South Salem players celebrate their 49-42 win over Tigard in the OSAA Class 6A State Championship on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at the Chiles Center at University of Portland.

PORTLAND — The road to winning a second consecutive state championship was filled with new challenges for South Salem High School’s girls basketball team.

All season long the Saxons faced the best effort from every opponent as they sought to defeat last year’s champions.

And then there were the new wrinkles in game plans opponents put in for the team.

But when the chance to win a second straight state championship was at stake in the fourth quarter of Saturday afternoon’s OSAA Class 6A state championship game at the Chiles Center, South Salem proved it deserved to be the champions again.

The Saxons broke open a tie of 30 with Tigard early in the fourth quarter with a 14-3 run keyed by deft 3-point shooting by junior Dani Harley and smooth ball handling by junior Evina Westbrook to beat the Tigers 49-42 for their second straight Class 6A state championship.

South Salem falls on last-second free throw

“Me and Evina just wanted to win this for our seniors,” said Harley, who scored 18 points with five 3-pointers. “We knew our seniors they deserve first, nothing less.”

South Salem finished the season 28-1 and with the school’s third state championship, the first coming in 1976.

That the second two state championship came back-to-back was of no coincidence.

The one-two punch of Westbrook and senior wing Jordan Woodvine has been impossible to stop all season, and the emergence of players such as Harley, Tori Swanson and Simone Leaks – who played through an injury Saturday – made the Saxons repeat champions.

“It means everything,” said Woodvine, who scored seven points and had nine rebounds. “It’s my senior year and winning another championship back-to-back is quite better than the first time, I have to say.

“All I could do was lose my tears on the court. It’s so amazing to be with this team and this group.”

Blog: Gary Garvin goes from football field to Most Wanted

Harley’s 3-pointer sparked a 9-0 run in the first quarter and South Salem led 17-7 on a basket in the lane by Leaks with 1:07 left in the period.

It looked for a time that South Salem might shoot Tigard out of the gym.

“To me, no, because I know Tigard they’re a good team, and it’s definitely a championship game,” said Westbrook, who scored 11 points, had six rebounds and four assists. “No one wants to get smacked, and I know they didn’t want to. I know there’s a point in time where they were going to come back.”

Tigard went to a 2-3 zone defense and the Tigers held the Saxons without a field goal the rest of the first half.

The defense, with Tigard’s 6-foot-3 senior post Elise Conroy in the center was smothering, and the shots South Salem made look easy in the first quarter stopped falling.

Evina Westbrook’s two free throws with 2:41 left in the half put South Salem up 19-17, but a three-point play by Campbell Gray gave Tigard a 20-19 lead at halftime.

“We moved Evina in the high post and we started moving the ball a little bit better,” said coach Nick McWilliams, who won his third state championship as a coach. “The big thing is we made a few shots. You saw the first quarter, we hit a bunch of shots. We took the same shots in the second quarter, they just didn’t go in. That’s why that zone is sometimes really effective.

“I think the biggest thing was we just moved the ball better, got Evina in the middle of the court, and it really worked for us.”

Harley sparked South Salem to a 7-0 run with a long 3-pointer from the top of the key to key to start the second half and take the lead back.

Tigard tied the game at 30 to start the fourth quarter on a Campbell Gray lay-in.

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Harley answered the challenge again with a 3-pointer to start a 14-3 run that would find South Salem leading 44-33 with 4:18 left.

Between Harley’s 3-pointers and South Salem spreading the floor to a four-corners offense in the final four minutes, the Tigers were finally forced to deviate from their tight zone.

“I think it was nice because it brought them out a little bit further and it kind of spread them out for us to attack the gaps, and it’s hard to attack when everyone’s so sucked in,” Woodvine said. “For us, it was a lot nicer, especially with Dani hitting her shots. Man, she gets hot. When she’s hot, she’s hot, and that was tonight.”

The second consecutive state championship was decidedly more difficult being the known quantity this season.

But that made it better.

“Bottom line was we got the job done and just an incredible group of kids,” McWilliams said.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

South Salem’s Tori Swanson, left, Simone Leaks, Jordan Woodvine and teammates celebrate their 49-42 win over Tigard in the OSAA Class 6A State Championship on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at the Chiles Center at University of Portland.

Cascade’s Halle Wright and the Cougars fall to Sutherlin 45-40 in the Class 4A State Championship on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.

Cascade’s Chrystal Wilson goes up for a shot as the Cougars take on Sutherlin in the Class 4A State Championship game on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.

HILLSBORO — All season long Cascade High School’s girls basketball team had been the favorite to win the OSAA Class 4A state championship.

Sutherlin didn’t seem to care.

The Bulldogs shut down all of Cascade’s players offensively except Halle Wright and made every big play in the closing seconds to win 45-40 Saturday evening in the OSAA Class 4A state championship game at Liberty High School.

The state championship was the third consecutive for Sutherlin (27-1).

In a game that featured teams that hadn’t lost to an in-state opponent this season, Sutherlin set a physical tone early, something that normally plays into the hands of Cascade (26-2).

Silverton girls complete perfect season with state title

“I have no problem with it,” Cascade coach Mark Stevens said. “They’re physical, too. That’s part of the reason why we get here a little bit more than other teams, probably. (Sutherlin coach Josh Grotting) gets here a little more than other teams because his kids are tough.

“It’s mentality and it’s something you create in practices and summer league. It’s the subtleties. His kids are tough, our kids are tough. They let it go. They were better than us tonight.”

Cascade strung together runs of 5-0 and 6-0 in the first half and led 24-21 at halftime on a free throw by Wright.

But the Cougars were also 8 of 17 from the line in the first half.

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“All year the free throws,” Stevens said. “It’s been a problem all year. Tonight the margin of error was smaller and that statistic looks bigger.”

In the second half Sutherlin nearly shut down every Cascade player, except Wright.

The 6-foot sophomore point guard scored 14 of her team’s 16 points in the second half and finished with 23 points, seven rebounds and three steals.

Cascade’s Peighton Williams and the Cougars take on Sutherlin in the Class 4A State Championship game on Saturday, March 12, 2016, at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.

Similarly, Sutherlin’s Kayce Mock scored 25 points to lead the Bulldogs.

“Yeah, it has that appearance,” Stevens said. “It’s just a gnarly defensive game.”

Cascade trailed most of the second half, but rallied to tie the game at 40 with 1:57 left on a three-point play by Wright.

Sutherlin’s Harlee Baker made two free throws with 1:38 left to take the lead back, and Baker missed two free throws with 31 seconds left, and Cascade had several attempts to tie the game.

With 17 seconds left Cascade inbounded the ball under its own basket, but the ball was turned over with 10 seconds left.

Mock was intentionally fouled with two seconds left, made one free throw then made a lay-in at the buzzer.

This was the seventh time in school history Cascade’s program has been in the state championship game and the fifth time (losses in 1997, 1998, 2004 and a win in 2011) in Stevens’ 25 years as coach of the program.

“Probably the first one we’ve been favored in. Right next to Bud Grant and Marv Levy,” Stevens said of notable coaches who won a lot of championship games.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

When the state championship is on the line, you want the one senior to have the ball.

Silverton’s Alia Parsons (left) is the athlete of the week.

Silverton High School senior wing Alia Parsons hit the game-winning free throw, among her 15 points, eight steals and five points, in Saturday’s 39-38 win against Springfield to lift the Foxes to a 39-38 win for the OSAA Class 5A state championship.

The 5-foot-10 Grand Canyon University signee averaged 14 points and six steals per game in the state tournament and was named first-team all-tournament.

