■ SPRINGFIELD: The No. 2 Millers (9-1) returned from break last week with two games. On Monday, Dec. 29 the Millers beat No. 9 Summit (7-4) 69-49 before taking down No. 17 Crescent Valley (4-6) 55-32 on Tuesday. Springfield has won 7-of-8 games and rose in the Class 5A state rankings to No. 3.
■ THURSTON: The No. 14 Colts (5-5) went 1-1 last week against stiff competition. The Colts faced No. 5 Lebanon (6-2) on Tuesday, Dec. 30 where they lost 71-48. The Colts bounced back on Friday, defeating No. 11 in Class 6A Lakeridge (7-2) 56-50. Thurston’s 56 points were the most the Lakers have allowed this season. Despite going .500 on the week, the victory helped the Colts climb one spot in the OSAA rankings.
■ COTTAGE GROVE: The No. 12 Lions (8-3) went 2-1 over their three games last week. On Monday, Dec. 29 they lost 57-38 to No. 16 Molalla (4-5). The Lions were able to bounce back over the next two days as they beat No. 23 Klamath Union (3-8) 37-35 and Heritage, Wash., (3-5) 56-33 on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. The games were at the SCTC Holiday Tournament in Stayton. While the Lions dropped four spots in the OSAA rankings from last week, falling from No. 8 to No. 12.
■ CRESWELL: The No. 5 Bulldogs (7-4) had four games last week, first competing in the SCTC tournament Monday-Wednesday, then facing North Bend on Friday. In the tournament, the Bulldogs nabbed a 72-33 win over Heritage, Wash., (3-5) on Monday. Creswell fell to No. 1 Stayton (8-1) and No. 16 Molalla (4-5) on the following days, 47-32 and 43-40, respectively. The Bulldogs were able to end the week .500 as they staved off No. 6 North Bend (8-2) 45-44. The two losses dropped the Bulldogs three spots in the OSAA rankings to No. 5.
– Capsules by Seth Thompson, The Chronicle
