Spartans won 50 of 55 games over the past two seasons

By Raju Woodward
Gazette-Times Reporter

EUGENE - An era came to end on Saturday night at McArthur Court for the Corvallis High boys basketball team’s six seniors.

Nadav Heyman, Nick Eason, Alex Hendrickson, Cade Hearing, Camron Horrell and Kevin Younger played their final game for the Spartans, a 55-52 loss to Jefferson in the OSAA 5A state championship game.

It was a heartbreaking ending to a remarkable run for CHS the past two seasons, one that has established it as one of the elite programs in the state. The Spartans compiled a 50-5 record, won back-to-back Mid-Willamette Conference titles and made appearances in the state tournament. And the senior class played an instrumental role during that stretch, especially this season.

Heyman was the MWC Player of the Year the past two seasons. Hendrickson was a three-year varsity starter. Eason and Hearing emerged this season as reliable offensive weapons, while Horrell made an impact with his all-around play. Meanwhile, Younger provided a physical presence for the Spartans off the bench in his first varsity season.

But their success shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Most of them played together since they were in fifth or sixth grade. As a result, they knew each other’s tendencies on the court and put each other in positions where they could succeed.

More importantly, they were there for each other when it mattered most. After CHS’s thrilling semifinal victory over Thurston, in which it rallied from a seven-point fourth quarter deficit, Eason talked about that bond.

“We’ve been playing together forever,” he said. “So we aren’t afraid to get on each other. At the same time, if I’m getting down on myself, Nadav will pick me up, or Cade will pick up Alex, and so on.”

The group set its sights on winning a state title long before high school — they wanted one in fifth grade. And after the Spartans finished fifth at the tournament in 2007, they were on a mission this season to win it all.

They cruised through the regular season, their only setback being a 47-44 loss to Thurston in the third game of the season. The Spartans routed Churchill in the second round of the playoffs to earn a return trip to Mac Court. There, they won convincingly over Hermiston in the quarterfinals and avenged its loss to Thurston in the semifinals to make it to the championship game.

And even though the seniors came up just short of accomplishing their mission, CHS coach Greg Garrison said that didn’t diminish the Spartans incredible run. Rather, he called it a bittersweet ending.

“If you look at the big picture and our collective effort, it’s a sweet season,” Garrison said. “When you win 26 games and really be six points away from being undefeated and the state champions, it feels really good. But at the same time, when your expectation is to win a state title and that doesn’t happen, you kind of just have to swallow hard.”

Eason said he’s hurting from the loss right now, but that eventually he’ll be able to look back at this year with fond memories. He enjoyed a breakout season. In his first year as a starter, he was the Spartans’ second-leading scorer and was a MWC first team selection along with Heyman and Hendrickson.

He saved his best for last though, hitting several clutch shots during the tournament for CHS, especially against Thurston. That, along with his hustle and physical style of play, helped him get named to the all-tournament team. Heyman was a unanimous selection.

“It felt good since this is my senior year and I was more of a contributor this year,” Eason said. “To make this run is incredible. Right now it kind of hurts, but once I have some time to think about it, I will feel better.”

That’s because he and the rest of the seniors have left an incredible legacy. The records, stats and achievements don’t lie. But if you ask Eason, that mark has nothing to do with talent or winning.

“Practice (is what they can take from us),” Eason said. “The seniors practiced all out every day in practice. That’s where you get better and that’s how you build this program up, by practicing and working hard.”

That’s a simple, but profound message that if returning players and future Spartans embrace should allow the program to continue thriving. Garrison said he’s looking forward to next season because his returners will know exactly what it takes to get to the tournament.

“I think this experience is invaluable for our guys to see what it takes to be successful and play at a high level,” Garrison said. “Those younger guys didn’t get a lot of playing time in the tournament, but now they know the process. They know the effort and work that it’s going to take to get back here. I am excited about them and our future.”

And the seniors leave with the satisfaction of knowing they helped CHS reach elite status, despite the tough finish to their careers.

“I couldn’t be more proud of every single one of these guys,” Heyman said. “They all have hearts of a champion. I wouldn’t ask for any better team to play with.

“We came out here, we took care of business and we fought back against Hermiston, Thurston and Jefferson. I think we shut up all the doubters out there that said Corvallis isn’t one of the top teams in the state.”