■ PLEASANT HILL defeated Elmira 57-46 on Tuesday. The Billies have won seven straight league games over the Falcons. … On Friday, the Billies defeated Harrisburg 54-52 to come out 2-0 in the first week of league play. Pleasant Hill has won eight of its past nine games. During that time, all but one team has scored fewer than 55 points against the Billies.
■ CRESWELL defeated La Pine 83-49 on Tuesday. Luke Bailey led the Bulldogs with 17 points and 13 rebounds, and Emerson Valerde scored 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting. The Bulldogs shot a remarkable 72% from two-point range.
The Bulldogs also handled business against Sisters on Jan. 16, winning 74-61. Ace Arnold was the Bulldogs’ star, scoring 29 points, and adding 7 rebounds and 4 steals. The excellent team shooting continued, with a 59.2% mark from the field against the Outlaws.
Saturday, the Bulldogs lost to No. 8 Cascade Christian 53-49. After a 17-7 first quarter, the Bulldogs steadily bled points, until losing the lead in the fourth. A 46% shooting night from two-point range, coupled with 12 turnovers, resulted in the Bulldogs second game this season scoring fewer than 50 points.
■ SPRINGFIELD lost to Churchill 69-43 in its league opener on Tuesday. Lejhaun Henderson led the Millers with 13 points, including 7-of-8 shooting from the free throw line. The Millers had 27 turnovers.
On Friday, the Millers defeated Eagle Point 61-54 for its first league victory since Feb. 9, 2024. The Millers used a 20-8 fourth-quarter push to get the comeback victory. Henderson scored 9 of his 12 points in the final period, outscoring the Eagles by himself. Noah Solo was the Millers driving force down low, scoring 16 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.
■ COTTAGE GROVE won back-to-back nailbiters last week. On Tuesday, the Lions defeated Junction City 49-47, the program’s fewest points in a win since Jan. 26, 2024.
On Friday, the Lions defeated North Bend 54-52. It was the first time in 24 games that the Lions were able to string together two consecutive victories, which has them in 2nd place in the 4A Sky Em League through three games.
– Eli Thomas, The Chronicle
