![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)
Both the mens and womens basketball teams are headed to Southridge High School for the second round of the 6A Oregon Sports and Activities Association (OSAA) state playoffs.
On Feb. 27, the 18th seed mens basketball team defeated the 15th seed Jefferson Democrats 74—62 at Jefferson High School. Additionally, the ninth seed womens basketball team defeated the 23rd seed Sunset Apollos 80—68 at home on Feb. 28.
The mens basketball team played a close game against Jefferson, as they led by five points at halftime. Throughout the game, Nick DiGuilio, senior, hit three-pointer after three-pointer, finishing with six three-pointers made out of nine attempts.
Gavin Gross, junior, also played a role in the mens team’s first-round win. Gross finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds to go along with three blocks.
“I feel great,” Gross said. “I’m just glad I could contribute to this first playoff win. It feels good.”
After halftime, Jefferson battled and outscored the mens team 12—16 in the third quarter. Early in the third quarter, starting point guard Pat Vialva Jr., freshman, got hit in the face going for a rebound, leading to a pause in play because of a nosebleed.
After several game minutes off the clock, a trash can with some blood, and a plug in his nose, Vialva helped turn the momentum in the fourth quarter.
Vialva finished the game with 15 points. The mens team outscored Jefferson 21—10 in the last quarter to get the win.
“I was thinking that I was not going to lose this game, we need this game, [we were] playing for [seniors] Max [Juhala], Nick [DiGuilio], and [Mitchell Rowe],” Vialva said. “I’m not even gonna lie, I was crying ‘oh it hurts’ but I just had to get the job done, just [had] to keep my head up. God’s got me at all times.”
In addition to the mens team win, the womens team played a close game with Sunset for their first round game.
At the end of the first half, the score was 36—35 as each team traded basket after basket for most of the half. Sunset made five three-pointers to help them contend with the womens team throughout the contest.
However, the womens team played differently in the second half as they finished out the game on top. Kaylor Buse, freshman, led the womens team to the victory, scoring 27 points with eight rebounds.
“[It was] definitely difficult. We had some rough patches, I had some rough patches,” Buse said. “But I think the best message about this team [is] I ‘feel the love.’ I feel [like] everyone is supporting me. So even if I do make those mistakes, I’m just right back at it, next play.”
In addition to Buse’s 27 points, Reese Jordan, sophomore, also had 20 points and nine rebounds. Head Coach Brooke Cates has helped direct this scoring duo.
“I have had so much fun,” Cates said. “This is by far one of my favorite years coaching because we’ve got a team that really cares about each other. They play well together, they play for each other, and they’re just great kids. So they’re really fun to coach, win or lose. It’s just been tremendous.”
Each team will play the Southridge Skyhawks in the second round at Southridge High School. The mens team will play the second seed Skyhawks on Mar. 1 at 7 p.m.
“This season is for our seniors,” Buse said. “Southridge [is] a big opponent for us. But we are gonna [come at them] with nothing to lose and we’re gonna go get them.”
Additionally, the womens team will play the eighth seed Skyhawks on Mar. 2 at 6 p.m.
“[Southridge is] very fast. They’re very big. They can do it all,” Vialva said. “But I think we got two to three days to play it out and get it all figured out. I think we got it.”
