Oregon 6A State Title Odds

As we rapidly approach March Madness & the 6A state tournament, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at the field & see who some of the favorites are & also some teams that may surprise us & make a run at the Chiles Center. The Favorites: A clear cut group of four teams have emerged as the favorites to cut down the nets & hoist the blue trophy next month. Central Catholic - ODDS 2:1 The Rams haven't lost to an in state opponent in 2026 & have shown continued development from their talented & balanced roster. The senior guard combination of [player_tooltip player_id='1582928' first='Zamir' last='Paschal'] & [player_tooltip player_id='2026792' first='Robbie' last='Long'] have been rock steady all year. Senior wings [player_tooltip player_id='1585573' first='Jalen' last='Nicholson'] & [player_tooltip player_id='2411676' first='Donovan' last='Miller'] continue to improve & raise their stock with college coaches. Talented junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2026054' first='Isaac' last='Bongen'] & [player_tooltip player_id='2132831' first='Malcolm' last='Weatherspoon'] round out the Top 6. Simply put the ceiling for Central Catholic is higher than anyone else in the state. Tualatin - ODDS 4:1 The Twolves feature what many consider to be the best backcourt in the state in senior [player_tooltip player_id='1582973' first='Jemai' last='Lake'] & junior Pat Vialva. Backed by a talented & experienced supporting cast including [player_tooltip player_id='2124995' first='Carter' last='Lemon'], [player_tooltip player_id='2899024' first='Takeo' last='McCrae'], [player_tooltip player_id='2132783' first='Damian' last='Olvera'], & [player_tooltip player_id='2789627' first='Elijah' last='Casey'], the Twolves have the depth to handle injury, foul trouble, & other things that can knock a team off track. Add to that, they've been a regular at the Chiles Center since Covid, winning the whole thing two times and we expect Tualatin to be a tough out. Oregon City - ODDS 5:1 Long & physical is the best way to describe the Pioneers. Oregon City might be the best defensive team of the contenders which could be key to offset a rough shooting night somewhere along the line. The Pios are lead by junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2421603' first='Eli' last='Hopkins'], a bouncy 6'5 wing who is developing into one of the top players in the class of 2027. Add to that mix experienced seniors like guard [player_tooltip player_id='2054373' first='Alijah' last='Scott'] & post [player_tooltip player_id='2469346' first='Connor' last='Lemmon'] & it wouldn't surprise us one bit to see OC standing at the top of the mountain on March 14th. Southridge - ODDS 6:1 Possibly the most skilled team in the state, the Skyhawks throw four versatile & talented perimeter players around senior post [player_tooltip player_id='1787372' first='Ryder' last='Zanon']. The 6'9 transfer from Central Catholic has proven to be exactly what Southridge needed, a legitimate post scoring threat. The Metro league leaders are lead by [player_tooltip player_id='2026058' first='Elijah' last='Thompson'], a 2028 point guard who recently picked up his first D1 offer from Portland State. Sharp shooting senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1607597' first='Drew' last='Groenig'], a Bushnell commit, senior wing Julius Vessel & junior guards Niko Kalish & [player_tooltip player_id='2026515' first='Brooks' last='Fortune'] create match up problems all over the court for opposing defenses. Continue to watch the development of 6'7 freshman big man [player_tooltip player_id='2910088' first='Judah' last='Hardt'], who already plays like a veteran on the defensive end of the court. The Next Group: Outside of the top four teams, we are intrigued by the potential of both Sherwood & Jesuit. Jesuit - ODDS: 18:1 At the end of the day, it's a rare year when Jesuit isn't in the conversation. Althought lacking the elite talent of some of the Jesuit teams of the past, the Crusaders have plenty of firepower in junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1961798' first='Major' last='Williams'], senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1585574' first='Ryan' last='Barone'], a lefty sharp shooter, & senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2111917' first='Sam' last='Curvy']. Add to that mix, senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1989913' first='Joe' last='Stimpson'], a Nevada football commit who provides toughness & leadership and it would be crazy to completely dismiss Jesuit. Sherwood - ODDS: 20-1 Sherwood, who has never made it to the Final 8 of the 6A state tournament, is close to securing two home playoff games which is key to advancing. The Bowmen are lead by a pair of talented wings in 6'4 senior [player_tooltip player_id='1606063' first='Brody' last='Rygh'] & 6'3 junior lefty [player_tooltip player_id='2132836' first='Avery' last='Johnson']. If both these guys get hot at the right time, it might be enough to carry the group on a playoff win streak. Dark Horse: Nelson At the start of the season, most observers had Nelson in their Top 5. That all changed when ultra talented junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2026057' first='Braylon' last='Gaines'] missed the first two plus months of action with an ankle injury suffered during football season. Since his return earlier in the month, Nelson is quickly making up for lost time. Chances are they end up as a 6 or 7 seed & have a great chance to advance to the Final 8 at the University of Portland.

As we rapidly approach March Madness & the 6A state tournament, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at the field & see who some of the favorites are & also some teams that may surprise us & make a run at the Chiles Center.

The Favorites:

A clear cut group of four teams have emerged as the favorites to cut down the nets & hoist the blue trophy next month.

Central Catholic - ODDS 2:1

The Rams haven't lost to an in state opponent in 2026 & have shown continued development from their talented & balanced roster.

