Wilsonville 70, Parkrose 60: 10 Best
Coming into Tuesday night, Wilsonville and Parkrose were locked at the top of the Northwest Oregon Conference standings. But at the end of the evening, it was the Wildcats that stood alone on the summit as Wilsonville fought off a…
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Continue ReadingComing into Tuesday night, Wilsonville and Parkrose were locked at the top of the Northwest Oregon Conference standings. But at the end of the evening, it was the Wildcats that stood alone on the summit as Wilsonville fought off a determined Broncos squad 70-60 in a game much closer than the final score indicates.
Wilsonville took an early lead and was on top at halftime, 36-29. At the same time, you never got the sense that the Wildcats could truly pull away. Parkrose ran off 11 straight points in the early part of the second half to take a 40-38 lead. But Wilsonville woke up, rebuilt a double digit lead, and then held off every Broncos comeback to pull off the win.
“I think we played good overall but we can definitely improve on some things,” said Wilsonville junior guard Gabe Reichle. “Get our defense better and run our offense and get easier baskets going and just play our game instead of getting all helter skelter and do too much.”
MVP: Jack Roche (2019 Wilsonville)
Wilsonville very much plays the team concept but if there’s one guy you had to peg as the leader, it would be Roche. The senior point guard completely controls the offense and when his shot is on – as it was for much of the first half – he’s very hard to stop. A brilliant passer with great court vision in the halfcourt, Roche tallied seven assists, a couple of which led to some easy dunks. An emotional player Roche leads vocally just as much as he does on the court.
Play of the game: Reber Slam off the Cut
Each time in the fourth quarter, Parkrose looked as if it was about to mount a run – but each time, Wilsonville would respond. The Wildcats were clinging to a seven-point lead when Dakota Reber cut to the basket and Roche found the junior forward with a bullet pass that led to a two-handed slam. The basket gave Wilsonville some breathing room at 61-52 as they continued to hold off the Broncos.
Best offensive performance: Dakota Reber (2020 Wilsonville)
Reber is as difficult a player to cover at the 5A level as there is in the state. At 6-foot-5 he’s got the size and the athleticism to make plays above the rim, but also has the ability to step out and hit open jumpers. He did both for Wilsonville, hammering down four dunks but also showing his versatility by hitting an open three. Reber ended up with 16 points on 6-for-9 shooting while grabbing eight rebounds.
Best defensive performance – Zach Rivers (2019 Wilsonville)
There was no individual defender who made as much of an impact as the senior guard. He blanked Parkrose star guard Damonte Burns from start to finish, using his length and lateral quickness to stay with him every time he got the ball. Rivers had a number of deflections and steals, including one critical steal off an inbounds pass late in the game that he converted into an assist for an easy layup.
Best guy off the bench – Solomon Campbell (2019 Parkrose)
The game was largely dominated by the starters on both teams, but when you’re 6-foot-9 you’re likely going to be making an impact when you come into the game. Campbell entered the game late in the first quarter and immediately scored on his first couple of buckets, showing off a soft touch from around the basket. He’s definitely thin and can be pushed around, but Campbell’s size is tough to counter.
Best intangibles – Keegan Shivers (2020 Wilsonville)
Lost among the dunks by Reber and the sizzling passing of Roche was the play of Shivers. The 6-foot-4 junior was consistent all night, getting himself in the right spots to score and he did so at all three levels. Shivers also helped out on the boards, dished out a couple of assists, and helped out with solid team defense in an-around performance of 14 points, three rebounds, and two assists.
Best under-the-radar performance – Gabe Reichle (2020 Wilsonville)
Normally Reichle is on the radar as he’s one of Wilsonville’s top offensive threats. But for whatever reason his shot was off – he didn’t score at all in the first half – but the junior kept at it. And in the later stages of the game, he scored a couple of tough baskets and also drew fouls – and sank all six free throws.
Best underclassman – Damonte Burns (2021 Parkrose)
It was definitely not his best game, but the sophomore combo guard definitely had spurts of showing his vast potential. He hit a couple of tough threes and also converted a number of tough baskets around the hoop, including one beautiful spin move that may very well have been incorrectly called a travel by an official with an obstructed view at midcourt. Burns finished with 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting including 3-for-7 from three-point range while being blanketed all night by Rivers and his length.
Best Offensive Mismatch – Travion Weiss (2019 Parkrose)
At 6-foot-4, 230+ pounds, Weiss looks like he should be on someone’s offensive line. Instead he’s a versatile forward who is light on his feet, can handle the ball, and shoot the three. Weiss stepped out and hit a couple of threes but was also able to use his body to finish around the hoop, both in a strong way and with finesse with a couple of reverse layups.
Best aspect of the environment – The Parkrose Fans
The gym was loud – because the fans from Parkrose were one of the noisiest visiting crowds we have seen this season. The Bronco supporters were definitely opinionated when it came to some calls but were also extremely supportive of their young men, with adults and students alike standing, stomping, and clapping while encouraging their team.