6A Tournament Awards

The 6A Tournament was brewing to be a competitive affair at Chiles Center, as the first round set the tempo for what would have been a sensational event. Beaverton, led by their three Division 1 bound seniors, Laura Erikstrip, Sydney Erikstrup, and Mary Kay Naro, were looking towards their first school championship. But they would have to go through perennial regional powerhouse South Medford, who have a bulk of rotational players led by the superiorly athletic [player_tooltip player_id="158487" first="Toni" last="Coleman"]. Teams such as South Salem were led by amazing single-game performances, illustrated through [player_tooltip player_id="158480" first="Hilary" last="James"]’ commanding performance in the first round. Here are the awards we created in order to honor what had occured in the tournament before it was shut down. Breakout Performer: [player_tooltip player_id="158480" first="Hilary" last="James"] 2021 5’6" PG South Salem HS Hilary decided to have a coming-out party as one of the State’s elite as she truly saved her best performance for last. She played a truly masterful game against McMinnville, erupting for 35 points on an impressive 13-19 shooting to go with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals. James illustrated her technical skills through her android-like ball handling skills matched with her exceptional shooting capabilities. With this performance, James put the State on watch as she made herself a household name, as she was the heart and soul of the Saxons team that was ready to take on South Medford in the semi-final. Most Inspirational: Cameron Brink 2020 6’4" SF Mountainside HS One of the biggest questions coming into the tournament was whether McDonald’s All American Cameron Brink was going to play, as a week prior she was still in a medical boot. This all was answered during their game versus Liberty, where she suited up to give her team a fighting chance. Although they went down to Liberty 62-44, Brink was an inspirational piece for all those in attendance, as she simply wanted to help her team win that day. With a 9 point, 9 rebound performance, the story was more about the fact that she was present, physically and spiritually, for Mountainside that day which was something to revere. Best off the bench: [player_tooltip player_id="158550" first="Beaux" last="Bruegman"] 2023 5’10" SF Sheldon HS Bruegman had 12 points and 8 rebounds, which is already significant enough considering she was a freshman vying for playing time. But what was extraordinary were the situations, playing against a traditionally renowned South Medford team and coming off the bench to contribute in a tight game. Bruegman showed skills beyond that of her underclassmen status, as four of her rebounds were on the offensive end, and she sank two three-pointers to show off her offensive versatility. Beaux showed that she is amongst the State’s top players of 2023 with this spotlight performance off the bench in a game with huge dynamics surrounding it. Best team player: Mary Kay Naro 2021 5’11" PG Beaverton HS In Beaverton’s slow roll of Southridge, it showed that at times, the greatest efforts cannot be dictated by the box score. Mary Kay Naro was the pinnacle of such statements, as her gritty, determined nature showed the true character of the Beaverton squad. In the boxscore, Naro scored 8 points and grabbed 6 rebounds to go with 3 assists, but it was her focused mentality that really infused her teammates. Held scoreless for the first three quarters, Naro scored all 8 of her points in the fourth quarter as well as helped dictate the offense and provide an intricate defensive initiative for her teammates. Best all-around effort: [player_tooltip player_id="158487" first="Toni" last="Coleman"] 2021 5’6" PG South Medford HS South Medford was ready for their debut at Chiles Center this season with a mission to prove that the best basketball was in Southern Oregon. [player_tooltip player_id="158487" first="Toni" last="Coleman"] was the defining player on the team, as she used this opportunity to showcase her skills on center stage. The lightning quick Coleman, who competed at the 6A OSAA Track and Field championships in the 100 meter dash as a freshman, had a career defining performance. 26 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 steals as they defeated Sheldon, a step closer to the championship game that they had been planning for in the beginning of the season. Best Competitor: [player_tooltip player_id="158482" first="Kylee" last="Arzner"] 2021 5’10" SG McMinnville HS Kylee had played a signature game to get her team into the tournament, with a single handed effort to defeat West Linn the round before. Her combination of dribbling moves, mixed with the composure and confidence was something to behold, as not many have her determination and swagger. The opening round at Chiles proved to be a difficult event for Arzner, as she shot 5-20 and had a rough outing. However, proving that she was a leader beyond her shortcomings, she displayed resilience only shown by few and continued to battle and contributed 14 points and 8 rebounds in a loss to South Salem. Best Shooter: [player_tooltip player_id="158481" first="Taylin" last="Smith"] 2021 5’5" PG Liberty HS Liberty was another team in the hunt for the championship, as they have been battle tested all season, playing in the top league in the State, the Metro League. Taylin came ready and prepared as she scored 21 points off 10 shots, shooting 5-8 from three-point land. She would not be stopped as she was automatic from beyond the arc and was incredibly efficient and concise in her scoring efforts. The flow and fluidity of her game looked natural, as she never forced the issue and the box-score and shooting percentages asserted this claim. Best Defender: [player_tooltip player_id="158520" first="Sierra" last="Logue"] 2022 6’3" C South Medford HS Sierra held in down in the post for the Panthers, as the 6’3” center was a big part of their victory over Sheldon. Logue had a solid effort of 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 blocks as she played anchor for the South Medford defense, altering and blocking everything that came her way. But what was especially impressive was her discipline on the defensive end, as she only drew one personal foul despite being a big target for whistles, as displayed a lot of defensive awareness and skill - something that cannot be expressed in the stat sheet. Grittest Performance Laura Erikstrup 2021 6’2" PF Beaverton HS In a game where neither team scored more than 10 points in one quarter, Laura Erikstrup was the definitive consistency for a Beaverton team that needed an offensive input from somewhere. Known for her physical inside play, Erikstrup scored 14 points on 6-11 shooting, and grabbed 7 rebounds, which four of them were offensive boards. In a game that was agitated by a lack of points and sheer defensive tactics, Laura was the high scorer of both clubs and showed that determination and persistence can help raise your team over the top.