MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week presented by the Oregon National Guard

It all starts with the Metro League for the Beaverton High baseball team. If the Beavers conquer it, then anything is possible.

With the pitching they've shown during a 9-4 start, the Beavers should indeed be in the hunt for their first state title since 1998.

The Beavers have given up just six runs in the last six games, five of which were wins, earning them the MaxPreps  Oregon Team of the Week honors, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

"We have the pieces to compete and contend for the Metro League title first," Beaverton coach Derek Nekoba said. "From there, the way the playoff format is in Oregon, anyone can win. Our goal every year is to be playing our best baseball at the end of the year to give ourselves a chance to contend for a title."



With a 2.11 team ERA through eight games, the Beavers have allowed only 31 runs this season led by the all-around talents of Sam Noyer. The 6-foot-4 junior is also a football and basketball standout and thus far is 3-0 with 0.00 ERA. Can't do any better than that. He's allowed just five hits in 21 1/3 innings with 23 strikeouts.

"Sam is highly competitive," Nekoba said. "It definitely helps to have his physical attributes, but he also has worked with (pitching) coach Mark Allen in understanding how to pitch and utilize his strengths. He's becoming more of a pitcher and less of a thrower."

Senior Casey Cornwell (2-2, 2.85 ERA, 22 strikeouts) and Nolan Imus (1-0, 2.74, three saves) are other pitchers who have excelled. Nekoba credits Allen for a large part of his team's pitching success.

"He has done a phenomenal job in working with our pitchers and developing them into pitchers versus throwers," he said. "Our guys have been able to locate and have command of all their pitches and hitting spots.

"Our defense has also made the plays that they need to and kept our mental errors to a minimum."

That has helped the pitchers maintain confidence, as they have gained a "trust in their defense to go out and make plays behind them."



The team is hitting .260 and has scored 54 runs with Ryan Hill leading the way. The junior is hitting .455 with 15 hits, including five doubles.

"His approach at the plate allows him to be successful," Nekoba said. "He rarely gets cheated and is able to hit to all fields, which makes it very tough to pitch to him."

Other top hitters have been Rob Valentine (.406) and Nolan Lafallette (.333), who is also a standout pitcher.

"We believe that there is still more that Rob will be able to do for us this year," Nekoba said. "He's making some minor adjustments and is getting more comfortable with it day-by-day.

"Nolan also made some changes to his swing and approach earlier this spring and experienced early success with it. Once he really gets comfortable with the changes, we expect him to be a key component to our success."

Nekoba was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii and graduated from Hilo High in 1991. He's been on the Beaverton staff since 2001 and started as a freshman team assistant before working his way up the ranks.



He took over permanently as head varsity coach in 2009.

Nekoba led the Beavers to Metro co-titles in 2010 and 2014, and the state quarterfinals in 2012.

Of the team's four losses this season, three have been by one run and two have come to teams from Colorado. The Beavers are No. 8 in the MaxPreps computer rankings.

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For a small school of less than 100 students, the baseball team at Dufur High sure puts up some big and impressive numbers.

Off to a 7-1 start, the Rangers have scored 86 runs, hit .362 and piled up 83 hits, 19 for extra bases. They've also stolen 23 bases.

On top of that, they own a scant 1.96 team ERA and have struck out 84 in 50 innings.

For their fast start and big numbers, the boys from Dufur have been selected as the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.



"For a small fish in a big pond we do all right," said Dufur coach C.S. Little, who will not and has not revealed what the letters of his name stand for. And he's been coaching 32 years. "It's still a mystery."

Sophomore Kolbe Bales leads the staff with three wins (31 strikeouts, 2.00 ERA) while Trever Tibbets (1.27) and Bryson Caldwell (2.15) have two wins apiece.

Bales, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound lefthander, threw a nifty one-hitter with 17 strikeouts in a 12-0, seven-inning win over Union/Cove.

"He was a bench player last year, but we were pretty good," said Little, whose team reached the state quarterfinals. "When he got the chance this season, he made the most of it."

The three pitchers are also the team's top three sluggers thus far for the Rangers. Tibbets, a 5-10, 180-pound senior, is hitting .593 with 16 hits and 13 RBIs.

"He's definitely our ace and when not pitching plays third," Little said. "He's probably our best hitter too. He hits No. 2 in the order and hits a ton of line drives."



Caldwell, a 6-4, 190-pound senior, has 15 hits, 14 RBIs, two doubles and a homer and is hitting .556, while Bales is hitting .464 with 13 hits, 16 RBIs, four doubles and a homer.

"Bryson is a big kid and prototypical power hitter," Little said. "He plays shortstop when he doesn't pitch. He really delivers."

Other top hitters for the Rangers are senior Nick Little (.393), sophomores Bailey Keever and Connor Uhalde and freshman Hagen Pence. Little and Tibbets have five steals apiece.

With six seniors, five sophomores and two freshmen on the 13-man roster, the Rangers all contribute. They reached the state tournament two of the last five years at the 3A level, even though it is 2A classification school.

Little, who triples as the football team's defensive coordinator and a girls basketball assistant, said the baseball team always relies on underclassmen. This team has benefited from new pitching coach Dean Dollarhide, which may explain the team's superb ERA.

"We've always been known for our hitting," Little said. "Seven of our 13 this year are pitchers so that should bode well for the season."
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At 28-1, the 2014-15 boys basketball season for Country Christian (Molalla) was just about perfect.



In fact, according 11-year head coach Doug Nofziger, the one blemish on the season — a 63-47 defeat on Dec. 27 — was really the key to the team's state 1A championship, the first in school history.

So, though not perfect by definition, Nofziger really considered it so. Considering his team had been a perennial state contender for years, only to fall short, it sure felt perfect.

Starting in 2007-08, the Cougars went 19-3, 19-7, 20-7, 24-3, 23-5, 20-9 and 19-6.

"We've had aspirations of winning it all many years, and many years we reached the Elite 8," he said. "We just could never quite get to that Saturday night. We just never quite had all the pieces. This year we had the pieces.

"Just as the wild old man said, ‘You've got to have the horses to win it all.' Well, we had the horses."

In the state title game, a 61-53 win over Nixyaawii Community, Luke Carter had the best game of his career with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Carter was 7-for-7 from the field and 6-for-6 at the free throw line.



Ben Grandle added 13 for the Cougars, who won in the first two rounds by counts of 50-40 and 72-48.

Of the 14-person roster, 10 were seniors, to go along with two juniors and two sophomores.

Watching this group progress was of great satisfaction to Nofziger.

"Watching them grow and mature, having all the same goals to win a state championship and to see them accomplish it — it was something special," he said.

Grandle was especially special. The 6-foot-5 guard "was unguardable," Nofziger said. "He was the Player of the Year in our league and it wouldn't surprise me if he's the 1A Player of the Year," he said. "At 6-5 he could go inside or outside. He was one of our big 3-point threats too. He was a stud."

Other top players for the Cougars were:



Carter -- "As solid as they come. He broke through in the biggest game of his career. That's how it was with this team. Someone new would come through every game."

Jordan Syphard -- "One of the most incredible athletes I've ever coached. He's only 5-10 but we've never had a kid with more dunks in a season. He needed to be more consistent on his 3-pointers so instead he really worked on his mid-range game and improved immensely."

Avery Nofziger: "He didn't score much but we didn't need him to. He was our leader in assists."

Mitchell Sandberg: "It didn't matter if the opponent's best player was 6-4 or 5-7, we'd put him on him. He's only 5-10 himself, but he's so strong and so full of grit.

"You need guys like (Sandberg) who will do all the dirty work."

Nofziger said he went to his bench early and often. "We went eight, nine, 10 deep," he said. "There was little to no drop-off."



There was one big drop-off at the midway point of the season when the team traveled to Stanfield and went down to defeat 56-45. The Cougars started with nine straight wins.

"It was about a four-hour drive to get there," Nofziger said. "We were definitely lethargic before and during the game. It was a good loss to take. We definitely got re-ocused after that."

Did they ever, winning the last 19 straight.

"They all bought in," Nofziger said. "There's no 'me' in team and even though we had a lot of talented guys, we really played as a unit. From top to bottom, there were few if any issues off the court. It made it all so enjoyable."
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There are few moments in life that stop you in your tracks. A time to take a deep giant breath, look all around and realize that all is good, that all has been good, and that all you've worked for has been worth it.

A couple of humble gents — Dayton (Ore.) basketball coaches Ron Hop and Scott Spink — took that long gander on Saturday night along the Pacific Coast in Coos Bay. That reflection stretched into Sunday afternoon and even to the middle of the week.

"I still don't know if it's hit home yet," said Spink, who coaches the school's girls team. "Every morning since Saturday I've had to pinch myself and say, ‘Holy cow, we're state champions.' "



Hop, who coaches the Dayton boys, and Spink led their teams to 3A state titles at Marshfield (Coos Bay) Saturday and earned the honor of MaxPreps Oregon Teams of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

It's the first time we've picked two teams the same week, but this was an improbable accomplishment.

Spink's team (26-3) started this Pirates party with a 51-39 win over red hot Salem Academy, winners of 10 straight entering the game, for their first state title since 1992. Even more special to Spink is that his own daughter Shawnie Spink, a 5-foot-5 freshman point guard, had 14 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

The night before she had 21 points in a 45-42 upset win over Vale, which appeared to be the team to beat in the Final 8.

