
McKenzie girls basketball is the Week 23 winner of the Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.
Courtesy photo
Week 23 Winner: McKenzie Girls Basketball
It’s not a push. Barely a nudge really. When
McKenzie (Finn Rock) girls coach David Duncan rolls out the basketball, his Eagles are almost always ready.
Thus
far they are 22-4 overall and 14-2 in league and have won at least 20
games five straight seasons, including 27-1 in 2011-12 when the Eagles
won a state 1A title.
"It’s is all about the girls," said coach
David Duncan. "Their determination and work ethic is so strong. They
enjoy going to state and want to get there every year."

McKenzie girls basketball
Courtesy photo
Because
of their work ethic and results, the Eagles are the MaxPreps Oregon
Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.
Led by a stifling defense and the Hiddleston sisters,
Makaila and
Buggy, the Eagles are destined to make a strong state-title push.
Even
with just nine girls, McKenzie has the stamina and strength to allow
just 26.3 points per game. Three times it's allowed less than 10 points
and 12 times it has given up 20 or less.
"We went into the season
saying that our focus was going to be on nothing but defense," Duncan
said. "We would leave every night after practice talking about defense.
We worked on nothing but defense and all our drills are focused on that.
"We
knew that our offense would come, but we have to be able to stop teams
defensively. We aren’t the best scorers or offensive team, but we can
defend with anybody and the girls bought into this goal and wanted to
reach that this season."
Makaila Hiddleston, a 5-11 post, averages 15.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game to lead the team.
"She
is our scoring threat," Duncan said. "She makes our team go
offensively. We work an inside-outside offense and she is definitely our
inside presence. Other teams narrow in on her. She is certainly our
cornerstone and everything goes from her."
Her sister Buggy is the team’s second leading scorer and averages 9.9 points per game.
"They
play very well together and have a good chemistry. They are different
players and have a different type of playing style, but they work very
well with one another."
Do you know a team that deserves
consideration for Oregon Team of the Week? Email us with your
nominations at ORteamoftheweek@maxpreps.com.