Jewell 58, Riverdale 32JEWELL – It was a successful opening night for the Jewell boys basketball team, which put the defensive clamps on visiting Riverdale Monday night at Jewell.

A big defensive effort gave the Bluejays a 58-32 win over the Mavericks, who had just 12 points at halftime.

Jewell, led by Joel Johnston’s 20 points, led 14-6 after one quarter, and 30-12 at halftime.

“We just flew up and down the floor, and came up with a great defensive effort,” said Jewell coach Ryan Henderson, who was making his coaching debut with the Jays.

Jewell’s Tim Meier tossed in 10 points, while Tony Busch added six points and nine rebounds.

The Bluejays play at Southwest Christian tonight.

Gladstone 59, Seaside 47GLADSTONE – Gladstone’s David Duong erupted for 31 points Monday night, as he led the Gladiators to a 59-47 win over Seaside in a season-opening boys basketball game.

The visiting Gulls, who were playing short-handed, were led by Josh Chilinski’s 12 points, with 11 points from Kevin Nagle. Mitch Winstanley added seven points for Seaside, which trailed 22-9 after one quarter.

Tyler Yates scored 16 points for Gladstone. Seaside plays at Valley Catholic Friday.

Girls Basketball

Jewell 59, Riverdale 28JEWELL – A balanced scoring attack helped the Jewell girls basketball team post a 59-28 win over visiting Riverdale Monday night in the season-opener for both teams.

Jewell’s Samantha Uerling led all scorers with 11 points, and had help from teammates Kim Ulm (8 points), Kristin Nelson (7), Francis Dugan (7), Merisol Borquez (6) and Mollie Lee (6).

The Bluejays led 14-5 after one quarter, and outscored the Mavericks 32-13 in the second half.

Jewell plays at Southwest Christian tonight.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Arnall earns honorable mentionFOREST GROVE – Warrenton’s DeeDee Arnall, a sophomore at Pacific University, was named honorable mention for Northwest Conference Player of the Week last week for her outstanding basketball performance in Pacific’s first two games of the season.

Arnall scored a combined 43 points and grabbed 18 rebounds in Pacific’s games at the Concordia Classic, Nov. 21 and 22.

The 2002 Warrenton graduate led the Boxers in scoring in both games, posting her first double-double (21 points, 13 rebounds) in a win over Evergreen State. Pacific opened with a 75-59 win over Concordia, as Arnall led all scorers with 22 points on 10-of-14 shooting.

In Game 2, Pacific managed to hold off a late surge by Evergreen State to knock off the Geoducks 74-71.

Most recently, Arnall scored 19 points (7-of-10 shooting) in a 74-65 loss to Dominican University at the Lady Oak Thanksgiving Classic in Atherton, Calif.

In the opening game of the tournament (a 74-54 Pacific win over Menlo), Arnall scored 26 points (10-of-12 shooting) with four steals.

For her efforts, Arnall was selected to the All-Tournament team, along with teammate Tori Nelson of Mossyrock, Wash.

COLLEGE WRESTLING

Grappling with successDeeDee ArnallASHLAND – Warrenton graduate Wes Balensifer has opened his senior season at Southern Oregon with a bang.

Wrestling at heavyweight for the Raiders, Balensifer grappled his way to an individual championship at the recent Southern Oregon Best of the West Open.

Balensifer defeated the projected starting heavyweights from the University of Oregon and Oregon State University en route to the heavyweight title. At 9-0 overall, the NAIA’s second-ranked wrestler is off to the school’s best individual start in four years.

Overall, the Raiders boasted a school-record six placers, including a champion (Balensifer) and three finalists in the Best of the West Open.

If team scores had been kept at the 12-team event, SOU would have placed second behind Oregon State and ahead of in-state NCAA Div. I programs at UO and Portland State University.

Knappa graduate Austin Hunsinger is in his first year with the SOU wrestling program.