"Vale was the defending champion and brought back four of five starters," said Scott Spink. "We watched them play and thought they were beatable, but we were going to have to play really well.

"You want to stay humble, but Shawnie went a little crazy. They threw every type of press at her, had two girls chasing her. For her to score 21 and play the way she did was pretty amazing. What made it most gratifying was that everyone else played at their best or above also.



"We would have been happy to make the Final 8 and bring home a trophy (top five). To win it all, yes I would say it was a definite surprise." 

Family ties

Among the others to play at their best Friday and Saturday was 5-9 shooting guard Teddi Hop, the youngest daughter of boys head coach Ron Hop. She also had 15 points against Vale and 12 versus Salem Academy.

Ron Hop probably shouldn't have been watching the final moments of the girls game Saturday. His Pirates' squad was playing Horizon Christian for the 3A state title right after the girls game.

"We played Horizon Christian in league and played them three times already this season," Ron Hop said. "We knew everything about them and they about us. I'll admit I was way more nervous about the girls game than our game."

Scott Spink knew the feeling. His son Zach Spink, a 6-2 junior, was a starting forward for the boys.



"I was so nervous because I wanted my son to feel what my daughter did," said coach Spink.

All Dayton sons and daughters felt triumphant Saturday as the boys (29-1) avenged their only loss of the season with a 53-43 win, giving the Pirates their fourth state title and second in four years.

Zach Bernards, a 5-10 sophomore guard and the team's leading scorer all season at 19 per game, led the way with 22 points and D.J. Flowers, a 6-5 transfer from Texas, had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Zach Spink broke a 21-21 tie with a jumper midway through the second quarter to give the Pirates the lead for good. He finished with nine points.

When the final horn sounded, the large contingent from Dayton, which had traveled almost 200 miles and four hours, celebrated the old fashion way — at a local pizza joint in town. They shut it down.

"Lots of pictures and lots of hugs," Scott Spink said.



He and Ron Hop actually stood up and spoke. And, they got a little choked up. After all, so much sweat and sacrifice go into an entire basketball season. Multiply that by 10 years for many of the kids and parents in the community, and it's quite a journey for the parents, players and coaches. In the case of Hop and Spink, they were all-of-the-above.

Hooting and hollering

A large chunk from the rural town of 2,500, about 25 miles southwest of Portland, was a long way from home, but they were all together. Cheering. Embracing. Supporting.

"It's a special place," Ron Hop said of Dayton.

That notion was furthered the next day when both teams carpooled home. Firetrucks and police cars paraded them through town. Any team capturing a state title is special. But to have two teams in one night bring home the top prize?

Magical.



"Lots and lots of people in the community showed up for the parade," Scott Spink said. "It was a special moment."

Said Ron Hop: "We've had teams win state titles and there have been celebrations, but nothing like this. This was the biggest by far. There were 300-400 honking horns. There was a lot of hooting and hollering."

It was easy to cheer for these teams.

The girls, though offensively solid at almost 50 points per game, were a defensive force while giving up just 31.5 points per game. Seven times they gave up 20 points or less.

Seniors Cooper Ringnalda and Maddie Shirley, daughter of athletic director Todd Shirley, finished off stellar careers with a bang. Kalina Rojas, a 5-11 freshman center, clogged up the middle and was active both offensive and defensively.

The team rose from the ashes after six consecutive losing seasons starting in 2007-08 (2-19) until Spink returned to coaching and led the Pirates to an 18-11 campaign in 2013-14. Still, from an 11-loss season to state champion was a big leap. With six freshmen on the squad, "The future looks bright," he said. 



A basketball school

The boys had a larger one-year rise, from 15-11 in 2013-14 to state champions and 29-1. The transfer of Flowers, an athletic post who will likely play guard in college, was big, but the rest of the returners improved immensely.

"We were pretty mediocre last season," Hop said. "The guys made some big strides and huge sacrifices."

Bernards is a big-time scorer and had 42 points in a game. He's a spot- or pull-up shooter from about anywhere on the court.

Spink (13 points per game) was a first-team All-League player who "made the biggest improvement on the team," Hop said.

Brothers Jarred Ashley and Darren Ashley were excellent athletes and capable scorers, but largely put aside personal glory for the good of the team.



"Great attitudes and great effort," Hop said. "They went above and beyond."

The school is above and beyond being considered simply a football power too.

Forever and gratefully associated with legendary and late football coach Dewey Sullivan, the Pirates must now be considered a basketball school also.

Sullivan, an Oregon Sports Hall of Fame member, was the winningest coach in state history with a 352-84-2 mark and five state titles in more than 40 seasons.

But there are only a handful of Oregon schools that have brought home two state titles in one evening.

Both coaches pointed to Jon "Super-handles" Hildebrandt, an All-State guard who along with current Bears tight end Dante Rosario led Dayton to state titles in 2000 and 2001, as the biggest basketball influence on the city.



Hildebrandt runs camps locally, has his own website, and has caught the attention of young basketball players everywhere around Yamhill County. And beyond.

"It's been about 15 years since Jon made a real impact in this area," Ron Hop said. "We'll always be associated with Dewey and football, which is awesome. But this is a basketball town too. Basketball is here to stay." {PAGEBREAK}

An old dog may not know any new tricks, but at Crater (Central Point) the old tricks still work just fine.

Girls basketball coach David Heard took over the program after going 6-17 in 2012-13 and the Comets are already in state title contention.

They are 22-2, ranked third in the state and with a win Saturday will move into the state's final eight.

It's reminiscent of when Heard first coached Crater from 1994-2002 and the Comets won six conference titles and played for three state crowns. He returned to coaching last season and Crater immediately improved to 18-10.

Now the school's athletic director, Heard said "It was just re-establishing a system and belief that we can be a championship team again. Having fun and building team chemistry have been the keys to building their confidence."



For their improvement, fantastic season and team chemistry, Crater is the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

Crater started the season with two straight wins before a 45-38 loss to Sutherlin. It then rattled off 19 straight wins before a 32-27 loss to Springfield with two starters out due to illness.

It then defeated previously unbeaten Henley 53-46 behind big games from Cheynne Scott (17 points, five steals), Courtney Setzer (15 points, seven rebounds and four assists) and Mallory Heard (seven points, six steals).

Crater has displayed the comeback spirit all season, never better demonstrated than a 52-47 win over Eagle Point late last month. The Comets trailed by nine heading into the final quarter, but went on a 16-2 run to take control.

Setzer had 20 points and eight rebounds in that one and junior Destiny Fahndrich added seven points, eight rebounds and five steals.

That ability to come back in a hurry is one of the team's strengths, Heard said.



"We are very quick and all five girls on the floor can handle it and shoot it from the perimeter," he said. "That allows us to pressure a lot in the fullcourt and create easy opportunities to score."

One of the leaders in the state is Setzer, a 6-foot senior who averages 18 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. She shoots 51 percent from the field and 78 percent at the foul line. Fahndrich, a 5-10 junior, is a first-team all-conference guard who is very strong. She averages 9.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

Sophomore guard Heard was a second team all-conference standout who leads the team in assists and is third in rebounding and steals.

Scott, a 5-5 junior, was an honorable mention all-conference choice and averages 9.4 points and is second in steals and assists. She has a team-leading 30 3-pointers and shoots 78 percent from the foul line.

With such quickness and strong shooters, along with cohesion, Heard likes his team's chances down the stretch.

"We are capable of making a run at the state title," he said.

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Douglas (Portland) boys basketball coach Chad Reeves won't say his team is special.



The Scots (20-3) just play that way.

Douglas, which hasn't won more than 16 games in any season over the last 10 years, is off to a 20-3 start and a No. 5 ranking in the state.

The Scots opened with 12 straight wins and after losing two of three, have won eight of nine.

For its fine season and offseason work to improve, Douglas is the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Army National Guard.

"I am not sure if we are ‘special,' but I do know that more than ever we have a group of seniors who are experienced, motivated and know their roles very well," Reeves said. "I don't know if it's the best talent we have ever had, but each player complements the others well. It has been a fun group to coach."

Reeves breaks down his top six players this way:



* John Morris, a 5-foot-8 junior: "He has an infectious smile and is the glue for the team. He does what others don't always want to. He gets things started on both ends for us.

* Charles Jones, a 6-1 junior: "He is an amazing talent. He has the ability to impact a game in all phases."

* Hunter Davis, a 6-1 senior: "He's very savvy and understands the game of basketball. He's a good leader."

* Dwight Dew, a 6-3 senior: "He has great overall athleticism and the biggest personality on the team."

* Brock Jackson, a 6-3 senior: "He is the unsung hero. He does all the dirty work for the team guarding the biggest player and is almost always under-sized. He doesn't complain one bit."

* Lamariea Taylor, a 6-1 senior. "He could easily start for us, but has embraced this role as sixth man. He's athletic and can defend at any position. He has great versatility."



Beyond the team's quickness and versatility, the Scots' work ethic is second to none, Reeves said.

"I think the key was the amount of work these guys put in before the season," he said. "With so many returners, they wanted more, so they were in the gym a lot in the offseason."

Many got stronger in the weight room.

"We have a group of guys who enjoy working on their game," Reeves said. "I also think setting goals and tracking them throughout the season has helped keep laser-like focus on where we want to be rather than where we are."

Wins over two very good teams, Tigard and Southridge, has helped with the team's confidence.

Reeves said no matter how the season ends, he's been pleased in so many areas. He listed several.



