We are finally here! 16 teams are 32 minutes away from advancing to the Elite 8 in Coos Bay! Players.. Are you ready to leave it all out there on the court? Are you ready to make some sacrifices for your team to advance? The time is now! To all seniors... Good luck! Be proud you have gotten this far because a lot of seniors season are done. Take advantage of this opportunity!
Below I made my Sweet 16 predictions. Please don’t take it personal!
Here we go..
The A Bracket
#1 De La Salle vs #16 Brookings Harbor
11 months ago, we all wittness #16 UMBC defeat overall #1 Virgina at March Madddnes. The entire country was stunned! Brookings Harbor is in the same boat. If they can find away to slow down De La Salle and not commit turnover then they have a shot. Me personally... I don’t see it happening. My prediction is the game will be closer then we think and De La Salle will advance to Coos Bay.
If everyone was healthy then this game would be a toss up. I am not sure when or if Garcia comes back but without him I am going with Sutherlin. Sutherlin is home and Mason Gill and company are ready to prove they are in elite team to the entire state! Sutherlin advances to the Coos Bay.
The B Bracket (Most competitive)
This game is too close to call! Nyssa is the EOL champions and that means they get a home game. With that said.. Rainer will have to travel at least 7 hours to get to Nyssa. I predict it to go down to the wire and #raincity will pull off the upset. Rainer will advance to the Coos Bay.
#13 Catlin Gabel At #4 Pleasant Hill
I predict this to be the best game in the Sweet 16. Both teams are Elite 8 teams and it’s going to be hard to watch one of them go home early. Catlin Gabel was seconds away from heading to Coos Bay last year but a buzzer beater by Irrigon sent them home in the Sweet 16. This time, Sheng, Agapiev, Zeller and McGautha are more battled tested and ready to compete this year. Before losing to De La Salle, Catlin went on a four game winning streak to finish second in the LCL.
Pleasant Hill will be lead by Paramenter and Pruitt. Phill is the hottest team in the State and has the wins to prove it. They beat top 3 Santiam Christian twice to win the league title.
I wish this game was at a netual court (Marshfield HS) but in the end, I am going with the home team. Pleasant Hill will advance to Coos Bay.
The C Bracket
Creswell finished third in league behind SC and Phill. The bulldogs are a dangerous team and capable of winning games. If they want to make it to Coos Bay, they will have to go through Dayton to get there.
Dayton hasent loss a home game in the Sweet 16 in a long time. Dayton will be lead by three seniors in Lukas Findley, Jaysen Howard and Braeden Nowlin.
Creswell will be able to compete in the beginning but Dayton will pull away in the end. Dayton will advance to Coos Bay.
Burns is traveling atleast 6 hours to go face a tough Clatskanie team. Clatskanie fans are very supportive and the gym will be loud! I expect this game to be a battle by two teams that are very similar. My prediction is the game will be close in the fourth, but Clatskanie will find a way to win. Clatskanie advances to Coos Bay.
If both girls and boys make it to State then I am predicting Coos Bay to be flooded with either Tigers fans or Burn fans.
The D Bracket
#10 Amity vs #7 Horizon Christian
It wouldnt be a tournament if two former West Valley teams didn’t face off. Both teams has had some injuries and found a way to preserve and make it to the Sweet 16. This game will be the most exciting game behind CG/Phill. Coach Brown, Connor Zralka and Kyle Free are entering their final State Tournamernt and I can’t see them losing at home. I am going with Horizon in a close one over Amity. Horizon Christian advances to Coos Bay.
#15 Salem Academy vs #2 Santiam Christian
Santiam Christian are entering the Sweet 16 as a team to keep an eye on. SC recently loss to Phill and finished 2nd in league. This team is hungry and determined to make a state title run. Will Zach Baugher return?
Salem Academy is a team that are very capable of beating anyone on any given night. Salem Academy defeated Amity twice and almost beat Dayton.
This game will be controlled by Santiam Christian bigs and I see them leading SC to victory.
Santiam Christian will advance to Coos Bay.
I will make my Elight 8 predictions soon..
No predictions for me since I'm calling the games but I did want to let everyone know that last years tournament drew over 30K views on the NFHS Network and an average of 10K a day were tuned into Oregon HS State Championship Basketball!