![MORE THAN A GAME. With two diving catches in the outfield, the Lions showed up defensively, aiding in their victory over the Pacers. One catch was made by Atwood, and the other by McGraw. Throughout the game, the Lions knew that it wasn’t just about their victory today. “I think [playing for cancer] makes it bigger than just a game,” McGraw said. “Knowing that you have a bigger impact in this world than just who you are as one person.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/I70A1454-1-1200x800.jpg)
![Students in the National Art Honor Society work on the Mount Hood mural on the window of SouthLake Church. The students brought a variety of paints and mixed their own custom colors. “Instead of brushstrokes, we’re doing more dabbing, because it gives [a] better impression of tree foliage, rather than looking like actual brush strokes, because if we’re painting trees, we need it to look like trees,” Crawford said.](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/IMG_2397-1200x900.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!...
![MORE THAN A GAME. With two diving catches in the outfield, the Lions showed up defensively, aiding in their victory over the Pacers. One catch was made by Atwood, and the other by McGraw. Throughout the game, the Lions knew that it wasn’t just about their victory today. “I think [playing for cancer] makes it bigger than just a game,” McGraw said. “Knowing that you have a bigger impact in this world than just who you are as one person.”](https://wlhsnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/I70A1454-1-600x400.jpg)
