5A Tournament – Semifinal Top Performers

<p>Friday’s state semifinals at the 5A level were high-intensity, action-packed, and full of standout individual performances, as both Silverton and Wilsonville advanced to the championship game. Here’s a look at the day’s top show-outs:</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="857351" first="Jordan" last="McCarty"] (2022 Silverton)</strong></p> <p>McCarty, one of the Foxes’ many seniors, was a particular presence in the first semifinal. The Air Force football commit buried a three-pointer on his way to recording 10 points and six assists for the fourth-seeded Foxes. Furthermore, McCarty was the defensive MVP of the game, making things difficult for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1229384" first="Garrett" last="Osborne"] </strong>all afternoon, both on and away from the ball. The senior guard proved he’s one of the best defensive players at the 5A level.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1228363" first="Neil" last="Efimov"] (2022 Silverton)</strong></p> <p>Although it wasn’t Efimov’s best game shooting the ball (5-for-15), he still led the game with 20 points, eight of which came from a perfect day at the foul line. Additionally, the 6-foot-2 senior collected three rebounds, two assists, and four steals as a do-it-all presence for the Foxes. Efimov’s ability to score is clearly a key to his team’s success thus far. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1382415" first="Evan" last="Otten"] (2023 Redmond)</strong></p> <p>Otten, a 6-foot-10 big for the first-seeded Panthers, was an absolute handful all day long. The junior recorded 13 points, three blocks, and a whopping 20 rebounds during Friday’s losing effort. Otten was quick on his feet inside, causing havoc on the defensive end and throwing down multiple dunks. He was the clear MVP of the game for the Panthers.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1256625" first="Maxim" last="Wu"] (2023 Wilsonville)</strong></p> <p>In addition to leading the game with 15 points on 4-for-5 shooting, Wu did a spectacular job defending <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="857343" first="Samaje" last="Morgan"]</strong> on the perimeter. Wu held the 5A-POY candidate to just 10 points, and his quickness was felt on <em>both</em> ends of the floor. The junior guard pulled up for multiple timely jump shots, and was a clear key to the Wildcats’ victory.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="857371" first="Logan" last="Thebiay"] (2022 WIlsonville)</strong></p> <p>Similar to Otten, Thebiay was a handful inside for Wilsonville. The senior big vacuumed in 18 rebounds to go alongside nine points, which included a ferocious dunk with under three minutes to go that put an exclamation point on the contest. Additionally, Thebiay’s presence was felt on defense, as he recorded a steal and altered a slew of Churchill shot attempts and decisions. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1096104" first="Tristan" last="Davis"] (2023 Wilsonville)</strong></p> <p>Davis, another force inside for the Wildcats, was an offensive key. The 6-foot-7 junior scored 14 points and led the game with four assists. Additionally, similar to Thebiay, his sheer size in the paint deterred the Lancer offense all afternoon. Furthermore, Davis also displayed his versatility on Friday, stepping out to knock down a key three-pointer in the third quarter. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="857360" first="Ty" last="Weiskind"] (2022 Churchill)</strong></p> <p>Weiskind was the steadiest offensive threat for the Lancers, leading the way with 13 points. The 6-foot-2 senior guard knocked down a three in the first half, and was a major reason why the Lancers jumped out to an early lead. His ability to finish through contact was notable as he helped his team stay involved through three quarters. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p>