Other than the weather, Tulelake’s senior night turned out perfectly.
The Honkers (17-4-0, 12-2-0 Shasta Cascade League) braved frigid temperatures and strong winds Thursday to get a 7-0 win over Butte Valley (2-13-0, 2-12-0) that secured their fourth straight league championship and likely the No. 1 seed in the CIF Northern Section playoffs. Unlike last season, when Tulelake went undefeated in SCL play, the Honkers needed outside help to avoid having to share the title.
Entering this week, Tulelake was tied with Fall River atop the standings, having lost its last game against the Bulldogs Oct. 3. Fall River dropped its game against Modoc 2-1 on PKs (the SCL does not allow games to end in ties) Monday, giving the Honkers a one-game hold on first place with two games remaining. Both teams won their subsequent games Tuesday, setting the stage for the title race to be decided Thursday.
Tulelake senior Melvyn Flores–who scored a hat trick in Thursday’s game–said having to fight all the way through league play made this year’s championship a bit more gratifying.
“I feel like we had more obstacles and more things to overcome,” Flores said. “That leads to the victories feeling more valuable to you.”
Flores opened the scoring in the 4th minute before freshman Alex Garcia logged his 20th goal of the season to put Tulelake up 2-0 in the 35th minute. In the closing seconds of the half, junior Anthony Alcala made it 3-0 on a screamer from distance.
Flores completed the hat trick with a five-minute double early in the second half, scoring in the 48th and 52nd minutes. His third goal came on a free kick from just outside the penalty area. In the 56th minute, freshman Ricardo Covarrubias converted on a corner kick with a looping header inside the box. Senior Anthony Loza provided the final tally for the Honkers in the 79th minute, his team-leading 26th of the campaign.
Flores (2), Alcala (2), Loza and sophomore Ismael Garcia were also credited with assists. Butte Valley did not register a shot on goal.
“The kids definitely delivered…especially the seniors,” Tulelake head coach Miguel Navarro said. “For them to really thrive and really show out in front of their families, what more do you want?”
Tulelake will learn what its road to a fourth NSCIF title in five seasons looks like when the bracket is released Saturday.
Other games
Henley 2, Hidden Valley/New Hope Christian 2 (Boys)
The race for the Skyline Conference boys title took another significant turn as No. 4 Henley (8-2-2, 4-1-1) had to rally from a 2-0 halftime deficit to salvage a draw with No. 9 Hidden Valley/New Hope Christian (5-6-1, 1-4-1) in Grants Pass.
“We were fortunate to tie,” Henley head coach Lupe Gonzales said. “We played very, very lax in the first half…We created great opportunities in the first 20 minutes but failed to finish.”
Junior Layne Worrell put the Hornets on the board in the 50th minute off a pass from classmate Luke Balzotti, who himself scored the equalizer in the 65th minute with an assist from junior Michael Ruelas.
The result gives No. 8 Klamath Union (8-1-1, 4-1-0) a chance to take sole possession of first place with two games remaining if it wins at Phoenix (7-2-2, 4-2-0) Monday.
Henley hosts Mazama (2-7-0, 0-5-0) at 4:30 p.m. Monday. Hidden Valley/New Hope Christian hosts Phoenix at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24.
Phoenix 8, Mazama 0 (Boys)
Phoenix (7-2-2, 4-2-0 Skyline Conference) mercy ruled Mazama (2-7-0, 0-5-0) for the second time this season at Viking Stadium.
Mazama travels to No. 4 Henley (8-2-2, 4-1-1) at 4:30 p.m. Monday. Phoenix hosts No. 8 Klamath Union (8-1-1, 4-1-0) at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
St. Mary’s Medford 8, Lost River/Bonanza 0 (Boys)
No. 6 St. Mary’s Medford (9-3-1, 6-1-0 3A/2A/1A Special District 5) handed Lost River/Bonanza (5-5-1, 4-3-0) its first ever mercy rule defeat and knocked the Raiders out of playoff contention.
Lost River/Bonanza finishes its season at Cascade Christian (3-9-0, 2-5-0) at 4 p.m. Tuesday. St. Mary’s Medford travels to Rogue River (2-11-0, 1-6-0) for its regular season finale at 6 p.m. Tuesday.
Henley 1, Hidden Valley/New Hope Christian 0 (Girls)
On senior night, No. 6 Henley (10-2-0, 6-0-0 Skyline Conference) moved one step closer to repeating as league champions after holding off a late push by Hidden Valley/New Hope Christian (4-6-1, 1-4-1).
The win gives the Hornets their first season sweep of the Mustangs since 2015 and extends their winning streak to eight games–a mark Henley hasn’t reached since 2014.
“They’re playing for each other, they’re getting along well [and] they seem happy,” Henley head coach Mike Hedlund said. “We’re a little nicked up on injuries, but they’re just playing hard for each other.”
Sophomore Prestyn Schade scored the lone goal in the 24th minute off a pass from classmate Sarah Edwards. Freshman goalkeeper Saige White logged her fourth 80-minute shutout of the season.
Henley travels to Mazama (5-4-0, 3-2-0) at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The Hornets can clinch the Skyline Conference title outright with a win. Hidden Valley/New Hope Christian travels to Phoenix (2-9-1, 0-6-0) at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 24.
Mazama 1, Phoenix 0 (Girls)
Senior Ashlyn Smith intercepted a pass and scored in the 65th minute to give Mazama (5-4-0, 3-2-0 Skyline Conference) a crucial win at Phoenix (2-9-1, 0-6-0).
“It was a really rough game, but our girls continue to play through,” Mazama head coach Kelly Ruiz said.
The result marks the first shutout for the Vikings since their second game of the season Sept. 5, which was also the last time they recorded back-to-back wins. Mazama now holds a multiple-game advantage over Hidden Valley/New Hope Christian for the Skyline Conference’s third and final postseason bid.
Both teams play at 6:30 p.m. Monday; Mazama hosts No. 6 Henley (10-2-0, 6-0-0) for its home finale, while Phoenix travels to No. 8 Klamath Union (7-2-1, 3-1-1).