 6, Gerner 5, M. Redberg 4, Kay. Laney 4, Adams 2, Westly 2, Hendrickson 1, McGowan
South Albany: Halie Bethards 6, Mitchell 5, A. Trower 5, Lehman 5, Bartlett 4, Edmiston 4, Brown 3, Swartzendrubber 2, Weber, Sherman, Prince, Schneider, C. Trower
JV: Corvallis 43, South Albany 29
Frosh: No game