She was chosen as the athlete of the week by readers of the Statesman Journal through online vote on the Statesman Journal’s Facebook page.

Parsons, and the rest of the athletes of the week, will be honored during the first Mid-Valley Sports Awards show on June 7 at the Salem Convention Center. NFL Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice is the keynote speaker.

For tickets and more information on the event, go to MidValleySportsAwards.com.

Madi Hingston finished her high school basketball career in a big way.

McNary’s Madi Hingston (21) was a first-team all-tournament selection for the Celtics.

The 5-foot-8 senior guard scored 24 points and had 13 rebounds in McNary’s 57-52 overtime win against South Medford for fourth place at the OSAA Class 6A state tournament.

For the tournament, the Seattle Pacific signee averaged 15.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.3 steals and was named first-team all-tournament.

This is the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Mid-Valley watch list:

Jordan Woodvine, South Salem basketball: The senior wing averaged 11.3 points and was named first-team all-Class 6A state tournament.

Alia Parsons, Silverton basketball: The senior wing averaged 14 points and six steals per game in leading the Foxes to the OSAA Class 5A state championship and was unanimous first-team all-tournament.

Evina Westbrook, South Salem basketball: The junior point guard averaged 17 points per game in leading the Saxons to their second straight OSAA Class 6A state championship and was a unanimous first-team all-tournament selection.

Halle Wright, Cascade basketball: The sophomore wing was a unanimous first-team all-tournament selection in helping the Cougars to second place at the OSAA Class 4A state tournament by averaging a tournament-best 17.7 points along with 10.7 rebounds and 3.3 rebounds per game.

Christian Russell, South Salem basketball: The senior post averaged 18.7 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in helping the Saxons to a third-place finish at the OSAA Class 6A state basketball tournament and was named first-team all-tournament.

McNary sophomore Marissa Kuch is a finalist for All-Mid-Valley girls swimmer of the year.

Certain swimmers elevate their teams.

In the case of Salem Academy senior Kiera Supple, her performances this season – including winning a district championship and placing second in the state in the 100 back – helped her Crusaders place second in 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 3 and third in the state.

In the case of South Salem sophomore Anna Despain, her Greater Valley Conference district championship in the 200 individual medley helped elevate the Saxons to a surprise district team championship.

And in the case of McNary sophomore, her district championships in the 100 and 200 free helped her Celtics to a fifth-place finish in the district and she scored all of her team’s points at the state meet to bring the team a 21st place finish in the state.

Despain, Kuch and Supple are the finalists for the All-Mid-Valley girls swimmer of the year, which will be announced June 7 at the Mid-Valley Sports Awards. Here a look at the whole All-Mid-Valley team.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

South Salem’s Anna Despain is a finalist for All-Mid-Valley girls swimmer of the year.

Hannah Bodkin

Hannah Bodkin

School: West Salem

Year: Junior

District results: Second in Greater Valley Conference in 200 IM (2:12.42) and 100 breast (1:06.85), second in 200 medley relay (1:54.69), third in 200 free relay (1:45.52).

State results: Ninth in 6A 100 breaststroke (1:07.48), 11th in 200 IM (2:14.06), 13th in 200 medley relay (1:56.37), 18th 200 free relay (1:46.76).

Emma Boles

Emma Boles

School: Salem Academy

Year: Senior

District results: Second in 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 3 100 fly (1:03.98), second in 100 back (1:01.13), district champion in 200 medley relay (1:55.20), second in 400 free relay (3:54.67).

State results: Fourth in 4A/3A/2A/1A 100 fly (1:02.55), fourth in 100 back (1:01.14), second in 200 medley relay (1:55.27), fourth in 400 free relay (3:51.80).

Anna Despain

Anna Despain

School: South Salem

Year: Sophomore

District results: Greater Valley Conference district champion in 200 IM (2:12.19), second in 500 free (5:14.36), district champion in 200 medley relay (1:54.57), second in 400 free relay (3:47.00).

State results: Ninth in the 6A 200 IM (2:11.79), 10th in the 500 free (5:10.12), 13th in 400 free relay (3:47.30).

Marissa Kuch

Marissa Kuch

School: McNary

Year: Sophomore

District results: Greater Valley Conference champion in 100 free (52.11) and 200 free (1:53.84), fourth in 200 free relay (1:46.41), fifth in 200 medley relay (2:01.31)

State results: Fifth in the 6A 100 free (52.31), eighth in the 200 free (1:53.75).

Kiera Supple

Kiera Supple

School: Salem Academy

Year: Senior

District results: 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 3 champion in 100 back (59.94), second in 200 IM (2:19.55), district champion in 200 medley relay (1:55.20), second in 400 free relay (3:54.67).

State results: Second in the 4A/3A/2A/1A 100 back (1:00.01), third in the 200 IM (2:17.02), second in 200 medley relay (1:55.27), fourth in 400 free relay (3:51.80).

Maria Robertson

COACH

Maria Robertson

School: Salem Academy

Year: Fifth.

District results: Salem Academy’s girls placed second at the 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 3 meet while the boys won their first district championship.

State results: Salem Academy’s girls placed a school-best third at the 4A/3A/2A/1A state meet and the boys placed sixth.

Salem Academy’s Kiera Supple is a finalist for All-Mid-Valley girls swimmer of the year.

The Salem Sports and Breakfast Club honored three athletes as senior athletes of the year at its March 11 meeting.

South Salem wrestler Vincent Villarreal was named senior wrestler of the year. He was the Greater Valley Conference district champion at 195 pounds and placed third at the state meet.

West Salem swimmer Maddie Blissit was the senior girls swimmer of the year. She placed fourth in the district in the 500 freestyle and fifth in the 200 free.

West Salem senior Ryan Wetzel is the senior boys swimmer of the year. He won GVC district championships in the 100 freestyle and swam on West Salem’s state champion 200 free relay team.

Also at the meeting, four wrestlers were named athletes of the week.

West Salem junior Brenton Reddy was the GVC district champion at 182 pounds and was a quarterfinalist at the state meet.

Sprague sophomore Michael Murphy was 39-10, placed second at the GVC district tournament and placed third at the state meet.

McNary senior Jonathon Phelps was third at the GVC district tournament at 132 pounds and fifth at the state meet.

Sprague junior Spencer Nofziger was 31-11, won the GVC district championship at 170 pounds and placed third at the state meet.

The club next meets April 1 at Goudy Commons at Willamette University.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

South Salem senior Vincent Villarreal

Sprague junior Spencer Nofziger

West Salem senior Ryan Wetzel

Sprague sophomore Michael Murphy

West Salem senior Maddie Blissit

Jonathan Phelps

Brenton Ready

Sprague’s Colby Evenson is a finalist for All-Mid-Valley boys swimmer of the year.

West Salem junior Micah Masei is a finalist for the All-Mid-Valley boys swimmer of the year..

Sometimes it takes big improvements to become a champion.

Sometimes the improvements are more subtle.

Noah Norris, Micah Masei and Colby Evenson, the finalists for the All-Mid-Valley boys swimmer of the year award, all made improvements and all are champions.

Masei, a junior at West Salem, dropped his time in the 50 freestyle by nearly a half second and swam on the Titans’ 6A state champion 200 free relay team.

Norris, a senior at North Marion, dropped his times in both the 50 free and 100 free from when he was a junior at Wilsonville and won two Class 4A/3A/2A/1A state championships.

Evenson, a sophomore at Sprague, picked up a new event in the 500 free and won the Greater Valley Conference district championship in the event.

