Forfeits change the look of Oregon large schools basketball race

Just when you think the Metro 6A boys basketball race couldn't get any more exciting, it does. Take a look at the last two weeks:

* First, No. 1 Jesuit (Portland) lost its top player (Kyle Wiltjer) to an injury, then lost to Aloha, 61-57, for its first Metro League setback in 2011.

* Second, No. 4 ranked Westview (Portland) gets the return of its top player (Oregon-bound Austin Kuemper) as the push for the Metro League title comes down to the wire.

* Third, Aloha is forced to forfeit its dozen wins prior Jan. 21 because of an ineligible player (as determined by Oregon State Activities Association rules governing eligibility) in those games.

According to a press release from Aloha High, the school self-reported the error to the Oregon State Activities Association and the ineligible athlete has not participated since. The ruling didn't take away Aloha's win over Jesuit as it occurred Feb. 8, but it did take away its Jan. 21 win over Westview. It not only dropped Aloha in the Metro standings, but enabled Westview to gain a share of first place with Jesuit and set yet another showdown between the Metro's two premiere programs.

That shared lead lasted about six hours as Jesuit defeated Westview Tuesday night in overtime, 70-61. Senior guard Jack Grodahl scored 11 of his team-high 23 in the fourth quarter to rally the Crusaders. Keumper led all scorers with 27.

It was Jesuit's second win over Westview this season and puts the Crusaders in the Metro League driver's seat at 7-1 (19-2 overall) as Westview falls to 6-2 (15-6). Jesuit's final two games are against Beaverton (0-8) and Southridge (4-4), while Westview plays Sunset (3-5) and Aloha.

Jesuit defeated Westview for Oregon's 6A state title in 2010. Dating back three seasons, Westview has handed Jesuit three of its four Metro losses.

While the forfeits set the stage for the Jesuit-Westview showdown, it also meant Aloha went from a winning team (15-6) to a losing team (3-18) in a matter of hours. The Warriors had their own challenge Tuesday, but overcame 30 points from Sunset senior Dominique Ditlefsen in beating Sunset, 63-52. The win ties Aloha with Southridge at 4-4 in the Metro with the teams facing off Feb. 18. Then comes a rematch Feb. 22nd against Westview.

WILTJER TO PLAY IN 3 MAJOR ALL-STAR EVENTS
The frequent flyer miles keep adding up for Jesuit forward Wiltjer. Shortly after his high school season ends in late March, he will play in the annual Nike Hoop Summit, the Jordan Brand All-Star Classic and the McDonald's All-American game.

On March 30, Wiltjer will be one of 24 U.S. seniors participating in the annual McDonald's All-American game in Chicago. On April 9, the 6-10 Wiltjer will play on the World Select Team in the Nike World event at the Portland Rose Garden. He has played for Team Canada in previous international competition, including the Nike Global Challenge. 

Finally, April 16, the University of Kentucky signee will play in the Jordan Brand Classic in Charlotte, N.C. This year's event marks the game's 10-year anniversary.

Wiltjer, out with a sprained right ankle, is averaging 19 points per game, but is expected to be in Jesuit's lineup by the time state playoffs begin in early March.

BEND JUNIOR WINS OREGON GATORADE HONOR
Bend junior Maryn Beutler has been named the 2010-11 Gatorade Oregon Girls Soccer Player of the Year.

The 5-foot-2 junior midfielder scored nine goals and contributed 15 assists in leading the Lava Bears to the Class 5A state quarterfinals in 2010. A three-year starer, Beutler guided Bend to back-to-back state titles in 2008-09. She has verbally committed to an athletic scholarship at the University of Oregon in the fall of 2012.

As well as owning a 3.93 grade point average, Buetler earned 5A first team all-state honors last season. She is the first Bend athlete to be chosen for the award.

The award recognizes outstanding athletic excellence, high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field.

