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

The rise toward the top has been slow, steady and sure for the West Albany boys basketball team.

When Todd Zimmerman took over the head coaching job in 2008, the Bulldogs were coming off an 8-16 season.

The first two years for Zimmerman were similar, at 9-12 and 9-15. In 2010-11, West Albany jumped to 11 wins and the last two seasons it has hit full-stride, going 17-8 and 19-9.

With four straight wins — two last week — the Bulldogs are 9-3 in 2013-14.

For their steady climb, they’ve been picked as the MaxPreps Oregon Team of the Week, presented by the Oregon National Guard.

"We have a real core value that we are going to get better," said Zimmerman. "We aren't going to get our sights any higher than getting better than we were yesterday.

"West Albany used to have a strong tradition of basketball and that has faded. If everyday we come out and we get better, after putting that hard work in, we will restore that tradition. We will do this by having everyone work together, players and coaches. No one person is bigger than that goal — to get better."

Led by one of the state’s leading scorers Nate Sherwood (20.4 points per game), West Albany recorded wins over Silverton (57-43) and Lebanon (56-40) last week.

Sherwood made 8-of-15 shots and was 9-for-10 from the line en route to 25 points against Silverton. The 6-foot-8 power forward added 11 rebounds as did junior Isaiah Edwards, a 6-4 post, who also had 11 points.

This has been the formula most of the season as Edwards averages 11.6 points per game and about seven rebounds per contest. Sherwood averages more than 10 caroms a game.

"Nate is just one of the guys on the team," said Zimmerman. "The guys love him and they give him a hard time, just like they give the other players. Nate has no special standing with the players — he is just trying to work hard and get better everyday in order to help his team get better.

"It's cool that someone of his talent can fit in and get along well with all his teammates and it's something that's very rare. He is a great, likeable kid — and a heck of a basketball player."

Other key players for the Bulldogs are senior Zach Heagy (7.9 ppg), along with Cody Lahoda, Ben Potter, Joey Roos, J.J. Stewart, Brady Young and Cooper Getsfrid, who all average between 3-4 points per game.

Those totals definitely add up for West Albany, which is No. 16 in the state, according to the MaxPreps computer rankings. Zimmerman obviously uses his bench heavily.

Sherwood, who has made 66 of 133 shots, is by far the team’s top offensive threat. He’s received college interest from Davis, Portland, Portland State and Oregon State, a place his dad Bill played for three seasons in the late 1980s.

According to the Albany Democrat-Herald, Sherwood’s older brother Nick played golf at Oregon State.

"Obviously I have been born and bred OSU," Nate Sherwood told the newspaper. "It’s nice and close to home, which is appealing, and it’s a good basketball program."

West Albany hosts Woodburn (5-8) on Friday.

"Last year we got to the state tournament and it was the first time since 1991 that our basketball program had been there and had a winning record," said Zimmerman. "We want to reach that goal again and compete for a spot in the tournament, and hopefully compete for that blue trophy. Ultimately, to make that happen, we need to work hard each night."

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