Starwalt Headlines All-State Players Returning to 5A Division

<p>If you were at Linfield in March for the 5A girls basketball state tournament, you witnessed some incredible basketball. The West Albany Bulldogs rode their sweet shooting all the way to their first-ever state title in this sport, but a gritty, well-balanced Springfield team didn't make it easy on them. Both of these teams figure to be back for more next season, but there are plenty of other contenders to watch out for. All in all, the 5A division returns plenty of exciting talent, including eight players who made all-state last season. Let's meet them!</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">First Team All-State</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Starwalt was one of the state's most talented shooters the moment she enrolled at West Albany, but five months ago, she cemented her legacy as one of its most legendary players. Her 26 points in the championship were slightly below her season average of 26.8, but the Bulldogs needed every last one of them. One simply cannot go under on a ball screen while guarding her, no matter where she is on the court. She has WNBA range, and she uses that gravitational pull to find her teammates for open looks. Over the summer, Starwalt lit up the New Balance 17U circuit with 22 points, 5.5 assists and 2.5 steals per game. She will be off to Kentucky to play for Murray State in a year, but for now, she will focus on taking West Albany on a repeat run.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">As a freshman, Filipe and her Millers were West Albany's toughest challenge to overcome all season. Springfield came up just three points shy of its fourth state title, and Filipe's 26 points and eight boards were the main reason why. She plays a stellar inside-outside game that can't really be defined by one position. One possession, she's hitting you with a dream shake in the post, and the next, she's handling the ball above the break. She confidently shoots over the defense every time they leave her open for a turnaround mid-range shot. She runs the floor in transition and does not get pushed around on defense or in rebounding battles. There are very few holes in her game, and she was recently rewarded with a Division I offer from UNLV. Filipe has spent the summer hooping for Matt Sanders's Oregon Top Prospects 16U team, where she scored 19.5 points a game on the New Balance circuit.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Second Team All-State</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Tidwell continues the trend of OTP girls on this list — they really have assembled quite the crew. She was another key contributor to West Albany's title run. If it weren't for her 6 threes and 22 points in the quarterfinal against Crater, we may be talking about a different champion right now. She followed that up with another 6-three game to help her team cruise past Redmond in the semis. The stats show Tidwell is always steps up when she is needed. She said has gotten stronger and more confident over the offseason as she looks forward to another high school season with her best friends.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">I talked to several parties about Hall, who forgoes club basketball and instead takes the multi-sport (shotput and discus) route. They all said the same thing: the girl can shoot. Hall is a floor stretcher with a lightning-quick release who makes the Springfield offense click. Her signature playoff performance was a 20-point, 6-three-pointer effort in a close state semifinal win over South Albany. Hall is also a strong player who can fight on the glass. She is the Millers' veteran leader with three years of state tournament experience under her belt, and she will be hungry to cut down the nets for the first time.</p>    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Third Team All-State</h2>    <p class="text-gray-700">Warren was tearing up the summer for Oregon Overtime before she suffered a knee injury that will keep her out of the beginning of her senior year. Still, she is working tirelessly to get back out on the court as soon as possible. The Northwest Oregon Conference is better when Warren is bombing threes, knifing through the defense, and making plays for her teammates. She is more than a scorer, as she supplemented her 17.3 points per game as a junior with five rebounds, three assists and three steals per game. Once she's healthy, Warren and all-state honorable mention forward Jada Eatmon will enter year four as varsity teammates, making Putnam a tough out.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Chamberlain is West Albany's "glue girl" and took home the 2026 state championship player of the game award for her hustle, rebounding and positional versatility. At 5'11", she can play the 3 or 4 because she has the quickness to defend on the wing, the strength to battle in the post, and a sneaky ability to make reads and distribute the ball. She is in talks with multiple college programs and has received an offer from Iowa Central Community College. Coming off the state title and a hardworking summer, Chamberlain and the rest of the Bulldogs' core of rising seniors are ready for one last ride together.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">Sloper is another young star with eye-popping numbers as a freshman, averaging 19 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals. Despite being a new member of 5A, Crook County is quietly building a formidable program out of Prineville, and the Cowgirls finished in sixth place at Linfield in March. Sloper is one of their finest products as a true do-it-all wing. She is an offensive engine, playing 1 through 4 and even recording a rare high school triple-double against Mountain View with 28 points, 10 rebounds and 10 steals. Sometimes you see players this skilled try to force things and end up making things harder for themselves — not Sloper. She makes the right play every time. She wants to work on her finishing efficiency as her career progresses, and once she does, she could see some college offers roll in. Sloper helped her club, Central Oregon Force, finish in third place at the Elite is Earned Select League finals this summer in Louisville, Ky.</p>     <p class="text-gray-700">The freshman version of Kimball was already a major contributor for a stacked 2025-26 Redmond team that earned the overall No. 1 seed in 5A and featured now-Fresno State Bulldog Mylaena Norton. The sophomore version will be even better. She has a complete offensive profile, shooting from outside and inside the arc. Her 36-point explosion broke Redmond's all-time single-game scoring record. She racked up 72 rebounds and 77 assists over the season, showing her willingness to do the dirty work. She is also a ball hawk, averaging well over three steals a game. Kimball also played with the Force for her summer season as she gears up to lead another dangerous Panthers roster.</p>

If you were at Linfield in March for the 5A girls basketball state tournament, you witnessed some incredible basketball. The West Albany Bulldogs rode their sweet shooting all the way to their first-ever state title in this sport, but a gritty, well-balanced Springfield team didn't make it easy on them. Both of these teams figure to be back for more next season, but there are plenty of other contenders to watch out for. All in all, the 5A division returns plenty of exciting talent, including eight players who made all-state last season. Let's meet them!