Midseason Update: 5 Instrumental Juniors

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It's midseason for Oregon girls high school basketball and conference play is underway! Here are five juniors, one each from five different conferences, who will be instrumental to their team's success in league standings (and the state tournament!).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Portland Interscholastic League:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1143337' first='Kelyn' last='Johnson'], Benson</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Southwest Conference</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='1142997' first='Jordan' last='Barlow'], South Medford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Three Rivers League</strong>: [player_tooltip player_id='832621' first='Reese' last='Jordan'], West Linn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pacific Conference:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='842734' first='Brooklynn' last='Summers'], McMinnville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Metro League:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='832605' first='Sara' last='Mangan'], Southridge</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1143359,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1143337' first='Kelyn' last='Johnson']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12125","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Benson","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67882e1babe8b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Benson guard [player_tooltip player_id='1143337' first='Kelyn' last='Johnson'] is a shooter! Opponents are wise not to leave Johnson open beyond the perimeter because she can be lethal from three with the catch-and-shoot. Johnson runs the court on both ends, breaking out for transition layups and running back to stop the ball on defense. She is a tough one-on-one defender and gets assigned to defend the other team's top scorer. Johnson is smart with the ball on offense and makes the right read, whether to shoot, pass, or drive. She brings leadership and maturity to a young and talented Benson squad. The Astros need her on the floor. Johnson scored 17 points, shooting 50% from the field, including 5-of-7 from three-point range against defending state champions South Medford.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1142997"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67882e1babefb"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">South Medford guard [player_tooltip player_id='1142997' first='Jordan' last='Barlow'] is an excellent defender with great vision and playmaking abilities. Most of Barlow's points come from transition layups, but she can also hit the open midrange shot. Barlow is locked in on defense. Her backcourt pressure on the opponent bringing up the ball makes it difficult for teams to get into their offense. She pokes the ball free or anticipates the pass for forced turnovers and steals. She pushes the pace in transition and can go all the way or find the right pass for the assist. Barlow is instrumental in South Medford's aspirations for a repeat Southwest Conference title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["832621"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67882e1babf44"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">West Linn guard [player_tooltip player_id='832621' first='Reese' last='Jordan'] hits from deep and gets to the rim. Jordan consistently contributes all game long. She runs the floor and is fast on the dribble and to the basket. She can get the team into its offense. Jordan moves well off the ball in gaps on the perimeter and around the key to get open. She makes the extra move—the ball fake, the step-through—down low to get an open look. Jordan scored 26 points with 6 steals and 5 assists against McMinnville. She averaged 21 points, 9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 3.3 steals at the POA Holiday Classic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["842734"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67882e1babf88"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">McMinnville junior [player_tooltip player_id='842734' first='Brooklynn' last='Summers'] is a great playmaker from the top of the key and moves well off the ball. Summers is strong on the dribble in the lane and has a quick turn and athletic take to the basket. She has good vision inside and can make the high/low assist. Summers is instrumental in breaking the press for McMinnville. She is tall with long arms and is a big target in the middle of the court to receive the ball and pass out over traps. She's a good defender and contests looks in the paint. Summers put up a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds against 5A sixth-ranked Wilsonville.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["832605"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67882e1babfd0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Southridge guard [player_tooltip player_id='832605' first='Sara' last='Mangan'] is a playmaker with great handles and vision, and she's a plus rebounder. Mangan's not afraid of pressure defense, beating the double team on the dribble at the front of the press or launching accurate passes from deep in the backcourt to beat the end of it. Mangan has an excellent low and quick crossover to beat the defender or create separation for the pull-up jumper. She has the arm strength to launch deep threes. Mangan has an effective jab fake to get free and can drive and dish with the one-handed push pass or take it to the basket herself. She has excellent vision, slinging one-handed passes from the perimeter to the open player under the basket. Mangan scored 15 points with 9 rebounds and 8 assists against Auburn (Wash.).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->