GIRLS BASKETBALL CONFERENCE PREVIEWS
SPRINGFIELD
■ The No. 3 Millers have dominated non-league play to start the season. After their victory in the Tarkanian Classic tournament in Las Vegas, the Millers are 7-1 with just over a week to go until Midwestern League games begin. The Millers’ defense has been elite so far this year, holding all but one of their opponents to less than 50 points – the one exception being their 73-55 win over No. 7 Crook County (4-3).
The offense has been no slouch either, as the Millers average 58.25 points through eight games. As they head into league-play, the Millers sit atop the league standings. To remain there, they’ll have to beat Crater (6-3) at home on Jan. 30 and then end the season there on Feb. 27. Even though the Comets are second in the league standings, they are also second in the OSAA Class 5A rankings – one spot ahead of the Millers. This should be a battle all season.
The Thurston Colts are No. 15 in the OSAA rankings. The Comets play an up-tempo style, averaging 64.67 points per game, the most in the league. The Millers have a stout defense; they’ve allowed their opponents an average of only 44.88 points per game.
THURSTON
■ The No. 15 Colts (4-4) have had a rocky start to the season. They have been on both ends of a blowout this season, first losing to No. 8 West Albany (4-3) 77-25 then beating No. 45 in Class 6A South Eugene (2-7) 56-19 a week later. Given how dominant Springfield and Crater have looked to start the year, Thurston will likely be fighting for third place in the league.
That battle won’t be an easy one though, as No. 16 Eagle Point and No. 17 North Eugene have kept pace with the Colts all year. These could be the opponents the Colts have circled on their schedule to secure a playoff berth.
The Colts will have to score more points to compete for the playoffs. Thurston averages 38.25 points per game, compared to the Eagles (48.11) and Highlanders (46.22). If the Colts can become more efficient on offense, they could make a playoff push.
COTTAGE GROVE
■ The No. 8 Lions have started strong with new coach Kim Beer. As the team heads into Sky-Em League play, they are 6-2 and just behind first-place North Bend. The Lions have shown strengths on all areas of the court in flashes, but consistency has been the hard part. On offense, Beer and the Lions have put a great deal of trust in dynamic freshman guard Madison Stuhlmiller.
Stuhlmiller has been a consistent threat from deep, knocking down three 3-pointers in a loss against Cascade and in a victory over Pleasant Hill. Pairing her with senior post player Makya Alsup’s inside scoring makes the Lions a formidable threat. The Lions have played well defensively too, holding opponents to an average of 37.63 points while averaging exactly 49 points on offense. While the Lions have looked impressive to start the year, the Sky-Em League will provide tougher competition.
The Lions have yet to face a team ranked above them in the OSAA standings. While their losses were to strong opponents – No. 11 Cascade and to Class 3A No. 2 Creswell – the Lions lost those games by a combined 52 points. Key games ahead include two matchups against both North Bend and Marist.
CRESWELL
■ The No. 2 Bulldogs have won every game since their 1-2 start, putting them at 5-2. They most recently beat Class 4A No. 8 Cottage Grove, whom the Bulldogs pummeled 62-26. This win confirmed that these Bulldogs are a team to watch in Class 3A. The road ahead is still long for the Bulldogs though, and the Mountain Valley Conference has three other teams in the OSAA Top 10. No. 3 Pleasant Hill (7-3), No. 5 Sisters (8-1), and No. 9 Harrisburg (8-2) all rest above the Bulldogs for now.
Creswell faces each of those teams twice in their final 10 games of the year, making their season’s finish a true gauntlet. Creswell would likely need to go at least .500 against those opponents to remain in playoff contention. Given all these teams will be facing each other late in the year, the playing field will be level for each one. Look for this stretch to determine the MVC champion, as well as potentially the top team in 3A.
PLEASANT HILL
■ The No. 3 Billies have adjusted to new coach Terry Newton’s fullcourt press-style of defense. Newton said the team was implementing the scheme well until the “engine” of the defense – senior guard Josie Dudley – went down with an injury in practice in early December. She sustained a season-ending knee injury, a significant loss for the Billies.
While the injury certainly stings, the Billies have remained competitive since then. They are 3-3 in the post-injury games, with losses coming against No. 8 Valley Catholic (5-1), Class 4A No. 7 Cottage Grove (6-2), and 4A No. 8 Marist (5-2). While their only losses have come against stiff competition, more of that competition lies in the Mountain Valley Conference.
The Billies are fighting for the top spot in the league with No. 2 Creswell, No. 5 Sisters, and No. 9 Harrisburg.
– Seth Thompson, The Chronicle
