Winter Sports Preview: Pleasant Hill Billies Boys Basketball

■ Address: 84455 N. Enterprise Rd.
■ Head coach: Luke Jackson’s 2nd year at Pleasant Hill
■ Last season: Lost in semifinals of Class 3A state playoffs
■ Total returners: 6 … 2 returning starters


TOP RETURNERS
■ Landen Melvin, G, Sr., 6-1, #4
2024: First Team All-League
■ Jacob Neely, G, Sr., 5-10, #1
2024: All-League defensive team
■ Doug Green, F/C, Jr., 6-5, #13
2024: Injured at end of last season before playoff run
■ Noah Johnson, PG, Jr., 5-9, #3
2024: Made key shots last year, including game-winning free throws against Creswell; very smart player


TEAM STRENGTHS
■ Quickness/athleticism
■ Depth at guard
■ Shooting


TOP GAMES
■ Ridgeview (5A school), 12/6
■ Creswell, 1/27
■ Westside Christian, 1/31


COACH SPEAK
■ “Expecting a lot from our freshman class” – won 8th-grade OAB state tournament and have been playing together a long time. … “Freshman team has beat a few varsity teams this summer, by like 30.” … “We’re going to play fast. We’re going to try to create turnovers in the backcourt. And you know, stretch the floor, shoot a lot of 3s, play up tempo, play a lot of guys.”


SCHEDULE
12/3 vs. Salem Academy, 7:30 p.m.
12/6 vs. Ridgeview at McArthur Court, 4 p.m.
12/9 vs. Sutherlin, 7:30 p.m.
12/11 vs. Santiam Christian, 7:30 p.m.
12/12 at Valley Catholic, 6 p.m.
12/16 vs. East Linn Christian, 7:30 p.m.
12/18 in Battle of I-5, at Pleasant Hill HS, opponent and time TBD
12/19 in Battle of I-5, at Pleasant Hill HS, opponent and time TBD
12/20 in Battle of I-5 at Pleasant Hill HS, opponent and time TBD
1/9 at Oakland, 7:30 p.m.
1/10 vs. Toledo, 5 p.m.
1/13 at Elmira, 6 p.m.
1/16 vs. Harrisburg, 7:30 p.m.
1/17 at Burns, 3 p.m.
1/21 at LaPine, 7:30 p.m.
1/23 at Sisters, 7 p.m.
1/27 at Creswell, 6 p.m.
1/30 vs. Elmira, 7:30 p.m.
1/31 at Westside Christian, 5 p.m.
2/3 at Harrisburg, 6 p.m.
2/6 vs. LaPine, 6 p.m.
2/10 vs. Sisters, 6 p.m.
2/13 vs. Creswell, 7:30 p.m.
2/14 vs. St. Mary’s (Medford), 3 p.m.
2/18 opponent and time TBD
2/21 opponent and time TBD at Bushnell University