#13 Burns vs #5 Harrisburg 1:30pm North Bend HS
Burns is currently the only team with two state playoffs wins that includes an upset win over Vale 75-67. Like the old saying goes, “its hard to beat a team three times.” Burns loss to Vale twice in league play but Burns won when it mattered most in the Sweet 16. Burns is headed to the Elite 8 lead by First Team All League (Sr) Zane Perry-Kozeni and Second Team All League (Jr) Jack Wright. Does Burns have another upset win in them?
Harrisburg is going into the Elite 8 winning 13 out of their last 14 games. Burg got some revenge against Pleasant Hill by winning the District 4 Championship 38-32. Harrisburg went on to defeat Umatila 56-50 in the Sweet 16 and are now locked in and laser focus on their Elite 8 matchup with Burns.
#1 Westside Christian vs #8 Neah-Kah-Nie 3:30pm North Bend HS
Westside Christian Head Coach Dave Henry and LCL POY Dax Hanzlik are familiar with their Elite 8 match up with Neah-Kah-NIe as they defeated them 79-50 in the Westside Winter Jam. WC defeated De La Salle 64-52 to win the LCL Title and reign supreme in arguably one of the toughest leagues in the state. Last season, WC loss to Cascade Christian in the state championship game and they are willing to do whatever it takes to play on Saturday night again. First Team All League Will Ficker and Second Team Kahlid Hodge are ready to make their mark and help lead WC on a deep run towards a potential state title game appearance.
Neah- Kah- Nie is riding an eight game winning streak into Coos Bay. The Pirates beat a tough Pleasant Hill team that featured MVC POY Gavin Inglish 66-61. Even though Neah Kah Nie loss to WC early in the season, that’s behind them and anything can happen in the Elite 8.
#3 De La Salle North Catholic vs Cascade Christian 6:30pm North Bend HS
This matchup features two elite coaches in James Broadous II of De La Salle North Catholic and Brian Morse of Cascade Christian.
Reigning State Champions Cascade Christian are heading into Coos Bay (in my opinion) as the overall favorite to cut down the nets on Saturday night. The Challengers feature All American center and Grand Canyon commit (Sr) Austin Maurer. He and Head Coach Brian Morse has played in the state championship game since Austin was a freshman and won it 2 out of 3 years. Elite Freshman Avery Huston is a player to watch, Deryk Farmer, Jaren Franckowiak and Peyton Maurer are ready to keep the tradition going.
For the last ten years, De La Salle North Catholic has been one of the most dominate programs in the state. Coach Broadous and staff are no stranger to Coos Bay and looks to pull off a huge upset on Thursday night. This team has been battled tested playing in the tough LCL and will be ready to compete against CC. The Knights will be lead by First Team All League (Jr) Jaylen Hill, (Sr) Quincy Aranda and Second Team (So) Lucas Moreira.
#2 Valley Catholic vs #7 Dayton 8:30pm North Bend HS
LCL Coach of The Year Jeb Ivey leads a hungry Valley Catholic team into Coos Bay with 20-6 overall record and finishing third in the LCL. The Valiants are lead by First Team All League (Sr) Noah Holub and Second Team (Jr) Jackson Farris. Valley will be all business and looking to leave their mark in Coos Bay.
Legendary Head Coach Ron Hopp leads his Dayton Pirates back to Coos Bay with a 20-6 overall record. Dayton is riding a 14 game winning streak heading into the Elite 8 lead by PacWest POY Boston Hodges and First Team All League Clyde Rosenberg. The supporting cast of Lane Garrison, Austin Bodenhamer, and Morgan Gallenger are key players to help lead Dayton to victory.
