SPRINGFIELD
■ Tipping off: The No. 3 Millers (7-1) faced No. 9 Summit (5-3) on Monday, Dec. 29 and played No. 19 Crescent Valley (3-4) on Tuesday. Both games happened after The Chronicle’s deadline. The games were the Millers’ first after winning the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas. The Millers allowed an average of 43.75 points with an average margin of victory of 16.5 at the Tarkanian Classic.
THURSTON
■ Tipping off: The No. 15 Colts (4-4) face No. 11 in Class 6A Lakeridge (5-1) on Friday, Jan. 2. The Colts will get a taste of some stiff competition before Midwestern League play. Despite their dominant record, the Lakers nearly stumbled against No. 25 Putnam last week, escaping with a 34-27 victory. Look for the senior post Addi Nelson – who recorded three blocks against No. 31 in Class 6A Roseburg (5-4) earlier this season. The Colts also faced No. 6 Lebanon on Dec. 30.
COTTAGE GROVE
■ Tipping off: The No. 8 Lions (6-2) compete in the SCTC Holiday Tournament at Stayton HS this week. They kicked off this tournament against No. 20 Molalla (2-4) on Dec. 29 before taking on two teams to be determined on Tuesday and Wednesday. To do well in this tournament, the Lions must be aggressive on defense. Coach Kim Beer raved about the team’s hustle after their 54-39 victory over Pleasant Hill earlier this season.
CRESWELL
■ Tipping off: The No. 2 Bulldogs (5-2) face No. 5 in Class 4A North Bend (7-1) on Sunday, Jan 3. The Bulldogs will get a chance to take down another top team from the classification above them after dominating Class 4A No. 8 Cottage Grove (6-2) 62-26 two weeks ago. With such a competitive conference – four teams hold positions in the current OSAA Top 10 – the Bulldogs will need wins wherever they can get them. Elliette Kinney came up big for the Bulldogs in their win over the Lions with 19 point and, 6 rebounds.
PLEASANT HILL
■ Tipping off: The No. 3 Billies (7-3) faced No. 27 Burns (2-5) on Monday, Dec. 29. This was the Billies’ first game after a stretch of four games in five days from Dec. 16-20. Coach Terry Newton cited fatigue as one of the Billies’ biggest struggles during that stretch. With only three games until Mountain Valley Conference games begin, the Billies begin another stretch with an opponent ranked well below them. To make that happen, the Billies must rely on their full-court-press defense, which has allowed an average of only 34 points per game.
– Seth Thompson, The Chronicle
