Girls Basketball Preview: South Valley

Oregon West Conference

  1. Philomath Warriors

2019-2020 Record: 24-1

2019-2020 League Finish: 1st

2019-2020 Final Rank: #1

Only a global pandemic kept the Philomath Warriors from winning the state title last season. Player of the Year Sage Kramer and Coach of the Year Ben Silva were 23-0 against 4A opponents last season and will return to pick up where they left off this season. The loss of Second Team All-State Guard Emma Pankalla will hurt, but Philomath is returning eight of twelve varsity players including Honorable Mention All-State Guard Mia Rust, and they are our favorites to win it all this season. 

  1.  Stayton Eagles

2019-2020 Record: 17-8

2019-2020 League Finish: 3rd

2019-2020 Final Rank: #11

Following a tough league slate in 2019-2020, the Eagles found themselves a three-pointer away from advancing to the Elite 8 over 6th-ranked North Marion. The Eagles will lose Second Team All-State Guard KJ Nyquist but return ten of twelve players from last season. Playing Philomath will boost the Eagles RPI, which should help them make it to Forest Grove this season.

  1.  Cascade Cougars

2019-2020 Record: 15-10

2019-2020 League Finish: 2nd

2019-2020 Playoff Seed: #12

Returning or Lost All-State Players: None

Returning Varsity Players: 10/12

Key for Cascade: Rely on nine returning sophomores from last season to compete with Stayton for 2nd.

  1.  Newport Cubs

2019-2020 Record: 9-15

2019-2020 League Finish: 5th

2019-2020 Final Rank: #22

Returning or Lost All-State Players: None

Returning Varsity Players: 9/12

Key for Newport: Use their nine returning players to compete for a play-in spot.

  1.  Woodburn Bulldogs

2019-2020 Record: 8-15

2019-2020 League Finish: 4th

2019-2020 Final Rank: #26

Returning or Lost All-State Players: None

Returning Varsity Players: 6/14

Key for Woodburn: Move on from the eight lost seniors and compete for a play-in spot.

  1.  Sweet Home Huskies

2019-2020 Record: 7-16

2019-2020 League Finish: 6th

2019-2020 Final Rank: #28

Returning or Lost All-State Players: None

Returning Varsity Players: 6/9

Key for Sweet Home: Schedule smaller schools of similar talent level to build confidence for a tough league slate.

  1. Sisters Outlaws

2019-2020 Record: 3-21

2019-2020 League Finish: 7th

2019-2020 Final Rank: #31

Returning or Lost All-State Players: None

Returning Varsity Players: 8/11

Key for Sisters: Develop their eight returning players to compete in the future.

Mountain Valley Conference

  1.  Pleasant Hill Billies

2019-2020 Record: 20-5

2019-2020 League Finish: 1st

2019-2020 Playoff Seed: #3 (Didn’t place)

Fresh off back-to-back 20+ win seasons, the Billies are favorites to win their league once again. Returning nine of eleven players including Third Team All-State Guard Angeni Yeo, Pleasant Hill will look to return to Coos Bay and pick up where they left off last season. The loss of Third Team All-State Guard Kaylee Martin will hurt, but the large amount of returners will be a huge advantage. With long-time coach Stacy Paszkiet at the helm, this Billies team could make a splash in Coos.

  1.  Santiam Christian Eagles

2019-2020 Record: 18-8

2019-2020 League Finish: 3rd

2019-2020 Playoff Seed: #11

After a much improved 2019-2020, Santiam Christian will return Second Team All-State Guard and Lewis & Clark State Commit Audrey Miller. The 5’11 star will lead an Eagles group looking to return to the state tournament for the second straight season. The question for SC will be whether they can look past the loss of six seniors and find a third option to support Miller and Tayla Lost in the post area.

  1.  Harrisburg Eagles

2019-2020 Record: 20-8

2019-2020 League Finish: 2nd

2019-2020 Playoff Seed: #9

Returning or Lost All-State Players: Lost 3rd Team All-State Guard Sammy Christensen

Returning Varsity Players: 8/11

Key for Harrisburg: Maintain pace with the top two of the league to have a high ranking when playoff games are situated.

