RECAPS
■ THURSTON: The Colts beat Roseburg 35-32 last week.Ashtyn Bellmore and Addi Nelson led the way for Thurston with 11 and 9 points, respectively. While Thurston got the win, its 3-point shooting will need work as the team shot 3-of-20 from beyond the arc on Wednesday. The Colts outrebounded the Indians 38-to-19.
■ COTTAGE GROVE: The Lions won both of their opening-week games by a combined margin of victory of 65 points. The first win in the opener was a 61-27 rout over Newport, and their second was over Scio 55-25.
■ CRESWELL: The Bulldogs finished a busy opening week 1-2. Creswell opened its season against Class 4A Marist on Thursday, losing 53-70. Leading the way for the Bulldogs was Mila Nguyen who had 20 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals. Creswell had 29 turnovers against Marist. The Bulldogs bounced back in their next game, thrashing Corbett 60-6. Creswell was able to hold Corbett to 2-of-31 from the field while forcing 18 turnovers. In game three, Creswell fell to the defending state champion Amity 44-34. Creswell held the defending 30-0 champions to 15-of-40 shooting. Second-chance points, though, killed the Bulldogs, as Amity had 21 points from 15 offensive rebounds.
■ PLEASANT HILL: On Wednesday Pleasant Hill opened its season at Jefferson – a team that finished last season 22-8 – and beat them by double digits, 57-44. Leading the way this game for the Billies was Anna Crawford who had 20 points – 12 of which coming beyond the arc. The Billies came home to face Salem Academy on Friday, winning 61-18. Eleven players scored on Friday with the Billies’ leading scorer in Kaylee Johnson recording 11 herself.
– Seth Thompson, The Chronicle
PREVIEWS
■ THURSTON: The No. 2 Colts (1-0) kick off a weekend road trip on Friday, Dec. 12, at No. 12 Caldera (2-1) before traveling to No. 22 Ridgeview (0-1) on Saturday to face the Ravens. On Friday, the Colts face the Wolfpack in what is likely to be a test for both teams. Thurston won its season opener in a defensive battle, 35-32. Caldera has won two of three high-scoring shootouts, with its lowest points (46) allowed coming in its opener. If the Colts can dictate the pace of play at Caldera, they’ll likely gain the advantage.
■ SPRINGFIELD: The No. 4 Millers (1-0) travel to No. 5 Silverton (1-0) on Thursday, Dec. 11. Springfield was able to dominate Marist in its season opener last week with a 66-32 victory. Silverton also won its opener in a close game, 50-45. The Millers’ aggressive style could force Silverton into mistakes. Springfield tips off against No. 17 Crook County (2-1) on Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Mac Court in Eugene.
■ COTTAGE GROVE: On Friday, Dec. 12, the No. 9 Lions (2-0) will take on the No. 24 Cascade Cougars (0-1). For Cottage Grove, new head coach Kim Beer has won his first two games with the Lions by a combined margin of victory of 65 points, including the season opener against Newport in a 61-27 blowout. Beer and the Lions will catch the Cougars with more than a week of rest.
■ CRESWELL: The No. 28 Bulldogs (1-2) will take on the Class 2A and 30th-ranked Oakland Oakers (1-1) on Friday, Dec. 12. Creswell lost its season-opener 70-53 against Marist, then dominated Corbett. Creswell won 60-6X in its first game of the Warrior Classic before losing its second game to the hosts in Amity, 44-34.
■ PLEASANT HILL: The No. 9 Billies (2-0) are preparing for a clash of the titans on Friday night when they travel to face the No. 3 Valley Catholic Valiants (2-0). After his season-opening win against Jefferson last week, first-year Billies head coach Terry Newton is off to a hot start. Pleasant Hill must limit mistakes while applying pressure with its full-court press defense.
