Top 12 in 5A: Springfield, West Albany Rise in Week 8

<p>5A is crowded at the top! There are 24 different ways to list my top 4 teams in 5A, and I wouldn't really argue with any of them. Redmond could be in that conversation, but I haven't seen enough because their schedule isn't as strong as the teams listed above them.</p>   <p>Here are my Top 12 in 5A after Week 8:</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. Springfield (15-1, 4-0)</h2>   <p>Springfield is playing like the top team in 5A right now. They can score and defend, and they have showcased depth. The Millers are a threat from the perimeter behind senior [player_tooltip player_id='832596' first='Darissa' last='Romero-Ah Sam'], junior [player_tooltip player_id='925988' first='Sailor' last='Hall'], and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1264922' first='Nuari' last='Filipe']. Filipe is a three-level scorer who can create. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='991254' first='Kimora' last='Wright'] and Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='1191111' first='Lia' last='Jones'] can get to the rim. I was in the gym at Jesuit for Springfield's only loss, its second game of the season, and it looked like an off night from a shooting standpoint for the Millers. They've been on a 14-game winning streak since, showing they can beat good teams and put up high scoring numbers. I covered <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2026/01/5a-no-4-springfield-stuns-4a-no-1-stayton-56-31/">the Millers' dominant win against 4A power Stayton</a>, who was ranked No. 1 at the time. Springfield picked up two blowout Midwestern League wins — 63-35 at Thurston and 96-15 against Ashland in Week 8. In Week 9, the Millers go to North Eugene on Tuesday and host Crater for a 5A showdown on Friday.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DT5ZQG4gcGG/ </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. West Albany (10-4, 6-0) </h2>   <p>West Albany is undefeated through its first 6 games in the Mid-Willamette Conference, the most competitive 5A league in the state. The Bulldogs demonstrated their lethal offensive capabilities in a dominant 83-52 victory against Lebanon, a playoff-caliber team. They followed the statement win with a 77-31 blowout victory at Woodburn. The Bulldogs have a top point guard, three effective perimeter shooters, and athletic bigs who protect the paint. They host Central on Tuesday and go to Dallas on Friday.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. South Albany (11-3, 5-1)</h2>   <p>South Albany picked up two Mid-Willamette Conference wins — 58-24 against Dallas and 64-43 at Silverton in Week 8. The RedHawks go to Corvallis on Tuesday and Lebanon on Friday. South Albany beat Crater head-to-head in a 5A state title rematch early in the season, but fell off a bit with back-to-back losses in Weeks 6 and 7 — a defensive battle against rival West Albany, and a thriller against West Salem. At least one thing the RedHawks have that Springfield and Crater do not is the Mid-Willamette Conference gauntlet.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Crater (14-3, 5-0)</h2>   <p>Crater dominated in two Midwestern League home games — 68-42 against Eagle Point and 67-15 against Churchill. The Comets' schedule is not as strong as West Albany or South Albany, but they've consistently shown that they can defend and put up the biggest scoring numbers. They go to Springfield for an MWL showdown on Friday.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. Redmond (14-1, 3-0)</h2>   <p>Redmond picked up two dominant Intermountain Conference wins — 68-23 at Ridgeview and 73-29 at Caldera — and, if they take care of business, should win the rest of its scheduled games. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='842741' first='Mylaena' last='Norton'] surpassed 1,000 career points scored. The Lady Panthers are the other 5A team that could be undefeated, despite that pesky 2-point loss to Henley in its first game of the season. They are on a 14-game winning streak as they go to Bend on Tuesday and host Mountain View on Friday.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DT4fYS7FWrb/?img_index=1 </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DTwcRuDkW0p/ </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">6. Wilsonville (11-3, 6-0)</h2>   <p>Wilsonville had a dominant week in the Northwest Oregon Conference, blowing out Milwaukie 82-28 on the road and <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2026/01/northwest-oregon-conference-wilsonville-routs-canby-79-33/?itm_source=parsely-api">Canby 79-33 at home</a>. Utah Valley commit Gabi Moultrie scored 31 points to break the Wildcats' all-time scoring record in the game against the Cougars. The senior point guard is at 2007 points and counting. On Friday, Wilsonville hosts La Salle for the first of two NWOC clashes that should decide the conference title.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DT3HQ8nCccl/ </div></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-instagram wp-block-embed-instagram"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://www.instagram.com/p/DT10bvXDuYW/ </div></figure>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">7. Silverton (10-6, 5-2)</h2>   <p>Silverton defeated Crescent Valley 45-36 and lost to South Albany 43-64. The Foxes should pick up two MWC home wins in Week 9 against Woodburn on Tuesday and Dallas on Friday.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">8. Lebanon (10-4, 4-2)</h2>   <p>Lebanon bounced back after its big loss to West Albany on the road with a dominant 73-26 home win against Central. The Warriors have a tough Week 9 in the MWC with two ranked games — Crescent Valley away on Tuesday and South Albany at home on Friday.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">9. Crook County (11-4, 2-1)</h2>   <p>Crook County rose from No. 12 to No. 9 after defeating Mountain View 67-54 and <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/2026/01/intermountain-conference-crook-county-upsets-summit-55-47/">upsetting Summit 55-47</a>. The Cowgirls host Caldera on Friday.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">10. Summit (8-6, 0-2)</h2>   <p>Summit had a rough start to its Intermountain Conference campaign with back-to-back losses. The Storm fell to last week's No. 12 Crook County 47-55. They go to Mountain View on Tuesday and host Ridgeview on Friday.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">11. La Salle (11-4, 6-0)</h2>   <p>La Salle defeated Hillsboro 56-18. The Falcons host Milwaukie on Tuesday and go to Wilsonville for an NWOC showdown on Friday.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">12. Crescent Valley (7-8, 8-3)</h2>   <p>Crescent Valley fell to Silverton 35-45 and defeated Corvallis 60-31. The Raiders host Lebanon on Tuesday and go to Central on Friday.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Others Considered:</h2>   <p><strong>Bend (10-5, 3-0) </strong>upset Crook County 55-51 in Week 7, and defeated Caldera 47-39 and Ridgeview 54-40 in Week 8. The Lava Bears host Redmond on Tuesday and McKay on Thursday.</p>   <p></p>

5A is crowded at the top! There are 24 different ways to list my top 4 teams in 5A, and I wouldn't really argue with any of them. Redmond could be in that conversation, but I haven't seen enough because their schedule isn't as strong as the teams listed above them.