PENDLETON, Ore.-Stanfield fell to Oakland, 59-56, in a close quarterfinal matchup at the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) Onpoint Community Credit Union State Championships on March 5.
“It was the mental part of the game,” said Israel Monkus, a senior guard for Stanfield, after the loss. “We kind of let the referees get to us, and we had way too many turnovers.”
After Oakland scored on its first possession of the game, Monkus reeled off the first five points of the game for Stanfield, as the Tigers jumped out to an early lead in front of a packed gym at Pendleton High School.
The game then got physical as Oakland established its size down low, and the Oakers pulled to within three points at 15-12 at the end of the first quarter.
“It’s never the referees, we’d never blame a loss on officiating,” said Stanfield Head Coach Rylie Smith. “But it’s frustrating, both teams were equally physical, but the calls were not the same.”
Perimeter shooting allowed Stanfield to take a 31-25 lead into halftime, and the Tigers drained nine threes for the game.
Oakland was determined to get to the basket in the second half, especially with the 6’3” Andy McCurdy and Jaxson Clark at 6’10,” and opened the third quarter on a 7-0 run to take the lead, 32-31.
McCurdy was the leading scorer for Oakland with 24 points, while Clark added 12 for the Oakers.
Turnovers by Stanfield and the interior play of the Oakers, who outscored Stanfield 30-8 in the paint for the game, enabled Oakland to carry a 43-36 lead into the fourth quarter.
“We had to adjust to the calls and couldn’t play with the physicality we usually do,” said Smith. “We weren’t as aggressive, and there wasn’t any energy in the second half.”
Every time Oakland seemed poised to put the game away in the fourth quarter, the Tigers found the energy to roar back, though, showing the grit and determination that led them to the semifinals, pulling to within 52-51 with a minute and a half left.
Aaron Sanchez paced Stanfield with 18 points, including four three-pointers, while Monkus and Alex Angel added 10 points apiece for the Tigers.
“This team loves playing for each other,” said Smith. “They work hard, they’ve overcome adversity, and that makes us better.”
Stanfield was right back on the court for a semifinal matchup in the consolation bracket at the Pendleton Convention Center on March 6, with the Tiger’s season coming to an end following a 65-56 loss to East Linn Christian.
