2022-23 5A Preview: Midwestern League
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The 2022-23 season is upon us and PrepHoops Oregon has you covered. We’re doing pre-season previews for all of the 5A leagues across the state, giving you some insight into the teams and players you should be watching this year.…
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Continue ReadingThe 2022-23 season is upon us and PrepHoops Oregon has you covered. We’re doing pre-season previews for all of the 5A leagues across the state, giving you some insight into the teams and players you should be watching this year. The Midwestern League has traditionally always had some of the top teams in the classification, and this season is no different. Here’s how we see it turning out:
League Predictions
1. Ashland
2. Churchill
3. North Eugene
4. Thurston
5. Crater
6. Springfield
7. Eagle Point
Player of the Year: Izzy Golden Izzy Golden 6'0" | PG Ashland | 2023 State OR , Ashland
All-League Predictions: Joey Banry Joey Banry 5'9" | PG North Eugene | 2024 State OR , North Eugene; Izzy Golden Izzy Golden 6'0" | PG Ashland | 2023 State OR , Ashland; Bugsy Jensen Bugsy Jensen 6'1" | CG Churchill | 2023 State OR , Churchill; Nate Stiffler Nate Stiffler 6'4" | SF Thurston | 2025 State OR , Thurston; Sebastian Stowasser Sebastian Stowasser 6'0" | CG Ashland | 2023 State OR , Ashland
Top Sleeper/Newcomer: Ty Dahlin Ty Dahlin 6'3" | SG South Medford | 2024 State OR , Crater
State Tournament Threats: Ashland, Churchill
Other Postseason Teams: North Eugene, Thurston, Crater
Analysis:
Despite losing dominant big man Egan Shields this offseason, Ashland appears to be the class of the MWL with a talented bunch of guards to go alongside a lengthy frontcourt. Izzy Golden Izzy Golden 6'0" | PG Ashland | 2023 State OR (10.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 1.2 apg, .424 3pt%) is a player we’re tracking to make a huge jump this season as a deadeye shooter with a large hole to fill offensively. Look out for the senior guard to be among the league’s top scorers. Additionally, the Grizzlies have two of the best defensive guards in the conference in Sebastian Stowasser Sebastian Stowasser 6'0" | CG Ashland | 2023 State OR and Sean Thompson, who each have the ability to lock down opposing perimeter players. Furthermore, alongside Golden, Stowasser is a terrific facilitator with the ability to score in a hurry. At 6-foot-7, Silas Wright Silas Wright 6'8" | SF Ashland | 2023 State OR is one of the league’s most unique players, with the ability to both block shots and shoot threes, while Azure Mcnamara adds more length and defense to a lineup that should contend for the state title.
Churchill remains dangerous, with a seemingly endless crop of talent that continues this winter. The Lancers return six players that started at one point or another last season, which can be a recipe for a terrific season. Cooper Case Cooper Case 6'4" | SF Churchill | 2023 State OR and Pete Pennington complete the league’s sturdiest and most experienced frontcourt as players that contributed heavily a season ago. Meanwhile, Gary Le Gary Le 5'7" | PG Churchill | 2023 State OR , Bugsy Jensen Bugsy Jensen 6'1" | CG Churchill | 2023 State OR , Carsen Luna Carsen Luna 6'2" | CG Churchill | 2023 State OR , and Max Montgomery Max Montgomery 6'0" | CG Churchill | 2024 State OR all figure to be fighting for minutes as guards, which creates depth that many MWL teams simply don’t have. If one of these experienced players can emerge as a go-to guys, the Lancers may have a postseason run on their hands.
North Eugene is one of our sleepers this year, with more returning production than nearly every other MWL team. The Highlanders only lost one player from their starting lineup a year ago, and the true key pieces remain. The backcourt duo of Joey Banry Joey Banry 5'9" | PG North Eugene | 2024 State OR and Devon Anderson Devon Anderson 6'2" | SG North Eugene | 2023 OR is among the classification’s most dynamic, while Ben Kitzhaber and Jonas Spencer Jonas Spencer 6'5" | CG North Eugene | 2024 State OR are both experienced frontcourt players with notable upside. Ethan Sims Ethan Sims 6'3" | SF North Eugene | 2023 State OR provides great size and scoring tools for a guard at 6-foot-4, while the Highlanders possess one of the league’s best starting lineups top-to-bottom.
Also hoping to threaten in the postseason will be Thurston, which boasts one of the top sophomores in the state in Nate Stiffler Nate Stiffler 6'4" | SF Thurston | 2025 State OR . Stiffler is a tremendous outside shooter at 6-foot-5, while his ball-handling and ability to play on the perimeter continue to improve. Assisting Stiffler throughout league play will be returning guards Walker Bonar, a stud receiver on the football team, and Hunter James, a hard-nosed facilitator. On the right night, the Colts have the ability to knock off the top teams in the league.
While Crater is forced to replace a lot of production this season, they still figure to be near the top of the league with a solid batch of younger players ready to step up. Leading this bunch is 6-foot-4 junior Ty Dahlin Ty Dahlin 6'3" | SG South Medford | 2024 State OR (5.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, .350 3pt%), who possesses great length at the guard position and appears fit to make a big jump in terms of production. Meanwhile, Ashton Acrey Ashton Acrey 5'11" | CG Crater | 2024 State OR (5.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg) and Marcus Idiart (2.0 ppg, 1.1 rpg) both played notable minutes for the Comets last season, adding some much-needed varsity experience to a dangerous lineup that will be fighting for a playoff spot.
Springfield brings back a few starters this winter, notably last season’s all-league honorable mention Kalani Kapihe, who will lead the Millers from the point guard spot. Additionally, Isaiah Navarette should be a double-double threat inside, while Tanner Colter is a skilled scorer with high upside as a junior. Still, the Millers will struggle to hang with the depth of most of the other teams in the MWL this season.
After an absolutely magical campaign a year ago, Eagle Point finds itself in rebuild mode this year, with only one player on the roster, Peyton Pierce Peyton Pierce 6'1" | CG Eagle Point | 2024 State OR , with significant varsity experience. Still, the Eagles have great size for a 5A team with six players listed at 6-foot-2 or taller, which could surprise some people this winter.