War Eagles Enjoy Banner Season

Monday, March 17, 2014

— Tom and Crist Olsen both agreed, the Rogers Heritage War Eagles basketball season will be remembered fondly for some time.

The elder Olsen, who has been Heritage's only boys basketball coach, guided the War Eagles to their best season in school history, reaching the state tournament for the first time. Crist led the War Eagles in scoring and was one of three seniors who have played basketball together since they were very young. Tom's son, Dane, was also the starting point guard as a sophomore.

Rogers Heritage War Eagles

Date^Opponent^Result/Time

Nov. 19^Subiaco Academy^L, 42-40

Nov. 22^at Russellville^W, 50-47

Carthage (Mo.) Invitational

Dec. 2^Monett Mo., W, 58-32

Dec. 4^Seneca, Mo.,W 62-59

Dec. 21^Springfield (MO.) Central^W, 60-52

Arvest Hoopfest

Dec. 12^Webb City, Mo.^W, 52-37

Dec. 13^Fort Smith Southside^W, 54-41

Dec. 14^Waynesville, Mo.^L,66-36

Dec. 20^Alma^W, 57-55 (OT)

Del City/Midwest City, Okla. Tournament

Dec. 26^Mustang, Okla.^L, 66-61

Dec. 27^Guthrie, Okla. ^W, 60-30

Dec. 28^Oklahoma City Storm^W, 63-61

Jan. 3^El Dorado^W, 70-47

Jan. 10^Fayetteville*^L, 51-45

Jan. 14^at Springdale High*^L, 69-51

Jan. 17^at Bentonville*^L, 58-55

Jan. 21^Van Buren*^L, 54-39

Jan. 24^Springdale Har-Ber*^W, 48-45

Jan. 28^at Rogers High*^W, 68-54

Jan. 31^Siloam Springs*^W, 52-40

Feb. 7^at Fayetteville*^W, 51-44

Feb. 11^Springdale High*^L, 61-59

Feb. 14^Bentonville*^L, 68-63

Feb. 18^at Van Buren*^L, 53-36

Feb. 21^at Springdale Har-Ber*^W, 57-54

Feb. 25^Rogers High*^W, 53-51

Feb. 28^at Siloam Springs*^L, 59-46

March 6^Cabot^L, 58-51

* denotes 7A/6A-West Conference games

"For sure, it was special," Tom said. "My sons playing was a special time for us. Making the state tournament for the first time was pretty cool. The kids really kind of buying into what we wanted to do and overachieving in some respects.

"The senior carried us, provided great leadership and were very unselfish. You look at MacKenzie Sams and what he did for us. Crist and Wyatt Kinnamon could have tried to shoot it more. But they realized they can open up shots for other players."

The War Eagles (16-12) enjoyed plenty of firsts this season. The big one was earning the state tournament berth, which was a definite goal for the this year's group, Crist Olsen said. But others included school record for wins in a season (16) and conference wins in a season. Heritage's six 7A/6A-West Conference wins equaled the number of wins in the previous five years combined.

The War Eagles also collected their first tournament championship in school history when they defeated Springfield (Mo.) Central in the finals of the Carthage (Mo.) Invitational in late December. They also earned their first win over Fayetteville this season, which was ultimately instrumental in getting them into the state tournament.

Crist pointed to the game against Bentonville in War Eagle Arena in which he scored a school-record 30 points as a memorable time for him, but he quickly came back to Heritage's win at Springdale Har-ber that clinched the state tournament berth.

He and his father shared an emotional embrace near midcourt following the win.

Coach Olsen acknowledged the senior class will be missed, but the cupboard's not totally bare.

Connor Hirsh, who averaged 13 points and a team-high seven rebounds, will be a senior, while 6-foot-6 Julian Jensen and Dane Olsen started almost every game as sophomores.

"We have big holes to fill, don't get me wrong," Coach Olsen said. "But we'll be different. We'll be bigger. Maybe we'll look a little more like a normal 7A-West team, not starting three guys 6-feet or under.

"Connor's earned that leadership role and he'll carry that on I believe. Our younger kids finished strong since our JV won nine conference games. That's pretty special for them."

Sports on 03/17/2014