5A: Canby Cougars – 2025-26 Season Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the high school season approaches, rosters are being released and I'm going to be previewing each team from the 6A and 5A levels. I'll go over each team's key players going into this coming season, list the returners/newcomers, and key departures. Here is the preview of the Canby Cougars (5A) of the Northwest Oregon Conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Head Coach: Matt Taylor (4th Season, 38-41 Record)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Season's Record: 17-12</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Players</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1951856"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-691feef326cba"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lawson remains in the top five as he comes into 2025-26 as the leader at the point for who may very well be the pre-season number one 5A team in Canby. The 6-foot guard consistently pushed the ball and made plays this off-season in both AAU ball and with his high school team, and his competitiveness and leadership will be critical in the Cougars' chase for their first-ever state title. (JT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2757024"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-691feef326d27"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Simply put was a beast in the lane that could not be contained. The 6-foot-5 junior didn't just muscle defenders out of the way for rebounds and inside buckets but used his athleticism to leap over them as well. As tough as he was, the aggression was contained and the fact he's a lefty made him that much harder to defend. He was a major factor on both ends of the floor and should have a breakout season at Canby. (JT)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Returners</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2844695' first='Cohen' last='Vandecoevering'] (Class of 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2737286' first='Cooper' last='Cousin'] (Class of 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Landon Stegmeier (Class of 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joe Roberts (Class of 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2949701' first='Dane' last='Edwards'] (Class of 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Newcomers</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2862155' first='Dondre' last='Woods'] (Class of 2028)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dannier Michel (Class of 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ryder Ford (Class of 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Will Kenney (Class of 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2514353' first='Carter' last='Lawson'] (Class of 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Key Departures</strong>: N/A</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Additional Contributions by Jed Tai</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->