GIRLS BASKETBALL RECAPS
■ SPRINGFIELD: The No. 4 Millers (5-1) face No. 8 Summit (5-2) on Monday, Dec. 29. For the Millers, this matchup comes just under one week after their appearance at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas. This match will likely be a telling one in the overall landscape of Class 5A, as both teams have dominated non-league play. If the Millers can cause havoc in Summit’s passing lanes, they can likely create easy transition buckets and gain an edge on this game. Given Summit has only scored less than 49 points in one game, limiting these offensive possessions will be key for a win.
■ COTTAGE GROVE: The No. 9 Lions kick off the SCTC Holiday Tournament at Stayton HS against No. 18 Molalla (2-4) on Monday, Dec. 29. This will take place following a much needed nine-day-break after competing in four games in five days the week prior. To beat Molalla, the Lions should look to control the paint and force outside shots, just as they did against Pleasant Hill last week. If they can do this, they’ll start their final tournament before league play off with a win.
■ CRESWELL: The Bulldogs will compete in the SCTC Holiday Tournament at Stayton HS starting on Monday, Dec. 29 against 2-3 Heritage (WA). The Bulldogs are on a hot streak, winning each of their last four games in dominant fashion – with a margin-of-victory of 91 during this stretch. If the Bulldogs can keep up this streak, they’ll likely beat Heritage and have a strong chance at winning the whole tournament.
■ PLEASANT HILL: The Billies will take on No. 23 Burns (2-4) on Monday, Dec. 29. After going 2-2 last week with heavy fatigue, the Billies are likely to have a strong bounce-back game here after a nine-day-break. Burns has gone 0-4 in their last four, and if Pleasant Hill can shoot the ball at the rate they did to begin the season, the Billies could very well move Burns’ losing streak to five games.
GIRLS BASKETBALL PREVIEWS
■ THURSTON: The No. 15 Colts (4-3) went 2-1 in their games this week to bring their season record to 4-3. On Tuesday, the Colts took down No. 46 in Class 6A South Eugene 56-19. On Saturday, the Colts began the Interstate Shootout tournament on Saturday at Lake Oswego HS. The Colts took down No. 23 Putnam on the first day, 49-34 before falling to Skyview (WA) on Sunday 26-62.
SPRINGFIELD: The No. 4 Millers (5-1) traveled to Las Vegas this week to compete in the Tarkanian Classic. This tournament consists of teams from across the nation battling it out in one big tournament. The Millers competed in the Ruby bracket, which contains mostly teams from the northwestern region of the U.S. The Millers took down Liberty (NV) 49-47 on Friday before beating Horizon (CO) 59-44 on Saturday. The tournament continues through Monday and Tuesday, past The Chronicle’s deadline, against Owahee (ID) and a team TBD, respectively.
COTTAGE GROVE: This week the No. 9 Lions (6-2) took part in the Battle of I-5 tournament. Here, they won their first two games against Pleasant Hill (7-3) and No. 24 Brookings-Harbor (4-3) 54-39 and 38-36, respectively. The Lions’ hot stream came to an end, though, as they fell to Creswell in their final game 26-62. Makya Alsup was a key piece in the Lions’ game against Pleasant Hill, totaling 15 points and holding the Billies to only 6 points in the paint in the first half.
CRESWELL: The Bulldogs (5-2) competed in the Battle of I-5 tournament this week, going 2-0 after their Friday game against Newport was cancelled. The Bulldogs took down Brookings-Harbor 58-39 on Thursday and No. 9 in Class 4A Cottage Grove 62-26 on Saturday. Bulldogs’ senior forward Elliette Kinney was a major standout in both games, tallying 19 points in each. Kylie Leonard stuffed the stat sheet on Thursday with 7 points, 9 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals against the Bruins.
PLEASANT HILL: After sustaining a key injury in Josie Dudley in the week prior, the Billies entered this week 5-1. The Billies took down East Linn Christian on Tuesday 39-25 before beginning the Battle of I-5 tournament on Thursday. The Billies fell to two top-dogs in Class 4A, first to No. 9 Cottage Grove on Thursday 39-54, and then to No. 7 Marist (4-2) on Friday 35-40. In their final match of the tournament, the Billies handled No. 23 Newport (0-4) 53-21. With four games this week added on top of Dudley’s season-ending injury, Billies coach Terry Newton credited fatigue as one of the team’s struggles.
– Capsules by Seth Thompson, The Chronicle
