Falling to Silverton

For the second straight game, the Corvallis High girls basketball team found itself trailing in the second half.

But unlike last Friday against West Albany, the Spartans weren't able to overcome the deficit for a win on Wednesday.

Silverton used a 16-4 run over a seven-minute span of the third and fourth quarters, built a 15-point lead and held off the Spartans for a 63-55 Mid-Willmette Conference win.

Silverton (14-2, 6-1) moved into a tie with the third-ranked Spartans (12-3, 6-1) at the halfway point of the season.

"We've just played two straight poor games where we haven't shot well, we haven't really defended well," CHS coach Joe Williamson said. "West Albany, we waited until the end and it worked there. We played hard at the end to make it close tonight."

The Spartans cut the deficit to 58-51 with 2:24 left, but missed shots didn't allow them to get any closer.

Silverton jumped out to a 22-10 lead after the first quarter with starters Gabe Johnson and Kayla Laney on the bench for most of the quarter after picking up two quick fouls each.

Both players had three by the half as the Spartans cut the score to 33-28.

Silverton pushed the halftime lead to 40-30 early in the third before Corvallis went on an 8-0 run to get within 40-38. But Silverton responded with the 16-4 run to go up 56-42 with 4:40 remaining.

The Spartans were in foul trouble throughout as they were whistled for 26 fouls to Silverton's 16. Johnson and Karly Laney both fouled out for Corvallis, and Alaina Adams, McKenzie Redberg, Kayla Laney and Syree Gerner each finished with four fouls.

"Every time we tried to be aggressive we were in foul trouble," Williamson said. "It did affect us a little bit but we're deep enough to be able to withstand that. We've done that before."

Silverton took advantage of the fouls by hitting 21 of 33 free throws.

Corvallis was 11 of 20 from the line and 22 of 55 from the field, including 0-for-8 from three.

"We can't do this," Williamson said. "We're not shooting well from the outside, we're missing layups and we're not rebounding. It's just a wakeup call to the girls that they need to be better and they need to be ready for these games."

Johnson finished with 19 points for the Spartans, while Adams added 12. Silverton had four players in double figures.

The Spartans are back in action at Woodburn on Friday and then home against Barlow in a makeup nonconference game on Saturday.

"It's OK if the girls will actually go, 'wow, we need to get better,' " Williamson said of Wednesday's loss. "Right now it's up to them to make the game a learning experience."

Silverton 63, Corvallis 55
CORVALLIS 10 18 14 13 -- 55
SILVERTON 22 11 16 14 -- 63
Corvallis: Gabe Johnson 19, Adams 12, M. Redberg 8, Schrock 5, Kay. Laney 5, Gerner 4, Kar. laney 2, W. Redberg.
Silverton: Hannah Tschiegg 12, Ashley Milliron 12, Kuenzi 10, Sprauer 10, Stadeli 9, Ousterhout 8, Hibbs 2, Whitaker, King
JV: Corvallis 58, Silverton 52; Frosh: Silevrton won.