FAMILIAR TEAMS TOP STATE WRESTLING POLLS
Paced by top-ranked brothers Drew (30-0 at 130 pounds) and Reed (29-5 at 135) Vanrooy, Roseburg continues to be the top-ranked 6A wrestling team in the state. Newberg and Grants Pass are ranked 2 and 3.

Hermiston remains atop 5A rankings as it has all season - thanks to unbeaten Joey Delgado (40-0 at 130). Dallas and Lebanon are 2 and 3.

Henley (Klamath Falls), led by unbeaten sophomore Ronnie Bresser (28-0) leads 4A ahead of Crook County (Prineville) and McLoughlin (Milton-Freewater).

Senior Jordan Moran (18-1 at 135) has Dayton top ranked ahead of Burns and Myrtle Point in the 3A poll.

Led by three-time state champion and unbeaten Zack Cardwell (180 pounds), Lowell is ranked No. 2 behind Culver in the 2A polls. Reedsport takes the No. 3 spot.

The state championships will be held Feb. 25-26 in Portland.

CHANGE AT TOP OF 6A GIRLS POLL
Bolstered by its third win this season over perennial power Oregon City, Clackamas (21-1) has taken over the top spot in the Oregon 6A Girls poll. Jesuit (Portland) (19-1) dropped to No. 2 and Oregon City (17-4) is No. 3. Springfield (20-2, 5A), La Salle (Milwaukie) (22-0, 4A), Vale (20-2, 3A), Regis (Stayton) (24-1, 2A) and Crane (19-1, 1A) topped polls in respective girls classifications.

For the boys, Jesuit (19-2, 6A), Corvallis (20-1, 5A), Mazama (Klamath Falls) (22-1, 4A), Horizon Christian (Tualatin) (22-3, 3A), Knappa (Astoria) (22-2, 2A) and McKenzie (Finn Rock) (23-0, 1A) top their respective classifications.

UNBEATENS
Unbeatens St. Mary's (Medford) girls and McKenzie boys have completed their regular seasons without a blemish. St. Mary's, 3A, breezed to a 21-0 record with its closest margin of victory at nine points and McKenzie improved to 23-0 by owning the state's top defense allowing 30 points per game. LaSalle Prep girls have two games remaining to see if they can also complete the regular season without a loss. At 22-0, only Madras (7-1, 15-6) and Estacada stand in the way of LaSalle's perfect season (pre-playoffs). The Falcons' narrowest margin of victory this season has been 10 points.

STREAKS
* Since losing to 5A Marist Dec. 8, 55-48, 2A Regis has won 22 straight games. The Lady Rams are 9-1 against teams in higher classifications. The 22-game win streak is the longest in the state for girls. McKenzie's 23-game streak is best among Oregon boys.

* The North Marion (Aurora) cheerleading squad won its fifth consecutive Oregon State Activities Association Class 4A small championship Saturday at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland. Other division winners included Pleasant Hill in the 3A-2A-1A, division; West Albany won the 5A small division and Brookings-Harbor won the 4A large; Westview (Portland) 6A/5A large division and Tualatin took the 6A small.

* By beating Lakeridge, 65-32, on Feb. 15, top-ranked Clackamas ended Oregon City's 17-year run as champions of the Three Rivers League. The Lady Cavalaiers are 13-0 - three games ahead of OC - with two games remaining.

TOP PERFORMANCES
* Barlow (Gresham) senior Ryan Crouser threw the 12-pound shot put 74 feet, 5 inches Feb. 12 at the University of Washington Husky Indoor Open to inch closer to a national indoor shot put record. His toss was just short of the national prep indoor record of 74-11 set by Brent Noon of Fallbrook, Calif., in 1990.

* Micah Espinosa scored 36 points, including 24 in the second half, as the boys from Mapleton defeated Triangle, 63-54.