The boys swimmer of the year will be announced June 7 at the Mid-Valley Sports Awards. Here’s a look at the full All-Mid-Valley team.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

North Marion’s Noah Norris pumps his fist in the air after swimming the boys 100 yard freestyle at the OSAA Swimming State Championships at Mount Hood Community College on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016.

All-Mid-Valley girls swimming team

Sprague sophomore Colby Evenson

Colby Evenson

School: Sprague

Year: Sophomore

District results: Greater Valley Conference champion in 500 free (4:49.96), third in 200 IM (2:00.89), fifth in 200 free relay (1:38.91), sixth in 200 medley relay (1:53.38).

State results: Seventh in Class 6A 500 free (4:48.81), 12th in 200 IM (2:03.84).

Maggie Roth shows versatility between two sports

West Salem senior Andrew Kauffman

Andrew Kauffman

School: West Salem

Year: Senior

District results: Greater Valley Conference champion in 200 free (1:46.17), second in 500 free (4:53.48), first in 200 free relay (1:30.14), third in 400 free relay (3:20.47).

State results: 14th in Class 6A 200 free (1:48.90), 18th in 500 free (5:05.22), Class 6A state champion in 200 free relay (1:27.05), second in 400 free relay (3:12.99).

Class 2A all-state boys basketball

South Salem junior Paul Lomax

Paul Lomax

School: South Salem

Year: Junior

District results: Greater Valley Conference champion in 100 fly (52.82), fourth in 50 free (22.52), first in 400 free relay (3:19.52), second in 200 medley relay (1:40.50).

State results: 11th in Class 6A 100 fly (53.15), 18th in 50 free (22.84), sixth in 200 medley relay (1:44.30), 12th in 200 free relay (3:26.14).

Three athletes are SSBC athletes of the year

West Salem junior Micah Masei

Micah Masei

School: West Salem

Year: Junior

District results: Greater Valley Conference champion in 50 free (21.63) and 100 breast (57.53), first in 200 free relay (1:30.14), third in 200 medley relay (1:44.41).

State results: Second in Class 6A in 50 free (21.38), fourth in 100 breast (58.21), Class 6A state champion in 200 free relay (1:27.05), second in 400 free relay (3:12.99).

American Family Insurance Preseason All-Mid-Valley baseball team

North Marion senior Noah Norris

Noah Norris

School: North Marion

Year: Senior

District results: 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 3 champion in 50 free (21.07) and 100 free (46.04), second in 200 medley relay (1:46.99), second in 200 free relay (1:34.23).

State results: 4A/3A/2A/1A state champion in 50 free (21.05) and 100 free (45.24), third in 200 free relay (1:32.91), fifth in 200 medley relay 1:46.59.

Madi Hingston goes out big for McNary

West Salem senior Ryan Wetzel

Ryan Wetzel

School: West Salem

Year: Senior

District results: Greater Valley Conference champion in 100 free (48.49), second in 50 free (21.95), third in 400 free relay (3:20.47), third in 200 medley relay (1:44.41).

State results: 12th in Class 6A 100 free (49.88), Class 6A state champion in 200 free relay (1:27.05), second in 400 free relay (3:12.99).

Sprague’s Colby Evenson is a finalist for the All-Mid-Valley boys swimmer of the year.

Central’s Marlon Tuipulotu is a finalist for the All-Mid-Valley wrestler of the year.

There are a lot of differences between wrestlers, but there is one similarity between the best of them.

When it comes to North Salem High freshman Ian Carlos, he may be a freshman who wrestles at 126 pounds, but his years of training and dedication to the sport made him a Class 6A runner-up in his first year at the high school level.

In the case of North Marion junior Lane Stigall, the 152-pounder has a family history in the sport and won his second straight Class 4A state championship in the sport this season.

But when it comes to Central junior Marlon Tuipulotu, the 285 pound senior took up wrestling to cross train for football a year ago, but excelled at the sport so quickly he rose to the level of state champion this year.

Stigall, Tuipulotu and Carlos are the finalists for the All-Mid-Valley wrestler of the year, which will be announced June 7 at the Mid-Valley Sports Awards.

Here’s a look at the full All-Mid-Valley team.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

North Salem’s Ian Carlos (top) is a finalist for the All-Mid-Valley wrestler of the year.

All-Mid-Valley boys swimming team

North Marion’s Lane Stigall (right) is a finalist for the All-Mid-Valley wrestler of the year.

Maggie Roth shows versatility between two sports

Ian Carlos

School: North Salem

Year: Freshman

Weight: 126

District placing: Second in the Greater Valley Conference

State placing: Second in Class 6A

Dallas junior Tanner Earhart

Class 2A all-state boys basketball

Tanner Earhart

School: Dallas

Year: Junior

Weight: 152

District placing: Mid-Willamette Conference champion

State placing: Second in Class 5A

McNary sophomore Brayden Ebbs

Three athletes are SSBC athletes of the year

Brayden Ebbs

School: McNary

Year: Sophomore

Weight: 138

District placing: Greater Valley Conference champion

State placing: Fourth in Class 6A

Willamina senior Austin Howard

All-Mid-Valley girls swimming team

Austin Howard

School: Willamina

Year: Senior

Weight: 170

District placing: 3A Special District 2 champion

State placing: Class 3A state champion

Sprague freshman Daniel McClung

American Family Insurance Preseason All-Mid-Valley baseball team

Daniel McClung

School: Sprague

Year: Freshman

Weight: 113

District placing: Second in Greater Valley Conference

State placing: Third in Class 6A

Sprague sophomore Michael Murphy

Madi Hingston goes out big for McNary

Michael Murphy

School: Sprague

Year: Sophomore

Weight: 132

District placing: Second in Greater Valley Conference

State placing: Third in Class 6A

Sprague junior Spencer Nofziger

Blog: Gary Garvin goes from football field to Most Wanted

Spencer Nofziger

School: Sprague

Year: Junior

Weight: 170

District placing: Greater Valley Conference champion

State placing: Third in Class 6A

Scio senior Justin Parazoo

Voting open for Mid-Valley Sports Awards

Justin Parazoo

School: Scio

Year: Senior

Weight: 220

District placing: 3A Special District 2 champion

State placing: Class 3A state champion

Silverton senior Austin Reed

Austin Reed

School: Silverton

Year: Senior

Weight: 132

District placing: Mid-Willamette Conference champion

State placing: Class 5A state champion

Scio senior Dillon Robison

Dillon Robison

School: Scio

Year: Senior

Weight: 195

District placing: 3A Special District 2 champion

State placing: Class 3A state champion

North Marion junior Lane Stigall

Lane Stigall

School: North Marion

Year: Junior

Weight: 152

District placing: 4A Special District 2 champion

State placing: Class 4A state champion

Central senior Collin Swinehart

Collin Swinehart

School: Central

Year: Senior

Weight: 145

District placing: Mid-Willamette Conference champion

State placing: Second in Class 5A

Central senior Marlon Tuipulotu

Marlon Tuipulotu

School: Central

Year: Junior

Weight: 285

District placing: Mid-Willamette Conference champion

State placing: Class 5A state champion

South Salem senior Vincent Villarreal

Vincent Villarreal

School: South Salem

Year: Senior

Weight: 195

District placing: Greater Valley Conference champion

State placing: Third in Class 6A

Dallas coach Tony Olliff

COACH

Tony Olliff

School: Dallas

Year: 13th

District placing: Second in Mid-Willamette Conference

State placing: Fourth in Class 5A

North Salem freshman Ian Carlos.

