High School Sports Zone Winter Sports Preview: Boys Basketball

COTTAGE GROVE LIONS

▪ Address: 1375 S. River Rd.

▪ Head coach: Seth Hutchison, 7th year at Cottage Grove (44-87 career record).

2023-24 SEASON: 8-15 overall … 1-7 league … 4th in Sky-Em League … #17 in Class 4A. … Lost OSAA play-In round to Newport.

HISTORY 

Last championship in 1991 … Last playoff appearance was 2023. … 6 league titles.

TOP RETURNERS 

▪ Trevor Cooper (#33), So., Post/Guard, 6-7  … 2023 stats: 11. 5 PPG, 9.1 Rebs

▪ Josh Bruner (#23), Sr., Guard, 6-1 … 2023 stats: 5.3 PPG, 5.5 RPG

▪ Nathin Lemon (#2), Sr., Guard, 6-0 … 2023 stats: 2.2 PPG, 35% from 3 …  returning from a major knee injury last year and had a solid spring and summer. 

▪ Samuel Harrison (#34), Jr., Post, 6-8  … 2023 stats: Transferred from Oakridge.  

▪ Landon Vaughn (#10), So., Guard, 5-8  … 2023 stats: 5.5 PPG 

▪ Total returning players: 7

STRENGTHS

▪ Size with 6-7 and 6-8 frontcourt

▪ Depth – an attribute that the Lions haven’t possessed in a long time

▪ Work ethic and ability to get after people 

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT 

▪ The ability to handle expectations put on them due to youth

▪ Knocking down open shots, with teams packing the paint

▪ Team chemistry

SCHEDULE

12/4 vs. Molalla, 7 p.m.

12/6 vs. Sisters, 7 p.m.

12/10 vs. Cascade, 7 p.m.

12/13 at  Sweet Home, 5:30 p.m.

12/19-21 Battle of I-5, TBD

12/26-28 Stayton Tournament, TBD

1/3 at Phoenix, 7:30 p.m.

1/7 vs. Newport, 5:45 p.m.

* 1/10 vs. Marist Catholic, 5:45 p.m.

*1/14 vs. Marshfield, 5:45 p.m.

* 1/17 at Junction City, 5:45 p.m.

* 1/21 vs. North Bend, 5:45 p.m.

* 1/28 at Marist Catholic, 5:45 p.m.

* 1/31 at Marshfield, 7:15 p.m.

* 2/4 vs. Junction City, 7:15 p.m.

* 2/7 at  North Bend, 7:15 p.m.

* 2/13 vs. Marist Catholic, 7:15 p.m.

* 2/18 vs. Marshfield, 7:15 p.m.

* 2/25 at Junction City, 7:15 p.m.

* 2/25 at North Bend, 7:15 p.m.

* League

TOP GAMES: Marist, Marshfield, Cascade

CRESWELL BULLDOGS

▪ Address: 33390 Niblock Ln.

▪ Head coach: Jesse Thomas, 9th year at Creswell (112-74 career record). 

2023-24 SEASON: 15-12 overall … 7-5 league … 3rd in Mountain Valley Conference … #16 in Class 3A … Lost in second round of OSAA playoffs to De La Salle North Catholic.

HISTORY 

Last state title was 2004 … Last playoff appearance in 2022-23. … 4th place at state tournament. … League titles in 2018, ’20, ’23

TOP RETURNERS 

▪ Tyler Whitson (#12), Sr., Guard, 6-2  

2023 stats:1st team MVC Selection 14.3 ppg, 7.3 reb, 4.3 ast

▪ Darien Dewey (#5), Sr., Guard, 6-2 

▪ Total returning players: 6

STRENGTHS

▪ Team speed

▪ Defensive versatility

▪ Transition offense

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

▪ Team rebounding

▪ Varsity experience

▪ Perimeter shooting

SCHEDULE 

12/5 vs. Aussie BBX, 7 p.m.

12/6 vs. Marist Catholic, 7 p.m

12/10 at Central Linn, 6 p.m.

