MHS girls basketball advances in Mountain West playoffs

Feb. 17, 2022 — The Mapleton Sailors girls basketball team are keeping their season alive. On Feb. 15, the Alsea Wolverines came to town for a Mountain West League playoff game with the winner earning a game against Triangle Lake and the chance to advance in the league playoffs. Mapleton used its lockdown defense and led all game to beat Alsea 33-21.

Mapleton needed to win three consecutive games this week to earn the Mountain West’s #3 seed for the OSAA 1A State Playoffs. The first of those three games were against Alsea.

The Sailors were on fire from the tipoff, taking the lead immediately. Seniors Opal Burruss, Micayla Flansberg and Jahala Blake’s defense was the highlight from the beginning. The Wolverines spent most of the first quarter simply trying to get the ball across half court against the Sailor full court press.

It was 10-5 after the first.

Mapleton defense continued to dominate in the second quarter. The Sailors scored most of their points off fast breaks from steals. It was 20-13 MHS at the half.

The second half was more of the same. Freshmen Lexi Flansberg and Helen Burruss and sophomores Tanae Robbins and Sammy Lynn showed the bright future of Mapleton girls basketball with their constant harassment of Wolverine offensive players. The Sailors never relinquished their lead and won the game 33-21.

Leading scorers for MHS were Opal and Blake, with 8 points each.

Opal was impressed by the way her team played.

“I think as a team we just keep playing better,” said Opal. “We’re really stepping it up defensively. I especially thought Lexi and Helen did an amazing job on defense.”

With the win, seniors Opal, Micayla and Blake keep their high school basketball careers alive.

“It sure is nice to keep going,” said Opal. “We got the results we wanted.”

After the victory, the Sailors move on in the Mountain West Playoffs. They traveled to Triangle Lake on Thursday, after press deadlines. The winner of the Mapleton – Triangle Lake game will advance and play at Crow at a time and date to be determined. The winner of that game will earn the Mountain West’s #3 seed in the state playoffs and a road game against the Casco League’s #2 seed.