![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)
![All smiles. The group poses for a photo with last year’s book, “This is Our House,” along with their award for third Best in Show. Meikle, who was an Editor-in-Chief for the yearbook last year as well, holds both and stands at the center of the group. “That was an amazing feeling, going and grabbing the third place award,” Meikle said. “All of it paid off. I cried so much over that book, being able to receive [the award] was one of the highlights of my high school career, it was like the coolest thing ever.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/8bookpose_philly-1200x800.jpg)
Two Three Rivers League superpowers met at the Rose Garden March 9, and both The West Linn Lions (22-7, 9-1 TRL) and the Lake Oswego Lakers’ (22-6, 9-1 TRL) looked to settle a season-long score.
Calvin Hermanson, junior, scored the first eight points for L.O. The Lakers never looked back as they defeated the Lions 67-45 to knock West Linn out of the playoffs and edge them in the season series, 2-1.
Hermanson’s scoring would continue to be the story of the game as the junior went 4-4 from three point and finished with a game high 32 points. Hermanson’s hot hand spread throughout his team as the Lakers went 9-14 from three and made 22 of their 39 shots. Mitch Cokley, senior, led the way for the Lions with 15 points.
On March 8 the Lions met the Central Catholic Rams (22-6,9-1 Mt. Hood Conference) at the Rose Garden and defeated the Mt. Hood Conference champions, 56-41.
Ryan Shearmire, sophomore, led the way for the Lions with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Hayden Coppedge, sophomore, poured in 12 points and Anthony Mathis, freshman, added 11 points. The Lions defense was stifling and held the Rams to a measly 29 percent shooting from the field. David Brakebush, senior, led the Rams in scoring with 14. This win propelled the Lions into the semi-finals to play rival Lake Oswego.
In the third place consolation game the North Medford Black Tornados (24-4, 10-2 Southern Conference) held off a late rally to beat the Lions 58-53. Oshea Bailey, junior, scored 13 for the Black Tornados and had a clutch assist to Trey Garfas, who would knock down a tie breaking three with 2:30 left in the fourth. Shearmire would top all scorers with 21 points, grabbing six rebounds and blocking two shots for the Lions. At the end of the tournament, Shearmire was named to first team all tournament team. He was the only sophomore to make either the first or second teams. Cokley also made the second team.
