Oregon (OSAA) 4A girls basketball state tournament: Matchups, players to watch, first impressions for every team
The OSAA 4A girls basketball state tournament begins Thursday at Forest Grove High School. Here is a breakdown of each quarterfinal matchup.
BRACKET
Photo by Leon Neuschwander: Baker and Gladstone square off in the 2023 Class 4A girls basketball state final at Forest Grove High School. Baker won, 60-56.
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No. 9 Stayton (19-4) vs. No. 1 Astoria (21-4), 1:30 p.m.
Stayton leaders: F Kenzi Hollenbeck, jr. (8.3 ppg, 6 rpg); P Liv Smart, sr. (6.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
First impression: Coach Tal Wold recounted how a midseason defeat at Cascade fueled their run. “Next day at practice, the girls showed up with great attitudes and ready to work,” Wold said. “There was evidence we were close, that we were getting better, and that we had some warts that we needed to work on.” The Eagles won nine of their next 10 — including a 50-28 win at Marshfield — to earn their first trip to the state tournament since 2019. They allow a state-best 27.4 points per game.
Astoria leaders: G Maitlin Young, sr. (11.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg); G Shelby Bruney, jr. (11.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg); P Malory Dundas, jr. (9.4 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
First impression: The Fishermen last year made the most of their first state tournament appearance in the past two decades, placing third for their best finish since 1981. They return under new leadership, as Teke Silva (92-47 in six seasons at Springfield and North Eugene from 2015-21) took over after serving as an assistant to Mike Jacobson last season, and having won 20 in a row after a 1-4 start — the most recent victory a 54-25 rout of Cottage Grove in the Round of 16 last weekend.
No. 5 Klamath Union (17-3) vs. No. 4 Cascade (17-7), 3:15 p.m.
Klamath Union leaders: F Keely Hall, sr. (14.8 ppg, 5.6 rpg); G Kshalee Thomas, sr. (10.9 ppg, 42% 3pt, 2.6 spg); G Dianara Peña, sr. (12.6 ppg, 2.8 spg, 2.4 apg)
First impression: The Pelicans won only eight games last season, but their 56-42 win over Pendleton sent them to their first state tournament since 2001. Their 17 wins match their most since 2015, and coach John Najar said they built toward this season the previous two years, losing to Marist Catholic in the play-in round in 2022 (“we weren’t physically ready for that level of competition for a full game”) and to eventual champion Baker last year in the first round. “We knew then we belonged with the top teams,” Najar said. “Our defense (46.6 points allowed per game in 2022-23; 34.4 this season) has been the difference.”
Cascade leaders: G Maddie Dustin, sr. (17.5 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.9 apg, 3.7 spg); G Olivia Bennett, soph. (11.2 ppg); F Rozalynn Schmunk, soph. (8.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg)
First impression: The Cougars are back at the state tournament after a one-year absence led by Dustin, a point guard who is a two-time Oregon West Conference player of the year and reigning 4A/3A/2A/1A state golf co-champion who will play for the University of Hawaii next season. Bennett and Schmunk also received all-conference honors.
No. 11 Marist Catholic (12-11) vs. No. 3 Philomath (20-5), 6:30 p.m.
Marist Catholic leaders: F Addie Ruckwardt, sr. (10.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3 apg, 2 spg); C Kaylynn Guevara, sr. (5.1 ppg, 57^% FG, 5.1 rpg, 1.4 bpg); G McKenna De Lee, jr. (6.1 ppg, 32% 3pt)
First impression: The Spartans missed the tournament last year and stumbled to the playoffs after losing three of their final four regular-season games, but they punched their ticket with a 36-30 win at La Grande. Now, they’ll try to become the first 4A school to sweep the volleyball and girls basketball state titles since the OSAA went to six classifications in 2006-07, with a chance to avenge losses to Philomath at the Warriors’ holiday tournament in December and a nonleague game two weeks ago.
Philomath leaders: G Aneeka Steen, jr. (9.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 3.2 spg); F Reagan Heiken, fr. (11.2 ppg, 6.3 rpg); G Emily Taunisila, soph. (9.4 ppg, 2.6 apg)
First impression: After a fourth-place finish at last year’s state tournament, Philomath earned a sixth consecutive trip by edging defending champion Baker 53-52 in the first round. Coach Ben Silva pointed to the Warriors’ performance at summer league as critical to the team’s return to the tournament. “The team really started to come together and continued to build off that over the season,” he said.
No. 7 Madras (18-6) vs. No. 2 Henley (21-2), 8:15 p.m.
Madras leaders: G Rylan Davis, sr. (12.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 3.6 apg, 3.7 spg); G Sasha Esquiro, sr. (10.6 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.3 spg); W Maija Poland, sr. (8.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg)
First impression: The White Buffaloes went 0-2 at last year’s state tournament but are making their fourth consecutive trip thanks to a 73-42 win over Seaside. Davis, the Tri-Valley Conference player of the year, is one of seven seniors who have keyed their streak of tournament appearances and helped them survive a midseason coaching change, when Jerin Say resigned suddenly in December. Assistant Logan Bertram took over and added former D-1 player Abby Scott to his staff after the Seaside Tournament, and the team has gone 15-3 since, with their 57.6 points per game second to Henley’s 65.6 among 4A schools.
Henley leaders: F Anna Harper, jr. (9.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg); G Annie Campos, sr. (15.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 4.2 apg, 4.2 spg); W Lily Fussell, soph. (8.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3 spg)
First impression: The Hornets eliminated Madras in the consolation semifinals last year en route to a sixth-place finish. After graduating only one senior from that team, coach Randy Denson said they were hungry to return to the tournament this year. “After our quarterfinal loss to Marshfield, we were determined to make it back,” he said. “Once you have had the opportunity to make the state tournament, you are addicted to making the return.” Harper returned for the regular-season finale after missing more than a month because of injury. Campos is a state player of the year candidate.
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