2022-23 6A Preview: Pacific Conference

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2022-23 season is upon us and PrepHoops Oregon has you covered. We're doing pre-season previews for all of the 6A leagues across the state, giving you some insight into the teams and players you should be watching this year. The Pacific Conference has been Sherwood's domain in recent years and things don't look too much different this season, but how it shapes up after the Bowmen will be very competitive. Here's how we see it turning out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>League Predictions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Sherwood<br>2. Century<br>3. Liberty<br>4. McMinnville<br>5. Forest Grove<br>6. Glencoe<br>7. Newberg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Player of the Year</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1232163' first='Jared' last='Sucher'], Sherwood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>All-League Predictions</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1232163' first='Jared' last='Sucher'], Sherwood; [player_tooltip player_id='1256719' first='Brandon' last='Bomberger'], McMinnville; [player_tooltip player_id='1268451' first='Tyler' last='Bradford'], Liberty; [player_tooltip player_id='1382408' first='Matthew' last='Verkamp'], Sherwood; [player_tooltip player_id='861082' first='Axton' last='Wongsomadi'], Century</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Top Sleeper/Newcomer</strong>: Jay Johnson, Liberty</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>State Tournament Threats: </strong>Sherwood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Post-Season Teams: </strong>Century, Liberty</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's become a bit of a broken record but it really is the same tune again this year - Sherwood looks to be tops in the Pacific. As usual, head coach Rahim Tufts brings back the most talent and experience. Leading the way is wing [player_tooltip player_id='1232163' first='Jared' last='Sucher'] (16.3 ppg, 4.5 rpg, .391 3pt%) who is no doubt primed to have a huge senior campaign. When healthy, he's one of the top shooters and scorers in all of 6A and he also has the athleticism to finish above the rim. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1382408' first='Matthew' last='Verkamp'] (8.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.7 spg) is back as his running mate and the do-it-all performer could potentially average a double-double. In the backcourt, [player_tooltip player_id='861084' first='Breyan' last='Kelly'] (2.4 ppg, 0.5 apg) can really fill it up from long range and transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1342141' first='Ethan' last='Eckard'] (6.6 ppg, 1.9 rpg at Lakeridge) will add scoring punch. The next step for the Bowmen program is making the 6A state tournament and this team has the offensive ability to make that happen.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Once again, guard play will be the strength for Century and head coach Scott Kellar and the trio of senior [player_tooltip player_id='861082' first='Axton' last='Wongsomadi'] (11.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg), junior [player_tooltip player_id='1111363' first='Jordan' last='Johnson'] (11.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.0 apg), and sophomore Jessly Bukeyenza (8.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.4 apg) will lead the way. All three can fill it up from long range - Wongsomadi has been one of 6A's leaders in threes made per game the past two seasons - and you can expect to see plenty of threes getting launched this season. Senior point guard Elijah Garcia (7.0 ppg, 3.7 apg) is back to get everyone the basketball as well. The key as usual will be how the height-challenged Jaguars will match up against bigger teams and if they can capably rebound and defend to make up for the nights when the shots aren't falling.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Liberty hopes to build upon last year's strong finish that allowed them to qualify for the post-season and head coach Mike Gregory's still relatively young squad now has experience. Junior wing/forward [player_tooltip player_id='1268451' first='Tyler' last='Bradford'] (8.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg) is arguably the top athlete in the conference and physically will be tough to contend with inside or outside. The key will be if he can consistently flip the switch into manchild mode. Getting him the ball will be junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1110592' first='Donovan' last='Crowder'] (6.9 ppg, 3.9 apg), one of the quickest guys around. 6-foot-6 senior John Marugg (6.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg) is the size up front and fellow senior Nate Smith (4.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, .576 fg%) operates well inside despite being undersized at 6-foot-1. Freshman Jay Johnson is a talented offensive player who may be a big factor by season's end.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McMinnville head coach Willie Graham has been around a while - he's only second in tenure in the conference behind Kellar at Century - so shifting from having size to leaning on his guards is nothing new. Thankfully he's got some experienced backcourt operators to lean on, starting with four-year starter [player_tooltip player_id='1256719' first='Brandon' last='Bomberger'] (10.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.6 apg) at the point. Another returnee Graham is expecting big things from this season is junior [player_tooltip player_id='1495722' first='Owen' last='Wark'] (6.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg) who has the ability to get things done both inside and outside. Senior Max Saltmarsh (8.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg, .330 3pt) is the team's top outside shooter and will likely be the third offensive option. There are some talented young players that will need to quickly develop and emerge for the Grizzlies as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forest Grove is the biggest team in the league with seven guys listed at 6-foot-3 or taller and head coach Marc Roche is hoping that will translate into some wins. The Vikings are fairly senior-dominated as well but from an experience perspective though, they are still relatively green. Afton Milton (3.8 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 1.0 apg) figures in at the point and he has good size for the position at 6-foot-3. Charlie Funk (1.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg) has potential up front, and junior Kaden Hale (0.9 ppg, 0.9 rpg) - the school's starting QB - brings athleticism to the table. A couple of younger guys that could emerge are sharp-shooting sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1604669' first='Nolan' last='Hudgins'] and freshman point guard Andwele Bridges.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Had [player_tooltip player_id='1268432' first='Chance' last='Winter'] returned - the big man transferred to Beaverton - things might have been different but instead it's looking like another year of trying to stay competitive for Glencoe and head coach Kevin "Pip" Bloodsaw. A couple of key returnees - junior guard Cooper Landaker (9.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg) who can fill it up from long range, and senior point guard Keith Miller (4.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 2.2 apg) - will lead the way and seniors wings Austin Stampflee (1.1 ppg, 1.1 rpg) and Lucas Anthony (0.7 ppg), as well as junior guard Tyson Young (1.0 ppg), and all had their moments for the Crimson Tide last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Newberg was the only job head coach Brett Vernon would have left any other spot for, so when it opened up this off-season he jumped at the chance. What the former Tigers star inherits is an essentially new team as last year's roster that won five games is practically gone. One guy that does return is a big one - literally - 6-foot-7 Palmer Thompson (0.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg). Vernon is hoping his senior big man will man the middle, especially on the defensive end and on the boards. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2324446' first='Malachi' last='Muthiah'] (3.8 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.2 apg) should supply much of the scoring. Pretty much everyone else is a newcomer, of which point guard Elijah Camp and senior post Caysten Knows His Gun could emerge.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->