Chester Volcano Ashlyn Olah dribbles through the maze of Burney Raiders on Feb. 15. Photos Mari Erin Roth

It time for playoffs!

February 28, 2018 Mari Erin Roth, Sports Editor

Noah Hardee shoots through for the QHS Trojans against Maxwell on Feb. 16.

Plumas high school teams are heading into basketball playoffs. The Portola girls’ team sits on top with the best record of all Plumas County basketball teams: 7-1 in league and 19-7 overall. The one team that beat the Tigers was Biggs High.

The Biggs Wolverines have an identical record, both league and overall to the Tigers, and the two teams finished the regular season perched on the top of the Mountain Valley girls’ league. The Portola girls rank 24 in the Northern Section of 60 teams and are seventh in their Division 5.

The first playoff game for the Tiger girls is a home game in Portola tomorrow, Feb. 22, against the Mt. Shasta Bears at 7 p.m.

Quincy girls are in the same division as PHS and are ranked ninth. The first playoff game for the Trojan girls was Feb. 20 when they came up against the Colusa Red Hawks. “I am a firm believer that anything can happen on any given night in the playoffs,” said QHS head basketball coach Kent Grammer. “Colusa will be a great game for our girls.” If the QHS girls won they will face the defending section champs in Durham.

Today, Feb. 21, the Greenville Indian girls will play Big Valley on the GHS court at 7 p.m. Summing up the competition, the Big Valley Cardinals are 5-7 in its own league and 7-15 overall. The Indian girls finished the season 6-2 with an overall record of 10-14. The GHS girls were just behind their buddies, the Loyalton Grizzlies, who took first place in the Pioneer league with a 6-0 record.

“We are on to playoffs, I could not be more proud of the girls hard work,” said GHS head basketball coach Bridgette Bustamante. “They never give up!”

As a spectator, I can say that the Chester girls had a great season. The games were thrilling, the shots amazing, and the team spirit was record high. It is hard to believe that in the end the team’s league record wound up 1-7, overall 6-19. The girls played hard and head coach Lori Crawford was proud of the team effort, which she stated repeatedly throughout the season. The team consisted of four freshmen, three sophomores, three juniors and only two seniors. “It’s a very young team,” said Crawford, “they will be good to go next year.” No playoffs for the girls this year though.

High School boys basketball

Quincy boys had an undefeated record until they were bested by their rivals, the Portola Tigers, on Feb. 13 with the final score 49-39. However, the Trojans boys still have the cleanest record of the four Plumas County boys’ teams, 6-1.

Trojan Anna Hollister slides past a Panther to sink 3 of her 20 points Feb. 16 as QHS beat Maxwell 52-38.

The QHS boys have a bye for the first round of Division 5 playoffs and will take on the Trinity Wolves this Friday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m., in Quincy.

“We have the advantage because they are coming to us,” said QHS head coach Grammer. The Wolves were 7-3 in their league and have a record of 17-9 overall.

“If we win, we qualify for state tournament,” said Grammer. It would be the first time since 2004 when the Quincy boys won the section championship, according to Grammer.

The Trinity Wolves are the Division 5 defending champions. They came in second this year, though, to the Mt. Shasta Bears who went undefeated, 10-0. The winner of this game plays Wednesday, Feb. 28, in the semi-finals and the Division 5 Championship game is Friday, March 2, at Butte College.

“There is a lot on the line,” said Grammer. “ We control our own destinies with both teams. Looking so forward to it.”

Quincy lost to neighboring Chester in a non-league game by a close score, 57-56. QHS and CHS have very similar overall records, 16-9 and 16-10, respectively. In the overall Northern Section, CHS is ranked 32 and QHS is 33. Out of a 64-team field, that is close quarters, but the teams would only meet again this year at the state basketball championships because they are in different divisions.

Chester boys are ranked seventh in Division 6 and in the playoffs were first challenged by Maxwell in an away playoff game Feb. 20. The winner of this match will play Redding tomorrow, Feb. 22.

The Portola Tiger boys meet the Hamilton Braves today, Feb. 21, on the PHS courts at 7 p.m. The Braves went 2-7 in the Mid Valley league and 11-14 overall. The winner of this match meets the Colusa Red Hawks on Friday, Feb. 23. “I’m really proud of my team,” said PHS head coach Tim Brubaker, “and their play the past two weeks.”

The Greenville boys wrapped up their season earning second place in the Pioneer League with a record of 6-3, one step behind the neighboring Loyalton Grizzlies who were undefeated. The GHS Indian boys overall record is 10-13.

In the playoffs they took on the Happy Camp Indians on Feb. 20 in an away game. Happy Camp (7-3) came in second in the Evergreen league behind Big Valley (9-1). The winner of this match will play tomorrow, Feb. 22.