8th Grade Girls Basketball Tournaments
BMS 7th, 8th grade tops Oolitic
Times-MailFebruary 8, 2010 The Bedford Middle School seventh and eighth-grade boys basketball teams pulled out hard-fought wins over Oolitic on Jan. 28 with the seventh grade securing a 34-25 victory while t ... Please log in at right to read the rest of this story. Subscribing to TMNews.com gives you 24/7 access to our news, features, and story archives (back to 1996) from anywhere. To start a subscription, you will need a major credit card and an email address to set up the account. Seven-day home delivery subscribers are entitled to complimentary access to our web site.
It is just me or does it seem like there's Jefferson and then oodles and oodles of teams worthy of getting to the state tournament but few challengers to the Demo's who, in my book, proved their mettle by hanging tough with Mater Dei? Right now, the conference races are pretty decided in a few (PIL, NWOC, SSC) leagues and just a crazy jalopy derby in the others (IMC, MidWilly and Midwestern). Lets see who's looking pretty and who better put on some make-up soon if they want to get to the " Pit" Dance!
But first a shout-out to the Sherwood Swoosh Tournament this coming weekend. For those wanting to get a look at the true diaper dandies, this 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Girls Tournament has got some real pizazz. The recent addition of the Willamette 8th Grade team makes it notable. Both Willamette Head Coaches Lance Haas and Paul Brothers carry pictures of this team around in their wallet they're so proud of them. They'll lock horns with the likes of local juggernauts Clackamas and Oregon City. Corvallis has a 6'0 point guard who's pretty sweet. If she's anything like her Dad, OSU Coach Craig Robinson, then I'll bet she can bang down low as well. Go to http://www.eteamz.com/sherwoodshootout/ for more information.Remember back in the Messozoic era when Silverton tied for first in the fledgling MidWillamette Conference and ended up with the crummiest stone drawn from the rock bowl since the dawn of time? Instead of hosting a #4 Seed from the Southeastern Oregon Farm Conference, Coach Tom Steers got to take his girls to play #1 Ranked Jefferson on Friday and by Monday was in therapy. Every year there is an odd discrepancy for either getting denied or getting to the State Basketball Elite Eight. This season, clearly the one game that jumps off the OSAA Bracket Page is the winner of #2 IMC vs. #2 PIL getting to advance straight to Mac Court. The league champion of the IMC has it tougher to be sure. They'll host the winner of the NWOC #3 or MidWillamette #4. Looking at the MidWillamette #4 right now it could be Corvallis or Silverton or Crescent Valley. No cake walk teams by any stretch. It looks like a madhouse over in the IMC, and its too tough to call that race while Madison of the PIL looks to lock down the #2 PIL. John Niebergall has done a wonderful job with this team and the Senators seem to be a team on the rise.
Here's how I see the OSAA 5A Brackets at this time. (Subject to wild and crazy changes)
Bracket A-West Albany goes to Thurston in a battle of two Top 10 Ranked teams. Elise Nelson has carried the Colts this season but the Bulldogs have a good point guard of their own in Danni Kastrava and the play of 6'2 sophomore Sam Siegner could give them an upset since Thurstons's Kayla Ping went down with an injury.
Bracket B-Sherwood gets an upset over Mountain View and must go to Ashland who as the #1 SSC behind stud PG Alison Gida. The Griz advance and get to Eugene.
Bracket C-A dangerous Crescent Valley, who has found their swagger and their shot again with Craig Ellingson at the helm, whacks the Southern Sky #3 Seed before marching in to maybe the second best team in 5A in the Wilsonville Wildcats who boast a frontline taller than most boys teams but also have a good backcourt. Willy returns to state after a one year sabbatical.
Bracket D-In Mac Court, Wilsonville draws either the PIL #2 (Madison) or most likely the #2 IMC Lava Bears of Bend. Bend is exceeding most folks expectations this season and playing very well.
Bracket E-This is the antithesis to Bracket D. This is Willamette (the #2 Midwestern) versus Crater (the #2 SSC). I for one expected Crater to be a legit Top 5 team this season but they just haven't jelled. As for Willamette, they're starting four pre-schoolers and a first grader (okay, maybe starting 3 freshmen and 2 sophomores or something ridiculous). Every year we say goodbye to a Willamette dynasty and they just keep creating new ones. They're young and very very good. Since this game is at Crater, it will be one of the best 2nd Round Games in the tournament.
Bracket F-Century as the NWOC #3 hosts the MidWillamette #4. I really hate to sound like a MidWillamette Conference Honk but man is this league deep and talented this year. I just don't see Century getting by the likes of (pick one) Silverton, Corvallis, Crescent Valley or maybe even Lebanon. This could be a good 2nd Round game as the winner travels to Hermiston, my choice as the IMC #1 at this time. Smart and a lot of savvy, the Bulldogs have looked good. They're young and their best ball is still ahead of them. I don't know if they can hold off a hot #4 MidWillamette but should beat a slumping #4 MidWillamette.
Bracket G-The Midwestern #3 will be North Eugene and they host Madras, who finishes in the #4 IMC slot. North Eugene is good but they travel to Dallas to face redhot Dragon team. Still this could be an upset special waiting to happen. If it is the Highlanders in the Dragon Den, what a doozy of a game this'll be. Mark this down as possibly the second best Round 2 match-up.
Bracket H-Glencoe's just reward for finishing as the #2 NWOC is the same reward Tom Steers and the Silver Foxes had two years before. Going to Jefferson to play the #1 Ranked Demo's who have speed, height, swagger, home court and enough depth to make them my tournament favorites.
If you are a coach, and you're watching your team go through some growing pains but good enough to get to the playoffs, nows the time you better start putting it together. Now's the time you want to get on 'that roll.' You pray the injury bug stays away and that your girls have that bond where they don't mind taking a charge for a teammate. You hope that evasive mistress "Lady Luck" latches onto you and your team and takes you dancing late into Saturday at Mac Court.
