OSAA 5A Quarterfinals: Top Performers
The OSAA 5A State Championships opened Wednesday as the remaining eight teams duked it out for a trip to the final four at Gill Coliseum. With emotions running high, an eventful first day served as a terrific showcase for some…
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Continue ReadingThe OSAA 5A State Championships opened Wednesday as the remaining eight teams duked it out for a trip to the final four at Gill Coliseum. With emotions running high, an eventful first day served as a terrific showcase for some of the state’s top players.
Only four teams remain in the championship race (#1 Churchill, #4 Willamette, #3 Silverton, and #2 Wilsonville), and each one has the firepower to win it all.
Here’s our top performers from Wednesday:
Brian Goracke (2020 Churchill) – Stats: 24 points, 6 reb, 0 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl
The Churchill big man has human highlight reel potential, as his combination of tremendous athleticism and a balanced skill set can warrant some astounding plays. The 6’5” junior played an incredibly efficient game, shooting 10-for-12 from the field on his way to a game-high 24 points. Goracke knocked down a three and threw down a punishing slam dunk along the way to add an exclamation point to the Lancer’s win.
Luke Burke (2019 Willamette) – Stats: 17 points, 9 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl
After suffering a severe preseason injury, Luke Burke has finally returned to form as a leader for the fourth-seeded Wolverines, who pulled out another close win against the Thurston Colts on Wednesday behind a game-changing 17 points from Burke himself. The athletic senior played with high energy for a full 32 minutes, making his presence felt on defense. Additionally, Willamette’s point man converted on multiple clutch buckets down the stretch to propel the Wolverines to the semifinals.
Luke Smith (2021 Willamette) – Stats: 17 points, 2 reb, 1 ast, 2 stl
Willamette’s dominant tandem of Lukes was completed by Luke Smith, a crafty sophomore who stepped up on the big stage. With the game tied 46-46 with under three minutes to go, Smith jumped a passing lane and took the ball the length of the floor for an and-one finish on the other end. The momentum noticeably shifted Willamette’s direction and never returned to Thurston during the final minutes. The 6-foot-2 sophomore makes very mature plays, as shown by his effective 6-for-10 shooting effort and ability to stay composed under pressure.
Isaac Lange (2019 Thurston) – Stats: 17 points, 7 reb, 4 ast
Despite never fully finding his rhythm offensively, the reigning 5A player of the year still managed to fill up the stat sheet. The athletic point guard rebounded aggressively and had a good nose for the basketball all afternoon. Additionally, Lange’s quickness and jumping ability allowed him to draw fouls and make difficult finishes around the rim to keep the Colts within striking distance. The 6-foot-2 senior also delivered a couple quality passes on his way to a team-leading 4 assists in the loss.
Mason Miller (2019 Thurston) Stats: 15 points, 11 reb, 3 ast, 5 blk
Thurston’s big has always been the epitome of consistency. In one of his last games as a Colt, Miller churned out another productive effort. Despite missing two free throws that would’ve cut the lead to one with under a minute to go, the stout post made his fair share of positive plays for the Colts, who will take on La Salle Prep in the first consolation round Thursday morning.
David Gonzalez (2020 Silverton) – Stats: 16 points, 3 reb, 4 ast
Gonzalez is the clear leader for the Foxes. The 5-foot-10 junior used his crafty handle to make plays all night, and his ability as a facilitator was quite impressive. Silverton’s offense revolves around Gonzalez’ ability to get by his man and force the defense to collapse. No player made a more prominent statement beyond the stat sheet throughout Wednesday than the Foxes’ stud. In dominant fashion, Gonzalez proved why he’s one of the most dangerous guards in the 5A final four.
Nate Bittle (2021 Crater) – Stats: 17 points, 13 reb, 1 ast, 8 blk
Despite facing foul trouble, Crater’s sophomore sensation managed to put up another superhuman performance. The 6-foot-10 sophomore contests even more shots than the ones he blocks, and his effectiveness doesn’t end on the defensive end. Bittle’s ability to shoot the deep ball is almost Porzingis-like, and although he got trigger happy at times, his ability to take a game over on both ends of the floor is what makes him a top-tier prospect.
Jack Roche (2019 Wilsonville) – Stats: 13 points, 2 reb, 7 ast
Wilsonville’s hard-nosed point guard was the most impressive passer all day, firing multiple backdoor bullets that could’ve resulted in even more assists in the senior’s dismantling of Pendleton. Additionally, Roche was probably the most impressive three point shooter we saw all day. The senior knocked down three long-balls over decent shot contest to help put the Wildcats in the semifinals.
Tyler Newsom (2019 Pendleton) – Stats: 21 points, 3 reb, 1 ast, 1 stl
After a terrible first half offensively, Newsom began to turn it on in the second, knocking down 7-of-9 from the free throw line on his way to a game-high 21 points. The 6-foot-4 senior was the lone bright spot offensively for the Buckaroos, using athleticism and length to finish in the paint and draw numerous fouls. The lengthy wing also buried two three pointers in the blowout defeat.