2021 6A Preview: Three Rivers League
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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. It’s not a balanced schedule as not every team plays each other twice.…
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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. It’s not a balanced schedule as not every team plays each other twice. And some squads will play more non-league games than others. But given what we have, here’s how we see things turning out this year in the Three Rivers League.
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. It’s not a balanced schedule as not every team plays each other twice. And some squads will play more non-league games than others. But given what we have, here’s how we see things turning out this year in the Three Rivers League.
League Predictions
1. Lake Oswego
2. Tigard
3. West Linn
4. Tualatin
5. Canby
6. Oregon City
7. Lakeridge
Player of the Year: Trace Salton Trace Salton 6'5" | SF Lake Oswego | 2021 State OR , Lake Oswego
All-League Predictions: Salton; Jackson Shelstad Jackson Shelstad 6'0" | PG West Linn | 2023 State #55 Nation OR , West Linn; Brett Moss Brett Moss 6'4" | SG Tigard | 2021 State OR , Tigard; Noah Ogoli Noah Ogoli 6'2" | CG Tualatin | 2022 State OR , Tualatin; Diego Arredondo Diego Arredondo 5'11" | PG Canby | 2021 State OR , Canby
Top Sleeper/Newcomer: Cade Smith, Tigard
Analysis
The culture at Lake Oswego is of winning and since the Lakers have come away with the league title the past three years so it’s hard to bet against them for a fourth straight. Head coach Marshall Cho will lean heavily on
Trace Salton
Trace
Salton
6'5" | SF
Lake Oswego | 2021
State
OR
(13.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg) who will be a force both inside and outside. The surrounding cast is largely new, either by transfer or coming up from JV, but they are talented players that most importantly fit within Cho’s system and philosophy. Tigard and West Linn will undoubtedly be hot on their tails though. This group of Tigers, despite the early graduation loss of
Drew Carter
Drew
Carter
6'3" | SG
Tigard | 2021
OR
(24.3 ppg), is deep with experience both young and old. Head coach Shawn Alderman will look to seniors such as
Brett Moss
Brett
Moss
6'4" | SG
Tigard | 2021
State
OR
(8 ppg, 4 rpg) and
Jake Wihtol
Jake
Wihtol
6'5" | PF
Tigard | 2021
State
OR
(5 ppg, 4 rpg) as well as the sophomore twins
Malik Brown
Malik
Brown
6'0" | PG
Tigard | 2023
State
OR
(9 ppg, 4 rpg, 5 apg) and
Kalim Brown
Kalim
Brown
6'0" | CG
Tigard | 2023
State
OR
(7 ppg, 4 rpg) to head the charge. High-flying junior Cade Smith will also be one to watch. West Linn has one of the hottest college recruits in the state in sophomore
Jackson Shelstad
Jackson
Shelstad
6'0" | PG
West Linn | 2023
State
#55
Nation
OR
(14.5 ppg, 3.4 apg, 4.0 spg) who will undoubtedly give opposing defenses fits with his improved skill and athleticism.
Mason VanBeenen
Mason
VanBeenen
6'9" | PF
West Linn | 2022
State
OR
(4.2 ppg, 3.5 rpg) returns up front more confident and aggresive.
It would be foolish to look past Tualatin as the Timberwolves are loaded, especially in the junior class. The backcourt tandem of Noah Ogoli Noah Ogoli 6'2" | CG Tualatin | 2022 State OR and Malik Ross Malik Ross 6'0" | CG Tualatin | 2022 State OR is one of the best in the state and Peter Burke Peter Burke 6'4" | SF Tualatin | 2022 State OR has really turned some heads with his play in club ball this off-season. Canby can also not be counted out. Seniors Diego Arredondo Diego Arredondo 5'11" | PG Canby | 2021 State OR (15.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg) and Ben Bailey Ben Bailey 6'5" | PF Canby | 2021 State OR (11.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 3.4 apg) are two of the most experienced players in the Three Rivers League and the continued emergence of Alex Evans (8.6 ppg, .456 3pt%) gives head coach Craig Evans a trio that can match up with opponents on most nights. Oregon City is in a bit of a transition mode as head coach Aaron Newkirk will be working with a number of younger players, but his son Multnomah-bound Alex Newkirk Alex Newkirk 6'1" | CG Oregon City | 2021 State OR (5.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg) will be the leader. Lakeridge is working its way back up under brand new head coach David Duong, hoping to provide a nice experience for its seniors like Clark Sheehan Clark Sheehan 6'3" | SG Lakeridge | 2021 State OR while gaining experience for their younger players.
Best Non-League Game: TBD, Jefferson vs. Lake Oswego
Best League Game: 5/17, Lake Oswego at West Linn; 6/11, Tualatin at Tigard