"How well we have stuck with things despite some of the challenges and adversity we have faced," he said. "How well players have embraced their roles. I am extremely pleased with the coaches that I get to work with on a daily basis.

"I am so thankful for that. We have great coaches that are really good for kids in so many areas."
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The goals are pretty simple. Win a league title. Win the last game.

Cascade (Turner) girls basketball coach Mark Stevens is very clear on that and because of the fact his Cougars have already clinched their league crown, one goal remains: win a state title.

With a 20-1 record and No. 11 state ranking, all signs point to a serious state run. And with four-year starter Alix Biddington, all-around standout Alyssa St. Peter and talented point guard Halle Wright, perhaps the best freshman in the state, the Panthers have the tools to get the job done.

For their superb regular season, outstanding effort every day at practice and steady improvement throughout, Cascade has been picked as the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

Cascade is averaging 57.5 points per game and allows just 37.6 while continuing the program's strong tradition of winning.



The Cougars have won state titles in 1985 when they went 21-4 and 2011 (26-1). With Stevens as head coach (22 years), they've never had a losing season. Since 2006-07, they've gone 20-7, 11-8, 15-8, 23-3, 26-1, 19-7, 20-7 and last year 12-12.

His current 11-player roster features four seniors, four juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen. None stand 6-feet, but three are girls are 5-11, including Wright, one is 5-10 and two others are 5-9. More than half the team stands 5-9 or taller.

Height is only a small portion of why Cascade has improved so drastically from last season.

"We've had consistent effort from the players throughout practice," Stevens said. "Improving throughout the season is critical and I think we have been doing that."

The team's strengths?

"Pressure defense and transition off of that," he said. "We have a lot of depth coming off the bench and just great players in general."



Biddington, a 5-6 senior guard, has a great first step and attacks the basket, according to Stevens. She also has 3-point shooting range. St. Peter, a 5-10 junior, plays extremely long and has a great all-around game. Wright can play any position on the floor.

Other starters are Kayla Loukojarvi, a 5-11 senior, and Danielle Haddix, a 5-9 junior.

The team's only loss was 47-42 at La Grande on Jan. 10. Since then, the Cougars have won 10 straight. They play at Stayton on Feb. 20 and close the regular season at home against North Marion on Feb. 24.

"A loss is always a ground, humbling and self-evaluation time," Stevens said. "You need a few to keep you focused."
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Sometimes it's not just the little things. As first-year Reynolds (Troutdale) boys basketball coach Ted Aubin said, "It's been everything."

The Raiders have won five straight to improve to 13-6, which is big news around Troutdale, considering the program has had just two winning seasons over the last 10.

The 12-person team, made up of six seniors, three juniors and three sophomores, has climbed to No. 12 in the MaxPreps computer rankings.



For their win streak, all-around good play and improvement, they've been picked as the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week presented by the Army National Guard.

Aubin, who previously worked across the state at Burns, didn't get the Reynolds post until late July. He married shortly after that, honeymooned and didn't really arrive at the school until September. That meant little preparation time and obviously no summer league with the Raiders.

The team's general determination and tough makeup explains much of its success.

"This team has never given up in any game this season," Aubin said. "The kids have overcome double-digit deficits on multiple occasions to make games competitive."

But early in the year, they weren't winning close games. They dropped contests by 3, 1, 4, 3 and 4 points. That's right. The Raiders are 15 points from being 19-1.

"We lost by a variety of ways, but to me the No. 1 reason was not believing we could win close games," Aubin said.



That changed in a 73-66 double-overtime home win over Clackamas on Jan. 23. The Raiders fought back from a double-digit deficit to win.

"That was a tremendous boost to our confidence," he said. "I also believe our team started to believe more in one another. We have had a different guy step up throughout the year at different times. Our guys now have more confidence and trust in one another."

That's translated to close wins. In the five-game streak, Reynolds has won 63-47, 73-66, 63-61, 64-54 and 59-58, the latter over Central Catholic on Friday.

The team is led by 6-foot-10 post Drew Eubanks (17.2 points, 9.8 rebounds) and Cody Starr (12.1 ppg, 4.5 rpg and 5.3 assists).

Three other players – Cole Andresen (7.0), Shendrit Jarshari (7.1) and Dakota Ayala (7.5) - all have gone off for double digits in a game this year.

What makes Eubanks and Starr so special?



"Lots of things," Aubin said. "They both are terrific athletes. They are both extremely competitive. They have pretty good skill sets. Both have matured throughout the year and are playing with much more composure, confidence, positive attitude, and not getting down on themselves or their teammates.

"I've been very impressed with Cody during our streak, playing much more under control and trusting his teammates. He has been getting the ball in the right positions for us to be successful and realizing he doesn't have to do everything himself.

"Most importantly, they play with very unselfish teammates that support one another on and off the court."

But obviously, this is not a two-man team. The team has responded tremendously to the new coach and staff, which is never an easy transition.

"I'm very proud of the growth they have made from a maturity standpoint," Aubin said. "They are playing with much more emotional, mental and physical toughness since the beginning of the season. Our body language is so much better. We are much more positive.

"They have never given up in any game we've played all season so they are resilient. They have also begun to believe in themselves and the capabilities of their teammates and we are playing with a tremendous amount of confidence.



"Our strength is we have terrific flexibility. We have strong post players. We have good shooters. We have athletes who can really defend and press some. Probably the biggest strength of our guys is they have never given up."

And that has caught the attention of the school and student body, who are now showing up in droves.

"I've received tremendous support from the administration, staff, student body and parents," Aubin said. "Over the past couple of weeks our crowd has progressively gotten bigger and at school, students always want to talk about the games.

"Our staff has been getting to a lot of games and in fact, during our game with Central Catholic, stood with our student section for part of the game.

"It has been overwhelming at times. But I love it."

So what is the team capable of accomplishing this year?



"Our league is a monster," Aubin said. "Getting through our league and earning a playoff spot would be a great accomplishment. It will be tough.


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The Gold Beach girls basketball team has been a consistent winner since the turn of the century.

In fact, the Panthers won state titles in Class 2A in 2000 and 2002 and since have been a winning but not quite a championship program.

That could be changing.

Gold Beach is off to a 14-4 start and with one of the state's leading scorers, junior Hailey Timeus, a stellar defense and five freshmen on the roster, Chris Clark definitely likes the team's progress and attitude. In fact, he thinks that's the team's strength heading down to the final stretch run of the season.

The Panthers have been selected as the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

"I would say at this point our biggest strength is the ability to enjoy the process of getting better and what that entails," he said. "With five freshmen, our team has to enjoy the process for ourselves and the girl next to you. I'm lucky to have the opportunity to see this work and improvement every day first hand."



It helps to have scorers like Timeus (16.6 points per game) and senior Morrgain Clifford (12.3) and co-captain Savanna Rucker (9.5) in the lineup, though what really keys the Panthers is defense.

The team gives up just 31.9 points per game. Once again, Clark said it's a unity thing.

"I think the defensive side for us is something that gets better as the year progresses," he said. "Our team works very hard to get better not just as individual defenders, but we really strive to come together as a team and understand what it means to play team defense as one unit."

Timeus excels on both ends of the court and after the whistle blows, Clark said.

"I think that besides her being a great shooter and athlete, it's her ability to lead our team," he said. "Hailey is a junior captain and has been a starter since she was a freshman and understands the importance of being a great teammate first. As our team improves together our team's and Hailey's scoring opportunities seem to improve."

With so many first-year varsity players, patience has been a key. The foundation laid by other players has helped the freshmen strive for greatness.



"This (freshman) group has a strong passion to compete at a higher level," Clark said. "At our level with numbers in the last few years, our kids at the lower seventh and eighth grade levels are starting to see their work with us in the summers or any other time is so crucial in building a foundation in order to step in as freshman and compete at the varsity level.

"This group has done that and are now seeing benefits that I think will only make this class and others around them work harder for Lady Panther basketball."

With all the pieces and passion, Clark sees good things for the Panthers down the stretch. What are they capable of?

"Our goal as a program is to put ourselves in the best position late in the season where we hope to be playing our best basketball as a team," Clark said. "With that opportunity and growth we will for sure face and have to overcome adversity along the way that we hope will only benefit our program in the process that we talk about daily."

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Having success is one thing. Having it in great numbers is all the more fun and rewarding.

Such is the case for the Regis (Stayton) boys basketball team, which is 12-5 on the season, riding an eight-game win streak and using all 11 players to make it happen.

"Our No. 1 strength this season has been our depth," Regis coach Tony Miller said. "We are fortunate to have 11 players who all see the floor. My coaching staff and I are always comfortable going to our bench knowing that the level of play will be consistent."



For their depth, consistency and win streak, the Rams are the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

Beyond having depth, Regis has two other key components going for it, especially during the win streak, which have come by a variety of margins: 27, 10, 9, 16, 28, 12, 9 and 6.

"Throughout the first half of league play I feel that our team defense along with our unselfish play on the defensive end has been the key to our success," Miller said.

The team's leading scorer is Blake Minten at 12.1 points per game. He's backed up by Bryce Piete (10.8), a sophomore. Junior Sam Nieslanik (9.5) and senior Paden Reynolds (7.5) are other capable scorers.

Minten is a hard worker on both ends of the court, Miller said.

