■ SPRINGFIELD (17-1, 6-0)
Tipping off: The No. 1 Millers have two games this week. First at No. 30 Churchill (4-16) on Tuesday – past The Chronicle’s deadline – then at No. 1 in Class 6A West Linn (15-1) on Thursday. Thursday’s game against the Lions will be a clash of the titans, as this is the heaviest competition the Millers have faced since their loss to Class 6A No. 6 Jesuit in December. The Millers will need to continue the level of play they’ve sustained all year. With the duo of NuNu Filipe and Darissa Romero-Ah Sam firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball, it seems the Millers can beat anybody. That sentiment will be tested on Thursday.
■ THURSTON (8-9, 2-4)
Tipping off: The No. 17 Colts have two games this week. First, the Colts host No. 16 North Eugene (9-9) on Tuesday before traveling to No. 14 North Eugene (10-8) on Friday. These are must-win games for the Colts if they have any hope of making the playoffs. Given both of these opponents are ahead of the Colts in both the Midwestern League and state rankings, going 2-0 this week would be huge for the Colts.
■ COTTAGE GROVE (11-7, 3-3)
Tipping off: The No. 15 Lions have only one game this week at No. 6 North Bend (15-3) on Tuesday. The Bulldogs are a fast-paced team, so if the Lions want to win on Tuesday they’ll need to slow them down. Mariah Bailey and Makya Alsup have been consistent presences for the Lions this year both on offense and defense. If the Lions want to win this one, they’ll need big performances from players like Madison Stuhlmiller and Valerie Aura as well.
■ CRESWELL (14-6, 5-1)
Tipping off: The No. 7 Bulldogs have two games this week. First, they travel to No. 5 Sisters (16-4) on Tuesday before hosting No. 13 Harrisburg (15-6) on Friday. The Bulldogs are on a four-game winning streak right now, a streak that started against the Eagles two weeks ago. To defend and extend that streak, the Bulldogs must continue to put pressure on the opposing team. Elliette Kinney and Mila Nguyen have been top performers for the Bulldogs this season. If they can have good offensive performances again this week, it’s likely the Bulldogs will have six straight wins.
■ PLEASANT HILL (15-5, (5-1)
Tipping off: The No. 6 Billies have two games this week – at No. 13 Harrisburg (15-6) on Tuesday, and at home against No. 43 La Pine (3-16) on Friday. The Billies are coming off their worst week since mid-December, so getting a couple of wins would be a great bounce back. For that to happen, the Billies will need to slow down Harrisburg. The Billies beat the Eagles earlier this year 35-28. If they can get into another low-scoring game, the Billies are likely to come out on top again.
