2019-20 5A Preview: Northwest Oregon Conference

<p dir="ltr">The 2019-20 season is upon us and it’s time to take a look at some of the top leagues in 5A. We continue our previews with a look at the Northwest Oregon Conference. </p> <p dir="ltr"><u>State Tournament Threats</u></p> <p dir="ltr"><b>Wilsonville</b> - Despite losing the 2019 NOC player of the year, the Wildcats return a developed batch of talent that should be one of the state championship favorites this winter. <strong>Dakota Reber</strong>, a 6-foot-6 athletic stretch big, will be one of the top returning players in the state at any level, sitting at number four on our class of 2020 rankings. Accompanying the stout big man is smooth shooter <strong>Gabe Reichle</strong> and tenacious rebounding threat <strong>Keegan Shivers</strong>. All three of these players were integral pieces on last year’s state championship team, which suggests they may be even more dominant this season. 6-foot guard <strong>Oswaldo Velasco</strong> should step into a larger role as a whole in 2019-20, moving from a solid bench piece to a likely starter. The Wildcats’ blend of young talent and experienced stars should make them a premier contender yet again this winter. </p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Parkrose</strong> - One if the larger question marks this off-season, the Parkrose Broncos finally appear to be in decent shape with a decent core surrounding scoring guard <strong>Damontae Burns</strong>, who appears to be primed to tear up 5A this winter. The Broncos somewhat lack experience besides Burns, especially with the departure of Tyjuan Overton, who left to play with the Rough Riders of Roosevelt. The most experienced player of the bunch is <strong>Christian Allen</strong>, who made plenty of solid appearances on the box score for Parkrose last season. Standing at 6-foot-1, <strong>Brian Bilibrew</strong> should balance the floor with solid shooting and offer Burns some relief as he draws double-teams. Additionally, returning backup point man <strong>Mactae Harper</strong> adds a shifty handle to a quick-firing lineup that could compete with powerhouse Wilsonville throughout the season.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>La Salle</strong> - Returning guards <strong>Jake Owens</strong> and <strong>Nic Boyd</strong> will have to step up in a big way this winter if they want to return to Gill Coliseum. Last year’s team MVP Jace Norton graduated, leaving a significant offensive hole to be filled come this winter. Another player hoping to assist in said hole is the blue collar <strong>Liam Crowley</strong>, who also plays quarterback for the football team. At 6-foot-3, Crowley is multi-dimensional defensively for the Falcons, who have a shot to cause some statewide chaos this season.</p> <p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">League Predictions</span></p> <p dir="ltr">1.Wilsonville </p> <p dir="ltr">2.Parkrose</p> <p dir="ltr">3.La Salle</p> <p dir="ltr">4.Putnam</p> <p dir="ltr">5.Hillsboro</p> <p dir="ltr">6.Milwaukie</p> <p dir="ltr">7.St. Helens</p> <p dir="ltr">8.Scappoose</p> <p dir="ltr"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Player of the Year</span></p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Damontae Burns, Parkrose</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Perhaps the most gifted scorer in the conference, Burns will have a chance to shine during his junior season with a somewhat depleted roster around him. An elite talent with an all-around offensive game, the 6-foot-2 junior should have the most eye-popping numbers across the NOC, making him a top candidate for player of the year honors. </p> <p dir="ltr">All-League Predictions: Burns (POY); Jake Owens, La Salle; Gabe Reichle, Wilsonville; Keegan Shivers, Wilsonville; Dakota Reber, Wilsonville</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Outlook</strong></p> <p dir="ltr">There should be some fantastic battles between the top two teams in the Northwest Oregon Conference this year. Wilsonville, a Les Schwab invitee that hopes to be one of the state’s top teams this year, should run away with yet another league championship, but Damontae Burns and Parkrose have been known to give them trouble in the past. La Salle, despite losing their top scorer, should be a postseason team, and when they visit Parkrose this season, they have a chance to win their second straight on the road against Burns and the Broncos. Still, it seems the main two threats to make a deep playoff push are the obvious Wilsonville Wildcats and Parkrose. Lookout for those two in March. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Photo: Tanner Russ/WilsonvilleSpokesman</em></p>