"He is an outstanding young man who has great quickness and strength, which allows him to create inside scoring opportunities for us as well as a great outside shot that helps us stretch defenses," Miller said. "Defensively, Blake can guard just about any opponent and his relentless pursuit of the ball has generated a great deal of offensive as well as defensive rebounds."



The Rams will need those continued contributions from Minten and all his teammates to stay unbeaten in the Tri-River League.

"Going into the second half of league play it is crucial that we continue to play as a team and adjust to our opponents' adjustments," Miller said. "The Tri-River League is a great league filled with tremendous players and hard-working, competitive coaches. We know that every night we must be ready to play our best game."

Whether the Rams can get to the level of the start of the century will be a tremendous challenge.

Regis won four state titles in a six-year span starting in 2003. The Rams went 23-6 in 2009, then had their only losing season at 11-14. They then had back-to-back 13-9 seasons, followed by 23-7, 20-7 and 16-14 last year.

What are they capable of in 2015?

"Our team has the ability to go a long way this season in the playoffs," Miller said. "We know that there is an amazing amount of competition in our league as well as state-wide. We are taking it one game at a time and know that if we focus, continue to work hard and play together every night, we have a great opportunity to be there in the end."
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Sometimes it's not shooting or defense or even execution. It's simply energy.



Powers boys basketball coach Matt Shorb said his team's energy is a huge key to why it has started the season 12-2 after just 10 wins last year and going winless the season before that.

With all but three players returning for the 2014-15 season, Shorb knew it was going to be a good season. He could just feel it, largely because his boys put out all that synergy.

For their strong play and good will, the Cruisers are the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

"I'm most pleased with our constant effort and energy that we play with in games," Shorb said. "In some games that has been the difference. Even when our execution is poor, our energy helps us pull out wins."

Powers has been involved in a lot of close games, including both of their losses, 59-58 to Lowell on Dec. 9 and 50-43 to Days Creek on Jan. 10.

The Cruisers have also won games by 6, 9, 2, 6, 8 and 10 points.



Powers is led by sophomore Jackson Stallard (17.6 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game), along with senior Tye Jackson (13.5 ppg) and senior Devin MacKensen (8.4 ppg, 9.0 rpg).

Stallard, a 6-foot-2 forward, is a special player on and off the court, Shorb said.

"Any coach would love to have him on their team," Shorb said. "Not only is he our most naturally talented athlete, but he is also an exceptional student in the classroom and our hardest worker on the practice floor. He makes everyone on the team better by his leadership."

Stallard was the team's leading scorer (15.7 per game) as a freshman on a team that featured one other freshman, two sophomores and four juniors.

"It felt like a rebuilding year last year," Shorb said. "We were teaching some young players how to compete and execute at the level necessary to win the tough ballgames. We improved a great deal during the season last year and that trend has continued this season."

Shorb credits seniors Jackson and MacKensen for clutch play during close games. Jackson is a composed leader who wants to make big plays in tough situations while MacKensen is a clutch rebounder.



The Cruisers lost senior forward Sean Martinez, who is probably their top defender, to an ankle injury a few weeks ago, but others have stepped up, like junior post James Clauson and freshman forward Jack Lehnherr.

Senior post Aaron Pedrick has done a nice job defensively and on the boards, and sophomore point guard Austin Stallard is a wizard with the ball.

Add it all up and Shorb is looking forward to the stretch run.

"I like our chances to do some special things later in the season," he said. "We need to keep learning and progressing, but from what I've seen so far, I like our chances."

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It's a number, just a number. And Lakeview girls basketball coach Brandi Harris is certain her Honkers — yes the Honkers! — can fly right past it.

The figure is 14, as in 14 victories: Lakeview has won 14 games four of the last five seasons.

But with a 9-2 record, a seven-game win streak and strong one-two guard punch of Amanda Arcularius (16.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.3 steals per game) and Delaney Hall (14.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.3 steals, 4.5 assists), the Honkers could clear that total by the end of the month.



Harris certainly believes so.

"Absolutely, I believe in this team and the potential they have to continue moving forward," she said. "They are committed to each other and the goals we set, they are willing to make the sacrifices necessary to get better every day. They continually improve on their mental game and overcoming the adversity that the game of basketball presents."

For their improvement and win streak, the Honkers have been picked as the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon Army National Guard.

The team plays superb defense, proven by its opponents' totals over the last seven games: 39, 30, 30, 42, 44, 50 and 34. Harris said what has been at the heart of her team's win streak is a bigger picture.

"I believe that we are learning to play consistent and continually strive to get better each day," she said. "We measure our success against ourselves and not our opponents. The girls have big goals and are working hard every day to keep their focus to get better every day and achieve their goals."

It helps to have 3-point shooting like the kind Arcularius delivers. She has made 24 in 76 attempts.



The team's other big offensive threat is senior Carley Cahill (8.3 points, 6.0 rebounds per game), a 5-foot-9 senior. But clearly, Arcularius and Hall, nicknamed "Winks," put the honk into the Honkers.

Harris said it's a complete team effort.

"Each girl on the team is committed to their role and know they have a job to do and they do it," Harris said. "These ladies have been playing together for a long time and have a court awareness and trust in one another that allows them to excel as a team. They are selfless.

"The overall strength of this team is their commitment to each other, they truly believe in each other. They know the meaning of 'hold the rope.' They put the team first. They are a family."
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When the South Eugene boys basketball team started the season 2-5, there was no sense of panic or concern.

The Axemen just went to work.

Led by the state’s No. 2 scorer Eli Lininger, South Eugene won three straight games last week at the Energy Classic in Gillette, Wyo., against teams from three different states with wins over Bismark (N.D.) 54-35, Puyallup (Wash.) 77-48 and Campbell County (Gillette, Wyo.) 79-73.



"The Energy Classic was very good for us in many ways. First of all, we improved our defensive effort and actually started to make some stops and score out of those stops," said coach Dave Hancock. "Secondly, our roles became much clearer, including our starting lineup.

"What has been the most pleasing aspect of this season is watching our team grow and mature. We have played very good competition in the preseason, and have had to learn some hard lessons, but we feel we are turning a corner right now in a good direction."
 
For their perseverance and ability to defeat teams from out of state, South Eugene has been selected as the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

Lininger, a 6-foot-6 senior, is averaging 22.3 points, 14.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game, but he isn’t nearly a one-man team.

Mason Green-Richards, a 6-foot senior, is averaging 14.5 points, 4.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game, while Sean O'Neil, a 6-6 senior, averages 13.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game.

"Eli is a tremendous rebounder and student of the game. He is a very smart player that is learning how to make his teammates better in every practice and every game.  Eli is also a great competitor," Hancock said.

During their 2-5 start, the Axemen didn’t play poorly. They played a rigorous schedule that included a 64-56 loss to Lincoln and 77-71 defeat to Lake Oswego.



Other than 2005-06 (24-4) and 2009-10 (21-8), South Eugene has been around the .500 mark, but this team figures to improve greatly upon that.

"Right now, our goal is to win our conference championship. We play in the Southwest Conference and there are several teams that are currently ranked ahead of us in the state rankings," Hancock said. "We feel that in order to be a contender in the state tournament, you first have to be a conference champion, and that is our No. 1 priority at this stage of the season."
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That rumbling heard around Grants Pass is at the North Valley gymnasium where the girls basketball team holds court.

The Knights, under third year coach Ken Lathen, are off to a 3-0 start, which is monumental in its own right. But with an influx of freshmen and sophomore talent, this program is on the verge of exploding.

North Valley hasn't had a winning season in — well no one seems to remember. Last season the Knights were 11-16 and the season before that 9-16. And before that 5-20, 6-18, 9-14, 6-14, 5-13 and 8-12.

This is a really big deal and it appears to only be getting better.

"This would be the first winning season in many, many years," Lathen said. "This would set the stage for a run of talent that is on the horizon."



For their fast start and turnaround, the Knights are the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

North Valley opened with a 45-40 win over Illinois Valley, followed by wins over South Umpqua (69-40) and Sweet Home (39-24).

The team's leading scorers are Mikala Mohr (18.7 points and 12.0 rebounds per game) and Aaliyah Hall (11.3 ppg). No one else averages more than the 5.7 points put up by freshman Haley Kersten.

The 14-person roster is made up of three seniors, three juniors, two sophomores and six freshmen.

Of Mohr, a four-year starter, Lathen said: "She plays hard, has good fundamentals, lots of experience, is a great leader and possesses great character and integrity."

Lathen said the team's fundamentals are much better than they've been in the past.

"They are light years ahead of that first team we had two years ago," he said.

He also said he's most pleased with the play of freshmen Bailey Thompson and Kersten, sophomore Amanda Stewart and senior Tristin Vandehey, a senior who didn't play last season.



As good as the Knights have started, they still need improvement, Lathen added.

"In virtually every area," he said. "Offensive execution, defensive intensity and consistency throughout the games."{PAGEBREAK}
It's all about the hunger.

The Yoncalla boys basketball team had four straight losing seasons before last year's 17-10 campaign. They started 3-0 in 2014-15, winning by lopsided margins of 92-42, 80-15 and 67-35.

"Last year we started slow but gained momentum as the season wore on," Yoncalla coach Bid Van Loon said. "We advanced to the second round of the state playoffs where we lost to a much better Powder Valley squad. That loss left us wanting more. So entering this season we are very hungry."