Since Alex Molloy first took to the pitching circle for the Silverton High School softball team two years ago, she has made her presence felt.

It makes sense she would continue that trajectory to start her junior year.

She struck out 10 batters in throwing a no-hitter in a season-opening 16-0 win against North Eugene and pitched the Foxes to a 14-4 win against Sherwood Saturday.

She was chosen as the athlete of the week by readers of the Statesman Journal through online vote on the Statesman Journal’s Facebook page.

Molloy was a second-team Class 5A all-state player as a sophomore and is a two-time first-team all-Mid-Willamette Conference player.

Molloy, and the rest of the athletes of the week, will be honored during the first Mid-Valley Sports Awards show on June 7 at the Salem Convention Center.

For tickets and more information on the event, go to MidValleySportsAwards.com.

Silverton pitcher Alex Molloy was selected as the athlete of the week

Winning state championships would be enough for Evina Westbrook.

But others choose to honor her individually anyway.

South Salem High School’s 6-foot junior guard was named the Gatorade Oregon girls basketball player of the year after leading the Saxons to their second OSAA Class 6A state championship.

“I mean it’s definitely, like, an honor to be given an award like that,” she said. “I just really thought it was really great that they showed me love and everything like that.

“I don’t use it to boost me up or anything, like, ‘oh I’m the best player.’ I’d rather show you by my game and, like, how I play. Awards to me to me, they don’t matter that much, but it’s definitely a huge honor to get that award.”

Westbrook is the third South Salem athlete in three years to be named a Gatorade state player of the year – Katie Donovan was the softball player of the year in 2014 and Katie McWilliams was the basketball player of the year in 2015.

The three were teammates on South Salem’s 2014 team that placed fourth at the state tournament.

In addition to that, she is the third Gatorade state player of the year from Salem this school year: West Salem junior Ahmed Muhumed was the boys cross country runner of the year and West Salem junior Stuart Aeschliman was the boys soccer player of the year.

“I think it’s great to have that,” South Salem coach Nick McWilliams said. “I think that’s an encouragement to the kids that are coming up that this is something I can do, too. South Salem’s got three in three years and Salem itself has three in one year.

“It’s something to shoot for. I think that kind of stuff helps the quality of our programs and helps the reputation of Salem as a great sports town for high school and that kind of thing. These people who win these awards, the information gets out all over the United States and they’re seeing Salem, Oregon attached to it.”

Beyond the basketball court, Westbrook carries a weighted 3.11 grade-point average, has volunteered on blood drives with the Red Cross, is involved in church and has coached youth basketball for Inner City Players in Portland.

“They’re third and fourth grade, so it’s, like, two teams and (Canaan Chatman) asked me, these little girls would love it if you just came and coach,” Westbrook said. “They look up to you more than you know.

“I just go to practice when I can, when I’m not travelling or practicing. Me and my mom will go up there. They just love it … . We have tournaments down here in Salem sometimes or I come up and I coach them.”

Westbrook averaged 19.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.1 steals and 3.9 assists per game as a junior this season.

The attention she is receiving is growing, and not just for what she does on the court.

She’s had dozens of scholarship offers from Division I colleges throughout the country, so many she lost count.

“Me and my family have been in control with it, especially with colleges and stuff like that and like calls,” Westbrook said. “None of this slows me down like oh, I’m too good. None of that.I can always improve at everything. I’m just using this to boost me up because I’m getting all this recognition and all this media stuff, but it’s not going to slow me down because I want to be better even next year.”

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

South Salem basketball player Evina Westbrook has been selected as the Gatorade girls basketball player of the year for Oregon. Photographed on Thursday, March 24, 2016, at South Salem High School.

Kennedy’s Kaylin Cantu.

Kaylin Cantu, Kennedy track and field: The sophomore won the 1,500 meters in 5:10.1 at Wednesday’s All-Comers meet at Oregon City High School.

Tayler Gunesch.

Tayler Gunesch, West Salem softball: The senior was 3 for 3 with two doubles in Monday’s 9-7 loss to Hillsboro and was 2 for 2 with four runs scored, three RBIs, a double and a home run in Tuesday’s 11-8 win against Centennial.

North Salem junior Cole Hamilton

Cole Hamilton, North Salem baseball: The senior was 4 for 4 with two doubles, a triple and six RBIS in Wednesday’s 15-0 win against Milwaukie.

Harry Witwer.

Harry Witwer-Dukes, Blanchet baseball: The senior third baseman had a double in Wednesday’s 12-7 win against Corbett and had a double in Wednesday’s 17-0 win against Illinois Valley.

Vote by Thursday at noon at StatesmanJournal.com/aow.

Mid-Valley Sports Awards

Former Sheridan athlete Joni Huntley will be inducted to the National Federation of High School’s National High School Hall of Fame during its summer meeting in July in Reno.

A 1974 graduate of Sheridan High, Huntley was a standout in volleyball – a team she led to a state championship in 1973 – basketball and track and field.

In track and field she was a three-time state champion in the high jump and became the first American woman to clear 6 feet, something she did as a senior at Sheridan. She also won state championships in the 100 yard hurdles and 100 yard dash.

Huntley was the first female to receive an athletic scholarship to Oregon State.

She placed fifth in the high jump at the 1976 Olympics and won a bronze medal at the 1984 Olympics. Huntley was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in the high jump 10 times.

Others from Oregon who have been inducted include Danny Ainge, Steve Prefontaine, Dr. Thad Stanford and former Dayton football coach Dewey Sullivan.

Among those being inducted into the National High School Hall of Fame in the same class as Huntley are Steve Spurrier.

All-star game

South Salem senior Jordan Woodvine and McNary senior Harry Cavell have been selected to play in the April 16 Northwest Shootout.

The all-star basketball games between Oregon and Washington for high school seniors will be played at 4 p.m. (girls) and 6 p.m. (boys) and will be played at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

Coaching

Dennis Melcher retired as North Marion’s girls basketball coach.

He spent the past 18 years as the coach at the school, including state tournament appearances in 2002 and 2003.

Melcher was the women’s basketball coach at Chemeketa the previous 20 years dating back to that program’s inception in 1978 and NWAACC championships in 1992 and 1995.

Camps

The Cascade Sports Camp in Lyons will run six sessions in July and August.

Sessions for boys ages 10-17 will run from July 3-7, July 10-14 and Aug. 7-11.

A session for boys ages 9 t-14 will run July 24-28.

Sessions for girls age 10-17 will run July 17-21 and July 31-Aug. 4.

Registration can be completed at cascadesportscamp.com or for more information call 503-897-2600.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

Joni Huntley stands with other dignitaries at a ceremony in which Huntley was honored for her athletic accomplishments at Sheridan High School (date unknown)

West Salem High School student Keira McCarrell is known as one of the top javelin throwers in Oregon, but also has a future in the heptathlon. According to West Salem throws coach Derek Bruey-Finck, McCarrell is "the proverbial heptathelete who can basically do it all."

There could be no bigger thrill, even for one of the top high school heptathletes in the nation, than finding out her idol knows who she is.

There Keira McCarrell was, meeting Brianne Theisen-Eaton at the World Indoor Championships in Portland.

West Salem High School’s standout junior – known in high school competition as one of the top javelin throwers in Oregon – was just hoping to get a picture with one of the best female athletes in the world when Theisen-Eaton surprised her.

“I’ve heard of you and I know you’re an up and coming multi,” Theisen-Eaton told her.

