Oregon awards small-school basketball titles, large schools near finals

BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT TURNS TO LARGE SCHOOLS
With six state championships decided the first weekend of March, the focus turns to Oregon's large schools with games March 8-12.

The 6A boys and girls will play at Portland's Rose Garden, the 5A event will take place at University of Oregon's Matt Court and the 4A teams will be spotlighted at Oregon State's Gill Coliseum.

6A BOYS: WILTJER RETURNS FOR NO. 1 JESUIT
After missing four weeks with an ankle injury, Kentucky-signee Kyle Wiltjer is back at full speed for No. 1 Jesuit (Portland) (23-2) as the Crusaders seek their third consecutive state title. If successful, they'll be the first Oregon team with three straight big-school titles. Jesuit opens play against Roseburg (19-6) March 9.

Unheralded West Linn (13-14) finished 6-9 in the Three Rivers League, but has peaked at the right time with four straight wins, the most recent 63-51 over TRL rival and champion Lake Oswego as sophomore Mario Shonkiller scored 30 points. The Lions open against North Medford (19-5).

Other quarterfinal games include:
* Central (Independence) (22-3) vs. Lincoln (Portland) (20-6);
* Westview (Portland) (19-6) vs. South Medford (22-4).

6A GIRLS: CLACKAMAS, JESUIT TEAMS TO BEAT
Top seeds Clackamas (25-1) and Jesuit (Portland) (24-1) are the favorites. Jesuit's lone loss this season was to Westview, 60-54, eight games ago, while Clackamas has won 23 straight since falling to a Florida team in December. Clackamas opens March 10 against St. Mary's Academy (Portland) (22-4) and Jesuit meets South Medford (Medford) (21-5).

Other opening games include:
* South Eugene (22-5) vs. Beaverton (21-6);
* Oregon City (22-4) vs. Tigard (23-4).

5A BOYS: LOSS WAS GOOD FOR NO. 1 CORVALLIS
No. 1 and favored Corvallis (24-1) opens state action against Mid-Wallamette League rival Woodburn (18-7) - the only team it lost to this season (74-70 in OT). Since that loss, the Spartans have won by an average of 20 points per game.

Other first round games include:
* Wilsonville (23-3) vs. Milwaukie (21-3);
* Benson Tech (Portland) (21-3) vs. Mountain View (Bend) (16-7);
* Bend (21-2) vs. Crescent Valley (Corvallis) (17-8).

5A GIRLS: SPRINGFIELD LEAVES THE DRIVING TO MERCEDES
Led by 6-3 Mercedes Russell, Springfield (24-2) looks to be the team to beat. Russell, the Midwestern League Player of the Year, averages 24 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks per game for the Millers. Winners of 10 straight since losing back-to-back games against 6A opponents, Springfield plays March 10 against Sherwood (19-5).

Other games include:
* Wilsonville (23-2) vs. Crescent Valley (Corvallis) (20-5);
* Hermiston (20-5) vs. Willamette (Eugene) (18-7);
* Mountain View (Bend) (17-7) vs. West Albany (Albany) (21-4).

4A BOYS: DEFENSIVE MINDED MAZAMA HAS WON 24 STRAIGHT
No. 1 Mazama (Klamath Falls) earned the top seed by virtue of its stingy defense (41 ppg). Their only loss this season was to Del Norte of Crescent City, Calif., on Dec. 4 by a 41-38 score. Since, they've won 24 straight.
Mazama (26-1) opened March 8 against Banks (17-9).

Other quarterfinal games include:
* Tillamook (21-3) vs. Cottage Grove (22-3);
* North Bend (21-3) vs. Roosevelt (Portland) (16-7);
* Phoenix (20-6) vs. Central (Independence) (17-6).

4A GIRLS: STATE'S ONLY UNBEATEN TEAM IS FAVORED
Led by senior point guard Brittaney Niebergall and 6-3 center Megan Hays (19.9 ppg), La Salle (Milwaukie) is the state's lone unbeaten team at 26-0. This will be Niebergall's third appearance in a state tournament. It will also be her third team and a third classification. As a freshman she played for 5A Bend, then led Portland Christian to the Class 2A title last year. Niebergall last suffered defeat in 2008, when she played for Bend. The Falcons open play March 9 against Mazama (Klamath Falls) (20-8). The Cinderella team is Crook County (Prineville). In 2008, CCHS lost all funding for athletics, but on Saturday night the Cowgirls defeated No. 2 seed Central, 47-42, to advance. They open against Henley (Klamath Falls) (20-5).

In other quarterfinals Wednesday:
* Madras (18-7) vs. Banks (19-6);
* Brookings-Harbor (Brookings) (24-1) vs. Cascade (Turner) (23-2).