12/12 vs. Santiam Christian, 7 p.m.

12/13 vs. Oakland, 7 p.m.

12/19-21 Battle of I-5, TBD

12/26-28 Cascade Classic, TBD 

1/3 at North Bend, 7 p.m.

1/7 at Glide, 7 p.m.

1/9 vs. Lowell, 7 p.m.

* 1/14 vs. La Pine, 6 p.m.

* 1/17 at Sisters, 6 p.m.

1/20 at Westside Christian, TBD

* 1/22 vs. Harrisburg, 6 p.m.

* 1/24 at Elmira, 6 p.m.

* 1/28 at Pleasant Hill, 6 p.m.

* 1/31 at La Pine, 7:30 p.m.

* 2/4 vs. Sisters, 7:30 p.m.

* 2/7 at Harrisburg, 7:30 p.m.

* 2/11 vs. Elmira, 7:30 p.m.

* 2/14 vs. Pleasant Hill, 7:30 p.m.

* League

TOP GAMES: P-Hill, Oakland,  Marist

PLEASANT HILL BILLIES 

▪ Address: 84455 N. Enterprise Rd.

▪ Head coach: Luke Jackson, 1st year

2023-24 SEASON: 20-5 overall … 11-1 league … 2nd in Mountain Valley Conference … #4 in Class 3A … Lost in second round of OSAA playoffs to Neah-Kah-Nie

HISTORY

Last state championship was 1999.

TOP RETURNERS

▪ Gavin Inglish (#5) Sr. Guard, 6-3; First-Team All-State, 22.2 ppg; 7.1 rpg, 4.1 apg. 

▪ Landen Melvin (#4) Jr. Guard, 6-1

STRENGTHS

▪ Good shooting

▪ Team chemistry

▪ Deep bench.

AREA FOR IMPROVEMENT

▪ Tough schedule should keep the Billies humble. This team could make a run at state if it meshes well.

SCHEDULE

12/4 vs. Jefferson, 7:30 p.m.

12/6 at Western Christian, 7 p.m.

12/7 vs. Valley Catholic, 5 p.m.

12/10 vs. DeLaSalle N. Catholic, 7 p.m.

12/12 vs. Douglas, 4:45 p.m. (Dayton Invitational)

12/13 at Catlin Gabel, 1:45 p.m. (Dayton Invitational)

12/14 vs. DeLaSalle N. Catholic (Dayton Invitational), noon

12/19-21 Battle of I-5, TBD

12/28 at Warrenton, 4 p.m.

1/3 at Catlin Gabel, 3:30 p.m.

1/10 vs. Oakland, 7:30 p.m.

* 1/14 at Elmira, 6 p.m.

* 1/17 at Harrisburg, 6 p.m.

1/18 vs. Burns, 5 p.m.

* 1/21 vs. La Pine, 6 p.m.

* 1/24 vs. Sisters, 6 p.m.

* 1/28 vs. Creswell, 6 p.m.

* 1/31 vs. Elmira, 7:30 p.m.

* 2/1 at Cascade Christian, 7 p.m.

* 2/4 vs. Harrisburg, 7:30 p.m.

* 2/6 at La Pine, 7:30 p.m.

* 2/10 at Sisters, 7:30 p.m.

* 2/14 at Creswell, 7:30 p.m.

* League

SPRINGFIELD MILLERS

▪ Address : 875 7th St.

▪ Head coach: T.C. Combs, 2nd year at Springfield (5-18 career record) 

2023-24 SEASON: 5-18 overall record … 2-10 league record … 6th in Midwestern League … #26 in Class 5A … Did not reach OSAA playoffs.

HISTORY 

Last playoff appearance was 2020 … Last league was 2014-15.

TOP RETURNERS 

▪ Vinnie Trinka, Sr., Point Guard, 5-11 …2023 stats: Trinka was the top scorer last season.

