2021-22 6A Preview: Mountain Valley Conference

<p>After a non-traditional season in 2021, the 2021-22 campaign is highly anticipated as it will be back to "normal" for just about everyone across the state.  Last year, the Mountain Valley Conference was largely split in two as the Salem and Bend areas focused playing against teams in their region. They’ll all be one happy family again this season and the race should be competitive.  </p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>League Predictions</strong></span></p> <p>1. Summit<br /> 2. West Salem<br /> 3. Sprague<br /> 4. Bend<br /> 5. Mountain View<br /> 6. McNary<br /> 7. South Salem<br /> 8. McKay<br /> (NA) Caldera</p> <p><strong>Player of the Year</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="1228279" first="Caden" last="Harris"], Summit</p> <p><strong>All-League Predictions</strong>: Harris; [player_tooltip player_id="964539" first="Julian" last="Mora"], Summit; [player_tooltip player_id="857342" first="Dallon" last="Morgan"], Sprague; Trenton Ferguson, West Salem; [player_tooltip player_id="1113084" first="Quincy" last="Townsend"], Mountain View</p> <p><strong>Top Sleeper/Newcomer</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id="1268431" first="Connor" last="Oertel"], West Salem</p> <p><strong>State Tournament Threats: </strong>Summit</p> <p><strong>Other Post-Season Teams: </strong>West Salem, Sprague</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Analysis<br /> </strong></span></p> <p>Talk to opposing league coaches and all will say that Summit is the team to beat in the Mountain Valley Conference this year. Head coach Jon Frazier’s squad is stacked with talent up and down the roster and filled with experienced players, a number of whom have played together for years. [player_tooltip player_id="1228279" first="Caden" last="Harris"] (16.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.2 apg, .386 3pt%) is the main attraction as the 6-foot-5 wing is blessed with size, athleticism, and a smooth stroke on the wing. He’s already picked up a slew of Division II offers and is the odds-on favorite to win league MVP honors. At the point for the fourth straight year is [player_tooltip player_id="964539" first="Julian" last="Mora"] (18.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.2 apg, .438 3pt%) who pushes the ball up the floor about as fast as anyone in the state. Summit has a number of other solid shooters in seniors Truman Teuber (11.9 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id="1079540" first="Carson" last="Cox"] (11.0 ppg, .459 3pt%) and some young guns in sophomores [player_tooltip player_id="1113082" first="Collin" last="Moore"] (3.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and [player_tooltip player_id="1110580" first="Pearson" last="Carmichael"]. The Storm are kind of forgotten sometimes since they’re located in Central Oregon but look for them to be a serious contender for a state tournament berth.</p> <p>West Salem appears to be a rock-solid second place and they are another program that’s deep with players. Head coach Travis Myers is blessed to not only have one, but two bigs in the lineup with senior [player_tooltip player_id="964553" first="Brooks" last="Ferguson"] (8.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and super soph Trenton Ferguson (5.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, .593 fg%), the latter of which could really emerge as an inside force in 2021-22. Tommy Slack (10.2 ppg) is the top returning scorer and watch out for varsity newcomer [player_tooltip player_id="1268431" first="Connor" last="Oertel"] is a do-it-all 6-foot-2 guard who Myers is extremely high on.</p> <p>Sprague also returns plenty from last year’s team and it all starts with big man [player_tooltip player_id="857342" first="Dallon" last="Morgan"] (17.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg, .584 fg%, .356 3pt%). The 6-foot-8 post can do damage both inside and out and will be a nightmare matchup for most opponents. Ryder Skogstad (8.9 ppg, 2.0 apg) heads up the point and junior [player_tooltip player_id="865364" first="Drew" last="Rodriguez"] (5.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and senior Boston Ralston (3.5 ppg) are other key returnees for head coach Jordan Graneto. Bend head coach Aaron Johnson is also blessed with a number of key guys returning including their top three scorers in [player_tooltip player_id="1085789" first="Ben" last="Keown"] (14.0 ppg, .396 3pt%), Codiac Claussen (12.9 ppg, 3.4 apg, .407 3pt%), and Nate Koehler (9.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg). Top rebounders Colby Shields (5.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Austin Baker (6.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg) are also back for the Lava Bears who look to build off of their 10 wins last season.</p> <p>Mountain View will be competitive as they have the luxury of having a talented point guard in [player_tooltip player_id="1113084" first="Quincy" last="Townsend"] (18.4 ppg, ) and solid big man in 6-foot-10 [player_tooltip player_id="1079534" first="Tane" last="Prictor"] (13.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.5 bpg, .576 fg%). 6-foot-4 junior [player_tooltip player_id="1256720" first="Nathan" last="Hoisington"] should also make an impact. Head coach Bob Townsend runs some of the best sets in the league and the Cougars will certainly win more than the two games they notched in 2021. It’s a new era at McNary as Nate Meithof (24.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg) will no longer be piling up points for the Celtics. Head coach Ryan Kirch will has his team well-coached and hopes to fill in the gaps by committee with returnees Jabol Byles (6.6 ppg), Tyler Copeland (6.0 ppg), and Jando Gonzales (5.0 ppg).</p> <p>Rebuilding is the name of the game at South Salem as graduation and transfers gutted the roster for head coach Travis Brown. The Saxons will be small - their tallest player is 6-foot-2 - but they will try to use their quickness to their advantage. Sophomores Greg Comer and [player_tooltip player_id="1110576" first="Eli" last="Gabriel"] will be names to watch. McKay will once again restart their program. New coach Kyle Oglesby was practically hired last-minute so expectations will be low. Finally, brand new school Caldera will be in the Mountain Valley Conference but will play a JV schedule in 2021-22.</p>