2021-22 5A Preview: Midwestern League
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After a short, turbulent season last spring, the 2021-22 campaign in the MWL is highly anticipated. Largely unable to complete a full conference schedule last season, these teams are hungry to prove themselves, and will look to do so in…
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Continue ReadingAfter a short, turbulent season last spring, the 2021-22 campaign in the MWL is highly anticipated. Largely unable to complete a full conference schedule last season, these teams are hungry to prove themselves, and will look to do so in arguably the toughest 5A league this winter.
League Predictions
- Churchill
- Thurston
- Willamette
- Springfield
- Crater
- Eagle Point
- Ashland
- North Eugene
- North Bend
Player of the Year: Samaje Morgan Samaje Morgan 5'9" | PG Churchill | 2022 State OR , Churchill
All-League Predictions: Morgan; Jacob Newell Jacob Newell 6'3" | SF Thurston | 2022 State OR , Thurston; Parker Bracy, Willamette; Anthony Hill, Springfield; Ty Weiskind Ty Weiskind 6'4" | SF Churchill | 2022 State OR , Churchill; Hawthorn Lapierre Hawthorn Lapierre 6'8" | SF Ashland | 2022 State OR , Ashland; Colton Vranes, Crater
Top Sleeper/Newcomer: Bugsy Jensen, Churchill
State Tournament Threats: Churchill, Thurston, Willamette, Springfield, Crater
Analysis:
Once again, Kelly Bokn and the Churchill Lancers should contend for both the MWL and 5A state titles behind a standout trio of upper-class guards. Samaje Morgan Samaje Morgan 5'9" | PG Churchill | 2022 State OR (20.5 ppg, 6 apg, 2.6 spg) leads the way as perhaps 5A’s top returning player. Ty Weiskind Ty Weiskind 6'4" | SF Churchill | 2022 State OR (9.1 ppg) and Bugsy Jensen add depth and tremendous experience to one of the premier backcourts in the state. Thurston will be led by dominant paint presence Jacob Newell Jacob Newell 6'3" | SF Thurston | 2022 State OR (19.6 ppg, 15.1 rpg), who recently committed to Arizona State to play football and should be one of the top rebounders in the state. Miguel Perez and Lucas Stutesman also return as a seasoned backcourt duo for the Colts, who will look to dethrone the similarly experienced Lancers and make a deep postseason run this season.
Behind the returning duo of versatile scorer Parker Bracy and athletic forward Izzy Hemphill, Willamette will also have their eyes on a league title. Despite losing an offensive juggernaut in Luke Smith to college, the Wolverines remain talented and well-coached with their eyes set on Gill Coliseum.
Similarly, Springfield will look to shake things around up top behind Anthony Hill, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard who should be one of the top scorers in the league come March.
Crater rounds out the true contenders of the conference after an impressive shortened season last spring. Standout facilitator Colton Vranes will take the reins of a somewhat depleted Comets lineup in hopes of upsetting the likes of Churchill and Thurston at the top.