It starts with 6-foot-2 junior Zack Van Loon, the state's leading scorer entering the week at 22.5 points per game. He's followed closely by Joe Keller (16.5), a 6-3 wing, and 6-2 junior Will Shaw (15.0).

Keller also leads the team in rebounding at 7.5 per game and Van Loon adds 7.0. Van Loon also leads the team with 8.0 assists and 5.5 steals per game.



None of it is by coincidence, said his father and coach.

"Zack has spent a large portion of his life in the gym," said coach Van Loon. "That includes many trips to the gym for shooting and ball-handling practice. Last summer, aside from the summer basketball games that our team played, he participated in an AAU season.

"Most of the credit for his success belongs to his teammates. We have a great group of guys who work hard together for a common goal, and that is team success. And because so many of our players are good, the other team can't focus on any one guy."

Especially Keller, whom his coach calls "an incredible athlete."

"He's got a good work ethic, and he wants to win. He is definitely a leader of these guys. They look up to him and they respect him. His skill set is very unique for a guy his size. He is 6-3 with good ball-handling skills, a good 3-point shot, a good post up game and the ability to drive to the rim."

With leaders and athletes like Keller and Van Loon, the Eagles have most of the pieces needed to go far. Their coach really enjoys the team's work ethic.



They've received other key contributions from senior Wyatt Van Loon (8.5 ppg), freshman Ted Wickman (3.5 steals per game) and sophomore Michael Stevens (5.5 points, 6.5 rebounds per game).

"The strengths of this team are depth and love of the game," he said. "With these guys, practice isn't something they have to do, it's something they get to do."

And what do they have to practice most?

"There are times when we don't rebound as well as we should," he said. "And like almost all teams our half-court defense needs improvement."

But there's lots of time to shore those things up. And with this group, sky's the limit.

"Our team's goal is to make it to the postseason and win our last game," coach Van Loon said. "In order to accomplish that we've got weeks and weeks and months and months of hard work ahead of us.



"This early in the season you never know what else is out there in the state as far as talent goes, so our goals may be realistic and they may not be. But one thing I know for sure is that these boys will either accomplish their goals or they will die trying."{PAGEBREAK}
For the Gladstone football team, it was all about timing.

The Gladiators won their first state football title since 1978 with a 35-17 4A championship win over North Bend/Oregon Coast Tech on Saturday.

First-year head coach Jon Jedrykowski has been in the Gladstone program for 14 years, the previous eight as the defensive coordinator. When Jon Wolf, who went 61-30 in eight successful seasons, stepped down, Jedrykowski stepped up.

So did Gladstone, which won Saturday behind 21 carries for 212 yards from halfback Handsome Smith and 121 yards rushing and a score by fullback Zach Smith. The Gladiators rushed for 375 yards, according to The Oregonian.

For their tremendous effort, the Gladiators have been selected as the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

"I felt I needed to give it (head coaching) a try and see how it went," Jedrykowski said. "Fortunately it went very well. We won a state championship so fast because we have unbelievable kids with unbelievable coaches."



The defense did an unbelievable job holding down an offense that had averaged more than 50 points per game in its previous three games. Gladstone held North Bend to two touchdowns, thanks to strong play from Sterling Berks and Eric Prom.

"The defense is effective because my defensive coordinator is very good," Jedrykowski said. "We have a lot of athletic kids and when they are put in the right positions and can play fast, good things happen, which apparently they did."

They had two talented Smiths carrying and controlling the ball as well.

Handsome Smith scored on the game's third play on a 59-yard run. They also took a 14-10 halftime lead on his 24-yard touchdown reception.

After North Bend took a 17-14 lead on a Levi Rider 4-yard TD catch from Cameron Lucero, Zach Smith's 3-yard touchdown run put his team up for good. It came on Gladstone's next possession.

Handsome Smith then scored on a 5-yard run with 7:27 left in the game to go up 28-17 and then he sealed it with a 51-yard touchdown run.



"Handsome is the ultimate football player," Jedrykowski said. "He does whatever is asked, can play multiple positions and is both a highly instinctual runner and has a nose for the ball."

Handsome is much more than a football player, the coach said.

"He's got a quiet confidence with just enough swag to keep him away from being arrogant about his abilities," Jedrykowski said. "In fact, he's very, very humble and would rather see praise go to his teammates."

Especially his offensive line, that paved the way to almost 400 yards against a very good defense.

"The offensive line played their best game on the biggest stage," Jedrykowski said. "They were making the right call all night and it showed. This can be highly attributed to great line coaching and offensive play calling by my offensive coordinator. He's pretty special too."

It was also special to win a title it last won nearly 40 years ago.



"It means everything to win this for our school, our kids and our community," Jedrykowski said. "Thirty-six years is a long time, which made this an even better win."{PAGEBREAK}
Unfortunately for Frank Geske and his football squad at Marist (Eugene), this isn't an odd year. Otherwise they could take a win in the Oregon 5A championship game as a foregone conclusion.

The Spartans have won five state titles, all in odd-numbered years, including consecutive oddities in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009. They also won in 1973.

Odd, even, sideways, Geske is just happy to be close after going through an uncharacteristic 6-5 season in 2012. This after three seasons of going a combined 37-3.

But every year at the high school level, of course, is vastly different. And his 9-3 squad this season, after a 28-14 win over Corvallis last week, is one win from gaining a spot in the state championship.

For their fine season, the Spartans are the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

Asked if his team has a legitimate shot to win the state crown despite the even year, Geske didn't hesitate.



"We definitely have the talent and we have been getting better every day," he said. "So the state title is just a one-week season away."

In the win over Corvallis, sophomore Marcus Lydon was picked as Player of the Game by his team, after recording eight tackles.

Dustin Jones-Phillips was Offensive Player of the Game for his five acrobatic catches for 80 yards and a touchdown.

Trevor Konrady earned Defensive Player of the Game honors at cornerback for making eight solo tackles and adding an interception.

Geske said the team's improvement over last season is apparent all over the field.

"We have gotten better at everything we have done since last year, and more importantly over the course of this year," he said.



Quarterback Quinn Cota has been good all season and rushed for 74 yards and a score while passing for 162 yards and another touchdown against Corvallis. Coming into the game he had completed 82 of 134 passes for 1,622 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also rushed for 291 yards and three scores.

"He is a gifted athlete and an exceptional competitor," Geske said.

Trae Gould rushed for 66 yards (on just two carries) and another touchdown in the win last week. The team's leading rusher on the year is Justin Enseki-Frank (208-945-8).

Jones-Phillips is the team's top receiver with 38 catches for 793 yards and six scores, but Austin Tyner (30-567) and Trevor Vill (29-557) each have nine touchdown catches.

Defensively, Jake Schultz leads the team with 70 tackles, followed by four players in the 60s, led by Jonny Shedrick (63).

Schultz has 9.5 sacks, but it's 16.5 tackles for loss by Shedrick that is eye-opening. Vill leads the team with six interceptions.

Asked what he's been most pleased with this season, Geske said: "The upgrade in intensity over the year has formulated our team personality."



As far as the team's semifinal showdown this week with Hermiston, Geske said the team's mindset is the biggest key. Saturday's weather forecast calls for freezing rain.

"The mental aspect of dealing with the potential of cold and wind is key," he said. {PAGEBREAK}
The key to the first state volleyball title in school history for the St. Helens Lions wasn't their tremendous speed and court coverage.

It wasn't their outstanding conditioning supplied by first-year conditioning coach Diane Kadolph-Ray, wife of head coach Tom Ray.

It wasn't the dominant middle play of 6-foot senior Taylor Albertson, who had 26 kills and six blocks in the championship match, or the hunger from finishing seventh at state last season, or even a very supportive parent group.

Nope. The key, according to Ray, was BREAD.

Not the soft and chewy kind — or even whole wheat — but it was a technique Ray devised and used as an acronym: Breaking Records Every Day.



"The girls made goals before each practice and game," Ray said. "There were extra fitness workouts, and they supported each other on and off the court. These girls became family with common goals and passions."

As Ray said, their first 5A state title "didn't come over night." It was a process, a daily process with clear, upward goals.

And it all paid off with a scintillating 26-24, 23-25, 25-19, 25-17 win over La Salle for the crown on Saturday.

For that first title, a 21-4 season and overall excellence, the Lions are the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

In the championship match, they had a lot of hitting from junior Logan Kalauli. A 10-point service run by Hailee Fischer keyed a game three win after St. Helens squandered a 23-19 lead.

St. Helens trailed 6-2 in the fourth, but reeled off eight straight to win going away. Kalauli had nine kills and three blocks, and senior Rianne Tupper added 10 kills. Albertson was extra special on Saturday.



La Salle coach Liz Banta told Oregon Live: "She's a great hitter and she didn't let up. Even when she gets blocked once or twice, you know she's going to be swinging away on the next ball."

Said Albertson: "This whole weekend we've gotten down and we were able to come back up, so that's helped us be able to refocus and know we can come back from anything."

Ray said Albertson isn't just a tall body in the middle.

"She stands out from other athletes because of her ability to lead, to always test and exceed her limits. She's not afraid to ask for help, and has a big heart," Ray said. "She leads by example and encouragement. She works hard on her own athletically and academically, and would never say 'I can't.'

"She is always willing to help girls with their fundamental volleyball skills by working with them as an individual. She also challenges and encourages others to be better and strive for excellence.

"During a game Taylor can read both sides of the net which makes her physically and mentally alert. She is an excellent player both in the back row and as a front row player. She hits the ball so hard that players shy away. She is an inspiration to the players and other students in our school."

