1-26-09: Brainerd lifts Leopards past Imbler

IMBLER — The OSAA may need to remind Cove and Imbler that the playoffs begin in late February.

The atmosphere at Saturday’s Leopards and Panthers’ boys basketball game was similar to the postseason.

Cove held off No. 7 Imbler, 60-53 in what may be the most exciting regular season game in the Old Oregon League.
“This is the first time since I’ve been coaching at Cove that we have beat Imbler,” head coach Todd Gorham said. “So, that goes back to 2000, it’s probably like eight to 10 years since we’ve won.”

The Leopards watched a 13 point fourth quarter lead shrink to four with 40 seconds remaining in regulation.

“Our guys aren’t used to being ahead in a big game,” Gorham said. “You could see the pressure get to them a little bit. We were fortunate to get some calls and stops at the end. I was very pleased with our defense.”

Cove’s Justin Brainerd scored a career-high 26 points. The senior made 12 of his 24 shots from the field.

“That’s the first time we’ve beat Imbler in football or basketball since I’ve been here,” Brainerd said. “At the end we were having trouble holding onto the ball. We just made some bad mistakes.

“This felt so good. They were the number one team in the league and we handed them their first (league) loss.”

Jered Witty added 16 points for the Leopards.

Entering Saturday’s game the Panthers had won eight straight games after starting the season 1-4.

Imbler’s Dalton McDaniel followed up his 30-point performance Friday night scoring a team-high 19 points and 10 rebounds.

Bryson Ricker finished with 11 points for the Panthers.

“I was proud of our boys fighting hard at the end,” Imbler head coach Jarrod Teeter said. “I thought Andrew (Fullerton) and Tieghlor (Mesterheide) came in and did a great job on defense to get us back in the game.

“Cove is nice. They worked hard and played a good game. They deserved this win.”

The loss puts Imbler and Powder Valley in a tie atop the Old Oregon League at the mid-way point of the league schedule.

Cove is now tied for third place with Wallowa.

“We can beat anyone on a given night shooting the ball like we did tonight,” Gorham said. “I’m so proud of our guys. I’m really happy for them. They all work so hard and it paid off tonight.”

The Leopards host Pine Eagle Friday night and the Panthers host Joseph.

On Jan. 8, Imbler defeated the Eagles on the road, 52-28. Cove routed Pine Eagle on Jan. 9, 83-29.