If you’ve heard this before, stop. Tualatin boasts one of the best backcourts in all of Oregon thanks to a roster that is packed of both returners and a standout transfer. In the Three Rivers League this season, it will be difficult to stop the Timberwolves.
The following is a quick overview of each Three Rivers League boys basketball team, arranged alphabetically:
Lake Oswego Lakers
Season last: 3–20
Coach: Tully Wagner
Important participants: Liam Rigney, W, JR; Carter Dietz, W, SR
Overall: Wagner is excitedly awaiting the arrival of several dual-sport athletes and admits it might take some time for them to get into hoops mode now that the school’s football team has finally finished a deep playoff run. Despite this, Wanger has continued to project his team’s calling card in his debut season with the Lakers, following ten years at 4A’s North Marion. He remarked, “I see us as an uptempo team that can score in transition.” The Lakers, who are trying to recover from a difficult 2023–24 season, will be led by the wing duo of Rigney and Dietz.
Lakeridge Pacers
Season last: 14–10
James Watts is the coach.
Important participants: Valentin Faucher, G, SR; Sean McCarty, G/F, SR; Jack Clarke, C, SR
Outlook: The Pacers had a really successful 2023–24 season under first-year coach Watts, helping to completely change the culture of their program. This season’s next move will depend in part on Lakeridge’s ability to withstand what Watts described as one of the state’s most difficult preseason schedules. It is hoped that this challenging preseason schedule would help us prepare for the high level of toughness and competition required to participate in the Three Rivers League, he continued. The Pacers’ strong points are their defense and chemistry.
Oregon City Pioneers
Season last: 15–8
Aaron Newkirk is the coach.
Important participants include Eli Hopkins, W, SO; Alarion Scott, W, SO; Alijah Scott, W, JR; Ben Schneider, G, SR; and Dylan Payne, G/W, SR.
Outlook: Oregon City was one of the best stories of the previous season, even though they lost to Westview in the first round of the playoffs. In a challenging Three Rivers League, the Pioneers tied with West Linn for second place thanks to outstanding performances from standouts like Payne and Schneider. The team’s athleticism has improved from a year ago, according to coach Newkirk, and our ability to defend will determine how high or low this group can go.
Tigard Tigers
Season last: 2–20
Coach: Stu Bailey
Important players: SR, G/W, and Colt Ness
Perspective: Following the death of Shawn Alderman, Bailey took over the Tigers program after 26 seasons. Bailey now hopes that, without Alderman, the fundamentals of defense and toughness will endure. After a year where they were put to the test more off the court than on it, I am eager to see what these students can do, he said. Ness is the squad’s go-to player and will lead a capable group of seniors after making the all-league first team as a junior.
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Tualatin Timberwolves
Season last: 22–7
Coach: Bubba Lemon
Important participants: Nolan Keeney, W/F, SR; Pat Vialva, G, SO; Jemai Lake, G, JR; Javier Diaz, F, SR
Prospects: Last season, injuries prevented the Timberwolves from reaching their full potential, but Tualatin’s journey to the state playoffs, led by the now-graduated Jaden Steppe, was unabated. The Timberwolves start the season as the clear favorite in the league after some team movement this winter and the signing of guard Vialva, a transfer from West Linn. Along with Vialva, Lake, who made an impression as a sophomore, should form one of the most talented backcourts in the state. Given that he won’t be recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out for the whole of the previous season, Keeney should also play a bigger role.
West Linn Lions
Season last: 15–12
Travis Myers is the coach.
Important participants: Gavin Gross, W, SR; Jalen Snook, G, SR
Outlook: The Lions overcame a sluggish start to become one of the most potent shooting teams in the state at the end of the previous season. However, Myers’ first season as head coach won’t be without its own set of difficulties due to the offseason departures of important players and head coach Robert Key. According to Myers, the previous coach of West Salem, “we have a lot of seniors who are eager to finish their careers in a strong way.” This club is still developing its identity, but as the season goes on, the seasoned leadership and competitiveness will become more apparent. After playing important varsity roles as junior starters, Snook and Gross are seen as the team’s best players.
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