Fighting through foul trouble

First there was a whistle.

Then another.

Then yet another.

It seemed like every other trip down the floor there was a whistle and a foul call.

Just ask Corvallis High's Alaina Adams. She heard two whistles in the first 1:12 of the game and just like that she was on the bench.

When she returned in the second quarter, it wasn't for long as she quickly picked up her third foul before she could even break a sweat. She played only two minutes, 48 seconds in the first half.

Oh and Kayla Laney also heard that whistle three times in the first half, while sister Karly heard it twice.

In fact, the Spartans were called for seven fouls in the first quarter of their Mid-Willamette Conference contest against South Albany on Tuesday night.

South Albany took full advantage of the foul calls by going to the free-throw line 12 times in the half, hitting 11. That helped the Rebels remain close.

The Rebels, who trailed 22-8 early in the second, cut the deficit to 25-22 with 3:29 to play in the half and looked like they might give the third-ranked Spartans an unexpected battle.

But the Spartans showed their depth and experience, shook off the foul trouble and blitzed the Rebels from that point for a comfortable 80-45 victory to push their MWC record to 3-0 with a showdown with crosstown rival Crescent Valley on Thursday. The Raiders (2-1) lost a tough game to Silverton (3-0) 63-59 on Tuesday.

"We started out pretty good but then we got in foul trouble and the girls started playing careful and we're not a team that plays careful," coach Joe Williamson said, alluding to the defensive pressure, or lack thereof, in the first half. "We play aggressive so that was the biggest thing.

"We rallied them at halftime and said South Albany always plays tough, especially the first half, in my experience, and to come out and bring it to them again (in the second half) and we did."


That they did as the Spartans scored the first 10 points of the third quarter, and 17 of the first 20, to push a 38-26 halftime advantage to 55-29.

"We were hitting all of our shots, we were penetrating, we were dishing," Karly Laney said. "We did everything that coach wanted."

Corvallis used the 27-9 advantage in the third to lead 65-35.

The return to the defensive pressure helped key the early run and the success in the quarter.

While he would never like to have a similar situation when it comes to fouls, Williamson said it was a good experience.

"It's always good to be challeneged," he said. "As long as the results are like this, it's good for us."

Added Karly Laney: "I think it was a good experience for the future in case that ever happens we will have the mentallity to pick it up."

Gabe Johnson led the Spartans with 18 points while Katie Schrock added 17 and Syree Gerner 14. Adams had nine points, all in the second half, to help the Spartans remain undefeated in conference play.

Like she did last Friday against Dallas, Johnson was more active driving to the basket when the opportunity presented itself.

"I'm really starting to try to do that at the beginning of the game and throughout the game and not just the end of the game," she said.


Every Corvallis player who played except for Jessica McGowan scored, but she did have an assist on Jamie Clark's first basket.

Now comes a quick turnaround as the Spartans have just one day to prepare for the Raiders. Not much needed to be said in the locker room about the next opponent.

They know what's on the line.

Corvallis 80, South Albany 45
CORVALLIS 20 18 27 15 -- 80
SOUTH ALBANY 8 18 9 10 -- 45
Corvallis: Gabe Johnson 18, Schrock 17, Gerner 14, Adams 9, Kar. Laney 6, Clark 4, Kay. Laney 4, Hendrickson 3, M. Redberg 3, W. Redberg 2, McGowan
South Albany: Ellen Calderon 10, Miner 7, Swartzendruber 6, Hortsch 6, Bethards 5, Mitchell 4, A. Trower 4, Sherman 2, Rogers 1, C. Trower, Prince, Managan
JV: Corvallis 50, South Albany 44
Freshman: Corvallis won