Oregon’s best high school girls basketball players: Meet the top stars in the 6A Pacific Conference

Mandie Jensen is back for her fourth season on Sherwood's varsity after being a second-team all-Pacific Conference selection as a junior.
Oregon’s best high school girls basketball players: Meet the top stars in the 6A Pacific Conference
Oregon’s best high school girls basketball players: Meet the top stars in the 6A Pacific Conference /

We’re taking a conference-by-conference look at some of the state’s top high school basketball players. Here’s the Pacific girls list.

Every league has numerous standout players, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Let us know which other players you think should be added to the list.

Mandie Jensen (Sherwood) photo by Dan Brood

Century

W/P Josie Hill, sr., 5-9

Hill has demonstrated a positive attitude, and plenty of perseverance, for the Jaguars this season.

“Josie has battled through leg injuries all year and is doing her best to be able to play every day,” Century coach Dave Gainey said. “She is a pure shooter and has a very high basketball IQ. She is a fun person for her teammates to be around. She looks on the bright side of every situation all the time.”

Hill is averaging 4.3 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game.

W Ida Makboul, sr., 5-8

Makboul has shined in the role of being a versatile player for the Jaguars this season, as she is averaging 5.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game.

“Ida put in a huge amount of time over the summer and fall to improve her game,” Gainey said. “She attacks the basket well and has become our second-leading scorer and rebounder. Ida has to play multiple positions for us on the floor, due to our lack of size. She has embraced this role.”

P Jenna Walkenhorst, jr., 5-10

Walkenhorst has stepped up as the Jaguars’ top rebounder for the season, pulling down an average of 9.5 boards per game, while also shining on the defensive end of the court.

“She works extremely hard every time she steps in the gym,” Gainey said. “Jenna is a great teammate and leader.”

Walkenhorst is averaging 5 points and 2.1 steals per game.

Forest Grove

G Lauren Buchanan, so., 5-7

Buchanan, who was an all-Pacific Conference honorable mention pick as a freshman, has picked right back up in her sophomore season, averaging 8.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 1.8 assists per game.

“She is one of our best perimeter shooters and primary ball-handlers,” Forest Grove coach Dan Lumpkin said. “She has really grown this year to be a leader on the floor, making good decisions and playing great defense.”

G Lily Everson, sr., 5-9

Everson, who was a second-team all-Pacific Conference pick as a junior, is helping lead the way for the Vikings this season. She leads the team in scoring, averaging 10.6 points per game, while also averaging 4.2 steals, 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per contest. She also shines on defense.

“Lily is a top defender in our league and really sets the tone for us on defense,” Lumpkin said. “She is aggressive and quick, which, along with her length and athleticism, allows her to guard multiple positions. She is also our leading scorer, with the ability to score at the basket and from the 3-point line.”

G Ally Hammond, sr., 5-9

Hammond has stepped up for the Vikings this season, while posing match-up problems for Forest Grove’s opponents.

Hammond, who was an all-Pacific Conference honorable mention pick as a junior, is scoring at an average of 10.2 points per game, second on the team, while also averaging 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.6 assists per contest.

“Ally is an incredible athlete, who is at her best in the open court and driving to the basket,” Lumpkin said. “She is an excellent rebounder from the guard position and is a difficult match-up for many teams.”

Glencoe

P Izzy Hill, so., 5-10

Hill, in her first season in the Glencoe program, has already made an impact for the Crimson Tide, as she’s averaging 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocked shots per game.

There are other ways her presence has been felt.

“Izzy has become the heart and soul of both our offense and defense,” Glencoe coach Judy Wright said. “She’s been integral in helping our guards in the press break and getting gritty buckets inside. Her ability to finish through contact would be impressive at any stage in her career, yet the fact that she’s only a sophomore makes it all the more spectacular.”

Hill already seems to be playing at a spectacular level on defense.

