Oregon Class 4A Sweet Sixteen Preview
As the Oregon Class 4A state tournament gets under way with the round of 16, we take a look at the key match ups in each of tonight’s games.
GAME TO WATCH: Banks (10) at Cottage Grove (7)
Banks, actually finished the season ranked higher than the Lions, but is on the road based on the class 4A provision that league champions automatically get a home game. They won’t make the trip without talent as they boast one of 4A’s most recruitable players in 6’7 junior wing Dalton Renne, who has the capability to carry the Braves. Scoring and defensive help from 2019 post Blake Gobel will be key as well. Cottage Grove under the tutelage of longtime coach Donn Pollard enters the playoffs having won 6 of their last 8 games.
UPSET SPECIAL: North Marion (11) at Henley (6)
Henley, which sports an impressive 19-3 record on the season is a little difficult to gauge. It is 0-2 on the season in non-league match ups against teams that are still playing. North Marion on the other hand has played a challenging schedule and finished the season one spot behind 4A power Philomath in the Oregon West Conference. The Huskies are led by 6’5 senior wing Tanner Scanlan, who lead them to a 2nd place finish in the 2015 state tournament.
MATCH UPS:
Cascade (16) at Seaside (1)
Seaside the 2016 state runner up has been ranked at the top of the 4A polls virtually all season, with only a late road loss at Valley Catholic showing as a blemish on their record. Meanwhile, Cascade enters the playoffs with a 4-4 record in their last 8 games. Seaside is led by the senior trio of Jackson Januik, Attikin Babb, and Hunter Thompson. The Seagulls have gotten big contributions from sophomores, Chase Januik and Payton Westerholm. Cascade the third seed from the Oregon West Conference counts on senior guard Tyler Walker to set the tone on both ends of the floor.
Sisters (9) at Gladstone (8)
No team in the state controls the pace of a game like Sisters. The slower the tempo, the better they feel about their chances. Keagan Greaney, a physical 6’3 guard is the leading scorer for the Outlaws, who despite their scoring output are one of the statistical defensive leaders in the state. It’s hard to know what to make of Gladstone, which has established themselves as a regular 4A contender during Cody Aker’s three years as a head coach. They finished the season ranked 13th in the OSAA rankings and are the only team from the Tri Valley conference to advance to the round of 16.
Sutherlin (12) at North Bend (5)
No team in 4A basketball has had the recent success of North Bend without winning a state title. Could this be their year? A deep and versatile roster have eased the transition from longtime head coach Tom Nichols to first year coach Chris Emerson. Tanner Hanneman a skilled 6’7 forward is a match up problem night in and night out. Sutherlin is a relatively young group which exceeded many expectations to reach this point featuring wins over playoff teams Gladstone and Sisters.
Mazama (13) at Philomath (4)
Barring a 2nd half shooting slump in the 2015 state semifinals, we would be talking about Philomath’s attempt to win a historic 4th straight state title. As it is, long time head coach Blake Ecker will be seeking his 3rd title in four years and will ride the shoulders of 6’5 senior forward Cal Stueve to get there. Stueve, a returning first team all-state pick, is an inside-outside threat who will be playing in his third straight state tournament. Mazama from Klamath Falls is a smaller but quick paced group that looks to push the pace and use their perimeter shooting ability to stretch defenses. Sophomore guard Andrew Reynolds is one of the best 2019 players at the 4A level.
Newport (14) at Valley Catholic (3)
Valley Catholic may be the tallest team at any level of Oregon. Their size and length allows them to play a variety of different defenses and an effective inside-outside game offensively. The Valiants are led by head coach Joel Sobotka who has a long resume as D1 assistant and head coach. Valley is looking to make their first appearance in the 4A final 8 since moving up from 3A two years ago. Newport, the 4th seed out of the Oregon West conference advanced this far after a play in victory over Siuslaw. Size could be an issue for the Cubs, as they only list one player over 6’1 on their roster.
Tillamook (15) at Lagrande (2)
For much of the 2000s these two teams were on the short list of dominant programs at this level. Both of them have missed making the final 8 in recent years, but look to change that trend in 2017. Tillamook will be making their second 8+ hour bus trip in a week, as they traveled to the mountain time zone to beat Ontario in the play in round. Lagrande’s resume doesn’t include many games against playoff caliber teams, so it will be interesting to see how they react to a tense playoff atmosphere.