2025-26 6A Preview - Central Valley Conference

The 2025-26 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. It should be another competitive year in the Central Valley Conference. Here's how we see it turning out.   League Predictions   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>South Salem</li>   <li>West Salem</li>   <li>McNary</li>   <li>Sprague</li>   <li>North Salem</li> </ol>   Player of the Year: [player_tooltip player_id='1687840' first='Teagan' last='Scott'], South Salem   All-League Predictions: Scott; [player_tooltip player_id='1671256' first='Tko' last='Westbrook'], South Salem; [player_tooltip player_id='2747502' first='Cole' last='Ricketts'], McNary; [player_tooltip player_id='2747493' first='Jacob' last='Sanderson'], West Salem; [player_tooltip player_id='2534572' first='Jonah' last='Munns'], West Salem   Top Sleeper/Newcomer: [player_tooltip player_id='1602196' first='Rafael' last='Ochoa'], North Salem   State Tournament Threats: South Salem   Other Post-Season Teams: West Salem, McNary, Sprague   Analysis   It's going to be an extremely close race in the Central Valley for first place but South Salem gets the edge. Why you ask? Head coach Kip Ioane's team is fast and athletic, but the main reason is the fact they have on their roster two of the best and most experienced guards in the league in [player_tooltip player_id='1687840' first='Teagan' last='Scott'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1671256' first='Tko' last='Westbrook']. Scott (21.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 2.2 apg) has been a dominant point producer for South Salem since first donned the Saxons uniform and the Oregon State baseball signee - one of the nation's top catchers - is a great shooter and scorer primed to have another 20+ ppg season. Helping him get the ball will be Westbrook (12.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.1 apg) who some pundits believe is the best pure passer in the state. The senior will dish out the assists but has also steadily improved offensively his four years playing varsity ball. The main defensive stalwart will be [player_tooltip player_id='2892510' first='Brayden' last='Fleener'] (3.6 ppg, 5.2 rpg, 2.0 bpg). The senior nicknamed "Pookie" is a tremendous run and jump athlete who despite his smaller size can still protect the rim with his shot-blocking ability. A lot of other players will likely show up as leaders on the statsheet such as juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2539890' first='Brett' last='Gill'] (4.9 ppg, .353 3pt%) and Sam Johnson (1.1 ppg in 11 games), sophomore Gabe Lyatuu (2.1 ppg in 9 games), and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2897760' first='Aiden' last='Rodriguez'].   There are some points lost to graduation but West Salem has enough back to make a run at first place. Head coach Dean Sanderson has a strong, physical team that will really defend but enough on the offensive end to keep up with most teams. The top scorer will likely be [player_tooltip player_id='2534572' first='Jonah' last='Munns'] (12.5 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.8 apg, .356 3pt%). The freshman really made an impression his first year on the scene and is just as capable of knocking down perimeter jumpers as he is getting to the hoop. Getting him the basketball will be senior [player_tooltip player_id='2747493' first='Jacob' last='Sanderson'] (5.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 6.4 apg, 1.6 spg). He's a leader and fierce competitor who plays lockdown D and as the coach's son, is his father's eyes on the basketball floor. A team captain along with Sanderson, Evan Wusstig (7.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg) provides more physical presence on both ends of the floor. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2605167' first='Jaxon' last='Oertel'] is an athletic guard who can get to the basket and senior transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2356234' first='Jack' last='Lapray'] (7.5 ppg at South Salem) round out the starting lineup. A couple of wildcards will be freshman big man [player_tooltip player_id='2913349' first='Laikyn' last='Donnelly'] and 6-foot-6 senior [player_tooltip player_id='2747496' first='Diggs' last='Sladek'], who could return from injury in January.   McNary returns practically everyone from last year's playoff squad and head coach Ryan Kirch has a roster entirely comprised of seniors. The team's strength will be up front as the forward trio of [player_tooltip player_id='2468461' first='Aydn' last='Dallum'] (7.8 ppg, 5.9 rpg), [player_tooltip player_id='2747502' first='Cole' last='Ricketts'] (9.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.3 apg), and Ryan Skinner (5.9 ppg, 3.6 rpg, .667 fg%) is all back and better. Dallum showed real flashes of inside-outside ability during the summer - the key for him will be staying healthy. Ricketts is arguably the most consistent player on the team and he too had a big off-season of development, one where he may be helping out with ball-handling duties. Skinner isn't a big numbers guy and is undersized at 6-foot-2, but will sneak up with a number of buckets down low. The key will be who gets them the ball and [player_tooltip player_id='2747499' first='Anthony' last='Fuentes'] (11.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 1.3 apg) is one of the main candidates. A natural scorer who will really attack the basket, he'll have to change his mindset a little to shift over to the point. Several others will contribute such as Gavin Burns and Konnor Cleveland as the Celtics will be well-coached and prepared in every game they play.   After one of the all-time best seasons in school history, Sprague undergoes a reboot with graduation losses and a switch over to new head coach Tyler Lewis. Don't look for too much change style-wise with the Olympians but the cast with a few key returnees and many newcomers will have to step up in a hurry. [player_tooltip player_id='1747849' first='Elijah' last='Schmidt'] (5.6 ppg, .371 3pt%) will step into a leading role after coming off the bench last year and he's a shooter and scorer that can really get hot. Alongside him in the backcourt will be [player_tooltip player_id='2165680' first='Tayshawn' last='Juarez'] (1.2 ppg in 13 games), another dynamic ball-handler and scorer. Lewis will be counting on junior [player_tooltip player_id='2428771' first='Lane' last='Isham'] (1.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg) to make a big jump in production. The 6-foot-8 junior has the ability to score both inside and out and make an impact on the defensive end. Junior Blake Almero (0.7 pg, 0.5 pg in 10 games) and varsity newcomer London Butler are two others that should contribute.   The build continues at North Salem and some players that head coach Hemingway Huynh welcomes back to the program will certainly help make up for those that graduated from last year's squad. [player_tooltip player_id='2844568' first='Isaiah' last='Vargas'] (7.7 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 5.9 apg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1602196' first='Rafael' last='Ochoa'] (9.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg) return as Vikings after playing at McKay and both will be instant starters and impact performers. Among the returnees, senior Antonio Alvarez (3.6 ppg, .419 3pt%) and junior big man Benjamin Box (2.4 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 1.2 bpg) will have increased roles, with Box continuing to develop on both ends, and senior Quinten Torres (0.3 ppg in 8 games) should also contribute. North Salem will be tested in the pre-season with appearances at the Capitol City Classic and the Nike Tournament of Champions in Mesa, helping prepare them to be a tough out in the Central Valley.

The 2025-26 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. It should be another competitive year in the Central Valley Conference. Here's how we see it turning out.