MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week: Powers boys basketball

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."