BASKETBALL PREVIEWS
BOYS BASKETBALL
#17 Cottage Grove (5-4)
■ Tipping off: The Lions return from the holiday break and travel to the Stayton HS tournament Wednesday-Friday. Cottage Grove has benefited from the emergence of 6-foot-5 freshman Trevor Cooper.
#20 Creswell (5-5)
■ Tipping off: Creswell faces Class 1A Umpqua Valley Christian at the Oakland HS tournament. Forwards Riley Smith and Carson Williamson have been key on the interior for the Bulldogs.
#24 Springfield (2-5)
■ Tipping off: Springfield opens the Abby’s Tournament against host South Medford on Wednesday. The Millers are 0-2 against Class 6A opponents this season, and will need a strong scoring output from sophomore Jayden Robinson.
#19 Thurston (5-3)
■ Tipping off: Thurston’s first action after the break is at the Barry Adams Classic at South Salem HS. The Colts face Class 6A No. 20 Nelson to open the tournament on Wednesday.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
#23 Cottage Grove (5-4)
■ Tipping off: The Lions face host No. 11 North Marion at the North Marion Holiday Tournament on Thursday. Guards Jaylee Lima, Payton Anlauf, and Mariah Bailey continue to lead a Cottage Grove team that already has more wins than all of last season.
#13 Creswell (6-4)
■ Tipping off: Creswell faces Class 1A’s Umpqua Valley Christian at Oakland HS after nine days off. Senior guard Dakota Carson leads the Bulldogs with season averages of 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists.
#8 Pleasant Hill (4-3)
■ Tipping off: The Billies’ tough non-league schedule continues as they travel to No. 1 Corbett to open post-Christmas play. If Pleasant Hill wants to hand Corbett its first loss, it’ll need stellar games from top scorers Claire Crawford and Karsyn Stapleton.
#6 Springfield (5-3)
■ Tipping off: After going 2-2 at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona, the Millers return to action on Thursday as they face Clovis West (Calif.) at the Lincoln HS Holiday Classic. Sheldon transfer Diamond Wright earned all-tournament honors in Arizona.
#26 Thurston(2-6)
Tipping off: Thurston hosts Class 6A Roosevelt on Friday. The Colts have had a tough start under new coach Kevin Durfee, but have three non-league games left to right the ship before Midwestern League play begins.
Note: All records and rankings as of Tuesday morning.
BOYS & GIRLS RECAPS
BOYS BASKETBALL
■ Creswell went 1-1, beating Jefferson 66-43 before falling to Class 4A No. 13 Marist 49-37. Tyler Whitson had 13 points to lead the way against Jefferson, while Riley Smith tallied 16 points and 8 rebounds in the Marist loss.
■ Pleasant Hill lost 48-43 on Friday to Class 4A Phoenix in the Christmas Classic at Cascade Christian School, then beat St. Mary’s 78-61 on Saturday. Gavin Inglish scored a school and career record 56 points – including shooting 9-of-13 on 3-pointers – in the victory over St. Mary’s.
■ Thurston handled Class 4A No. 13 Marist 87-51 in its final game before the holidays. Nate Stiffler led four Colts in double figures with 20 points and 5 rebounds, and Noah Blair chipped in 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 steals.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
■ Creswell went 1-1 in its final games heading into the holidays. In a 50-43 loss to No. 6 Jefferson, Lauren Bailey led the way with 17 points and 10 rebounds. The Bulldogs bounced back the next night, winning 56-54 over Class 4A No. 18 Marist on a game-winning buzzer-beater. Dakota Carson led the way in the win with 21 points.
■ Springfield finished the Nike Tournament of Champions with two wins, beating Buena Park (Calif.) 57-35 and Grandview (Colo.) 48-44. Danaeja Romero-Ah Sam finished the Buena Park win with 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. Junior Diamond Wright made the All-Tournament team for the Millers.
■ Thurston fell to Class 4A No. 18 Marist 40-28 on Tuesday in its only game last week. Sophomore Addison Nelson led the Colts with 10 points and Bailey Tovey added 8.