Yes, McCarrell is already a national champion javelin thrower, one of the top high school heptathletes – she placed third in the 15-16 age group last summer – and trains a couple times a week with Olympian Ryan Bailey and professional sprinter Joe Morris.

But when Thiesen-Eaton informed her she knows who she is, she was blown away.

“I was just so excited, I couldn’t even talk,” McCarrell said.

Though McCarrell is not built like a lot of top javelin throwers, she makes up for it with relentless work and an undying desire to obtain perfect form.

She placed second in the 6A state meet as a junior with a throw of 140 feet.

She’s focused on improving her speed in the offseason, and that has already translated during the high school season as she came achingly close to breaking West Salem’s school record of 5-3 in the high jump in the team’s opening meet.

Evina Westbrook is Gatorade Oregon player of the year

West Salem’s Keira McCarrell was the Greater Valley Conference champion, 6A state runner-up and national champion in the javelin in 2015.

“From a technical standpoint she’s improved a ton, and just really her confidence and staying calm and in the moment and not getting too caught up on I just missed this or I didn’t jump as well or threw as well as I could have,” West Salem coach Erich Herber said.

While McCarrell is known in high school as being a javelin thrower, her future likely is in the heptathlon.

She has a personal record of 4,354 in Junior Olympic competition and has shown great skill in many of the events including the long jump, high jump, 200 and 100 hurdles.

Really there is not a lot in track and field that McCarrell doesn’t do well.

“Certainly being on a national stage like Junior Nationals opens a lot of doors, and I hope that she takes advantage of it and goes and enjoys herself somewhere,” West Salem throws coach Derek Bruey-Finck said.

“She’s not just limited in javelin. She is the proverbal heptathlete who can basically do it all. If I had a charter school I could start a track team with Keira. It would be great. I’ll teach her English and she can be my athlete, it will be great. We’ll win a championship one or two years and she’ll be gone.”

Though McCarrell has turned out to be one of the top high school heptathletes in the nation, she will only compete in one this year, that coming in two weeks in Arcadia, California.

Instead she has committed to competing for Team Canada – she was born in Vanderhoof, British Columbia, lived a few years there and has dual citizenship – in the summer.

She will compete in the javelin at Canada’s World Juniors tryouts, which coincides with Canada’s Olympic Trials, in Edmonton in early July with an eye on competing in the World Juniors later in July in Poland.

“I’m kind of thankful that I can only narrow it down on javelin after that because I won’t be doing any more heps like later on after high school season so that’s pretty nice,” said McCarrell, whose father Kevin is Chemeketa’s women’s basketball coach.

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

Dayton’s Shawnie Spink is the 3A state player of the year

Boys track and field

Greater Valley: A West Salem team highlighted by state cross country champion Ahmed Muhumed is the favorite to win the conference again. Sprague returns a strong group of junior throwers including state placer Austin Kleinman, Kyle Rosenau and Keaton Beckmann. McNary’s group of sprinters including Brendan Van Voorhis and Austin Brown will make the team’s relays among the best in the state.

Mid-Willamette: Lebanon is the returning state champion, but Silverton has a group of state qualifying athletes in Brock Rogers, Sam Roth, Austin Haskett, Shon Ackermann, Cole Myers and Brandon Bates and could challenge for the top spot.

Oregon West: Newport is the returning district team champion, but Cascade has a strong group of athletes who could move the team up in John Schirmer, Austin Martin, Lucas Bjorklund, Nate Lack and Brandon Martin.

West Valley: Taft returns a strong group of sprinters and has the potential to repeat as district champions.

PacWest: Blanchet has won the past two district championships and looks to make it three in a row behind district 800 meter champion Daniel Whittle and a strong group of upperclassmen including Patrick Tuttle, Kevin McCarthy, Alex McArthur and Zion Steiner.

Tri-River: Regis returns three of the four members of its state champion 1,600 relay team – Sam Nieslanik, Eric Gustin and Brendon Woodcock – along with state placers Austin Voltin and Josh Mumey and will contend with Central Linn for the top spot in the conference.

1A Special District 1: Crosshill Christian returns state runner-up high jumper Matthew Gille and has the athletes to place in the top three in the league this season.

Sheridan native Joni Huntley to be inducted to Hall of Fame

Girls track and field

Greater Valley: West Salem’s mix of successful upperclassmen – including Brooke Chuhlantseff, Keira McCarrell and Angela Mumford – makes the Titans the favorite to win the district championship again. Sprague returns district champion triple jumper Leah Oivio along with promising freshman Ginger Murnieks and will be at the top of the conference again. McNary returns district champion 800 meter runner Kailey Doutt and has the depth to be a contender in the team race.

Mid-Willamette: Silverton has the talent to challenge for the top spot in the conference with a deep group including district champion cross country runner Maddie Fuhrman and state qualifiers in Leah Doeden, Desiree Sinn and Madi Arrington.

Oregon West: Cascade has a tough team with state medalists including Danielle Haddix, Elisa Kanoff, Christy Seaton, Kalulu Nggaida and has the potential to win the district championship for the second year in a row.

West Valley: Amity returns a strong and deep group headlined by Oregon State commit and four-time state champion thrower Lindsay McShane and is the favorite to win the conference for the second year in a row.

PacWest: Blanchet has turned into a powerhouse in the conference with six consecutive conference titles. The team returns district champions in sprinter Emily Collier, thrower Lani Salang, high jumper Nina Nakamura and its entire 400 relay team including Anna Duncan and Annie Ruef.

Tri-River: Kennedy is the returning district champion and has a big group of younger runners including Kaylin Cantu who will score points at the state level. St. Paul has a strong group of seniors including Sydney Brentano, McGwire Smith and state runner-up thrower Emma Coleman.

1A Special District 1: Crosshill Christian returns a promising group of juniors including sprinter Haley Foster and distance runner Hannah Schanz and will be in the top five of the conference.

West Salem’s Keira McCarrell was the Greater Valley Conference champion, 6A state runner-up and national champion in the javelin in 2015.

Junior softball player Alex Molloy stands for a photo at Silverton High School on Monday, March 28, 2016.

SILVERTON — There was something about becoming a pitcher that brought out Alex Molloy’s personality.

Silverton High School’s junior fireballer says she was an introverted child until coach Mike Slagle moved her to pitcher at the age of 11.

“From then on it just opened me up,” Molloy said. “I never wanted to be in the limelight and after that I was really outgoing.”

Now she’s the type of person who one might see dancing down the halls between classes or cracking up teammates in the dugout between innings.

But when she gets in the pitching circle, something clicks. Molloy gets serious quickly and she becomes the hard throwing all-state pitcher.

Evina Westbrook is Gatorade Oregon player of the year

“I think it’s like more than just how she throws, it’s like her attitude and like her commitment to the game and how her attitude is like I’m going to strike this girl out or if she’s in a battle with a girl, she knows she’s going to win the battle and strike her out,” said sophomore catcher Maggie Roth.

“And I think just her grit to be one of the best players in the league and even in the state makes her great.”

Though Molloy is known as a power pitcher – she consistently throws in the high 50s – she insists that goal since she started pitching has to get spin on the ball, and she does.

A student of pitching, she has constantly been learning since she first started pitching and she would pitch for hours at a time in her back yard.

But the velocity was inevitable.

Keira McCarrell making her mark in track world

“She’s definitely stronger this year,” Silverton coach Ralph Cortez said. “We know that she’s gotten faster, definitely. So she’s gotten stronger, that’s what we see. And we noticed that against Canby and Marist.”

Molloy has proved her value to Silverton since she earned the starting pitching spot as a freshman when she was a first-team all-Mid-Willamette Conference player.