And the students inspired back. Ray said the school's unwavering support played a big role in the team's championship.



"The student body of St. Helens High School is out of this world," Ray said. "They had different dress-up themes for each home game, had cheers that involved everyone and showed the team how much they loved and supported them — win or lose."

The Lions obviously didn't lose often. And when they won it all, the student body stormed the court and hoisted the players up. After awards and pictures, the players, family and friends went out for pizza where they had some real BREAD.

"A state championship includes the right mix of athletes, a great coaching staff, and supportive family and student body," Ray said. "We had it all." {PAGEBREAK} After back-to-back 6-4 seasons which followed a 6-5 year which followed a 3-7 campaign, Hermiston (Ore.) football coach Mark Hodges might have tried to devise a long-term plan to break through.

But the fifth-year coach is a strong believer in the one-day-at-a-time approach and it's all paid off during the current 8-1 campaign and No. 7 ranking in the state, according to MaxPreps.

For the team's excellence, balance and vast improvement, the Bulldogs have been selected as the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

The Bulldogs have won four straight, including a 63-14 win over Pendleton last week, when senior quarterback Chase Knutz completed 17 of 26 for 336 yards and three touchdowns.



Senior Cory Adams rushed 11 times for 138 yards and two TDs and junior Samuel Colbray rushed 16 times for 124 yards and four scores. Knutz's favorite target was junior Ethan Snow, who had eight catches for 155 yards and three TDs and Keegan Crafton, who had four catches for 96 yards.

The offensive explosion upped the team's season point total to a whopping 432 (54 per game) while giving up just 142.

"It all starts with a dedicated group of seniors," Hodges said. "Our seniors have tremendous faith in each other and in our coaches and we are all willing to give each other our best. We started having meetings every two weeks starting last January which featured setting goals and expectations."

Part of those goals started with a daily philosophy entitled "BIOFIN." It entails a strong daily faith and focus, stressing that "All we can do is focus on today; tomorrow will come when it gets here," Hodges said. "Don't let today go to waste worrying about tomorrow. … The players and coaches bought into it and the result has been steady improvement."

It helps to have a high-powered offense led by Knutz, who has completed 126 of 209 for 2,144 yards and 28 touchdowns. Adams is the leading rusher with 120 carries for 904 yards and 11 scores, while Colbray has rushed for 594 yards and 14 scores in just seven games.

Carson Morter is the top receiver with 41 catches for 767 yards and 14 touchdowns, while Snow, in just seven games, has 27 catches for 519 yards and seven TDs.



The Bulldogs have scored more than 70 once and more than 50 in five of the last six games. During their win streak, they've scored 249 points (62.3 per game).

"We put an emphasis on being multidimensional and that each one of the parts complements the other," Hodges said. "We work each part as if that part's success is contingent on the other pieces being equally successful. … We try to not allow the defense to pigeonhole us into being one-dimensional. This philosophy allows us to get a lot of different types of players involved and many have a role to contribute. In short, we want to be dynamic."

That they are, led by Knutz, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound senior who has thrown for 6,748 yards and 74 touchdowns in his career. Hodges said it's not coincidence why his third-year starter has been so successful.

"He comes in every Sunday for three to four hours and meets with me and essentially builds the offensive game plan for the week," Hodges said. "He studies the opponents defensive schemes, where we have matchup advantages and helps me decided formations and playing calling. He takes ownership over the game plan thus it makes him more effective, knowledgeable and confidant.

"Chase also has outstanding instincts and timing, good footwork which he practices on constantly, and a very strong arm. He has the perfect physical and mental combination you're looking for in a quarterback."

The Bulldogs excel at the point of attack, starting with outstanding offensive linemen Dylan Caldwell (left tackle) and Luis Santoyo (left guard). "Luis may be the toughest lineman I've ever coached," Hodges said. "Both of these guys together on our left side give us tremendous stability, brains and toughness."



On the right side,Michael Potts (guard) and Cesar Lopez (tackle) are starters and are coached by former Arizona State offensive lineman Bradis McGriff.

Leading tacklers on the team are Trey Neal, a junior, with 63 tackles in eight games including 14.5 for losses. Six others have at least 40 tackles, led by Luis Medina and Michael Gossler with 49 apiece.

Landon Gammell had nine sacks and Neal 7.5. Morter has six interceptions and the team has a whopping 50 pass deflections.

Hermiston line play is outstanding.Gammell and Medina do a superb job pressuring from the outside and Neal is a special talent, according to Hodges. It helps to have a defensive line coach with the experience of David Faaeteete, a former player at the University of Oregon. Of Neal, Hodges said:  "He's very coachable and a hard worker. He has good size and outstanding mobility. He uses his hands very well."

Asked what he's pleased with most thus far and Hodges said: "Our toughness and resiliency. This is not a team of cliques. They hang together and appreciate what each other gives to the team. I've also been very pleased by the dedication of the coaching staff. Our coaches are second to none when it comes to preparation and getting the most out of a player."

All that said, the Oregon 5A playoffs will be tough sledding. Do the Bulldogs have the goods to win it all?



"We do have a shot, but it's contingent on us being willing to get better every week," Hodges said. "there are three things that will determine our success in the playoffs: Our health, our minds and our hearts. If we stay focused on us and we don't get distracted by the noise, we have an excellent shot." {PAGEBREAK}

After giving up 83 points in a state semifinal football game last season, then losing 18 of 22 starters to graduation, Tigard coach Craig Ruecker might have been advised to start rebuilding.

Ruecker, who has been coaching varsity football for 44 seasons, sees every season as a new restructuring. But rebuilding gives one the impression of starting over.

These Tigers just continue to reload.

Despite entering a new tougher league — "We're blessed to play in what a lot of people think is the toughest league in the state," Ruecker said. — Tigard is back near the top of the heap with an 8-0 record and No. 3 state ranking by MaxPreps.

Led by a tough quarterback, stout offensive line and balanced running game, the Tigers have pulled out close games the last three weeks, over Lake Oswego (41-36), West Linn (45-35) and Lakeridge (45-35).

For its perseverance and 8-0 start, Tigard is the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.



"Playing in this league has been a wonderful experience," Ruecker said. "Game after game we've had to play all four quarters and display all our ability."

In the win over Lakeridge, quarterback J.T. Greenough passed for 252 yards and four touchdowns while Landon Floyd rushed for 103 yards and another score.

Greenough was coming off a fractured finger on his non-throwing hand that kept him out of the Lake Oswego win. No matter, Chase Crawford came to the rescue and threw for 163 yards and a touchdown and ran for another. Brady McGetrick has seven catches for 105 yards and Floyd ran for 188 yards and two scores.

Ruecker said the team's camaraderie is what has keyed its undefeated record and ability to win close games.

"We continue to pull out close games," he said. "There's a lot of give and take and ebbs and flows in games. You face a lot of adversity. Great and bad things can happen. The ability to hang together in those situations are signs that we're getting stronger and growing."

Ruecker said Greenough is having a superb year but he's proud of how Crawford reacted in his absence. Floyd is one of the top running backs in the state, with more than 1,000 yards, but Samuel Inos has rushed for more than 800 yards and Tyler Walker has contributed more than 400. All are seniors.



That trio has been set loose by perhaps the team's biggest strength, the offensive line that includes one of the top junior tackles on the West Coast in Conner Crist (6-foot-4, 305 pound). Left guard Kevin Henderson (6-1, 330) and right guard Garett Huebner (6-1, 260) are also standouts.

McGetrick is one of the state's top receivers. He has more than 800 yards worth of receptions and nine touchdowns.

"He's a first-team All-State kid," Ruecker said.

Tight ends/defensive ends Ryan Bay (6-4, 210) and Nikko Thomas (6-5, 210) are two other standouts in a cast of many.

Since Ruecker took over the program in 2010, the Tigers have gone 7-4, 11-1, 11-2, 12-1 and now 8-0. That's a record of 49-8. Tigard is after its third state title and first since 2003. The other was 1990.

Ruecker said last season's wild 83-49 semifinal loss to eventual 6A champion Central Catholic (Portland) was just that. Wild. Strange, actually.



"Neither team could stop each other," he said. "We rushed for 324 yards and passed for 348 and lost by 34 points. How does that happen?"

Ruecker said the score could have just as easily been 83-82. "We lost two fumbles in the end zone," he said. "We had five turnovers overall and they didn't turn it over. That was obviously the difference. … But we don't look back. It was an amazing game and amazing season and now we're in the middle of a new one."

Central Catholic, with four returners along the offensive front, is the favorite to repeat, but Ruecker isn't ruling out his team by any stretch.

The Tigers host Tualatin on Friday night.

"We just want to continue our outstanding season," Ruecker said. "It's a week-by-week proposition." {PAGEBREAK}
Scappoose football coach Sean McNabb said his team has been focused. Judging from their four-game win streak, some might say driven.

Following a 35-21 loss to Gladstone, the Indians have outscored opponents 208-28 in those four games and 339-107 for the season.



McNabb knew the Gladstone loss would be beneficial. He just didn't know how valuable.

"Gladstone was a tough opponent," McNabb said. "Even though we hate to lose, I feel it helped, and will help us during the playoffs. It definitely allowed us to see where we are as a group. How we responded from a setback is so important. We have been more focused since."

