5A State Tournament – Day One Top Performers
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The 5A quarterfinals provided their fair share of entertaining matchups and standout performances on Wednesday, as Summit, Redmond, Wilsonville, and Crescent Valley advanced with victories, while North Eugene, Mountain View, Woodburn, and La Salle Prep fell to the consolation bracket.…
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Continue ReadingThe 5A quarterfinals provided their fair share of entertaining matchups and standout performances on Wednesday, as Summit, Redmond, Wilsonville, and Crescent Valley advanced with victories, while North Eugene, Mountain View, Woodburn, and La Salle Prep fell to the consolation bracket. Today, we’ll take a look at the most apparent difference-makers from Wednesday’s action:
Collin Moore Collin Moore 6'2" | CG Summit | 2024 State OR (2024 Summit) – 20 pts, 4 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl
Moore was locked-in on both ends, using his phenomenal athleticism to subdue the Highlanders on the perimeter while scoring a team-high 20 points. The three-sport athlete possesses blinding quickness and leaping ability, making him one of the deadliest slashers in 5A. Simultaneously, the junior’s 6-foot-2 frame at the point guard position is a mismatch in most cases.
Pearson Carmichael Pearson Carmichael 6'6" | SF Summit | 2024 State #270 Nation OR (2024 Summit) – 19 pts, 8 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk
While it wasn’t the Boise State commit’s most explosive night offensively, Carmichael still finished the game an efficient 6-of-13 from the field, contributing 19 points with a variety of difficult jump shots and lengthy finishes around the rim. The 6-foot-7 junior is a complete mismatch problem with his combination of size and skills, which was put on display on Wednesday..
Nolan Duke (2023 North Eugene) – 14 pts, 0 reb, 6 ast, 3 blk
Duke was a bright spot for a Highlander group that struggled to find good looks in the paint all night, knocking down three three-pointers on his way to a team-high 14 points. Simultaneously, Duke’s athleticism was put on display on the defensive end, as the 6-foot-4 senior flew around for three blocks. Duke’s hops were staggering, as was his ability to time jumps and locate the basketball.
Tanner Jones (2023 Redmond) – 19 pts, 2 reb, 7 ast, 2 stl
Jones was a maestro against the Cougars on Wednesday, sending his Panthers to the semifinals with a creative performance that included a game-high seven assists. With a quick and effective handle, Jones is clearly among the top playmakers in the field, while simultaneously possessing the ability to take over a game as a scorer. The senior point guard finished 3-of-3 from downtown on Wednesday.
Nathan Wachs (2023 Redmond) – 17 pts, 4 reb, 4 ast
Wachs, a solid all-around athlete, put together a terrific offensive performance on Wednesday, connecting on three of the Panthers six made three-pointers. The senior forward is strong with the ball in his hands and is capable of bulldozing his way to the rim. On Wednesday, Wachs made three-point bombing a part of his repertoire as he also dished four assists.
Evan Otten Evan Otten 6'10" | C Redmond | 2023 State OR (2023 Redmond) – 8 pts, 19 reb, 3 ast. 3 blk
Otten found a way to impact the game tremendously without scoring a bunch, vacuuming 19 rebounds in the Panthers’ impressive quarterfinal win. As Redmond beat Mountain View for a fourth time this season, the 6-foot-10 senior was affecting nearly everything inside, using his sheer size to collect three blocks alongside his game-leading effort on the glass.
Quincy Townsend Quincy Townsend 6'2" | CG Mountain View | 2024 State OR (2024 Mountain View) – 28 pts, 7 reb, 1 ast, 3 stl
While it wasn’t the most efficient night from Townsend, who finished 11-of-27 from the field, the senior was the Cougars lone source of offense at times — if it weren’t for the junior combo guard’s shot-making ability, particularly in the second half, Mountain View likely would have been blown out. Alongside a game-high 28 points for 5A’s leading scorer, Townsend collected seven rebounds and three steals.
Kyle Counts Kyle Counts 6'7" | PF Wilsonville | 2024 State OR (2024 Wilsonville) – 16 pts, 16 reb, 3 ast, 3 blk, 2 stl
Counts was an obvious pick for team MVP honors on Wednesday, using his length to affect the game in a wide variety of ways. At 6-foot-7, Counts was dominant on the glass and blocking shots while also displaying his fluidity as a scorer. For his size, Counts is very skilled with the ball in his hands while possessing the ability to stretch the floor as a shooter. On Wednesday, the junior knocked down a three while going 5-for-5 from the foul line.
Rocco McClave (2024 Crescent Valley) – 21 pts, 6 reb, 1 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl
As Crescent Valley continued its Cinderella run into the semifinals, McClave was arguably the MVP of the day, posting an efficient 21 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Additionally, the junior shooting guard was a major difference maker on the defensive end, disrupting La Salle’s offense all night. Clinging to a two-point lead with under 30 seconds to go, McClave drew a clutch charge call, sliding in front of La Salle’s Nick Robertson Nick Robertson 6'4" | SG La Salle | 2023 State OR . That play ended up igniting the crowd and giving the ball back to the Raiders with a chance to put the game on ice.
Adam Temesgen Adam Temesgen 6'1" | PG Crescent Valley | 2023 State OR (2023 Crescent Valley) – 12 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast, 4 stl
Alongside McClave, Temesgen proved why the Raiders have one of the most underrated backcourts in 5A, excelling in the pressurized point guard role on Wednesday. The senior was obviously Crescent Valley’s primary creator off the dribble, and his ability to attack the paint and finish inside through traffic was apparent in the upset win. Temesgen also stepped out to nail a three.
Finbar O’Brien Finbar O’Brien 6'1" | CG La Salle | 2023 State OR (2023 La Salle) – 11 pts, 11 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl
While the Falcons struggled in this game offensively, O’Brien was a rare bright spot, splashing three three-pointers on his way to a team-high 11 points. While La Salle converted just 32.6% of its field goals, the outside sharpshooting of O’Brien largely kept it in the game. Furthermore, the versatile senior posted a double-double, snatching 11 rebounds to lead the game as the Falcons fell to the consolation bracket.