Nine Underclassmen Making an Impact at the 5A State Tourney

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The OSAA 5A girls championship game is set for Saturday at 7:45 PM between No. 5 West Albany and No. 2 Springfield at Linfield University. Here are four sophomores and five freshmen who made an impact for their teams during the 5A state tournament:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1264922"],"_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-69b4b6a41d166"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1264922' first='Nuari' last='Filipe'] led the way in No. 2 Springfield's 67-47 state quarterfinal win over No. 7 Crook County on Thursday, putting up a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. She added 17 points and 5 rebounds in the Millers' state semifinal win (55-50) over No. 3 South Albany on Friday night. The D1-level prospect has shown that she is the top player in the class of 2029. She's a three-level scoring threat and can play inside and out on both ends. Filipe led the Millers in scoring in her freshman season, averaging 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 assists per game. She was named to the Midwestern League First Team. Springfield will meet No. 5 West Albany in the 5A state final on Saturday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1179226"],"_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-69b4eed4065b8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Six-foot-3 power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1179226' first='Lily' last='Hamblin'] can dominate in the paint with her length and physicality. Hamblin scored 12 points (shooting 100% from the field), with 7 rebounds and 3 blocks in No. 5 West Albany's state semifinal win over No. 1 Redmond on Friday. The sophomore protects the rim, rebounds, and finishes around the basket. In her sophomore season, Hamblin averaged 10 points and 7.7 rebounds per game and was named to the Mid-Willamette Conference Second Team. West Albany will face No. 2 Springfield in the 5A state final on Saturday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1691387"],"_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-69b4b6a41d1be"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1691387' first='Mckinley' last='Sloper'] combined for 27 points (shooting 47% from the field) and 11 rebounds in two 5A state tournament games for the Cowgirls. Sloper led No. 7 Crook County in scoring with 16 points in a 62-60 consolation semifinal win over No. 6 Wilsonville. Sloper is a strong rebounder on both ends. She has great hands on defense and great footwork inside on offense. The small forward creates for herself and consistently gets to the free-throw line. In her freshman season, Sloper led the Cowgirls in scoring, rebounding, and steals—averaging 18, 9.4, and 5 per game, respectively. She was named to the Intermountain Conference First Team. Crook County will face No. 4 Crater in the fourth-place game on Saturday morning.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1192568"],"_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-69b4b6a41cff8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1192568' first='Bergen' last='Porter'] led the way in No. 1 Redmond's 67-51 state quarterfinal win against No. 8 Silverton on Thursday, scoring 16 efficient points, on 4-of-4 from three point range, with 4 assists, 2 steals, and no turnovers. The shooting guard came out fast for the Panthers, hitting a corner three in the first seconds of the game. Porter is a glue player who consistently gets after it on both ends of the court. She averaged 10.4 points and 6 rebounds per game in her sophomore season and was named an honorable mention in the Intermountain Conference. Redmond fell to No. 5 West Albany in the state semifinals on Friday and will meet No. 3 South Albany in the third-place game on Saturday evening.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1616305"],"_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-69b4b6a41d06f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1616305' first='Addi' last='Smith'] combined for 20 points (shooting 47% from the field) and 11 rebounds in two 5A state tournament games for the Wildcats. Smith has an athletic frame, is a strong rebounder, and can finish tough takes to the rim through contact. The sophomore averaged 6.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game this season and earned an honorable mention in the Northwest Oregon Conference. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1264936"],"_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-69b4b6a41d23d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1264936' first='Kodee' last='Kimball'] is an elite shooter. She tallied 15 points (shooting 42% from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range) in No. 1 Redmond's state quarterfinal win over No. 8 Silverton on Thursday. In her debut season, Kimball led the Panthers in scoring with 16.4 points per game and set the program's single-game scoring record with 36 points. Kimball was named to the Intermountain Conference First Team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1264968"],"_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-69b4b6a41d0f0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Chloe Kushchnick was a spark off the bench for Silverton, combining for 18 points and 12 rebounds in two 5A state tournament games. The freshman is a good shooter, handler, and defender and provided ball security for the Foxes. No. 8 Silverton fell to No. 4 Crater in a consolation semifinal on Friday. Kuschnick scored a team-high 13 points, consistently beating the perimeter defender and scoring downhill. In her sophomore season, Kuschnick averaged 9 points, shot 39% from three-point range, and received an honorable mention in the Mid-Willamette Conference.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1264948"],"_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-69b4eed406696"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">[player_tooltip player_id='1264948' first='Ainsley' last='Ure'] came off the bench as a defensive specialist for No. 1 Redmond at the 5A state tournament. She is a tenacious on-ball defender who can tie up point guards and force turnovers. Ure is also a great ball handler and can knock down the open three-pointer. She's a hard worker with a motor and plays 110% every minute she's on the court. Ure scored 8 points (shooting 50% from the field) in 16 minutes in Redmond's semifinal loss to No. 5 West Albany.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- 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":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Leila Acuff","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_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":"12124","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Crook County","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_program":"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-69b4b6a41d346"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Sophomore Leila Acuff combined for 18 points (shooting 64% from the field), 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals in two state tournament games. Acuff is a state-champion barrel rider and a fast, hard-working, defensive-focused player on the basketball court. In a tied consolation semifinal with 4 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Acuff rebounded her own fastbreak layup to score the game-winner at the final buzzer. No. 7 Crook County defeated No. 6 Wilsonville 62-60 and will meet No. 4 Crater in the fourth-place game on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://www.instagram.com/p/DV1fQ_iktBG/","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/DV1fQ_iktBG/ </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->