“On the defensive end, she’s become even more imposing,” Wright said. “Her presence inside has been felt since Day 1, with some of the most athletic blocks I’ve seen at any level. Her strength and athleticism makes guards second-guess driving to the hoop. And to think she still has two more years of this. I can’t wait to watch her growth continue.”

P April Jones, jr., 5-10

Jones just gets out there and takes care of business for the Crimson Tide, as she’s averaging a team-leading 8 points per game, while also pulling down 3 rebounds per game.

“April has a way with silently getting bucket after bucket. She just works, no flash, no talk. She just goes 100-percent of the time,” Wright said. “She’s the ultimate teammate. She’s unselfish, yet aggressive. She doesn’t look imposing, yet has been a great rim-protector and multi-position defender.”

Jones also is ready to do what is best for the team.

“April has been asked to play out of position at times, but there was never a complaint, and she always finds ways to get to her spots on the floor, no matter where I put her.”

Liberty

P Brynly Bryan, sr.

Bryan, a team captain, is the Falcons’ leading rebounder, with an average of 5.8 boards per contest. But she brings much more than that to the Liberty squad.

“Brynly is an exceptional leader that brings the energy and heart our team needs every night,” Liberty coach Melanie Wagoner said. “Her senior leadership has made every player on our team better, and she is willing to fight and sacrifice with a team-first mentality.”

G Kaliyah Chronister, fr., and G Maddy Miramontes, fr.

Chronister and Miramontes look to be the future stars in the Liberty program, and they’re also stepping up this season as freshmen.

“Kaliyah and Maddy are our young, talented guards who continue to rise to every challenge,” Wagoner said. “They are our primary ball-handlers and top perimeter shooters and are currently leading us in scoring, assists and steals.”

G Amara Harper, jr.

Harper, who was a second-team all-Pacific Conference pick as a sophomore, got off to a strong start to the season before suffering an injury.

“Amara is a very athletic and talented player, who was our leading scorer until being sidelined by injury,” Wagoner said. “She is a tough kid and complete player.”

G Sage Reamer, jr.

Reamer has turned out to be a valuable player for the Falcons this season — in many ways.

“Sage is another energy player who almost averages taking a charge a game,” Wagoner said. “She does a little bit of everything for our team, from scoring and passing, to getting steals and rebounds.”

McMinnville

G Lucy Angevine, sr., 5-6

Angevine is the only returning starter from last year’s McMinnville squad, when she was an honorable mention all-Pacific Conference pick, and she’s taken over in a leadership role for this season’s team.

“She has good quickness on defense and has the ability to knock down threes and help run the point,” McMinnville coach Sean Coste said.

Angevine is averaging 2.4 assists and 2 steals per game.

G Maddix Bowdle, so., 5-7

Bowdle has stepped in to take over the point guard spot for the Grizzlies this season.

“She sees the floor well,” Coste said. “She is a strong and athletic defender and has quick hands. She gets a lot of deflections.”

Bowdle is averaging 4.6 points, 2.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game.

F Madison Gerhart, so., 6-0

Gerhart is making an impact inside for the Grizzlies, as she is averaging 6.4 rebounds per game, as well as 5.2 points.

“Maddie Gerhart is an up-and-coming post player in our league and has gotten better and better rebounding and scoring this season,” Coste said. “She has great timing on rebounds and has a number of moves and counters inside.”

G Libby Hardee, jr., 5-6

Hardee has shined for the Grizzlies on both ends of the court this season.

“Libby is tough driving to the basket and finishing,” Coste said. “She does a great job defensively, keeping her man in front, and is another player that gets lots of deflections and steals.”

Hardee is averaging 3.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game.

F Emily Jensen, sr., 5-8

After missing her entire junior season because of a broken foot, Jensen is back strong for the Grizzlies as a senior, as she’s averaging 6.5 points and 2.9 rebounds per game, while shooting at a 40-percent clip from the field.

“She put in a lot of time during the offseason, working on her shot,” Coste said. “She’s an excellent 3-point shooter. She’s long on defense and can defend on the perimeter and in the post.”