For their focus, 6-1 overall start and No. 25 state ranking, the Indians have been selected the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

Coming into 2014, McNabb had coached the Indians to nine winning seasons in 10 years, including back-to-back 9-3 records in 2012 and 2013. The team is 77-43 since 2003. They've won three state titles — 2000, 2001 and 2002.

The 2014 Scappoose squad is extremely well balanced, with 1,899 yards via the air and 1,437 on the ground. They've passed for 26 touchdowns and rushed for 19.

More than touchdowns and yards, the team shares one important component, McNabb says: camaraderie.



"I have been pleased with our efforts and team-first attitudes," he said. "We distribute the ball to a bunch of different cats. Everyone supports one another."

It starts at quarterback with senior quarterback Joseph Krupsky, who leads the team in passing and rushing. One of the state's top dual threats, Krupsky has rushed for 774 yards and 12 touchdowns while completing 80 of 137 passes for 1,204 yards and 15 scores.

"Game planning for Joey must be an arduous task," McNabb said. "He's a very dynamic dual-threat quarterback."

His twin brother David Krupsky is the team's leading pass catcher with 30 catches for 571 yards and nine touchdowns, while Jake Ford (16-241-2) and Jacob Wendelschafer (15-207-3) are other top pass catchers.

"The (twins) have been playing together since the second grade," McNabb said. "They are huge football-loving family and they've been around it all their life. … Both have been committed to the weight room and have definitely benefited from their off-season training."

The team's running game has many more contributors than Joseph Krupsky. Junior Braden Clark (352, three touchdowns), senior Johnathon Tardif (264, 4) and junior Jarrett White (238, 4) are also top rushers.



Backup quarterback Robert Lohman, a junior, has been superb in relief, going 15 of 19 for 234 yards and four more scores.

Seven different defenders have at least 34 tackles, led by senior Tardif (58), senior Robert Backus (49) and Devin Ray (48). Tardif has six sacks and Ford has four of the team's 14 interceptions.

McNabb, who has been the team's head coach for 16 years, said the program's family environment is a big reason for Scappoose's success.

"I would say my longevity is from having such a supportive family, community and administration," he said.

It's been more than a decade since the Indians have won a state title. Friday's game at Seaside (5-2) will go a long way to tell if the current squad has what it takes to go all the way.

The league title is on the line.



"There are some very good teams out there; some of them I have not had a chance to scout," McNabb said. "I do however, feel we match up well with other programs."

Like most successful coaches, McNabb isn't comfortable with looking past Friday.

"We have set goals to win league and make a run at the state title," he said. "Our players have bought into it and understand that everyday we are getting better and working towards our goals."{PAGEBREAK}
It's not a goal. It's a quest, said Ashland football coach Charlie Hall. And the theme for the 2014 Grizzlies is "Questfor4."

The numeral 4 clarifies just what these Grizzlies are after — a fourth state title.

The others — at least two of them in 1989 and 1991 — were long before any of the current players were born. The last one came in 1998, the year when many were born.

But coming off an 11-1 season and starting 2014 with a 6-0 mark, Ashland's quest is definitely within range. The Grizzlies are ranked 19th in the state overall and they've won every way imaginable, including last week's wild 18-17 triumph that was keyed by a trick play.



For their perfection, ingenuity and quest, the Grizzlies are the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

"It's a lofty goal (to win a state title), but one that has generated great buy in (from the team)," Hall said. "If we can stay healthy and continue to improve we feel we can compete. There are some great teams in Oregon 5A football."

And last week was a great win against a Crater team with a 2-5 record.

Down 17-12 early in the fourth quarter and minus-19 yards in the second half, Hall called a great play and wide receiver Nicky Weinberg connected on a 74-yard pass to receiver Shashi Penn to give the team the lead for good.

The play started when quarterback Kyle Weinberg fired an over-the-hand lateral across the field to his brother Nicky, who completed the ball to Penn at about the 40. Penn did the rest.

Ashland's defense didn't allow Crater to cross midfield the rest of the way.



"We had a hard time just moving the ball," Hall said of the game-winning play to mailtrubune.com. "We just had to go into our bag of tricks because our base stuff wasn't working."

Hall told MaxPreps: "We practice special plays every Thursday. I hope by this time of the year we are able to execute them when the situation dictates."

Kyle Weinberg connected with Ryne Robitz on a 64-yard quick slant for Ashland. Crater eventually took a 17-6 lead before the brothers connected on an acrobatic touchdown catch. Kyle Weinberg threw for 169 yards and Robitz rushed for 67 yards and had 79 yards receiving.

While the offense finally came to life, the defense held the rest of the game.

"Playing consistent defense and great special teams is key to any success," Hall said. "We also have some big play makers on offense."

Almost all of them were key members on last year's team, which was humbled 57-12 in the state semifinals by Sherwood.



"It was exciting and a privilege to get to the final four last season," Hall said. "Fortunately we had several juniors and sophomores that saw significant playing time in 2013. Their experience and confidence has been a catalyst for everything we do in our program."

See more Paul Steele photos and information at the Ashland Football Club website

It's been a superb program with Hall leading the way. Besides the state championships, the Grizzlies have been a perennial winner with winning records in six of the last seven years, including 11-1 in 2007 and 2013. They are 62-22 since 2006.

Asked how this team's personnel compares with some that he's coached in the past, Hall said: "Every team is different in both personnel and personality. This year we can build personnel groups with different players and be very multiple. Defensively we feel this team is similar to other strong defensive teams of the past. Our kicker and punter situation is the best we've ever had." {PAGEBREAK}
The work ethic was always there. The resolve. The dedication.

But after back-to-back-to-back classes of talented kids, the Grants Pass (Ore.) Cavemen are at the top of the heap.

Grants Pass suffered through four straight losing seasons before going 7-4 last year. And now at 5-0 in 2014 — including two remarkably tough wins over established programs — the Cavemen are ranked No. 1 in Oregon according to the MaxPreps Computer Rankings.



For its work ethic, patience, vast improvement and 5-0 start, Grants Pass is the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

"Even during those losing seasons, we played most teams tough," head coach John Musser said. "We lost a lot of close games. The kids worked hard during that stretch. We had a lot of great kids, just not as many good football players as last year and this year. We have a lot of depth. Basically we have had three classes back-to-back-to-back of good football players."

Among the best is quarterback Javan Appling, who completed 18 of 24 passes for 346 yards and five touchdowns in a 52-0 win over South Medford last week.

Grants Pass took a 31-0 halftime lead in that one and rushed for 244 yards as a team, led by Zachary Hannan with 10 carries for 94 yards. Appling also rushed for 60 yards.

Keegan Weiss and Jeret Musser each caught two first-half touchdown passes. Weiss connected on passes of 15 and 41 yards and Musser's scores went for 84 and 10 yards.

Coach Musser said Appling is both a physical jewel and student of the game.



"Javan is big, strong and athletic," Musser said. "But this takes a back seat to his mental attributes. He's smart beyond his years. We are a ‘concept' offense and he fully understands the purpose of every concept we run. He is another coach on the field. Equally important is his composure during clutch situations. He is always in control of his emotions and is at his best when the pressure is on."

The pressure was really on during a 38-36 win over Sherwood in Week 1, followed two weeks later with a 38-34 win at Sheldon.

"We beat two championship programs on the road in close games," Musser said. "This bodes well for confidence and composure. With our depth, we are fresh at the end of the game. We focus on execution in these situations. That is the basis for our practice week. We put the kids in all kinds of situations and our practices consist of short five-minute segments with high tempo. Just like a Friday night."

Musser said he's been most pleased with his team's togetherness through the ups and downs.

"Our kids have really struck with our process," he said. "As I said, the kids during the 2-7 season worked just as hard as these guys, they just weren't as good of players. On the flip side, these guys have the hunger and drive of an underdog trying to win its first game. They approach each week like the game of the century and take everything we say to heart." {PAGEBREAK}
It's no magical formula, said Taft (Lincoln City) football coach James Mick. It's 50 players coming together. Simple.

The Tigers' 4-0 start would seem to have been derived from some magical formula, considering the most wins the program had produced in a season since 2004 was three. Coming off a 2-7 season, the Tigers went 17-75 from 2004-2013.

But Taft has already surpassed its top season win total and scored at least 50 points in three of the four games.



That's why the Tigers are the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

"This team has come together on common goals," Mick said. "Goal one is to work as a team. This means we help to sustain each other in all facets of life. Whether it be on the field or in the classroom these players back each other. It has made them a strong and confident group. Challenges are much more easily surmounted when you have 50 teammates backing you."

And it's much easier when you're scoring 50 points a game, including a 55-34 win over Horizon Christian last week.

They've also had wins of 50-2 over Colton to start the season, followed by a 54-0 win over Toledo.

"Our main goal is to play fast," Mick said. "We play using our instincts and we don't second-guess ourselves. We want all our actions to be second nature so we can perform without having to think."

Evidently, Pete Lahti hasn't been thinking much — just playing. The senior quarterback has completed 98 of 144 passes for 1,225 yards and 18 touchdowns. He's thrown just one interception. He has a quarterback rating of 130.8.

"Pete is the ignition to this team's engine," Mick said. "He makes all the reads and checks. Pete is a very smart young man that has put hours and hours into learning our offense and its nuances. He is also an amazing, athletically gifted young man."



He spreads the ball around beautifully as five players have 10 or more catches, let by junior Rylan Fisher (31 catches, 482 yards, 7 TDs).

