Headed to the championship game

After playing two teams they could dominate, the Corvallis High girls basketball team was up to the challenge against a physical Sierra Canyon team on Monday at the Winter Slam Jam Tournament.

And while Sierra Canyon made an initial statement by taking a 10-6 lead four minutes into the game.

But that was about it for Sierra Canyon as the Spartans cranked up the defense and held Sierra Canyon to seven points over the final 12 minutes of the first half.

The result was a solid 61-40 win for the Spartans that put them into the championship game against either Oaks Christian or North Hollywood. That game will be played at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

"It was much more competitive and we had to play a lot more aggressive and the team was a lot better than before," sophomore Syree Gerner said.

Gerner led the Spartans (6-1) with 14 points while McKenzie Redberg added 13. Katie Schrock, who had to play with glasses after ripping a contact lense earlier in the day, added nine, along with Kayla Laney, who is battling a bad case of allergies.

Sierra Canyon played a physical game and constantly harrassed the Spartans even after rebounds. CHS was up to the task most of the time.

"I think our team actually sort of likes it and we play pretty good against it," Gerner said. "I think people adapted to it and got more used to it and we started to play harder and it was fun."

The Spartans won despite point guard Gabe Johnson in foul trouble most of the game.

The Spartans took a 40-17 lead into the half on back-to-back 3-pointers by Schrock and Redberg. Schrock's three left the net stuck on the rin, and Redberg's brought it back down to its normal position.

Corvallis will have another tough test no matter which team it plays. But the Spartans are ready for all challengers and want to take the tournament title home to Oregon.

Corvallis 61, Sierra Canyon 40
SIERRA CANYON 10 7 13 10 -- 40
CORVALLIS 15 25 13 8 -- 61

Sierra Canyon: Brenda Kramer 13, Sneed 9, Schneider 7, wells 6, Lozano 4, Oni 1, Wannamaker, Norris, Carney, Jones

Corvallis: Syree Gerner 14, M. Redberg 13, Schrock 9, Kay. Laney 9, Adams 8, Johnson 6, Kar. Laney 2, Hendrickson 0, McGowan, W. Redberg