  1.  La Pine Hawks

2019-2020 Record: 11-13

2019-2020 League Finish: 4th

2019-2020 Final Rank: #20

Returning or Lost All-State Players: None

Returning Varsity Players: 8/10

Key for La Pine: Compete with the top with the bulk of their roster returning.

  1.  Creswell Bulldogs

2019-2020 Record: 5-20

2019-2020 League Finish: 5th

2019-2020 Final Rank: #25

Returning or Lost All-State Players: None

Returning Varsity Players: 11/13

Key for Creswell: Win early on to build confidence in young returning core.

Central Valley Conference

  1.  Central Linn Cobras

2019-2020 Record: 23-6

2019-2020 League Finish: 2nd

2019-2020 Playoff Seed: #3 (Finished 6th) 

In 2019-2020, there was a clear Achilles heel for Central Linn: the Monroe Dragons. While they lost only four games in 2A competition last season, Monroe was responsible for three of those losses. The Dragons claimed victories over the Cobras in the league championship game and, most importantly, the state quarterfinals. However, 2020-2021 should be different for Central Linn. Returning are two very talented guards in Second Team All-State selection Ryleigh Nofziger and Honorable Mention All-State selection Maya Rowland. The guard tandem was responsible for a third of the points the Cobras scored in Pendleton last year. They will lead Central Linn and their other seven returning varsity players this year.

  1.  Monroe Dragons

2019-2020 Record: 23-6

2019-2020 League Finish: 1st

2019-2020 Playoff Seed: #6 (Finished 2nd) 

After a rough 4-4 start to the season, Monroe finished the season on a tear, going 19-2 and all the way to the state championship. They took care of a young Central Linn team all season but fell just short to the clear best team in the state, Kennedy. This season, the Dragons will look to Second Team All-Tournament Post Ashley Sutton. Sutton was key in their state run last year, scoring a postseason-high 17 points in the semifinals against 2nd-seeded Union. Monroe should compete with Central Linn and be a tough team to face this postseason.

  1.  Regis Rams 

2019-2020 Record: 18-8

2019-2020 League Finish: 3rd

2019-2020 Final Rank: #17

Returning or Lost All-State Players: Lost Honorable Mention All-State Guard Lily Parsons.

Returning Varsity Players: 9/12

Key for Regis: Don’t underperform in league playoffs and finish the season strong.

  1.  Jefferson Lions

2019-2020 Record: 15-10

2019-2020 League Finish: 4th

2019-2020 Final Rank: #20

Returning or Lost All-State Players: None

Returning Varsity Players: 10/13

Key for Jefferson: Utilize the ten returning players to make a run at the top.

  1.  Lowell Devils

2019-2020 Record: 7-16

2019-2020 League Finish: 6th

2019-2020 Final Rank: #31

Returning or Lost All-State Players: None

Returning Varsity Players: 11/11

Key for Lowell: Use the huge advantage of returning all varsity players.

    5.) Oakland Oakers

2019-2020 Record: 15-13

2019-2020 League Finish: 4th

2019-2020 Final Rank: #18

Returning or Lost All-State Players: None

Returning Varsity Players: 6/11

Key for Oakland: Develop younger players to compete in league playoffs at the end of the season.

    7.) East Linn Chrisian Academy Eagles

2019-2020 Record: 7-17

2019-2020 League Finish: 7th

2019-2020 Final Rank: #37

Returning or Lost All-State Players: None

Returning Varsity Players: 8/12

Key for East Linn: Play teams with similar skill level early on to build confidence.

    8.) Oakridge Warriors

2019-2020 Record: 2-20

2019-2020 League Finish: 8th

2019-2020 Final Rank: #42

Returning or Lost All-State Players: None

Returning Varsity Players: 8/9Key for East Linn: Improve upon last year’s win total with a strong number of returning players.

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