▪ Total returning players: 1

STRENGTHS

▪ Quick

▪ Scrappy

▪ Defend

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

▪ Chemistry with a new group

▪ Communication on the floor 

▪ Basketball IQ

SCHEDULE

12/6 at Wilsonville (Holiday Inn WIT), 8:30 p.m.

12/7 TBD (Holiday Inn WIT, Wilsonville High School)

12/8 TBD (Holiday Inn WIT,  Wilsonville High School)

12/9 vs. Canby, 5:30 p.m.

12/11 at Ridgeview, 6:30 p.m.

12/13 at Centennial (Centennial Tip Off) 7:30 p.m.

12/14 vs. Hillsboro (Centennial Tip Off,), 2:30 p.m.

2/17 at Silverton, 7 p.m.

12/19 vs. Crescent Valley, 6:45 p.m.

12/23 vs. Sheldon, 6:45 p.m.

1/3 vs. Willamette, 6:45 p.m.

1/7 at Cascade, 7 p.m.

* 1/14 vs. Churchill, 6:45 p.m.

* 1/17 vs. Eagle Point, 7 p.m.

* 1/21 vs. Thurston, 7 p.m.

* 1/24 at Ashland, 7 p.m.

* 1/28 vs. North Eugene, 7 p.m.

* 1/31 at Crater, 5:30 p.m. 

* 12/4 at Churchill, 7:30 p.m.

* 2/14 at Eagle Point, 7 p.m.

* 2/18 at Thurston, 7 p.m.

* 2/21 vs. Ashland, 7 p.m.

* 2/25 at North Eugene, 6:45 p.m.

* 2/28 vs. Crater, 7 p.m.

* League

TOP GAMES: Wilsonville, Thurston, Churchill

THURSTON COLTS

▪ Address: 333 58th St.

▪ Head coach: Blaine Liberatore, 10th year at Thurston (118-98).

2023-24 SEASON: 17-8 overall … 10-2 league … 2nd in Midwestern League … #12 in Class 5A.

HISTORY 

Last title in 2018 … Last playoff appearance was ’23-24 … 3 league titles.

TOP RETURNERS 

▪ Nate Stiffler (#15), Sr., Forward, 6-4/ … 2023 stats: 2023-24 MWL Player of the Year, 1st Team All-League, 2nd Team All-State.

▪ Noah Blair (#10), Sr., Guard, 6-1. … 2023 stats: 2nd Team All-League, set school record for steals in a season (70)

▪ Lucas Labounty (#12), Jr., Guard, 6-4

2023 stats: Shot 52% from the field and 90% from the FT line.

▪ Total returning players: 9

STRENGTHS

▪ Depth + Experience

▪ Multiple players who can score effectively/regularly

▪ Half-court defense

AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT

▪ Rebounding

▪ Turnovers

▪ Free throw shooting

SCHEDULE

12/4 at Central, 7 p.m.

12/10 at West Albany HS, 6:45 p.m.

12/13 vs. Ridgeview HS, 5:30 p.m.

12/14 at Century, 6:30 p.m.

12/17 vs. S. Eugene, 6:45 p.m.

12/20 at Putnam, 7:15 p.m.

12/23 vs. Gresham, 6:45 p.m.

12/28-30 (Abby Invite, N. Medford), TBD

1/3 vs. Sheldon, 7 p.m.

1/7 vs. Mt. View, 6:45 p.m.

* 1/10 at Eagle Pt., 5:30 p.m.

* 1/14 vs. N. Eugene, 7 p.m.

* 1/17 vs. Crater, 7 p.m.

* 1/21 at Springfield, 7 p.m.

* 1/28 at Churchill, 7:30 p.m.

* 1/31 vs. Ashland, 7 p.m.

* 2/4 at N. Eugene, 6:45 p.m.

* 2/7 vs. Eagle Point, 7pm

* 2/14 at Crater, 7 p.m.

* 2/18 vs. Springfield, 7 p.m.

* 2/25 vs. Churchill, 6:45 p.m.

* 2/28 at Ashland, 7 p.m.

* League

TOP GAMES: Crater, Churchill, West Albany.