UNLV Commit To Finish Historic Career at La Salle Prep

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='832586' first='Ava' last='Bergeson'], one of La Salle Prep's most accomplished athletes, will lace up her basketball shoes for her last Northwest Oregon Conference game on Monday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It's your game, AB.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Those are the words third-year La Salle Prep head coach Lucas Fiorante says to Bergeson during every game introduction.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“And almost every time, it was,” said Fiorante to Prep Girls Hoops Oregon. “It's tough to think I'm only going to get to tell her that a few more times at La Salle.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 6-foot-1 forward/guard will finish her high school career ranked first in program history in all-time rebounds (1,000+) and blocks (200+), and second in all-time points (1,500+), assists (400+), and steals (260+). Her name will be etched into the <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/orhssportsrecords-com/state-records/basketball/basketball-girls?authuser=0">Oregon girls basketball record books</a> in perpetuity, alongside La Salle Prep standouts Aleah Goodman (1,402 points) and Taycee Wedin (2,097 points), who both went on to play college basketball at Oregon State and Saint Mary's, respectively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"I'll never get to experience something like this again,” said Bergeson about her high school basketball career. “I'm going to stay locked in until the last moment, play my hardest when I'm out there, and take it all in."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DUtkPEFEgdz/","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <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/DUtkPEFEgdz/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bergeson will continue her basketball career at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The NCAA Division 1 program first saw her play the summer after her freshman year. She went on an unofficial visit to UNLV as a sophomore, committed on her official visit in June, and signed in November at the start of her senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I knew I wanted to go there on my first visit,” said Bergeson about UNLV. “They're a competitive program, they won the Mountain West Conference last year, and I knew I wanted to be part of a competitive environment.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She also cited a loyal coaching staff, the culture, and the facilities as dealmakers:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The coaching staff would text me, call me, catch up with me. Even in the offseason. They've shown that they care about me not only as a player, but also as a person.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bergeson plans to major in Sports Media.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ-i18PD8Yr/?img_index=1","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <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/DQ-i18PD8Yr/?img_index=1 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was announced this week that UNLV will play USC in the opening game of the 2026-27 women's basketball season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“My jaw dropped,” said Bergeson, in response to the news. “My first college game is going to be against JuJu Watkins on a big stage and in the arena where the Las Vegas Aces play. JuJu is one of my idols, and it's crazy that I will be playing against her! I can't believe it.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>While Watkins is Bergeson's favorite women's college basketball player, Sabrina Ionescu is her favorite WNBA player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“It's always been Ionescu. She went to Oregon, and I'm a Ducks fan, so I've watched her since college. She's definitely my favorite player in the league,” said Bergeson. “And I like the New York Liberty. But I guess I'm going to start liking the Aces now, too!”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bergeson said that committing to UNLV over the summer removed the recruiting pressure, so she has been able to focus on the fun and excitement of just playing the game she loves in her senior season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For their last regular-season game on Monday, La Salle Prep hosts Wilsonville, the top team in the league. It's also senior recognition night for the Falcons. An upset against the Wildcats would earn La Salle Prep a share of the NWOC title.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We need to come out stronger than we did the first time we played them,” said Bergeson, who wants to enjoy her senior night game, but also knows what's at stake. Wilsonville defeated La Salle Prep 67-32 in the first round of the NWOC. “We all want to win, and I think we can do it. It would be big for us and set us up well for the playoffs.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bergeson was a freshman starter on the La Salle Prep team that finished in third place at the 5A state tournament under former head coach Kelli Wedin. She said it is a favorite memory from her high school career:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We made a really good run. It was back when the state tournament was at Oregon State University, and it was a really cool opportunity to play there.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During her high school career, Bergeson has helped lead La Salle Prep to a 73–31 record and three straight second-place league finishes. She earned NWOC Co-Player of the Year as a junior, three First Team All-League selections, and a Second Team All-State honor. Over her four-year varsity career, she has averaged over 17.4 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 3 steals, and 2 blocks per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“Ava's consistency, two-way impact, and leadership over four years have been remarkable,” said Coach Fiorante. “More importantly, she's an unselfish teammate who genuinely loves the game and represents our program the right way.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bergeson always knew she was going to go to La Salle Prep, as generations on her dad's side of the family had gone before her.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I've loved La Salle and its tight-knit sports community. Everyone supports each other's teams,” said Bergeson. “My sophomore year, one of my senior teammates tore her ACL early in the season. But on Senior Night, she got to make a basket, and it was really wholesome. That moment was La Salle basketball. That's how we do things here.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the high school offseasons, Bergeson played club basketball with Jason Kidd Select (Calif.). She advanced to the Power 24 17U quarterfinals in July during her final club season with Team Kidd.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“My experience with Jason Kidd Select in these past years has been surreal,” said Bergeson. “I am so grateful for everyone who supported me throughout my club career.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>She also traveled with the club program to play on a basketball tour in Croatia one summer and in&nbsp;Greece in August.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I had never been to Europe before. They play differently there. They have different rules and bigger courts. It was cool to experience. And, obviously, it was beautiful. The views are breathtaking.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DOY249ukVJl/","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"instagram","responsive":true} --> <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/DOY249ukVJl/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bergeson's high school career will continue past the NWOC again this season. The Falcons have clinched at least second place, which earns them an automatic bid to the 5A state playoffs, a field of 16 teams. The rankings freeze on Wednesday, and the first-round games will be played on March 7.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"It's my last season, and I want to make it as far as we can," said Bergeson. "I want to be playing for as long as I can."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>La Salle Prep's postseason will not be the end of her high school basketball career. The Northwest Shootout invited Bergeson to its 32nd annual interstate all-star game. The top ten players from Oregon and Washington will play in April.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I'm grateful to have coached Ava,” said Coach Fiorante. “She has grown so much as a player, but also as a person and a leader these last three years. She genuinely cares about the people around her, and she celebrates everyone's wins. Beneath all that is a fiercely competitive person. It's a rare balance.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->