High School Sports Zone December 4

Winter Sports Preview

The Main Event

February 18, 2025; Thurston boys basketball hosts Springfield on senior night at Thurston high school. Credit; Craig Strobeck for The Chronicle.

Thurston vs. Sheldon

■ Just the facts: The Class 5A Colts take on the Class 6A Irish at McArthur Court at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6

■ Tipping off: Teams from different classes facing off is a theme of the eight-game slate at McArthur Court on Saturday. The Colts had an undefeated league season last year and still has a level of size and physicality that is matched by few other 5A teams. Colts head coach Blaine Liberatore’s team will be led by reigning MWL Player of the Year Lucas LaBounty. While Thurston’s top dog returns, Sheldon’s two top scorers from a year ago graduated. Sheldon coach Brian Brancato led the Irish to 20 wins last year for the first time since 2016.

Top Stories, Recaps & More

By Seth Thompson and Eli Thomas

Previews: Boys and girls basketball

THURSTON: The Colts will play the Central Panthers at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 3. The two match up in the season opener for the second consecutive year.…

By Seth Thompson

Previews: Boys and girls wrestling

SPRINGFIELD: The first match of the year for the Millers is at Churchill for the Kenny Cox tournament on Saturday morning. Competing here alongside Springfield and the hosts in…

By Seth Thompson and Eli Thomas

Previews: Boys and girls swimming

THURSTON / MOHAWK – The Colts open the 2025-26 season at Cottage Grove to compete in the Cottage Grove Relays. Thurston/Mohawk will compete against Cottage Grove, Hidden Valley, Marist Catholic/Elmira,…

By admin

Winter Sports Preview: Thurston boys basketball

THURSTON – Address: 333 58th St. Head coach: Blaine Liberatore’s 11th year at Thurston. Last season: Undefeated (12-0) league champs … Lost in playoffs … Four league titles…

In Case You Missed It …

Friends & Foes: ‘Mac Court’

reunites former Ducks

PLEASANT HILL – When Ryan Svenson began imagining prep basketball matchups for the “Return of the Mac,” one came to mind immediately.

Luke Jackson and Maarty Leunen will return to their old stomping grounds – this time as coaches – to headline an eight-game prep slate on Dec. 6 at McArthur Court. Jackson will lead Pleasant Hill up against Leunen and Ridgeview at 4 p.m. when high school hoops returns to Mac Court for the first time in more than a decade.

“It made sense to have two of the last legends of Mac Court, who are both high school coaches, face off, and I was lucky enough to get them on board,” said Svenson, who runs Pure Focus Sports, which is organizing the event that will continue into the following weekend as well.

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