She has thrived on it.

“I feel like I thrive off of pressure and I had a great team to support me coming in as a freshman,” said Molloy, last year’s Mid-Willamette Conference Pitcher of the Year. “I don’t know, I have a thing where I’ve played girls that are older than me in ASA, like it’s just like ASA pitching in high school.

“I had great seniors at the time who really brought me in as a family, and it was just such a great experience like that.”

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

Junior softball player Alex Molloy stands for a photo at Silverton High School on Monday, March 28, 2016.

Softball

Greater Valley: The conference championship is expected to be a tight race between West Albany and West Salem, which returns a huge group of standout players, including Tayler Gunesch, Taylor Redman, Paige Whipple and Nalani Muranaka. McNary has some strong players in all-state senior Kinsey McNaught, Madisen Oliver and sophomore Madia Witt, who has committed to play at Western Oregon.

Mid-Willamette: State semifinalist Silverton is the heavy favorite to win the conference behind a team including all-state players Alex Molloy, Maggie Roth and Maggie Buckholz, who has committed to play at Oregon. Lebanon, a Dallas team behind senior pitcher Yasmine El-Hato and Central should be competitive.

Oregon West: Yamhill-Carlton and Newport are expected to be at the top of the conference. Stayton returns all-conference players Malya Ikea-Mario, Rachael Branch and Lyndsey DeSantis and is young, but has the talent to make noise.

West Valley: A Dayton team that won the 3A state championship a season ago is the favorite this year, but Amity and Santiam Christian should be improved. Sheridan could take a step up with starters Ashley Aponte, Sam Mack, Sianna Williams and Maddy Samples.

PacWest: A young Scio team that swept the conference last year is the heavy favorite to win it again, but could be pushed by Colton and a Blanchet team with first-yearcoach Bri Brewer and a young, but athletic team including Adrianna Ruiz, Analyssa Ruiz, Maddie Fessler and Kat Ruiz.

2A/1A Special District 2: While Central Linn is the favorite to win the conference again, there are some teams that could make noise. Perrydale returns four-year starting catcher Anna Magill along with multi-year starters and Hannah Amador and Hannah Smith and St. Paul is restarting a team under the direction of Carl Kordenat and has potential with Emily Vela, Elizabeth Brentano and Logan Robinson.

Junior softball player Alex Molloy stands for a photo at Silverton High School on Monday, March 28, 2016.

Cole Hamilton has always been a hitter in his time on North Salem High’s baseball team.

It’s of no surprise when the senior catcher has a big day offensively.

Hamilton was 4-for-4 with two doubles, a triple and six RBIs in Wednesday’s 15-0 win against Milwaukie.

He was selected as the athlete of the week by a vote of Statesman Journal readers on its sports Facebook page.

Hamilton was a second-team all-Greater Valley Conference player as a junior and was first-team all-conference as a sophomore.

And he has signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Western Oregon.

Hamilton, and the rest of the athletes of the week, will be honored during the first Mid-Valley Sports Awards show on June 7 at the Salem Convention Center. Jerry Rice will be the keynote speaker.

For tickets and more information on the event, go to MidValleySportsAwards.com.

North Salem’s Cole Hamilton (11) was selected as the athlete of the week.

Dallas High School senior and tennis player Thomas Gniadecki is a foreign exchange student from Denmark. Gniadecki has competed not just in tennis but in the sport Dallas is best known for: wrestling.

DALLAS — Taking part in popular activities is one way to help people assimilate to a new culture.

Taking part in the most popular sport in town – even if it’s something as difficult as wrestling – worked great for Thomas Gniadecki.

Yes, Gniadecki is a standout tennis player and the rumors floated around that when he came to Dallas High School on a foreign exchange program from Denmark that he would be one of the best tennis players in the Mid-Willamette Conference, if not the state.

But he wanted to try something new so he picked the sport Dallas is best known for in wrestling.

“That’s surprising,” Dallas tennis coach Caleb Gillette said. “I think it’s cool he tried something new. Obviously they’re a lot different, but wrestling’s a tough sport. To get through that, that’s big. I think that’s great, though.”

Gniadecki plays club tennis year-round in Denmark – there are no high school teams there – and at the majority of his matches the only people watching are a few parents.

To compete in a wrestling meet for Dallas with a huge crowd was a bit intimidating.

“It’s been both good and bad because you get more support, but it kind of makes you more nervous because like watching you and it gives you pressure,” said Gniadecki, who also played soccer for Dallas in the fall.

Of course tennis is where Gniadecki – a name you probably can’t pronounce – is expected to make his biggest impact.

In the Mid-Willamette Conference there are some standout players with whom he will have to contend.

Corvallis senior Sam Larson was last year’s Mid-Willamette district runner-up and Crescent Valley sophomore Nathan Liu was a district doubles champion and is one of the top players in the conference.

Gillette said that though Gniadecki has the skills in tennis to compete with them, he needs more match experience to better control his nerves.

The power of Alex Molloy makes an impact for Foxes

“I think on our team he’s our best player, and he’s a very good player,” Dallas senior Joe Gillette said. “I think so far against everybody in the league I think he does stack up very well as far as I know and I think he’ll do well.”

Gniadecki said that he thought he would miss Denmark more than he has, but he’s enjoyed the food in America greatly, especially The Cheesecake Factory, Buffalo Wild Wings and Red Robin.

But in between sampling the food in his remaining time in the country, he’s going to play some exceptional tennis.

“It’s been a really great year and it’s gone by really fast,” Gnaidnecki said. “I’m going home in July and I’ve been here six, seven, eight months so I’m going to have to enjoy the rest of my time here.”

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

Dallas High School senior and tennis player Thomas Gniadecki is a foreign exchange student from Denmark. Gniadecki has competed not just in tennis but in the sport Dallas is best known for: wrestling.

Boys tennis

Greater Valley: The district championship has belonged to Sprague the past 11 years, but this season could be interesting. Sprague returns district singles champion Logan Blair, but the transfer of ranked junior Alex Fedor to South Salem will make for an interesting challenge in the singles rank. And yes, the Olympians also return state qualifiers in Nate Harder and Jonah Lovell and are deep, but a West Albany team that placed second in the conference last year and McMinnville should challenge for the top spot in the team race.

Mid-Willamette: Corvallis and Crescent Valley are always among the best in the conference and the state, but Dallas has a deep team including Joe Gillette, Josh Dudley, Caedmon Blair and Ryan Bibler and should contend for a top three spot in the league.

4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 1: The district is unarguably one of the toughest in the state with the top four teams at the state tournament a year ago in Oregon Episcopal, Catlin Gabel, Valley Catholic and Delphian. Blanchet looks to make noise with players including Sean Harland, Crostobal-Ramos Torres and William Atwood.

4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 2: North Marion returns Ethan Berkey, who placed fourth in the state a year ago. Cascade returns three of its four state qualifying doubles players from a year ago.

Keira McCarrell making her mark in track world

Girls tennis

Greater Valley: West Albany is the heavy favorite to repeat as the district champion with district singles champion Alex Sorte returning, and Forest Grove and McMinnville also should be competitive again. South Salem has more depth this year and its top two players, Jillian Studer and Jessa Miller, will contend for state tournament berths again. McNary sophomore Hannah Childress, a district doubles champion who placed fourth in state in doubles as a freshman, will be a contender in the singles ranks.

