Making a statement

Now that was more like it.

The Corvallis High girls basketball team showed Friday night why it has to be considered the favorites to win the Mid-Willamette Conference title this season with an impressive 72-51 road victory over Dallas.

The Spartans led by as many as 34 in the fourth quarter before Dallas made a run late to get the score reasonable.

The Spartans showed the kind of effort and intensity it will take on a nightly basis to be at the top of the standings come the end of February.

"The girls really came out and established an aggressive mentallity that we knew we would have to have to get a win against a good Dallas team," CHS coach Joe Williamson said. "We're really happy for our first road league game to play as well as we did."

Unlike last year when they shared the conference title with Silverton and West Albany, the Spartans want this year's title all to themselves.

Heading into Friday night's game, Dallas had to feel pretty good about its start to the season. The Dragons entered at 5-2 and were coming off a tough 55-48 loss at Silverton on Tuesday.

Corvallis was coming off a sluggish performance in a 68-37 win over Woodburn on Monday, a game that point guard Gabe Johnson sat out and starter Katie Schrock battled through despite being sick. She missed practice on Tuesday and was still not at full strength on Wednesday.

Friday's game was deadlocked at 11-11 late in the first quarter until the Spartans took control.

Johnson gave the Spartans (8-2, 2-0) a lead they would never relinquish with a layup, then hit three free throws and scored off a steal and layup all in the span of 28 seconds.

Just like that it was 18-11 Corvallis. Throw in McKenzie Redberg's three with 12 seconds left in the quarter and CHS led 21-11.

"We really needed to go out at the start and send a message because we didn't do that against Woodburn," Redberg said. "It makes a statement saying to the rest of the league that we're Corvallis and we're still tough and they should be worried about us."

It was nice for Johnson just to be back on the court. She was held out of the Woodburn game to allow her more time to rest after taking a pounding while at the tournament in Malibu, Calif.

Johnson looked rested, and took advantage of her ability to drive to the basket. In the third quarter alone, Johnson outscored Dallas 10-8 and twice converted three-point plays on drives to the basket.

"Coach said you know drive more and penetrate," Johnson said of Williamson's message to the whole team before the game. "If the three is open shoot it because a lot of us, we like shooting threes of course, but we did really well and I am really proud."

What was also nice for Johnson was she hit all seven of her free throws after struggling at the end of the championship game of the Winter Slam Jam.

The Spartans hit 19 of 24 free throws as a team for the game.

Johnson and Redberg each finished with 19 points, while Syree Gerner continued to provide an offensive punch off the pench with 17 points.

"We just did everything as a team," Johnson said. "Like I said, we were all on the same page and we shot shots that were open."

But while the players who score always seem to get the accolades, the players who didn't score much also provided strong play.

Kayla Laney and Karly Laney combined to score just one point, but were effective playing defense in the post, rebounded, came up with loose balls and forced Dallas into turnovers.

It was the kind of play the Spartans need each night if they hope to accomplish their goals.

"To win a championship you need to have effort," Redberg said. "Effort is what wins games. If we don't give effort we're not going to win games."

What was also nice was that unlike some games this season, the Spartans didn't play a sluggish third quarter after a solid first half.

On Friday, the Spartans outscored Dalls 20-8 to put the game away.

"It was real nice and it takes a lot of stress off, like OK, get it done," Redberg said. "After that, the game isn't over but it allows other players a chance to get to play."

The Spartans know they will get the best of each team from here on out. Friday's game sent a bit of a message.

"It just establishes that we are the team to beat in league and I'm excited," Johnson said. "I hope everyone is ready for us."

Corvallis 72, Dallas 51
CORVALLIS 21 23 20 8 -- 72
DALLAS 11 10 8 22 -- 51
Corvallis: Gabe Jonson 19, McKenzie Redberg 19, Gerner 17, Adams 9, Schrock 4, W. Redberg 2, Clark 1, Kay. Laney 1, Hendrickson, McGowan, Kar. Laney
Dallas: Hannah Frederick 13, Lily Prince 13, Mitchell 10, Kutzer 8, Bridges 5, Pola 2, Phelps, Mitchell
JV: Corvallis 64, Dallas 20. Freshman: Dallas won