Cameron Brink, McKelle Meek have departed in past 2 years, but Southridge girls basketball still would have been a state contender in a normal winter season
By René Ferrán
Over the next two weeks, SBLive Oregon will break down more than 100 Oregon high school basketball teams. Here’s our look at the Southridge Skyhawks girls of the Class 6A Metro League.
Maya Hoff photo by Dan Brood
HEAD COACH
Mike Bergmann, eighth season (146-46)
2019-20 AT A GLANCE
Overall record: 19-8
League record: 10-2, second in Metro
Playoffs: Beat Lakeridge 65-47 in first round; beat Tualatin 51-38 in second round; lost 37-26 to Beaverton in quarterfinals; lost 56-42 to Mountainside in consolation semifinals
ALL-LEAGUE PLAYERS DEPARTED
G McKelle Meek, player of the year
W Kyla Vinson, second team
W Kilyn Dawkins, third team
PLAYERS TO WATCH
G Maya Hoff, Sr., 6-1
The Seattle Pacific signee made the all-Metro first team last season, averaging 6.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and a team-high 3.3 assists per game. With Meek’s 23 points per game gone to the University of Portland, Hoff will become the focal point of the offense. “Maya is one of the best all-around players in our league and should be the favorite for player of the year,” Bergmann said. “She is the ultimate teammate and uses her length and speed as an elite on-ball defender.”
G Jewel Miner, Sr., 5-7
Miner was a jack-of-all-trades as one of the first players off the bench last season, filling whatever role she was asked to play. “This year as a senior, she will have a much bigger role,” Bergmann said. “She brings the ability to be an all-around player for our team.”
G Tait Quinlan, Jr., 6-2
Quinlan was a key rotation player off the bench last season, averaging 2.6 points and 3.8 rebounds. Her length and size allow her to stretch the defense. “She has made great progress and brings unique guard ability with big-player size and strength,” Bergmann said.
G Katelyn Stellingwerf, So., 5-6
Stellingwerf swung between the JV and varsity as a freshman, playing in four varsity games. She shot 33 percent from three-point range, and her ability to stretch the floor will be key this spring. “She brings a great motor and toughness,” Bergmann said. “She will have a much bigger role this year. Her offseason work has put her in a great spot to show her growth on both offense and defense.”
OUTLOOK
The Skyhawks survived the transfer of All-American Cameron Brink to crosstown rival Mountainside just fine, winning the Steve Geramoni Holiday Classic in San Francisco and getting back to the Class 6A state tournament before getting ousted by the Mavericks in the consolation semifinals right before the pandemic shut down the season.
Despite graduating Meek, the state co-player of the year who joined her father, Michael, at the University of Portland, and three other starters — Vinson, Kaylen Blair and Emoney Reid — the Skyhawks might have been expected to make a fifth consecutive tournament appearance led by Hoff and third-team all-Metro wing Dawkins (7.0 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.8 steals per game last season), a Western Oregon signee with three-point range and great rebounding ability.
Dawkins will miss the spring season with an injury, leaving Hoff to show the way on the court to the next generation of Skyhawks while the two play key leadership roles as teammates and mentors, teaching them the Southridge way — playing tough team defense featuring extreme ball pressure and multiple looks while looking to exploit every advantage possible on offense, either inside or outside.
COACH SAID
“A realistic goal for us this year is to be competitive in a very tough Metro League. For this to happen, we will need to stay healthy and see many players grow quickly into new roles.” — Mike Bergmann