Mid-Willamette: Corvallis returns district singles champion Tessa Kern and is favored to win the conference again. Silverton will challenge for a top three spot with a deep group of upperclassmen including No. 1 doubles team Ally Schmidt and Emma Anderson, a state qualifying team last year.

4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 1: Catlin Gable returns state champion Lara Rakoocevic and will be a contender to win the state team championship again. Blanchet returns state qualifying senior Kendra Campbell.

4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 2: Crook County, which placed fourth in the state last year, has the talent to challenge for the top spot in the league this season, but Cascade also has the talent to be towards the top in the conference.

Head baseball coach Tim Ganfield works with players on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at Cascade High School in Turner. Ganfield was head softball coach at Cascade for 14 years.

Head baseball coach Tim Ganfield works with players on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at Cascade High School in Turner. Ganfield was head softball coach at Cascade for 14 years.

TURNER — The fact that Cascade High School’s first-year baseball coach is one of the most successful softball coaches in Oregon history is well known at the school.

It’s kind of unavoidable.

Over 14 years Tim Ganfield built a reputation as a player’s coach who stressed fundamentals, helped players perfect small details to build cohesive units capable of great achievement.

He’s trying to do the same things, just in a slightly different venue.

“Honestly I don’t think necessarily that you would put him in the category of softball coach or baseball coach,” said Cascade junior pitcher Mitchell Bell.

“I think his way of coaching is just he’s going to tell them to do this, this is his process and it’s going to work if it’s softball, baseball, whatever sport it is.”

Ganfield is the No. 19 winningest high school softball coach in Oregon history with a record of 265-109 between 1999 and 2012, including state championships in 2010 and 2011.

He resigned after the 2012 season – when the Cougars reached the state championship game for the fourth time in his tenure – and his daughter, Hannah, graduated.

Ganfield was a volunteer assistant coach with the baseball team the past couple years while working on his administrative degree.

The power of Alex Molloy makes an impact for Foxes

But when the chance came up to coach his son, Peyton, he couldn’t pass it up.

“The kids all know,” Ganfield said. “Oh yeah, they know. It’s brought up fairly frequently, maybe more by the parents, but the kids all know. They could tell you that we’ve done well in the past and they know.

“That transition hasn’t been a big deal. At this point it’s just about coaching kids kind of thing. It’s about coaching kids and we’re trying to put in some systems that will help them be successful and build upon their strengths and be successful, no different than softball, and trying to build a cohesive program all the way up, no different than what we were doing before.”

It’s not uncommon for baseball coaches to move over to coaching softball.

Most male softball coaches have played baseball, and many have coached baseball at one time or another.

But for a successful softball coach to go over to coaching baseball is almost unheard of.

Exchange student Thomas Gniadecki makes impact in Dallas

“There’s been a lot of learning on my part,” Ganfield said. “It’s not like I haven’t ever coached baseball. I coached before I started softball and then I played in college and all that so I understand, but coaching baseball, oh, there’s been a lot things, and that’s why the two (assistant coaches) that I have have been so awesome.

“They’re baseball guys, even though Steve (Miller) was a former softball coach, too. So there’s another guy who’s done it. That’s probably one of my biggest differences is I don’t have that one, one and a half pitchers to carry the load. We’ve been working really hard on developing the whole staff.”

Four of Cascade’s five losses this season were by one run.

It can be frustrating, especially for a team trying to establish its identity.

But at the same time it shows the team is close.

“This year, we’re just struggling to pull out a W,” said senior infielder Russ McGuire. “It seems like we’re right there, like we’re real close. It’s not like we’re doing anything just absolutely terrible.

“I think when it comes down to crunch time we’re just not able to execute very well. But I think that’s a process that’s getting better from the very start, but it’s still fresh in the season.”

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

Head baseball coach Tim Ganfield works with players on Wednesday, March 30, 2016, at Cascade High School in Turner. Ganfield was head softball coach at Cascade for 14 years.

Baseball

Greater Valley: A South Salem team loaded with upperclassmen is the favorite to win the conference this year with a loaded lineup including Oregon signee Gabe Matthews, first-team all-leaguer Tony Phong and returning starters including Gibson Hohberg, Tori Doten, Carter Dorn and Bryan Kelly. West Salem has a strong, experienced group including Oregon State signee Andy Armstrong and first-team all-state player Simran Dhote and should contend for the conference’s top spot. McNary, which placed second in the conference last year, returns starters, including Matt Ismay, Matt Aguilar, Josiah Gilbert and Trevor Gilbert, but it’s fate will be decided by how its deep pitching staff does. North Salem has a strong senior class, including Cole Hamilton, Cameron Jolly and Noah Boatwright and will compete for the top spot in the conference.

Mid-Willamette: Corvallis and Crescent Valley are the conference favorites, but there are teams that should be able to challenge them. Behind starting catcher Treve Earhart, Dallas is expected to be a contender, Silverton has a group including Grant Roth, Kirk Martinson, and Masonn Pearson and should contend for a playoff spot and Cetnral has a solid group of athletes, including Luke McBeth, Luis Amador and Jackson Holstad and has the potential to be a top-three team.

Oregon West: An athletic Philomath team and a young North Marion team that includes all-conference players Dylan Doubrava and Andy Schmitz should contend for the championship.

Keira McCarrell making her mark in track world

West Valley: Santiam Christian won the state championship last year and with all-state players, including Daniel Hendrix and Dru Draper, is the favorite to win the league again.

PacWest: Blanchet has a strong lineup returning, including first-team all-league players Nate Cantonwine, Harry Witwer-Dukes and Nick Orlandini and will challenge for a second straight conference title.

2A/1A Special District 2: Regis was a state semifinalist a year ago and has an experienced lineup, including JaVon Logan, Brycen Schumamcher, Brandon Piete and Andrew Schmitt and is the heavy favorite to win the league championship.

Over her many years of racing in track and field, Brooke Chuhlantseff has learned a lot of lessons.

The West Salem High School senior applied them Friday.

After being beat out in the final 20 meters of the 1,500 by Mountain View junior Savanna Craig, Chuhlantseff showed a standout field in the 800 meters how to race in winning the event in 2:21.04 in the Titan Track Classic at West Salem.

West Salem’s Brook Chuhlantsheff pulls away from competitors to win the girls 800 meter race at the Titan Track Classic at West Salem High School on Friday, April 1, 2016.

“All the tactics that you can learn over the years finally are coming together this season and so I’m really looking forward to all the meets coming up,” said Chuhlantseff, who placed fifth in the state in the event as a sophomore and has signed to run at Oregon State.

“And this was my first big meet of the season so it’s just starting to get used to things and getting used to the tactics again. I’m really happy with how I did today. There’s some things to improve on, but overall I did really well with what I did.”

What Chuhlantseff did best was be patent against a competitive field.

Silverton senior Maddie Fuhrman, who placed fifth in Class 5A last year, and Sprague’s standout freshman Ginger Murnieks, who was the district runnerup in cross country in the fall, took the initial lead.

Fuhrman and Murnieks were side by side through the first lap with Chuhlantseff close behind.

Fuhrman pulled into the lead just after the first lap, allowing Chuhlantseff to come alongside and trapping Murnieks behind with 300 meters left.

Chuhlantseff kicked into the lead with 200 left and finished strong to win with Fuhrman second in 2:24.41 and Murnieks third in 2:25.99.

“I’ve been really blessed in running and it’s an honor to run against them,” Murnieks said. “I feel like they’re role models for me and I can learn a lot for what they do, and it just kind of gives me confidence to see them and talk to them and learn from them.”

The kind of competition they presented to each other – Fuhrman also was third in the 1,500 and Murnieks was fourth – is unusual this early in the season.

