Culmination Week: Red and Blue Semis Predictions

Jed Tai June 23, 2021 @ 11:47 AM

Red Bracket

Beaverton over Sherwood

We bit it hard on our predictions in the first round regarding both of these teams and definitely heard about it from the coaches from both after the game (in a nice way, of course). At least with our prediction with this game we can appease one fan base! This is another battle of contrasting styles with Sherwood being more of a three-point gunning squad. Once again, Beaverton will try to make things methodical and physical and get the ball down to Dane Erikstrup Dane Erikstrup 6'10" | C Beaverton | 2021 State OR down low. This time, we think that while the bombing of the likes of Caden Davis Caden Davis 6'0" | CG Sherwood | 2021 State OR and Asher Krauel Asher Krauel 6'1" | CG Sherwood | 2021 State OR won’t be completely stopped, the defense of the Beavers will eventually win out as they advance to the title game.

Grant over Tualatin

Grant returned to the style of play we’ve seen this season that we didn’t see against Jefferson - the pinpoint ball movement, sharing, and quickness on defense that dismantled both Roosevelt and Clackamas and absolutely destroyed Liberty on Tuesday night. Tualatin used defense of their own to lock down Mt. Hood Conference player of the year Esyah Pippa-White Esyah Pippa-White 6'2" | PG Gresham | 2023 State OR in their win over Gresham. The key in this game is that as good as Adrian Mosley Adrian Mosley 6'2" | SF West Linn | 2023 State #269 Nation OR is, there isn’t just one guy to stop with Grant. And now that they apparently have their mojo back it’s hard to see them letting up against the Timberwolves. Generals should take this one going away.

Blue Bracket

Jefferson over Mountainside

Mountainside has been getting things done by committee and they did a great job containing Barlow’s shooters in their opening round win. Jefferson staved off a feisty La Salle squad, once again riding their stars in Lamar Washington Lamar Washington 6'4" | CG AZ Compass Prep | 2022 State #128 Nation AZ and Marquis Cook Marquis Cook 6'6" | SF AZ Compass Prep | 2023 State #6 Nation AZ to victory. The Demos now face a team that may not be as good a shooting team, but bigger, more athletic, and just as feisty in the Mavericks. As we’ve pretty much seen all season long with Jefferson though, having the top two players at their disposal has been enough but this time we should see someone from the likes of Brandon Hopson Brandon Hopson 6'0" | PG Jefferson | 2021 State OR , Sanborne Melson Sanborne Melson 5'10" | CG Jefferson | 2023 State OR , or Trejon Williams Trejon Williams 5'11" | PG Jefferson | 2022 OR coming through with some double-digit scoring to help the Demos ease to victory.

Clackamas over Jesuit

Clackamas fought off Cleveland while Jesuit cruised to an easy win over Newberg in round one. Who has the advantage in game two? One thing’s for sure, it shouldn’t be any kind of cakewalk for the Crusaders. The Cavs have the senior experience going for them and Ryan Lewis Ryan Lewis 6'4" | SG Clackamas | 2021 State OR and Damon Erickson Damon Erickson 6'4" | SG Clackamas | 2021 State OR are determined to go out as winners on their terms. Jesuit has their own seniors in James Lang James Lang 6'0" | CG Jesuit | 2021 State OR and Liam Ruttledge Liam Ruttledge 6'2" | CG Jesuit | 2021 State OR , but for some reason - and this was the case against Newberg despite the large margin of victory - they still can’t quite get their outside shots to fall. The easy baskets won’t be there against Clackamas’ stingy defense, which we believe will get the Cavs through to the Red Bracket finals.