Weather plays havoc with schedules; state dates won’t change
All area teams had their games canceled last week due to weather-related issues. Non-league games were canceled, and league games are being rescheduled. Across the state, the majority of high school events were canceled due to road conditions or power outages. While games were canceled or rescheduled, the Oregon School Activities Association has not announced any changes to the dates of the state tournaments. Most teams play two games per week during league play, so the rescheduled games mean most teams will have a week or two of three games to make up for the lost week.
Weekly Previews
The Main Event: Boys Basketball
PLEASANT HILL AT HARRISBURG
■ Game facts: Pleasant Hill (11-3, ranked #3) at Harrisburg (13-4, #6). Saturday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m.
■ Tipping off: The Billies head to Harrisburg on Saturday as they attempt to avenge their sole conference loss this season. Harrisburg is 5-0 in league play and sits alone atop the standings. If Gavin Inglish and the Billies want a share of the conference title they’ll need a win at Harrisburg this weekend.
BOYS BASKETBALL
Cottage Grove Lions 7-7, ranked #18
■ Tipping off: Cottage Grove finally begins Sky-Em League play after cancellations last week. The Lions travel to No. 17 North Bend on Friday in a matchup between the only two league teams not ranked in the top 10. A win over NB would give senior guard Gannon Leach and the Lions momentum as they move into the meat of their league season.
Creswell Bulldogs 8-8, ranked #16
■ Tipping off: Head coach Jesse Thomas and Creswell – defending Mountain Valley Conference champs – look to keep pace with Pleasant Hill and Harrisburg this week in the conference title race. The Bulldogs face the two bottom teams in the MVC that they already beat in Elmira and La Pine.
Springfield Millers 4-10, ranked #24
■ Tipping off: After winning their first Midwestern League game in almost two years a couple weeks ago, first-year coach TC Combs and the Millers try to build on that momentum with a busy week with games against Thurston (Tuesday), Churchill (Wednesday), and Eagle Point (Friday).
Thurston Colts 9-5, ranked #18
■ Tipping off: Thurston has two crucial away games this week as the Colts face the only two Midwestern League teams ranked inside the top 10 – No. 2 North Eugene and No. 9 Crater. Thurston big man Nate Stiffler will have two tough matchups in North Eugene’s Jonas Spencer and Crater’s Kyle Bittle – younger brother of UO big man Nate Bittle – will be handfuls to deal with.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Cottage Grove: 11-4, ranked #12
■ Tipping off: After opening league play against Junction City on Tuesday, the Lions travel to North Bend on Friday to face the 20th-ranked Bulldogs. Cottage Grove has won six in a row and has the best scoring offense in the Sky-Em League, in large part due to the guard trio of Payton Anlauf, Mariah Bailey, and Jaylee Lima.
Creswell: 10-6, ranked #10
■ Tipping off: Creswell travels to La Pine on Thursday before hosting Elmira on Saturday. The Bulldogs dominated La Pine 62-19 the first time this season, but barely beat Elmira 50-49 behind 16 points from Dakota Carson.
Pleasant Hill: 8-4, ranked #4
■ Tipping off: Pleasant Hill attempts to stay undefeated in conference play with games against Sisters and Harrisburg as the back-half of conference play gets underway. Claire Crawford is making her case for back-to-back MVC Player of the Year, and had 21 points and 16 rebounds against Sisters last time around.
Springfield: 9-6, ranked #6
■ Tipping off: Springfield has a three-game week this week as the Millers try to keep up with Crater in a two-team race for the Midwestern League title. With two starters out for the season, the Millers continue to rely on depth players like Darissa Romero-Ah Sam, Kimora Wright, and Kayla Morris.
Thurston: 5-9, ranked #24
■ Tipping off: Thurston faces North Eugene – the team just above them in league standings – on Wednesday before traveling to No. 1 Crater on Friday. Kevin Durfee has the Colts in the race for an automatic playoff bid in his first year at the helm. Thurston sits in fifth and the top three teams in the Midwestern League will make the playoffs.
RESULTS/SCHEDULES
RESULTS
- All area teams had their games
canceled last week due to
weather-related issues. Non-league
games were canceled, and league
games are being rescheduled.
SCHEDULES
BOYS BASKETBALL
Thursday, Jan. 25
■ Creswell at La Pine, 7:30 p.m.
■ Sisters at Pleasant Hill, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 26
■ Cottage Grove at North Bend,
5:45 p.m.
■ Thurston at Crater, 6:45 p.m.
■ Eagle Point at Springfield, 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 27
■ Elmira at Creswell, 5 p.m.
■ Pleasant Hill at Harrisburg, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 30
■ Eagle Point at Thurston, 7 p.m.
■ Creswell at Pleasant Hill, 7:30 p.m.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Thursday, Jan. 25
■ Creswell at La Pine, 6 p.m.
■ Sisters at Pleasant Hill, 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 26
■ Eagle Point at Springfield, 5:30 p.m.
■ Thurston at Crater, 5:15 p.m.
■ Cottage Grove at North Bend,
7:15 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 27
■ Elmira at Creswell, 3:30 p.m.
■ Pleasant Hill at Harrisburg, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 30
■ Eagle Point at Thurston, 5:30 p.m.
■ Creswell at Pleasant Hill, 6 p.m.
WRESTLING
Thursday, Jan. 25
■ Creswell at Siuslaw Senior Night
Duals, 5 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 26
■ Cottage Grove at Cottage Grove
Invitational, TBD
Saturday, Jan. 27
■ Cottage Grove at Cottage Grove
Invitational, TBD
■ Pleasant Hill at Golden Yam (Yamhill-Carlton HS), TBD
Tuesday, Jan. 30
■ Pleasant Hill at La Pine Dual, 5 p.m.
Wednesday, Jan. 31
■ Churchill at Springfield Dual, 6 p.m.