The senior guard combination of Zamir Paschal Zamir Paschal 6'0" | PG/CG Central Catholic | 2026 State OR & Robbie Long Robbie Long 6'4" | CG Central Catholic | 2026 State OR have been rock steady all year. Senior wings Jalen Nicholson Jalen Nicholson 6'7" | SF/PF Central Catholic | 2026 State OR & Donovan Miller Donovan Miller 6'7" | SF/SG Central Catholic | 2026 State OR continue to improve & raise their stock with college coaches. Talented junior guards Isaac Bongen Isaac Bongen 6'2" | SG Central Catholic | 2027 State OR & Malcolm Weatherspoon Malcolm Weatherspoon 6'3" | SG/PG Central Catholic | 2027 State OR round out the Top 6. Simply put the ceiling for Central Catholic is higher than anyone else in the state.

Tualatin - ODDS 4:1

The Twolves feature what many consider to be the best backcourt in the state in senior Jemai Lake Jemai Lake 6'2" | CG Tualatin | 2026 State OR & junior Pat Vialva. Backed by a talented & experienced supporting cast including Carter Lemon Carter Lemon 5'9" | CG Tualatin | 2027 State OR , Takeo McCrae Takeo McCrae 6'4" | SF/SG Tualatin | 2026 State OR , Damian Olvera Damian Olvera 6'4" | PF West Linn | 2027 State OR , & Elijah Casey Elijah Casey 6'0" | SG/PG Tualatin | 2026 State OR , the Twolves have the depth to handle injury, foul trouble, & other things that can knock a team off track. Add to that, they've been a regular at the Chiles Center since Covid, winning the whole thing two times and we expect Tualatin to be a tough out.

Oregon City - ODDS 5:1

Long & physical is the best way to describe the Pioneers. Oregon City might be the best defensive team of the contenders which could be key to offset a rough shooting night somewhere along the line. The Pios are lead by junior wing Eli Hopkins Eli Hopkins 6'7" | SF Oregon City | 2027 State OR , a bouncy 6'5 wing who is developing into one of the top players in the class of 2027. Add to that mix experienced seniors like guard Alijah Scott Alijah Scott 6'3" | CG/SG Oregon City | 2026 State OR & post Connor Lemmon Connor Lemmon 6'6" | C Oregon City | 2026 State OR & it wouldn't surprise us one bit to see OC standing at the top of the mountain on March 14th.

Southridge - ODDS 6:1

Possibly the most skilled team in the state, the Skyhawks throw four versatile & talented perimeter players around senior post Ryder Zanon Ryder Zanon 6'8" | C Southridge | 2026 State OR . The 6'9 transfer from Central Catholic has proven to be exactly what Southridge needed, a legitimate post scoring threat. The Metro league leaders are lead by Elijah Thompson Elijah Thompson 6'0" | PG Southridge | 2027 State OR , a 2028 point guard who recently picked up his first D1 offer from Portland State. Sharp shooting senior wing Drew Groenig Drew Groenig 6'1" | SG/CG Southridge | 2026 State OR , a Bushnell commit, senior wing Julius Vessel & junior guards Niko Kalish & Brooks Fortune Brooks Fortune 5'11" | SG Southridge | 2027 State OR create match up problems all over the court for opposing defenses. Continue to watch the development of 6'7 freshman big man Judah Hardt Judah Hardt 6'6" | PF/SF Southridge | 2029 OR , who already plays like a veteran on the defensive end of the court.

The Next Group:

Outside of the top four teams, we are intrigued by the potential of both Sherwood & Jesuit.

Jesuit - ODDS: 18:1

At the end of the day, it's a rare year when Jesuit isn't in the conversation. Althought lacking the elite talent of some of the Jesuit teams of the past, the Crusaders have plenty of firepower in junior guard Major Williams Major Williams 6'0" | CG/PG Jesuit | 2027 State OR , senior wing Ryan Barone Ryan Barone 6'1" | CG Jesuit | 2026 State OR , a lefty sharp shooter, & senior wing Sam Curvy Sam Curvy 6'4" | SF Jesuit | 2026 State OR . Add to that mix, senior guard Joe Stimpson Joe Stimpson 6'0" | CG Jesuit | 2026 State OR , a Nevada football commit who provides toughness & leadership and it would be crazy to completely dismiss Jesuit.

Sherwood - ODDS: 20-1

Sherwood, who has never made it to the Final 8 of the 6A state tournament, is close to securing two home playoff games which is key to advancing. The Bowmen are lead by a pair of talented wings in 6'4 senior Brody Rygh Brody Rygh 6'5" | SF Sherwood | 2026 State OR & 6'3 junior lefty Avery Johnson Avery Johnson 6'1" | CG Sherwood | 2027 State OR . If both these guys get hot at the right time, it might be enough to carry the group on a playoff win streak.

Dark Horse: Nelson

At the start of the season, most observers had Nelson in their Top 5. That all changed when ultra talented junior guard Braylon Gaines Braylon Gaines 6'0" | PG Nelson | 2027 State OR missed the first two plus months of action with an ankle injury suffered during football season. Since his return earlier in the month, Nelson is quickly making up for lost time. Chances are they end up as a 6 or 7 seed & have a great chance to advance to the Final 8 at the University of Portland.