East Oregonian
If you’re reading this, then life as we know it hasn’t changed and the world is still turning. If you’re using crinkled newspaper as blankets while huddled in the ruins of civilization, then the Mayans were right and you can probably ignore the rest of this.
Also, good luck with all that doomsday stuff. Keep warm, little buckaroo.
I mean there’s that whole still being alive thing, but so much more importantly there’s just too many spectacular storylines going on in this winter sports season in Eastern Oregon. And it’s still my job to sit back and watch them unfold.
Assuming the horizon isn’t burning with brimstone right now, here are a few of the most interesting things that I’ll be keeping an eye on this winter.
I’m excited to see how the Hermiston boys’ basketball team will respond to the suspensions that recently rocked its roster. With four varsity players gone — three until about league play — will the Bulldogs be able to stay afloat until the cavalry comes?
I’m excited to see what new Hermiston wrestling coach Shaun Williams can do with the program, one that verged into dynasty territory under former coach Curt Berger. Can that body of work remain as dominant with a change of head?
I’m excited to see how the Blue Mountain Conference will shake out in boys’ basketball as teams get a little deeper into league play. The Irrigon Knights look about as good as any Class 2A team could, winning all nine of their games by an average of 36 points. And with a pair of other local undefeateds in Stanfield and Pilot Rock, which titan will take the crown?
And what about the girls’ side of the BMC? That looks like a five-horse race that could come down to the wire with Enterprise, Union, Pilot Rock, Weston-McEwen and Heppner all jockeying for position at the top. How many of these schools will be coming to Pendleton in early March for the state tournament?
There’s so many questions left out there for local sports. Answers will only come with time. And I’m going to go out on a limb and say since the sun DID come out again today— well on the other side of those droopy clouds at least — time is something that we still have.
And for a little more bright-side looking, you’re still alive, too, and that means it’s time to celebrate — or at least the best you can with those hundreds of cans of tuna fish stockpiled in your basement.
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Contact AJ Mazzolini at [email protected] or (541) 966-0839.