![Game, set, and match. Corbin Atchley, sophomore, high fives Sanam Sidhu, freshman, after a rally with other club members. “I just joined [the club],” Sidhu said. “[I heard about it] on Instagram, they always post about it, I’ve been wanting to come. My parents used to play [net sports] too and they taught us, and then I learned from my brother.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MG_7715-2-1200x800.jpg)
![At the bottom of the third inning, the Lions are still scoreless. Rowe stands at home plate, preparing to bat, while Vandenbrink stands off to the side as the next batter up. Despite having the bases loaded, the team was unable to score any runs. “It’s just the beginning of the season. We’re just going to be playing out best by June, [and] that’s where champions are,” Rowe said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_3077-1200x900.jpg)
![The teams prepare to start another play with just a few minutes left in the first half. The Lions were in the lead at halftime with a score of 27-0. At half time, the team went back to the locker rooms. “[We ate] orange slices,” Malos said. “[Then] our team came out and got the win.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/IMG_2385-1200x800.jpg)
West Linn Basketball stays on top with second state championship in a row
With a 67-56 win over the Sheldon Irish (21-9), the West Linn Boys Varsity Basketball team (27-4) has cemented itself as the number one team in the state of Oregon with its second state title in as many years. The Lions are the first team to win back-to-back state titles since the Jesuit Crusaders won from 2009-2012.
West Linn struggled early in the game trailing the Irish by five at the end of the first quarter, 13-8. The Lions turned it around in the second and were able to put the pedal to the medal.
“We started playing man and shut down any open threes,” Hayden Coppedge, senior, said regarding the comeback. “We rebounded well too and that really helped.” West Linn put up 23 in the second quarter and by halftime, had a 31-24 lead.
While the Lions extended their lead to double digits in the second half, Sheldon was able to trim the lead to single digits, but was never able to completely comeback, and West Linn controlled the second half. Guided by sophomore guard Payton Pritchard’s 21 points, the Lions cruised and when the buzzer sounded, were back-to-back state champions.
“As a senior it’s the best way to go out. It’s an awesome feeling,” Coppedge said. With the win, West Linn is without a doubt the best team in the state of Oregon. Anthony Mathis, junior, and Pritchard, were both unanimously voted First Team All League with Ryan Shearmire, senior, voted to Second Team. Coppedge, Kevin Edwards, senior, and CJ Sitton, senior, were voted Honorable Mention.
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Before Walker McCrae, senior, realized his dream of becoming a sports manager, he was faced with one task, one court and one orange leather ball.
“Walker!...
![Game, set, and match. Corbin Atchley, sophomore, high fives Sanam Sidhu, freshman, after a rally with other club members. “I just joined [the club],” Sidhu said. “[I heard about it] on Instagram, they always post about it, I’ve been wanting to come. My parents used to play [net sports] too and they taught us, and then I learned from my brother.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MG_7715-2-600x400.jpg)
![At the bottom of the third inning, the Lions are still scoreless. Rowe stands at home plate, preparing to bat, while Vandenbrink stands off to the side as the next batter up. Despite having the bases loaded, the team was unable to score any runs. “It’s just the beginning of the season. We’re just going to be playing out best by June, [and] that’s where champions are,” Rowe said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/IMG_3077-600x450.jpg)
