Sheldon, South Eugene qualify for state boys basketball tourney

Boys basketball teams from Sheldon and South Eugene earned places in the 6A state tournament, and both are scheduled for first-round games Tuesday, March 3.

In the 3A tournament, Pleasant Hill and Creswell qualified for the quarterfinals Thursday at North Bend High School. In the 2A ranks, Lowell will play a quarterfinal match Thursday at Pendleton High School.

Here’s the playoff picture thus far for Lane County boys basketball teams:

6A

Benson at Sheldon, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday: The Sheldon Irish (18-7) are seeded No. 16 in the 32-team tournament, good enough to earn a first-round game at home. No. 7 Benson (19-6) has won nine straight, including a 100-71 win last Friday over Roosevelt. The Irish won seven straight at one point this season and wrapped up the league season with a pair of games in which they scored 85 and 90 points. The seedings suggest this could be a close game. The winner plays Friday against either No. 1 Southridge or No. 32 Century.

South Eugene at Lake Oswego, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday: No. 26 South Eugene (14-11) takes on No. 7 Lake Oswego (18-7) in this first-round match. The two teams met Dec. 27 in Summit, with the Lakers taking a 55-50 win. Lake Oswego was 12-2 at one point this season, but has been only 6-5 since mid-January. The Axe have been up and down this season as well and are 6-4 over their last 10. The winner plays Friday against either No. 10 Grant or No. 23 Beaverton. 

3A

Pleasant Hill vs. Riverside, 3:15 p.m. Thursday: The No. 5 Billies (21-4) take on the No. 4 Riverside Pirates (23-4) in this quarterfinal game at North Bend High School. The Billies rolled to a 79-40 victory over Neah-Kah-Nie in Friday’s first round, but the going likely will be tougher against the Pirates, who haven’t lost since Feb. 3. The winner advances to the state semifinals Friday at Marshfield High School against either No. 17 Banks or No. 9 St. Mary’s, Medford. Pleasant Hill beat Neah-Kah-Nie Friday 79-40 in the second round to win a slot in the quarterfinals.

Creswell vs. Cascade Christian, 6:30 p.m. Thursday: The Bulldogs (8-8), the No. 7 seed, battle No. 2 Cascade Christian in a quarterfinal game at North Bend High School. The Challengers rolled off 17 straight wins since their last loss Jan. 2. That streak included a Jan. 17 win over the Bulldogs, a hard-fought 53-49 decision. The winner advances to the state semifinals Friday at Marshfield High School against either No. 3 Valley Catholic or No. 6 Blanchet Catholic. Creswell earned the quarterfinal berth with a 57-55 win Saturday over Salem Academy.

The Elmira Falcons made it to the second round of the playoffs, but fell 72-53 Friday at Riverside. The Falcons end their season with a 16-11 record. 

2A 

Lowell vs. Portland Christian, 6:30 p.m. Thursday: Lowell’s Devils, the No. 7 seed in the 2A tournament, squeaked by No. 10 Bandon 39-36 in the tourney’s first round. Now, the Devils (22-5) face a tougher task against undefeated Portland Christian, the No. 2 seed, Thursday at Pendleton High School. Only two of the Royals’ 27 wins this year have been by less than 10 points; a more typical score is something like 94-30 — which was the final in the Royals’ first-round victory against Toledo. The winner gets a spot in the state semifinals Friday at the Pendleton Convention Center against either No. 3 Regis or No. 11 Western Christian.

5A 

The bracket for the 16-team 5A tournament will not be announced until regular season or district playoff games wrap up after Tuesday. The Midwestern League sends three teams to the playoffs, and so Thurston (19-5) and North Eugene (21-4) appear secure. Churchill (12-12), ranked 15th among the state’s 5A teams by the Oregon School Activities Association, may be on a bit of a bubble behind No. 10 Crater (18-6) but might be in line for an at-large bid.

4A

The bracket for the 16-team 4A tournament won’t be announced until regular season or district games wrap up Tuesday, but Junction City (18-7) has qualified for the field. Marist Catholic (16-7), ranked No. 6 among the state’s 4A teams, seems likely to snag an at-large bid.

Schedule

Tuesday, March 3

• Benson at Sheldon, 6:30 p.m.
• South Eugene at Lake Oswego, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 5

• Pleasant Hill vs. Riverside, 3:15 p.m., North Bend High School
• Creswell vs. Cascade Christian, 6:30 p.m., North Bend High School
• Lowell vs. Portland Christians, 6:30 p.m., Pendleton High School

Scores 

Saturday, Feb. 28

• Creswell 57, Salem Academy 55

Friday, Feb. 27

• Thurston 68, Ashland 56
• Crater 80, Springfield 53
• Churchill 56, Eagle Point 23
• Marist Catholic 67, Cottage Grove 44
• Pleasant Hill 79, Neah-Kah-Nie 40
• Riverside 72, Elmira 53
• Lowell 39, Bandon 36

Thursday, Feb. 26

• Junction City 42, Marshfield 38

Tuesday, Feb. 24

• Sheldon 85, North Medford 47
• Grants Pass 54, Willamette 20
• South Eugene 85, Roseburg 57
• Thurston 49, Churchill 24
• North Eugene 90, Springfield 45
• Marist Catholic 65, North Bend 28
• Elmira 60, Corbett 48
• Santiam Christian 72, Siuslaw 53
• Union 68, Triangle Lake 36

Standings

6A-7 Southwest Conference

Team	League	Overall
Sheldon	10-2	18-7
South Medford	10-2	18-7
South Eugene	8-4	14-11
Grants Pass	8-4	11-11
North Medford	4-8	6-18
Willamette	2-10	6-18
Roseburg	0-12	0-24

5A-2 Midwestern Conference

Team	League	Overall
Thurston	11-1	19-5
North Eugene	9-3	21-4
Churchill	8-4	13-10
Crater	7-5	18-6
Ashland	5-7	14-10
Eagle Point	1-11	3-21
Springfield	1-11	2-22

4A-4 Sky Em League

Team	League	Overall
Junction City	9-3	18-7
Marshfield	9-3	15-9
Marist Catholic	8-4	16-7
Cottage Grove	3-9	5-19
North Bend	1-11	6-19

3A-4 Mountain Valley Conference

Team	League	Overall
Creswell	7-3	18-8
Pleasant Hill	10-0	21-5
Elmira	6-4	16-11
Sisters	5-5	10-12
Harrisburg	2-8	11-14
La Pine	0-10	5-19

3A-5 Far West League

Team	League	Overall
Douglas	9-1	19-6
Siuslaw	7-3	17-10
South Umpqua	7-3	14-10
Sutherlin	5-5	11-13
Coquille	2-8	3-19
Glide	0-10	3-19

2A-6 East Cascades Conference

Team	League	Overall
Trinity Lutheran	10-0	25-1
Lowell	7-3	22-5
Bonanza	7-3	14-11
Lost River	4-6	10-15
Culver	1-9	6-14
Oakridge	1-9	4-16

1A-3 Mountain West League

Team	League	Overall
Eddyville Charter	7-0	22-6
Triangle Lake	4-3	10-16
Alsea	4-3	15-13
Mapleton	5-2	7-15
Mohawk	3-4	11-14
Crow-Northwest Christian	3-4	9-13
McKenzie	2-5	7-14
Siletz Valley	0-7	0-17