Culmination Week: Red Bracket Tuesday Predictions

Culminating Week starts on Tuesday and with the varsity boys, the Red Bracket is considered one of the top two in terms of the teams participating. Here’s a look at how we see the games playing out on Tuesday, all of them taking place at Franklin HS.

Roosevelt over Beaverton

In a game that might be the best first round matchup in any of the brackets, we are looking at two completely different styles. Roosevelt will want to play up-tempo while Beaverton will look to be more methodical and physical and pound it inside to Dane Erikstrup Dane Erikstrup 6'10" | C Beaverton | 2021 State OR . There’s also a good matchup here between Roughrider freshman Terrence Hill Jr Terrence Hill Jr 6'3" | PG Roosevelt | 2024 State #183 Nation OR and Beavers junior Trevon Hamilton Trevon Hamilton 6'2" | PG Beaverton | 2022 State OR . In the end we see Roosevelt junior Raysean Seamster Raysean Seamster 6'6" | SF Roosevelt | 2022 State OR being the X-factor as Beaverton has nobody to counter him.

Lake Oswego over Sherwood

We all know what Sherwood will want to do, push the pace and get open three-point shots. That’s worked for the Bowmen all season long against the Pacific Conference but Lake Oswego is a different animal. Take away their last loss to West Linn and the Lakers have been playing their best basketball of the season. Look for LO senior Trace Salton Trace Salton 6'5" | SF Lake Oswego | 2021 State OR to dominate the interior and defensively clamp down on Sherwood’s perimeter shooters to pull out a tight one.

Tualatin over Gresham

Gresham has put together a heck of a season behind sophomore stud point guard Esyah Pippa-White Esyah Pippa-White 6'2" | PG Gresham | 2023 State OR who has a legitimate shot at Mt Hood Conference Player of the Year honors. Senior Elijah Munyan Elijah Munyan 6'3" | SG Gresham | 2021 State OR is also one of the top leapers in the state. Tualatin has the backcourt to counter though with Malik Ross Malik Ross 6'0" | CG Tualatin | 2022 State OR and Noah Ogoli Noah Ogoli 6'2" | CG Tualatin | 2022 State OR , and Ogoli in particular will be up for the challenge of defending Pippa-White. Overall, the Timberwolves have more size and more depth and we think that will make the difference in the end.

Grant over Liberty

Take away the loss against Jefferson and Grant had a legit argument as the number one team in the state. They might have gone away from the ball movement and sharing against the Demos but you can bet head coach Robert Key will have his guys doing that again here against Liberty. The Falcons have had a good run this year behind seniors Zane Bernhard Zane Bernhard 6'2" | CG Liberty | 2021 State OR and Shawn Algee but Adrian Mosley Adrian Mosley 6'2" | SF West Linn | 2023 State #269 Nation OR and the Generals will prove to be too much in this game which they should win by double digits.