RECAPS
■ THURSTON defeated Central 62-41 on Wednesday, Dec. 3 in its season opener. Lucas LaBounty led the Colts with 22 points. Ridge Lindsay, Leo Filipe, and Treyson Hill all scored in double figures as well. The Panthers lack of depth hurt them; four players combined to score 39 of the team’s 41 points.
■ CRESWELL lost 54-52 to the Class 4A Marist Catholic on Thursday, Dec. 4 in its season opener. The Bulldogs nearly came back from being down seven points after three quarters, but fell just short. A seven assists to 14 turnovers ratio was too much to overcome. Ace Arnold led the Bulldogs with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field. Creswell defeated Corbett 68-48 in its first game of the Warrior Classic at Amity High School on Friday. Luke Bailey and Ace Arnold combined for 36 points on over 70% shooting from the field. Arnold also added eight rebounds, five assists and four steals to his statline. Creswell defeated Amity 61-58 on Saturday when the Bulldogs were able to flip a three-point deficit after three quarters into a three-point victory. Bailey led the Bulldogs with his first double-double of the season, scoring 15 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. Arnold chipped in 16 points while Brady Pratt scored 14. The Bulldogs have started 2-1 or better each of the past nine seasons.
■ COTTAGE GROVE fell 69-50 to Newport in its season opener on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The Cubs led 28-12 after the first quarter. Trevor Cooper led the Lions with 17 points and nine rebounds on 57.1% shooting. Only two other Lions players had more than five points; Ethan Valdez had 13 points, and Tai Lam had nine. The Cubs converted 23 Lions turnovers into 30 points. The Lions lost 62-56 in overtime to Scio on Friday. Lam and Cooper combined for 43 of the Lions’ 56 points; Cooper had 27, with eight rebounds and three blocks. Lam had 16, including 4-for-6 shooting from 3-point range, and three steals.
■ PLEASANT HILL defeated Jefferson 94-16 on Wednesday, Dec. 3 in its season opener. The 78-point win was the Billies’ largest margin of victory since at least 2013. Cole Jackson, coach Luke Jackson’s son, scored 11 points, while Luke Melvin, brother of starters Landen and Logan, scored nine. Pleasant Hill defeated Salem Academy 65-57 on Friday in its home opener. Noah Johnson led the Billies with a career-high 20 points, shooting 6-for-7 from three point range. Doug Green was the other Billie in double figures, with 12 points.
■ SPRINGFIELD fell to Dallas 59-30 in its season opener on Wednesday, Dec. 3. Colby Kasperek led the Milers with eight points and 10 rebounds. The Millers have lost nine straight season openers. Springfield fell to North Bend 80-59 on Saturday. The Millers came in having won five of the past six matchups against the Bulldogs. Lejhaun Henderson had 18 points, seven steals and four blocks for the Millers, while Kayden Roberson and Brady Lo’ser added 14 points each.
Springfield lost to Milwaukie/Milwaukie Academy of the Arts 82-35 on Monday. Henderson led the Millers with 14 points. Jeremy Young’s Springfield team will hope to snap a 29-game losing streak that dates back to February 2024.
PREVIEWS
THURSTON
■ Tipping off: At 7:30 p.m on Tuesday, Dec. 16, the Colts will travel to South Eugene to face the Axe. The Class 6A Axe will be the second 6A matchup for the 5A Colts this season. These teams have met each of the past two years, with the Colts winning both. Colts senior Lucas LaBounty has scored 20+ points in the first two games.
PLEASANT HILL
■ Tipping off: On Thursday, Dec. 11, the Billies welcome the Santiam Christian Eagles. These two were in the same league, the Class 3A Mountain Valley Conference, from 2018-21. In that period, the Eagles won six of eight matchups. Seven Billies have scored in double figures through three games. On Friday, they travel to Valley Catholic in Beaverton. The Valiants will be seeking revenge for a 46-42 defeat at the hands of the Billies in the state playoff semifinals. Valiants first-year head coach Brian Fraser has won his first two games by an average of 36 points. On Tuesday, Dec. 16, the Billies will be back at home facing East Linn. Eagles head coach Jon Whitehead leads a program that has reached the Class 2A state quarterfinals each of the past four years.
CRESWELL
■ Tipping off: Creswell has two road games this week. First, the Bulldogs go to Oakland on Friday, Dec. 12. The Class 2A Oakers have lost in the state semifinals each of the past two years. Oakers head coach Jeff Clark is in his 32nd year leading the program, has won three state titles, and has never finished below .500. It’s a quick turnaround for Jesse Thomas’ team, which plays Saturday at 10 a.m. The Bulldogs face Trinity Lutheran at McArthur Court on the UO campus. The teams last played in 2019. Bulldogs senior guard Ace Arnold scored 15+ points in each of his team’s first three games.
SPRINGFIELD
■ Tipping off: Springfield will host Dallas on Friday, Dec. 12 for its home opener. This is the second time the Millers will face the Dragons in the first 10 days of the season. The Dragons defeated the Millers 59-30 when Springfield traveled to Dallas for both team’s season opener.
– Compiled by Eli Thomas, The Chronicle
