2025-26 6A Preview - Three Rivers League

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. As usual, the Three Rivers League (TRL) will be extremely competitive from top to bottom with a couple of teams as major state championship contenders. Here's how we see it turning out.   League Predictions   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>Tualatin</li>   <li>Oregon City</li>   <li>Lake Oswego</li>   <li>West Linn</li>   <li>Lakeridge</li>   <li>Tigard</li> </ol>   Player of the Year: [player_tooltip player_id='1582973' first='Jemai' last='Lake'], Tualatin   All-League Predictions: Lake; [player_tooltip player_id='2132800' first='Pat' last='Vialva Jr'], Tualatin; [player_tooltip player_id='2054373' first='Alijah' last='Scott'], Oregon City; [player_tooltip player_id='2421603' first='Eli' last='Hopkins'], Oregon City; [player_tooltip player_id='1604657' first='Liam' last='Rigney'], Lake Oswego   Top Sleeper/Newcomer: [player_tooltip player_id='2484410' first='Riley' last='Wacker'], Tualatin   State Tournament Threats: Tualatin, Oregon City   Other Post-Season Teams: Lake Oswego, West Linn, Lakeridge   Anaysis   It's going to be competitive but it appears that Tualatin is once again the favorite in the Three Rivers League and a big reason why - the Timberwolves return what is arguably the top backcourt duo in the entire state of Oregon in [player_tooltip player_id='1582973' first='Jemai' last='Lake'] (21.1 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.9 spg, .853 ft%) and [player_tooltip player_id='2132800' first='Pat' last='Vialva Jr'] (16.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.3 apg, 1.3 spg, .427 3pt%, .851 ft%). The accolades for Lake are established - he's the top-ranked senior in the state, a Division I signee with Montana, and will be a three-year starter that has already surpassed the 1,000 career point mark. He's a diverse offensive weapon who can score from all over the court and create for his teammates and he hopes to add another title to his resume. Vialva, who meshed with him from day one in a TWolves uniform, is a dog on defense that can play both on and off the ball and is the master of the mid-range pull-up. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2124995' first='Carter' last='Lemon'] (5.7 ppg, .359 3pt%) also returns as the third starting guard and he's a great compliment to Lake and Vialva, and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2789627' first='Elijah' last='Casey'] (1.9 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2144832' first='Daniel' last='Hailey'] (0.4 ppg) will have bigger roles. The key for head coach Bubba Lemon is the frontcourt, which may be unproven but they are talented. [player_tooltip player_id='2132783' first='Damian' last='Olvera'] (2.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg) will inherit increased duties and varsity newcomer [player_tooltip player_id='2539789' first='Lincoln' last='Keeney'] and brothers Ryan Wacker and [player_tooltip player_id='2484410' first='Riley' last='Wacker'] will get time. A wildcard is transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2899024' first='Takeo' last='McCrae'], who's well-built 6-foot-4 size, athleticism, and shooting ability will allow him to slide into multiple positions.   Oregon City will challenge for the league title despite the fact they have to replace last year's player of the year in current OIT starter Gylan Payne. They are in good shape though because head coach Aaron Newkirk returns four starters and have a senior-led squad ready to fill in the gap left behind. With Payne out, look for senior [player_tooltip player_id='2054373' first='Alijah' last='Scott'] (8.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 2.4 apg) to take on the main ball-handling duties. He's a good athlete with scoring ability and is coming off a good summer of development. He's got plenty of options to pass to as the Pioneers have plenty of size on the frontcourt. Alijah's younger brother [player_tooltip player_id='2026063' first='Alarion' last='Scott'] (11.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg, .667 fg%) will be one guy as the 6-foot-6 forward can score inside and out, and is especially dangerous in transition. A similar thing could be said for fellow junior [player_tooltip player_id='2421603' first='Eli' last='Hopkins'] (11.0 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.0 apg, .545 fg%), a returning first-team all-league honoree. Also standing 6-foot-6, he too is a great athlete who can finish above the rim and make things happen down low or attacking from the perimeter. Anchoring the post will be 6-foot-6 [player_tooltip player_id='2469346' first='Connor' last='Lemmon'] (6.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, .643 fg%) whose presence was felt last year once he got healthy. Using his strong body and physical presence, he's a load in the paint. The Pioneers have solid depth with experience in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='2560868' first='Madden' last='Sendek'] (2.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and Alex Hoff (3.0 ppg, 0.8 rpg), and junior [player_tooltip player_id='2479591' first='LJ' last='Batchelor'] (1.4 ppg) and once again will be a defensive-minded and well-prepared squad in every game.   