Mountain View’s Savanna Craig leads the pack in the girls 1500 meter race at the Titan Track Classic at West Salem High School on Friday, April 1, 2016.

“Obviously they’re super experienced and I’ve known Brooke for a long time and she’s an awesome competitor and person so it’s cool getting to push myself against people that I know I can compete against and see where I’m at, which is really cool,” Fuhrman said.

As good as the middle distance races were in the girls, West Salem junior Ahmed Muhumed made the boys races boring.

He won the 1,500 in 4:06.61 with teammate Hunter Mosman second in 4:14.63 and in the 800 Muhumed took a slight lead at 400 meters and rocketed away to win in 1:57.10 with teammate Brennen Le Bel second in 2:02.43.

“I felt like just relaxing back and having a better kick and better finish instead of a first fast 400,” Muhumed said. “I didn’t think it was going to be as fast as I ran. When I ran the first 400 I saw the time and it was like 61 seconds and I was like oh, that is not fast enough.

“Somehow I thought it’s just a better move at 400 and just go for it.”

West Salem’s Cari McCrae won the 400 (1:00.75) and ran the anchor on the winning 400 relay (50.01) and 1,600 relay (4:13.43). West Salem’s Keira McCarrell won the javelin (130-10) and 100 hurdles (15.93) and also ran on the short relay.

West Salem’s Cari McCrae runs the girls 400 meter at the Titan Track Classic at West Salem High School on Friday, April 1, 2016.

In the boys, McNary’s Brendan Van Voorhis won the 400 (50.84) and 200 (22.51) and ran the anchor leg on the winning 400 relay (43.55).

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, (503) 399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoeher

Jessica Braun has blossomed in the situation.

Where some players fold under the pressure of playing golf with better players on a regular pressure, the North Salem High School senior accepted the challenge of the competition and steadily improved.

The same kind of drive carried her to a 3.81 GPA, while taking a full course load of honors and advanced placement classes has helped her to find ways to shave strokes off of her game and become one of the top golfers in the Greater Valley Conference.

“I think instead of feeling like gosh, I’m not that great in comparison, it’s that’s what I can be,” North Salem coach Josn Lee said.

“And I think that with the possibility of her going on and playing at the next level, when she does have that time to commit and is able to practice consistently throughout the year, she’s going to see even lower scores, pretty dramatically, drastically when she has that time to put into it.”

Braun said that unlike the ultra-competitive nature of swimming – in which she was 17th and 18th in the 100 and 50 freestyle in the GVC district meet – she enjoys the social aspects of competing in golf.

“In golf it’s such a friendly sport and you make so many friends when you’re playing 18 holes at tournaments,” Braun said. “And it’s great. I don’t feel like I have to beat these girls.”

Braun had to earn every bit of her OSAA Class 6A state meet qualification last year.

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She placed fifth in the Greater Valley Conference by shooting a 36-hole score of 179, but had to play in the Special District tournament between the GVC and the Southern Conference to qualify.

Though she said she was vexed by getting stuck in a wet sand trap, she still recovered to shoot 97, place 16th and qualify for the state meet individually.

At the state meet she shot rounds of 89 and 93 to place 56th.

“I think Jessica was a little nervous going into the regional tournament, but she played really well on a tough day at the regional tournament last year and she got a little boost of confidence just knowing that she can compete at that level,” Lee said.

She said the confidence from that finish to the season along with her ability to consistently shoot in the 80s in the second half of her junior season gave her the confidence that she could play with competitive golfers.

Toward that end she is planning on attending Pacific University – where she wants to major in biology on a career track to become a physician’s assistant – and play golf for the Boxers.

“Before last year I didn’t think I would be any good in the future,” she said. “Not really. My freshman year and my sophomore year, I mean I was improving, but I didn’t think I would get as good as I did last year, in the 80s. It was very surprising.”

Braun played some golf as a youth, but she was far from enamored with the sport.

But going into North Salem she had to choose between track and golf and she made her choice.

She said she took lessons from former West Salem boys coach Howard Robertson and that gave her a significant boost.

“She’s always had a really consistent swing,” Lee said. “She’s always been very smooth and she kind of came in with a great swing. It’s just been a matter of eliminating some of the do-over shots and things like that. And when she’s on, she plays really well.”

“She is really competitive with the girls in the district. There’s a couple of new girls that are scoring pretty well already, but I think she has a chance to be competing right up at the top if she continues to peak like she did last year.”

bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6701 or Twitter.com/bpoehler

North Salem’s Jessica Braun works on putting during practice Thursday, March 31, 2016, at Salem Golf Club in South Salem.

North Salem’s Jessica Braun practices Thursday, March 31, 2016, at Salem Golf Club in South Salem.

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Boys golf

Greater Valley: West Salem junior Andrew Eyre, last year’s Special District medalist, is the heavy favorite to win the conference individually. The Titans also return Will Papendieck and have the talent to compete with last year’s district champion West Albany and a deep McNary team that includes senior returning state meet qualifiers in Brady Sparks and Riley Hancock.

Mid-Willamette: Though Crescent Valley is the favorite to win the conference, Woodburn returns state meet qualifiers in Gabe Hernandez and Reggie Reyes and will compete for a state meet spot.

4A Special District 2: Though Stayton doesn’t return any of its state meet qualifiers from last year, the young team has a freshman in Evan Massena who has the potential to compete for the district title.

3A/2A/1A Special District 2: A young Regis team that won the district championship last year returns its top four players in Kyle Humphreys, Casey Humphreys, Dawson Dickey and Seth Kelley, but could get a challenge from a Blanchet team including state meet qualifiers Nick Conway, Mike Bashaw, Aneesh Namburi and Ryan Scanlan.

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Girls golf

Greater Valley: With a team including last year’s district champion and Oregon State commit Ellie Slama and Ashley Zhu, who placed third in the conference a year ago, South Salem is the favorite to win the title again. McNary returns district runner-up and Concordia signee Cammie Decker, who will contend for a top 10 spot in the state.

Mid-Willamette: Crescent Valley and Corvallis are expected to compete for the top spot, but Dallas junior Kailee Curtis showed last year she has the potential to compete with the top individuals in the conference.

4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 2: A Blanchet team that includes state meet qualifiers in Carolina Ditzler, Hailey Stuart and adds an accomplished junior golfer in freshman Katie Goodwin who will challenge for the league championship.

Mid-Valley Sports Awards

Brendan Van Voorhis, McNary track and field

Brendan Van Voorhis, McNary track and field:

The junior won the 200 and 400 at both Wednesday’s four-way league meet at West Albany and Friday’s Titan Track Classic – including a personal record of 22.51 in the 200 Friday – and ran anchor legs on the Celtics’ winning 400 relay teams at both meets.

Paige Whipple, West Salem softball

Paige Whipple, West Salem softball: The junior first baseman/pitcher had a double and two RBIs in Monday’s 5-1 win against Oregon City, three hits, including a double, in Wednesday’s 10-8 loss to Barlow and was the winning pitcher in Friday’s 9-8 win against Southridge.

Maggie Buckholz, Silverton softball

Maggie Buckholz, Silverton softball: The sophomore shortstop had three hits in Wednesday’s 10-0 win against Crescent Valley and had three hits in Friday’s 4-3 loss to Corvallis.

Ellie Slama, South Salem golf

Ellie Slama, South Salem golf: The junior shot 72 to earn medalist honors at Tuesday’s Greater Valley Conference meet at Spring Hill Golf Club in Albany.

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