Class 4A State Quarterfinal Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In a field lined with new faces &amp; teams making their first tournament appearance in decades, we take a look at the Elite 8 match ups tipping today in Forest Grove.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1:30 Scappoose vs Lagrande</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scappoose enters the tourney as the #1 overall seed despite finishing second in the Cowapa League. The Indians return a solid core from last years team that advanced to the state tournament. They feature a balanced offensive attack led by senior forwards Drew Butler &amp; Brayden Miller. Junior wing Will Kessi is an outside shooting threat. Scappoose plays a physical defensive style fueled by the majority of the skill position players from their state semifinal football team. Lagrande advanced to the state tournament with a late season surge that saw them secure a home playoff game &amp; then upset Marshfield, the consensus preseason #1 team in 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3:15 St. Helens vs Madras</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>No team represents the wide open nature of this year's tourney than the Lions. They won their first league title in nearly 35 years, defeating top seeded Scappoose twice along the way. They advance to the state tournament for the first time in the 2000s. They are lead by senior Andrew Waite, the Cowapa League player of the year who averaged a double double on the season. They also have a trio of talented perimeter players in [player_tooltip player_id='2949835' first='Noah' last='Bigham'], one of the better sophomores in 4A, TJ Kearse, &amp; Tanner Naes. Madras was a regular at the state tournament in the 1990s &amp; 2000s, is making their second Elite 8 appearance in the last 3 years. They are lead by point guard John Buffalo-Ball &amp; forward Mattew Suppah-Scott, both first team all league selections.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>6:30 Marist vs Molalla</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Marist as close to a regular at the state tournament as you will find in the field, regularly making the tournament during head coach Bart Pollard's tenure. The Spartans feature a balanced offensive attack with no on the team averaging in double figures. Molalla is making their first appearance at the final site in the 2000s, feature a senior heavy line up, that lead the way to a 20 win season. Forward Kurt Pederson leads the Indians averaging 15 points &amp; 7 rebounds. Brothers Garrett &amp; Grant Brusseau are also all league performers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>8:15 Hidden Valley vs Estacada</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mustangs pulled off the upset of the first round, going on the road to knock off #2 seed Newport. Senior guard Cooper Gagnon fuels the offensive attack. The Skyline League player of the year averaged over 19 points a game &amp; exploded for 32 in the win over Newport. When you think of Estacada basketball, the state tournament isn't the first thing that comes to mind. That has changed this year, as the Rangers have ridden a late season win streak all the way to the state quarterfinals. This is their first ever appearance in the state quarterfinals. Brothers Gavin &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='3020030' first='Broden' last='Gates'] lead the way for Estacada both averaging double figures on the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The next three days should be wild in Forest Grove, we wouldn't be shocked to see any of the final 8 teams cut down the nets on Saturday afternoon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->