Silverton’s Blake Cosgrove (13) stretches for the basket in the Corvallis vs. Silverton boy’s basketball game at Silverton High School in Silverton, Ore., on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016.
SILVERTON – Playing defense was a struggle at times for the Foxes.
But they did when it mattered.
The No. 8-ranked Silverton High boys basketball team played tough in the fourth quarter to upset No. 6-ranked Corvallis 57-54 Wednesday night in a Mid-Willamette Conference game.
The Foxes held Corvallis to two field goals in the fourth quarter and a 3-point attempt by Ben Rodgers came up short with 1.9 seconds left.
Silverton’s current six-game winning streak has put the team back into the conversation of the top teams in the state.
“At the start of the year I feel like we were playing not to lose, but I feel like the last four or five games we’ve been playing with a lot more joy, and that just helps us,” said Silverton senior Sam Roth, who scored 15 points.
Silverton (14-6) moves into a tie with Corvallis (14-6) for first place in the Mid-Willamette Conference at 8-2.
A couple weeks ago, it seemed unthinkable that the Foxes would be in this position.
“It’s been tough all season long,” Silverton coach Steve Roth said. “I think the weight of expectations has weighed heavy on us through all of the season.
“I think we’re getting over it and just playing more freely now. I don’t think we’re as good as we need to be yet, and I think we’ll be better hopefully.”
Silverton led 26-17 after a Blake Cosgrove basket off an assist by Sam Roth with 4:56 left in the first half, but Corvallis went on a 9-0 run to tie the game at 26.
A buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Julian Downey gave Silverton a 29-26 lead at halftime.
Silverton’s Riley Haben (10) shoots the ball in the Corvallis vs. Silverton boy’s basketball game at Silverton High School in Silverton, Ore., on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016.
Corvallis got hot from 3-point range early in the second half then got baskets in the transition and built up a 44-38 lead off Rodgers’ lay-in with 56 seconds left in the third quarter.
“We had trouble defending all night,” Steve Roth said. “They made us look silly for much of the game, running their stuff. They just run their stuff really well, they’re patient and pass the ball really well.”
Silverton went on a quick 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter, including a pair of 3-pointers by Downey, to lead 50-45 and never again trailed.
Downey scored 20 points, including six 3-pointers in the game.
“He’s in the gym all the time and he’s grown up shooting and he’s done a really good job of working hard all the time,” Sam Roth said. “I think he’s prepared for it. I think he just loves it, he loves the fourth quarter.”
Cosgrove converted a three-point play with 3:57 left to give Silverton a 53-50 lead and hit a fast-break basket off an assist by Roth with 2:14 left to put the Foxes up 57-52.
bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler
Silverton 57, Corvallis 54
Corvallis: Matthew Davis 18, Rodgers 13, Humphreys 7, Zalesky 5, Beaubien 4, Schmidt 4, Ellenson, Demello. Totals 20 7-14 54
Silverton: Julian Downey 20, Roth 15, Cosgrove 13, Martinson 4, Dahl 2, Haben 2, Larinov 1, Nielsen, Shippen. Totals 22 6-9 57.
|
COR |
10 |
16 |
18 |
10 |
— 54 |
|
SIL |
19 |
10 |
13 |
15 |
— 57 |
3-point goals: Corvallis 5 (Rodgers 3, Zalesky 2); Silverton 7 (Downey 6, Cosgrove).