THURSTON (10-4, #4)
■ Tipping off: The Colts moved from No. 8 to No. 4 after defeating two Top 5 opponents in North Eugene and Crater last week. The Colts’ recorded an 18+ margin of victory in both games. This week, the Colts travel to No. 24 Mountain View (4-9) on Thursday for a non-league matchup.
The Cougars defeated the Colts 57-53 last season, but have lost four of their past five games. On Tuesday, the Colts welcome No. 17 Churchill (7-5). This is a matchup of the only two teams who are unbeaten in Midwestern League play. Thurston has won all four meetings between these teams in the past two seasons.
PLEASANT HILL (12-3, #3)
■ Tipping off: The Billies travel to No. 17 Sisters (6-8) on Friday. After starting 3-2, the Outlaws have won only three of the past nine games, including a 1-1 opening week of league play.
Both teams played Harrisburg last week, with the Outlaws and Billies both winning. The Billies won all three league matchups between these two last season, including a league playoff game that the Billies won 51-42.
On Tuesday, the Billies welcome rivals No. 13 Creswell (10-5) for a Class 3A clash. Both teams are 2-0 in the Mountain Valley Conference. Last season, the Billies won all three matchups, most notably a state quarterfinal game that finished 61-47. Both are replacing first team all-state players from last year’s rosters: Gavin Inglish for the Billies and Tyler Whitson for the Bulldogs.
CRESWELL (10-5, #13)
■ Tipping off: The Bulldogs host No. 11 Elmira (10-6) on Friday. The Falcons started 6-1, but have gone 4-4 in the past eight. The Bulldogs won both matchups in the first week of league play, while the Falcons went 1-1. Elmira already has equaled its highest win total of the past 10 seasons, set last year with 10 under coach Trevor Daniels, now in his fifth season.
SPRINGFIELD (2-12, #30)
■ Tipping off: The Millers went 1-1 in the opening week of Midwestern League play. On Friday, they welcome No. 12 Ashland (10-5), which is 1-2 in league play. The Millers are in third place in league standings after two games.
On Tuesday, the Millers travel to No. 5 North Eugene (13-3). The Highlanders have been ranked as high as No. 2 in Class 5A this season, but have dropped two of three to start league play. The Highlanders have been held under 60 points in three straight games.
COTTAGE GROVE (4-11, #22)
■ Tipping off: The Lions moved up seven spots in the Class 4A state rankings this week. Friday, the Lions welcome No. 3 Marist Catholic (8-3). These two are atop the Sky Em League after the first three games. The Spartans won all three matchups in this series last season, each by 20+ points.
On Tuesday, the Lions host No. 12 Marshfield (7-6). The Pirates finished last season ranked No. 1 in 4A and reached the state title game, losing to Baker. Marshfield has lost four of its past five games, but defeated the Lions in all three games last season.
