■ THURSTON: Treyson Hill and Lucas LaBounty led the Colts to a 60-44 victory over South Medford on Monday, Dec. 29. Hill scored a season-high 25 points, and LaBounty added 23. The Colts shot 12-of-15 from the free throw line, a team strength. Three-point defense was also excellent for the Colts, allowing the Panthers to make only one shot from beyond the arc.
■ PLEASANT HILL: The Billies lost 54-53 to Burns in overtime on Monday, Dec. 29. Landen Melvin continued his scorching run, with 27 points to lead the Billies. After an 18-4 third quarter in favor of the Hilanders, the Billies were down by nine heading into the fourth. The deficit got as large as 12 points, but the Billies were able to battle back and force overtime. In the extra period, the Billies held a two-point lead until Jack Wright hit a 3-pointer with eight seconds left to give his team a one-point lead. The win moves the Hilanders up to No. 5 in Class 3A.
■ SPRINGFIELD: The Millers lost three close games in the SCTC Holiday Tournament in Stayton. On Monday, Dec. 29, it fell to Yamhill-Carlton 55-52. After going down 20-3 in the first quarter, the Millers then won each of the next three quarters. The hole was too much to climb out of, however. Joshua Toensing led the Millers with a season-high 18 points. … The next day, Springfield fell to Hidden Valley 59-53. The Mustangs took a 12-7 first quarter lead, thanks to five missed free throws by Springfield. The Millers had four players score nine or more points, led by Toensing’s 13. … On the final day of the tournament, Springfield lost to Cottage Grove 58-50 on New Year’s Eve. … Springfield lost 51-45 when it traveled to Willamette on Friday. Lejhaun Henderson led the Millers with 12 points and eight rebounds, including 6-of-7 shooting from the free throw line. But 26 turnovers and 37.2% shooting from the field hurt the Millers.
■ COTTAGE GROVE: The Lions went 1-2 in the SCTC Holiday Tournament in Stayton. On Monday, Dec. 29, the Lions lost a close game to Molalla 64-60. It was the Lions’ closest loss of the season. The Indians (10-0) won the tournament. … On Tuesday, Cottage Grove fell to Klamath Union 54-44. The 54 points was tied for the fewest allowed by the Lions in a loss this season. The Lions had defeated the Pelicans in this tournament two years in a row before this loss. The win spurred the Pelicans to a four-game win streak. … New Year’s Eve saw the Lions gain some momentum heading into the New Year, with a 58-50 victory over Springfield. After being tied at halftime, the Lions came roaring out of the locker room with a 20-9 third quarter. Cade May and Trevor Cooper shouldered the bulk of the scoring load, combining for 28 of the team’s 36 second-half points. Brady Lo’ser scored a season-high 21 points for the Millers.
■ CRESWELL: The Bulldogs lost to Newport 64-56 on Monday, Dec. 29. Creswell grabbed 18 offensive rebounds, but struggled otherwise. Luke Bailey and Brady Pratt led the Bulldogs, with 15 points and 12 rebounds, and 18 points and 7 rebounds, respectively. Leading scorer Ace Arnold hurt his ankle in the second quarter and did not return. Junior Mason Schartz made his season debut, fouling out in 16 minutes and scoring 8 points.
– Capsules by Eli Thomas, The Chronicle
