![At the bottom of the third inning, the Lions are still scoreless. Rowe stands at home plate, preparing to bat, while Vandenbrink stands off to the side as the next batter up. Despite having the bases loaded, the team was unable to score any runs. “It’s just the beginning of the season. We’re just going to be playing out best by June, [and] that’s where champions are,” Rowe said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_3077-1200x900.jpg)
![All smiles. The group poses for a photo with last year’s book, “This is Our House,” along with their award for third Best in Show. Meikle, who was an Editor-in-Chief for the yearbook last year as well, holds both and stands at the center of the group. “That was an amazing feeling, going and grabbing the third place award,” Meikle said. “All of it paid off. I cried so much over that book, being able to receive [the award] was one of the highlights of my high school career, it was like the coolest thing ever.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/8bookpose_philly-1200x800.jpg)
Walker McCrae
The crowd was fired up after the girls basketball comeback overtime victory and helped fuel the boys to victory at the annual breast cancer awareness night where both teams wore pink to show their support. Meanwhile, The Lions (13-5, 3-1 Three Rivers League) beat the Canby Cougars (6-11, 1-3 TRL) late with a 76-69 victory.
At the start of the fourth quarter, West Linn had a 47-46 lead and needed to score 29 points to come away with the win. The defense struggled, allowing 23 points to Canby, but was able to recover and hold on for the win. Although it was not as dramatic as the girls game, it finished in a close second.
Guard Anthony Mathis, sophomore, and forward Hayden Coppedge led the Lions in scoring with 18 points. Mathis and Coppedge weren’t the only stars of the game. West Linn had two other players scoring in double figures; center Ryan Shearmire, junior, had 17, and guard Payton Pritchard, freshman, finished with 14.
The Cougars were led by guard Sam Stelk, senior, with 21 points who helped Canby stay in the game. Along with Stelk, junior guard Coby Cates scored in double figures with 18 points.
The Lions take on the Oregon City Pioneers (9-7, 0-4 TRL) this Friday at 6 p.m. at Oregon City High School.