G Rylie McManus, fr., 5-4

McManus has made an impact as a freshman, averaging 5.7 points, 2.7 steals and 1.6 assists per game, and she looks to have a bright future.

“She has excellent basketball skills and understanding and is a very good 3-point shooter,” Coste said. “She sees the floor well and is tenacious on defense. She is going to be a very good basketball player.”

G Peyton Justice, So., 5-5

Justice has emerged as the Grizzlies’ top scorer this season, averaging 8.8 points per game, while shooting at a 43-percent clip from the field.

“She’s a very good shooter from the 3-point line. She drives and finishes well at the basket,” Coste said. “She has good quickness and toughness on defense.”

Justice is also averaging 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game.

Newberg

W Lydia Gray, fr., 5-10

Gray, as a freshman, has wasted no time in making an impact for the Tigers, as she’s already averaging a team-best 6.3 rebounds per game, while also averaging 6.9 points.

“Lydia has been a stat-sheet stuffer this season,” Newberg coach Luke Lindell said of Gray, who also is averaging 2.3 assists and 2.6 steals per game. “She leads us in rebounding and has a real knack for finding the ball. She has had some great offensive games as well. We ask a lot of her for a young player, and she has responded well all season long.”

G Iz Macris, fr., 5-8

Macris has quickly become an outside shooting threat for the Tigers, shooting at a 37-percent clip from 3-point range, while scoring at an average of 8.9 points per game.

“Iz has been a dependable player for us this season,” Lindell said. “She’s big and strong for her age and has a high IQ on the defensive end of the floor. She has stepped up into a secondary ball-handler and has done everything that we have asked of her. She is a terrific outside shooter and has put up some big games against great competition.”

Macris is also averaging 1.5 steals per game.

G Alli Stilp, sr., 5-8

There doesn’t appear to be any doubt about it: Stilp, who was a second-team all-Pacific Conference selection as a junior, has led the way for the Tigers this season, as she’s scoring at a team-best average of 16.0 points per game.

“Alli has been our most dynamic offensive player this season,” Lindell said. “She has the ability to create her own shot and puts a lot of pressure on the defense. With our team being so young, she has definitely stepped up into the role that we needed, and she is a big reason for the success we have had.”

Stilp is also averaging 5.6 rebounds, 4.6 steals and 2.4 assists per game.

Sherwood

C/F Ava Heiden, so., 6-4

Heiden averages a team-best 10 points per game, but it might be on the other end of the court where she makes her biggest impact as, in her freshman season, she was named the Pacific Conference defensive player of the year in addition to being a first-team all-conference pick.

“Ava brings a huge inside presence for us,” said Sherwood coach Lauren Howard, who is a former Bowmen standout player. “She not only has been a force scoring and rebounding for us, but she has the ability to find her open teammates and averages the most assists for us as well. Her defense is unmatchable, and she is able to defend on the perimeter as well.”

Heiden is also averaging 7.5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1.5 blocked shots and 1.2 assists per game.

W/F Mandie Jensen, sr., 5-9

Jensen is back for her fourth season on the Bowmen varsity after being a second-team all-Pacific Conference selection as a junior.

“Mandie is a motor player that goes all-out on the court no matter the situation,” Howard said. “She takes pride in being the hardest worker on the floor at all times. Her ability to defend on the perimeter sets the tone for our whole squad. She also has been a big inside presence for us this season.”

Jensen is averaging 7.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 assist per game.

G/W Laney Snelling, sr., 5-5

Snelling, who also is in her fourth season on the Bowmen varsity, has really stepped up her game as a senior.

“Laney has been a huge part of our success this season on the offensive end,” Howard said. “She is not only able to shoot from the perimeter, but has really found her groove getting to the rim. She is also an incredible rebounder and reads the flight of the ball well. She has really stepped into a strong point guard role for us this year and has been able to lead this team day in and day out.”

Snelling is averaging 6.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. 


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