A nightmare early

For many years, Friday the 13th has been considered an unlucky day. Even Hollywood has immortalized the day with the horror series where serial killer Jason Voorhees kills a bunch of camp counselors and then takes on any and all comers.

On Friday, a remake that incorporated parts of the first three movies hit theaters, and several members of the Corvallis High girls basketball team were planning on attending a showing of the movie after their game against Lebanon.

The first half of Friday's game must have seemed more like a nightmare than anything they would see later that evening.

The Spartans were sluggish and turned the ball over 11 times in the first half as they held just a 25-13 lead at the intermission.

It was a far cry from the 50-15 lead they enjoyed over the Warriors on the road in the first meeting of the year. The Spartans went on to win that game by 52 points in one of the most dominating performances of the season.

So it's no surprise the coaching staff had plenty to say at the half.

"You are playing down," coach Joe Williamson said. "That is not an inspired basketball team out there."

It could be easy to understand if the Spartans were looking past the Warriors with a showdown against Silverton on Monday, a game now that could give the Spartans a Mid-Willamette Conference title.

But a quote on the white board attributed to soccer great Mia Hamm should have had the Spartans focused.

"You can't just beat a team; you have to leave a lasting impression in their minds so they never (underlined) want to see you again."

The Spartans weren't doing that in the first half.

As the halftime break was coming to an end, senior McKenzie Redberg asked for someone to write third quarter on the board since assistant coach Mark James wasn't there to do it. It is his customary statement to win the third quarter.

After adding it to the board, Williamson said it didn't matter if it was written on the board or not.

He said winning the third quarter wasn't about just winning by four points, but was more of an attitude of taking control of the game.

The players certainly wanted to make a point based on their performance in the quarter.

The Spartans scored the first 17 points and put the game out of reach by outscoring Lebanon 26-5 in the quarter to lead 51-18.

And while the fourth quarter was less than spectacular, the Spartans won their sixth in a row and took over first place with a 57-26 win.

CHS (18-3, 11-1) also got help from West Albany on Friday as the Bulldogs went to Silverton and knocked off the Foxes for the second time. Silverton is now second at 10-2 and West stays in third at 9-3.

So if the Spartans can win at home on Monday, they will wrap up a conference title regardless of what happens at West Albany on Wednesday.

If the Spartans want to wrap up the title, they will need to play more like the third quarter than the other three. In the third, six players scored with senior point guard Gabe Johnson scoring 10 of her game-high 12 points in the period.

Before the game, Johnson was honored as a McDonald's All-American candidate from Oregon.

Kayla Laney missed her fourth straight game in double figures but was one of three players to finish with eight points. Katie Schrock, who scored five quick points in the third, also had eight as did Syree Gerner off the bench.

Sophomore Sara Smee saw her first varsity action and scored two points that put CHS up 57-19. Lebanon then scored the final seven points.

The Spartans finished with 51 rebounds, well above their average, but also committed 22 turnovers, well over their average of 13 a game.

They will need more of the rebounding effort and fewer turnovers against Silverton on Monday. If they can do that, the MWC title could be theirs and they would be one step closer to returning to the state tournament.

Corvallis 57, Lebanon 26
LEBANON 7 6 5 8 -- 26
CORVALLIS 14 11 26 6 -- 57
Lebanon: Megan Benedict 10, Steward 4, Nelson 3, Kirby 3, Duerr 2, Liton 2, Gabel 2, Hudson, Newton, King, Probert, Funchess.
Corvallis: Gabe Johnson 12, Schrock 8, Gerner 8, Kay. Laney 8, Adams 6, M. Redberg 5, Kar. Laney 4, Seitz 2, W. Redberg 2, Smee 2, Hendrickson
JV: Corvallis 67, Lebanon 34
Frosh: Corvallis won