Lexi Bando and Willamette bring back a stocked roster and are the top team in Oregon.
Photo by Brian Murphy
MaxPreps 2013-14 Oregon Girls Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
Click here to see the girls basketball preseason Fab 5 from every state1. Willamette (Eugene)2012-13 record: 23-4, 5A state champions
Head coach: Lance Haas
Three seniors could propel the Wolverines to the top of the heap in Oregon.
Lexi Bando,
Sami Osborne and
Kalani Kast all return from the team team that knocked off Tennessee recruit Mercedes Russell and Springfield in the 5A title game. And sophomore
Autumn Baumgartner is just one of many 3-point threats that combined to make nine 3-pointers in that 48-41 championship win.
2. South Medford2012-13 record: 24-5
Head coach: Tom Cole
Senior
Ashley Bolston and junior
Andee Ritter should keep the South Medford machine rolling along. The Panthers have emerged as the south state’s top program, winning the 6A state title in 2012 and coming in second in 2013. Don’t expect too much of a dropoff despite the loss of some key backcourt pieces.
3. Westview (Portland)2012-13 record: 22-5
Head coach: Lindsay Strothers
Any team with
Jaime Nared has a chance to win almost any game -- the Tennessee recruit averaged nearly 24 points, 10 rebounds and five assists a game last year, and though a couple key seniors graduated, there’s enough talent to keep opponents from focusing solely on Nared.
4. Tigard2012-13 record: 24-5
Head coach: Shawn Alderman
Seniors
Emilee Cincotta and
Lexi Carter will try to get Tigard back to the 6A final four this year, and if the team's 2-3 zone continues to function at a high level, the loss of post player Megan Risinger may not be that serious a blow.
5. Oregon City2012-13 record: 26-2
Head coach: Kurt Guelsdorf
OK, 11 seniors graduated, which is enough to put almost any team in the deep freeze for at least a season. But the Pioneers haven’t been one of the nation’s premier programs for the past 20-plus years without learning how to reload. Count on coach Guelsdorf to figure something out, and count on Oregon City to be a problem for opponents by the time postseason rolls around.