Fisher is followed by junior Alroy Zacarias (22-350-4), while Tyler Fisher and Bai Stecher both have three TD grabs and both are juniors as well. Another junior, Trent Daniels leads the team with 292 rushing yards and two scores. Lahti has also rushed for five scores.

"Playing fast also allows us to open up the field," Mick said. "We found early on that we were big enough to line up with anybody and knock them around so we open up the field. Playing fast for us on offense means we want to be the most exciting team on the field every game. On defense we strive play fast to the ball as a unit."{PAGEBREAK}
Coach Shane Hedric and his Central (Independence) football team have been a model of consistency the last decade.

The Panthers have won at least nine games in eight of those seasons, including 9-3 last year when they lost in the state quarterfinals.

Moving up in classification has been more than a challenge for Hedric and staff, but they haven't showed any signs of slowing down, as they didn't in a 32-15 win at South Albany last week.

The state's leading rusher Wes Riddell carried the ball 35 times for 300 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three catches for 85 yards and another score.

This all came after a humbling 46-30 loss at Mountain View the week before.



For their bounce-back quality and consistency over the years, Central has been selected the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

Hedric said the goals were pretty simple going into the year.

"Building confidence and maturing a young secondary is our focus as we continue into the season," Hedric said.

It's helped to have a talent like Riddell who has carried 93 times for 846 yards and nine touchdowns through three games for the Panthers. He also has seven catches and two more scores.

"Wes is a very talented football player with surprising football speed," Hedric said. "He is a multipurpose back in running and receiving. He is also a better leader than his rushing stats."

Senior Douglas Clem has thrown for 400 yards and three scores and senior Kyler Fleming has caught 15 passes. Six players have recorded at least 10 tackles, led by sophomore Marlon Tuipulotu with 23.



Tupalotu also is the state leader in sacks with eight, twice as many as anyone in the state.

Those numbers are going to be hard to continue throughout the season, but Hedric isn't betting against Tupalotu or the Panthers.

"We want to improve each week," he said. "Moving up in classification has been both a physical and mental challenge for our team and coaches. Each week is a bigger game than the previous week and preparing our club for those challenges has required lots of hours in the meeting and film room." {PAGEBREAK}
It's one thing to turn around a program, like Parkrose (Portland) football coach Mo France has apparently done.

It's another thing to actually lead the state in scoring, which his team does.

The Broncos have piled up 114 points in two games — 57 points per game — and more importantly, they've recorded two impressive victories.

For their early success and scoring prowess, Parkrose is the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.



France said his team's fast start isn't by coincidence. And he's not all that surprised.

"We started off strong in the summer, five days a week," he said. "We got a lot of 7-on-7 drills. We hit weight lifting pretty hard and were in the gym. This year, we have focused on more player involvement and getting our players prepared for the season."

It's great to have senior leadership, he said.

"We have some great senior captains and they have put pressure on me, as a coach, to make sure I get my job done," France said. "These captains told the coaching staff early in the summer what they wanted to get accomplished and done for their senior season."

Parkrose hasn't done much on the field over the last decade, sporting a 27-69 record. But it opened the season with a 56-19 win over St. Helena before scoring two points more in a 58-29 triumph over La Salle.

On Friday, the Broncos travel to Milwaukie Academy of the Arts (0-2).



"Our preparation will be the same as usual," France said. "We come in on Saturday morning and start breaking down tape, so that we can get a jump on our opponent. Then Sunday we meet and make sure everyone knows the game plan. then on Monday and the rest of the week we go out and practice and prepare. We battle against each other and scout stuff out for our offense and defense."

Parkrose is led offensively by senior quarterback Jonathan Boland, who leads the state with 664 passing yards and nine touchdowns, while completing 37 of 63 passes.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior has also rushed 29 times (including sacks) for a team-best 165 yards and two more scores.

"Jonathan is very competitive and has that drive," France said. "He has been everything for this program. He pushes his teammates to work harder and he pushes me. We both share this common goal of what we want to achieve. The community also stands behind him and loves him. I am very grateful, as a coach, to have him as a player."

His leading receivers are Vincent Vy (13 catches, 221 yards, five scores) and Marshawn Edwards (11-81-1). Five different players have caught TD passes.

The Broncos fly to the ball defensively as six different players have between 13 and 18 tackles. Emile Wolpert leads the team with 18 tackles, but Robin Richmond and Ras-mann Edwards have 17 apiece. {PAGEBREAK}
The Jesuit (Portland) girls volleyball team surely has a battle cry this season.



"Remember Central Catholic."

A year after winning the state championship, the Crusaders lost an excruciating five-game state 6A semifinal match. They lost 15-13 in the final game.

It doesn't get much tougher than that.

Jesuit lost four players off that team, but only one starter, so the Crusaders figure to be a top state contender. Judging from their 5-0 start, that is definitely the case.

Among their wins were over Central Catholic — 25-12 29-27 — and as yet they haven't lost a game.

For their focused, fast start, Jesuit is the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.



Thus far, Jesuit coach Teresa Zimmerlee is impressed with what her team has accomplished. But, she warns, there's a long way to go.

"This is an experienced and driven team, so we feel pretty positive about our progress so far," she said in an email. "Although we are off to a strong start, there are a lot of things that we can work on to improve.

"This team has a lot of talent, but we know that you can never take another team for granted, and other teams are also working to get better, so we will use every opportunity in practice and games to reach our full potential."

In the win over Central Catholic, setter Symone Tran (13 assists), spread the ball around beautifully.

Nicole Peterson, a 6-foot junior, led the team with nine kills, sophomore Jasmine Gross had seven and sophomore Kathryn Decker added six.

Thus far, Peterson leads the team in kills for the season with 35, followed by Gross (30), junior Arianna Wiltjer (20) and Decker (19).



Senior Elise Krippaehne leads the team with six aces and Peterson has four, and Grace Massey has the most digs with 30, followed by Peterson (17), Tran (15) and senior Lexi Dixon (14). Tran has 107 assists.

Peterson is in the middle of most of the fray and a superb leader.

"Nicole is confident on the floor. She sees the game as it develops and reads the court and players as well as any player that I have ever seen play," Zimmerlee said. "She is not afraid of making a mistake or taking risks. Nicole anchors our team, and the players count on, and trust her on the floor.

"Nicole has a lot of talent — and humility to match."

Jesuit has a tremendous history under Zimmerlee, having won three state titles since 2004. In that time, the Crusaders have an impressive record of 253-31-2.

With this group in particular, there is only one ultimate goal.



"The state championship is the goal," Zimmerlee said. "We know how hard we will have to work to achieve that goal. We are aware that many teams share that goal also, so we don't assume that just because we started the season strong that we get to coast.

"We are on the court every day trying to improve in every aspect of the game."

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Oregon Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at ORteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com. {PAGEBREAK}
The girls volleyball team at Trinity Lutheran (Bend) has a lot to live up to.

Last season the Saints reached the Oregon 1A State Volleyball Tournament for the first time in the school's six-year history, before losing to Dufur three games to one.

Without a senior on that squad, expectations are high this season and Trinity Lutheran has opened the season with two straight, both by three game sweeps, over Pacific and Lewis Academy.

For their early success, Trinity Lutheran is the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.



Coach Greg Clift said it's been a long journey for his squad. But a very worthy one.

"We would have been overwhelmed with joy in being able to win any match," he said. "Our first two wins this year were different. We faced two teams in complete rebuild mode and we have attained a higher level that we're not used to quite yet. We have never been able to dominate like this before, so we're getting used to our new level of play."

In the 25-8, 25-7, 25-18 win over Pacific, outside hitter Emily Eidler dominated with 10 aces in 26 serves and no errors. The 5-foot-10 junior also is a basketball standout.

"Emily has been our most consistent server for the last three years," Clift said. "Stats will back that up. She can place the ball and was going at certain players, so she picked her spots. What makes her a special player is her intelligence at the service line.

"As a team, serving is one of the reasons we have reached the level we're at."

Katie Murphy, a 5-7 senior who also plays basketball, had nine kills and Megan Clift, a 5-4 senior, added six kills. Murphy led the team with eight digs and junior setter Allison Jorge had 15 assists. Sophomore Kenzie Smith added seven assists.



In a 25-6, 25-10, 25-10 win over Lewis Academy, coach Greg Clift selected Jorge as the standout player for the Saints with "superb serving and setting."

Mariah Murphy, a sophomore, led the team with four kills while Taylor McCabe and Jorge had three apiece. Alita Ruggles, a freshman, added five aces and five different players had three digs each.

It was an utterly balanced effort.

Trinity Lutheran continues its season Friday at Triad (Klamath Falls). The Saints have come a long way since going 0-13 and 2-12 in 2010 and 2011. Since then, they've gone a combined 32-14 and last year they won their first league title as well.

The 2014 Saints are loaded with experience with five seniors and four juniors to go with three sophomores and a freshman.

Clift knew his team would be solid and experienced. But they've exceeded expectations.



"We return all six starters and seven of eight off our normal rotation," he said. "Our starting point this year and our collective mind is eighth in state. We simply want to improve on that. ... We want to be in that top level. We could go for No. 1. We would love that. But we're new to this level of play. We're building a program here, not a one-hit wonder. I think we're a program on the rise."

No argument there.

Do you know a team that deserves consideration for Oregon Team of the Week? Email us with your nominations at ORteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.