Things are looking up this season at Lake Oswego, head coach Tully Wagner's second at the school. The Lakers return most of their squad from last season and looked awfully good playing together during the summer. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='1604657' first='Liam' last='Rigney'] (20.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, .369 3pt%) emerged as one of the state's top scorers and his combination of 6-foot-6 size and shooting ability will keep him among the best in 2025-26. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2833446' first='Jackson' last='Freeman'] (10.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 3.6 apg) will run the point again, and his ability to get up and down the floor and really break defenses down off the dribble will be key to the Lakers success. Senior [player_tooltip player_id='2622476' first='Robbie' last='Durbin'] (8.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 2.9 apg, .390 3pt%) is a jack-of-all trades player who will be a key guy on both ends of the floor and senior [player_tooltip player_id='2830817' first='Jimmy' last='Keyser'] (5.2 ppg, .358 3pt%) can really get hot from three-point range, and look for senior [player_tooltip player_id='2832486' first='Roman' last='Perry'] (1.6 ppg), who provides some physicality with his non-nonsense attitude, and star quarterback Hudson Kurland (4.0 ppg) to have increased roles. There's no question Lake Oswego can put points on the board, the key will be how well they rebound and defend.   It's practically a completely new squad at West Linn in 2025-26 for head coach Travis Myers as everyone from last year's third place squad either graduated or transferred out. For most programs that might be a doomsday sentence but with the Lions, it's simply a promotion of a junior varsity squad that was one of the best in the state. While the returning playing minutes might be minimal, the experience [player_tooltip player_id='2575672' first='Jack' last='Tycast'] (0.9 ppg, 1.0 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='2393199' first='Markuss' last='Kagis'] (0.4 ppg, 0.4 ppg) got practicing with the varsity will be invaluable this season and both stand to be major contributors especially with their size as two of the taller players in the league. The question will be who Myers looks to for scoring and one of the main candidates is Sloan Baker. The 5-foot-10 junior is super shifty and quick with the basketball and can put points on the board in a hurry. Juniors Tyson Donnerberg and Carson Smiley are also projected to be starters and Michael Coffman can knock down some shots. The experience may be lacking but the talent is there for the Lions to be a factor in the TRL race.   The build continues at Lakeridge as head coach Jimmy Watts is coming off a second-straight post-season appearance for the Pacers. This year's roster isn't as experienced as the past two though so a lot will ride on the back of senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2689773' first='Micah' last='Leake'] (6.2 ppg, 1.4 apg, .456 3pt%). He's a steady floor leader who Watts will be able to depend upon for his shooting and smart decision making skills. [player_tooltip player_id='2132794' first='Logan' last='Baertsch Kovalchick'] (7.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg) also returns with experience and he'll be counted on to really increase his scoring production. [player_tooltip player_id='2714908' first='Heath' last='Outcalt'] (5.4 ppg) emerged in last year's Les Schwab Invitational and will also factor in heavily into the backcourt rotation. He's a solid shooter and scorer. The rest of the roster will come up from last year's JV squad, led by sophomores [player_tooltip player_id='2535866' first='Brady' last='Watts'] - one of the squad's tallest players at 6-foot-5 - and [player_tooltip player_id='2948050' first='Daniyal' last='Lewis'].   Rounding out this year's league will be Tigard. Second-year head coach Stu Bailey loses much of his production from last year but brings back a few players with experience that will hopefully keep the Tigers competitive. The backcourt is senior-loaded with the return of [player_tooltip player_id='1606562' first='Kingston' last='Hunter'] (6.6 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1611673' first='Dominic' last='Gold'] (1.8 ppg). Both guards are good athletes who have logged plenty of minutes over the past couple of seasons as supporting cast members but will now be counted upon to be leaders. The team's tallest player in 6-foot-6 Chase Smith (1.6 ppg in 8 games) is the only other players who saw varsity time so the rest of the roster consists of newcomers. Look for junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2132787' first='Mootii' last='Jemal'], senior wing Mike Harms, and senior guard Quinton Bailey, the coach's son, to be in the rotation.

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. As usual, the Three Rivers League (TRL) will be extremely competitive from top to bottom with a couple of teams as major state championship contenders. Here's how we see it turning out.