2021 6A Preview: Southwest Conference
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The season is about to start and without a true state championship, much of the pride in 2021 will ride on who brings home the league titles. The Southwest Conference is another where the teams will be split – the…
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Continue ReadingThe season is about to start and without a true state championship, much of the pride in 2021 will ride on who brings home the league titles. The Southwest Conference is another where the teams will be split – the two Eugene-based teams will play in essentially a version of the old Midwestern League with the Eugene 5A squads, while the Southern Oregon teams will be competing in a version of the old Southern Oregon Conference with the nearby 5A teams. So since it would be tough to truly have a league champ, here’s a look at how we think a regular league title may have worked out.
League Predictions
1. North Medford
2. Sheldon
3. South Medford
4. South Eugene
5. Grants Pass
6. Roseburg
Player of the Year: Devon Malcolm Devon Malcolm 6'4" | SF South Medford | 2022 State OR , South Medford
All-League Predictions: Malcolm; Bryce Dyer Bryce Dyer 6'5" | PF North Medford | 2022 State OR , North Medford; Nash Kuykendall Nash Kuykendall 6'4" | SF Sheldon | 2021 State OR , Sheldon; Jarrett Bryant Jarrett Bryant 6'4" | SF South Eugene | 2021 State OR , South Eugene; Junior Sleezer Junior Sleezer 6'2" | CG South Medford | 2022 State OR , South Medford
Top Sleeper/Newcomer: Devon Malcolm Devon Malcolm 6'4" | SF South Medford | 2022 State OR , South Medford
Analysis
North Medford appears to be the class of the teams down south and head coach Scott Plankenhorn has plenty of experience ot turn to. Expect a big jump in offensive production from junior forward
Bryce Dyer
Bryce
Dyer
6'5" | PF
North Medford | 2022
State
OR
(5.9 ppg, 9.4 rpg) who has already proven himself as a rebounder and defender. Senior
Nick Karrick
Nick
Karrick
6'4" | SF
North Medford | 2021
State
OR
(9.8 ppg) is a shooter with size while fellow senior
Landon Ellis
Landon
Ellis
5'10" | CG
North Medford | 2021
State
OR
(11.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.8 apg) will do a bit of everything. Hard-nosed Sheldon would have been right there in the competition. Head coach Eric Orton has athletic forward
Nash Kuykendall
Nash
Kuykendall
6'4" | SF
Sheldon | 2021
State
OR
(8.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg) as the standout and the tough defense of the Irish will have them in the midst of any game. South Medford appears to be the team to be on the rise. A big reason is the addition of transfer
Devon Malcolm
Devon
Malcolm
6'4" | SF
South Medford | 2022
State
OR
from 2A Butte Falls. The high-flying 6-foot-4 junior swingman instantly becomes the best athlete in the league and expect him to take 6A by storm. Malcolm isn’t alone there for head coach James Wightman as he also has a nice lead guard in
Junior Sleezer
Junior
Sleezer
6'2" | CG
South Medford | 2022
State
OR
(10.9 ppg).
There’s a lot of graduation turnover at South Eugene, so head coach Dave Hancock will be relying heavily on Jarrett Bryant Jarrett Bryant 6'4" | SF South Eugene | 2021 State OR (6.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg) to do a ton. The senior, who’s signed with Bushnell, should be up to the challenge. Head coach Tyler York lost a lot to graduation but developing big man Brandin Ziegler Brandin Ziegler 6'10" | C Grants Pass | 2021 State OR is intriguing for Grants Pass and Roseburg – who returns practically everyone from last year’s team – is making progress under head coach Matt Humphreys.