2021-22 6A Preview: Mountain Valley Conference
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After a non-traditional season in 2021, the 2021-22 campaign is highly anticipated as it will be back to “normal” for just about everyone across the state. Last year, the Mountain Valley Conference was largely split in two as the Salem…
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Continue ReadingAfter a non-traditional season in 2021, the 2021-22 campaign is highly anticipated as it will be back to “normal” for just about everyone across the state. Last year, the Mountain Valley Conference was largely split in two as the Salem and Bend areas focused playing against teams in their region. They’ll all be one happy family again this season and the race should be competitive.
League Predictions
1. Summit
2. West Salem
3. Sprague
4. Bend
5. Mountain View
6. McNary
7. South Salem
8. McKay
(NA) Caldera
Player of the Year: Caden Harris Caden Harris 6'4" | SG Summit | 2022 State OR , Summit
All-League Predictions: Harris; Julian Mora Julian Mora 6'0" | PG Summit | 2022 State OR , Summit; Dallon Morgan Dallon Morgan 6'9" | PF Sprague | 2022 State OR , Sprague; Trenton Ferguson, West Salem; Quincy Townsend Quincy Townsend 6'2" | CG Mountain View | 2024 State OR , Mountain View
Top Sleeper/Newcomer: Connor Oertel Connor Oertel 6'3" | SG West Salem | 2024 State OR , West Salem
State Tournament Threats: Summit
Other Post-Season Teams: West Salem, Sprague
Analysis
Talk to opposing league coaches and all will say that Summit is the team to beat in the Mountain Valley Conference this year. Head coach Jon Frazier’s squad is stacked with talent up and down the roster and filled with experienced players, a number of whom have played together for years. Caden Harris Caden Harris 6'4" | SG Summit | 2022 State OR (16.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 3.2 apg, .386 3pt%) is the main attraction as the 6-foot-5 wing is blessed with size, athleticism, and a smooth stroke on the wing. He’s already picked up a slew of Division II offers and is the odds-on favorite to win league MVP honors. At the point for the fourth straight year is Julian Mora Julian Mora 6'0" | PG Summit | 2022 State OR (18.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 4.2 apg, .438 3pt%) who pushes the ball up the floor about as fast as anyone in the state. Summit has a number of other solid shooters in seniors Truman Teuber (11.9 ppg) and Carson Cox Carson Cox 5'10" | CG Summit | 2022 State OR (11.0 ppg, .459 3pt%) and some young guns in sophomores Collin Moore Collin Moore 6'2" | CG Summit | 2024 State OR (3.7 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and Pearson Carmichael Pearson Carmichael 6'6" | SF Summit | 2024 State #270 Nation OR . The Storm are kind of forgotten sometimes since they’re located in Central Oregon but look for them to be a serious contender for a state tournament berth.
West Salem appears to be a rock-solid second place and they are another program that’s deep with players. Head coach Travis Myers is blessed to not only have one, but two bigs in the lineup with senior Brooks Ferguson Brooks Ferguson 6'5" | PF West Salem | 2022 State OR (8.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg) and super soph Trenton Ferguson (5.6 ppg, 2.8 rpg, .593 fg%), the latter of which could really emerge as an inside force in 2021-22. Tommy Slack (10.2 ppg) is the top returning scorer and watch out for varsity newcomer Connor Oertel Connor Oertel 6'3" | SG West Salem | 2024 State OR is a do-it-all 6-foot-2 guard who Myers is extremely high on.
Sprague also returns plenty from last year’s team and it all starts with big man Dallon Morgan Dallon Morgan 6'9" | PF Sprague | 2022 State OR (17.1 ppg, 9.0 rpg, .584 fg%, .356 3pt%). The 6-foot-8 post can do damage both inside and out and will be a nightmare matchup for most opponents. Ryder Skogstad (8.9 ppg, 2.0 apg) heads up the point and junior Drew Rodriguez Drew Rodriguez 6'2" | SF Sprague | 2023 OR (5.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg) and senior Boston Ralston (3.5 ppg) are other key returnees for head coach Jordan Graneto. Bend head coach Aaron Johnson is also blessed with a number of key guys returning including their top three scorers in Ben Keown Ben Keown 6'2" | SG Bend | 2023 State OR (14.0 ppg, .396 3pt%), Codiac Claussen (12.9 ppg, 3.4 apg, .407 3pt%), and Nate Koehler (9.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg). Top rebounders Colby Shields (5.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg) and Austin Baker (6.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg) are also back for the Lava Bears who look to build off of their 10 wins last season.
Mountain View will be competitive as they have the luxury of having a talented point guard in Quincy Townsend Quincy Townsend 6'2" | CG Mountain View | 2024 State OR (18.4 ppg, ) and solid big man in 6-foot-10 Tane Prictor Tane Prictor 6'10" | C Mountain View | 2022 State OR (13.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 1.5 bpg, .576 fg%). 6-foot-4 junior Nathan Hoisington Nathan Hoisington 6'5" | SF Mountain View | 2023 State OR should also make an impact. Head coach Bob Townsend runs some of the best sets in the league and the Cougars will certainly win more than the two games they notched in 2021. It’s a new era at McNary as Nate Meithof (24.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg) will no longer be piling up points for the Celtics. Head coach Ryan Kirch will has his team well-coached and hopes to fill in the gaps by committee with returnees Jabol Byles (6.6 ppg), Tyler Copeland (6.0 ppg), and Jando Gonzales (5.0 ppg).
Rebuilding is the name of the game at South Salem as graduation and transfers gutted the roster for head coach Travis Brown. The Saxons will be small – their tallest player is 6-foot-2 – but they will try to use their quickness to their advantage. Sophomores Greg Comer and Eli Gabriel Eli Gabriel 6'2" | CG Lakeview | 2024 State OR will be names to watch. McKay will once again restart their program. New coach Kyle Oglesby was practically hired last-minute so expectations will be low. Finally, brand new school Caldera will be in the Mountain Valley Conference but will play a JV schedule in 2021-22.