* With four players scoring in double figures, Grants Pass (10-11) made things interesting in the Southern Oregon League by upsetting No. 3 ranked South Medford boys, 62-55. South Medford (19-3, 9-2) holds a one-game SOL lead over Roseburg. South Medford ends the regular season Feb. 22 against crosstown rival North Medford (6-4 in the SOL).

* Pele Gianotti had 35 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Riddle girls (21-2, 13-2) over Yoncalla, 70-47. Gianotti stretched her state record for points in a season by a freshman to 572. Gianotti is averaging 24.9 ppg. Hayley Reynolds had 30 points and 14 rebounds to lead Yoncalla.

* Sophomore Mercedes Russell scored 23 points, pulled down 20 rebounds and blocked five shots as Springfield protected its top ranking girls among Oregon 5A schools. The Millers are 19-2. In addition to 10 blocked shots, Russell recorded a triple-double with 17 points and a dozen rebounds in the win over Marshfiled, 44-17.

* Behind Kory Kirwin's 37 points, the Glencoe boys kept their 6A Pacific League title hopes alive with a win over Tigard. Kirwin leads all 6A scorers with 25.2 ppg. With three games remaining, Glencoe and Tigard are 7-4 in league - one game behind league leading McMinnville. Glencoe and McMinnville meet Feb. 22.

* Sophomore guard Jordan Reynolds of Jefferson High School scored 33 points against Franklin to help keep the Democrats in first place in the PIL girls title chase.

* Chris Haddeland hit a 3-point shot with six seconds left in the third overtime to give McMinnville a 78-75 triple-overtime victory Friday at Century High School. The win moved the Grizzlies (13-7, 8-3) into sole possession of first place in the boys 6A Pacific Conference. Brandon Harris led McMinnville with 26 points.

* Rogue River's all-time leading scorer junior Alli Ehrhardt scored a school-record 36 points as Rogue River derailed Lakeview, 67-44, keeping the Chieftains' playoff hopes alive. She is averaging 19 ppg this season and has 1,193 for her career.

SHOWDOWN
* With victories Tuesday night, the stage has been set for a Northwest Oregon League showdown between Wilsonville (20-2) and Milwaukie (18-3), each ranked No. 3 in the latest 5A boys poll. Host Wilsonville won the first meeting, 65-46. Friday's game is at Milwaukie. Michone Hopkins scored 30 to lead WIlwaukie (12-1 in the NWL) over Parkrose, 89-47. It was the fifth time this season that Hopkins reached the 30-point mark. Wilsonville won its 15th straight and improved to 13-0 in the NWL with a 54-38 win over Liberty.

DON'T MISS
* 2011 State Swimming Championships, Feb. 18-19 at Mt. Hood Community College Aquatic Center, Gresham. Look for fast times from Roseburg senior Kaylin Birg and Lakeridge senior Andrew Heyman.

* 2011 State Wrestling Championships, Feb. 25-26 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Portland.

WELL-KNOWN BASKETBALL NAME
The Blanchet Catholic (Salem) and Blanchet Catholic (Salem) squads are putting together impressive seasons. The 23-1 boys went 17-1 in gaining the PacWest League title. The girls (21-3 overall) finished 15-3 in league having lost their first place battle with Salem Academy (21-3, 16-2). Each of Blanchet's teams has a well known Oregon name in its lineup. For the girls, it is 5-6 senior Caitlin Counts. For the boys, it's 6-8 sophomore Brett and 6-2 freshman Patrick Counts. They are grandchildren of former Oregon State all-American Mel Counts. Mel was also a member of the U.S. team that won Gold at the 1946 Olympics. The 7-footer played a dozen seasons in the NBA.

TRACK RECRUITING
Matt Melancon of Sheldon (Eugene) has signed with the University of Oregon. The state's Gatorade Runner of the Year, he won the Oregon 6A cross country championship. He ran 15:36 to win the state title in cross country (5,000 meters). His best time at that distance is 15:10.6. His best time for 3,000 meters is 8:42.08.