10 storylines entering Oregon (OSAA) 6A, 5A, 4A girls basketball state tournaments

Jazzy Davidson, Kendra Hicks two must-see stars in 6A; can South Medford, Silverton break through?

The Oregon (OSAA) 6A, 5A and 4A girls basketball state tournaments will be held this week. Here are 10 storylines entering the quarterfinals. 

6A preview | Players to watch | Bracket

5A preview | Players to watch | Bracket

4A preview | Players to watch | Bracket

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1. Jazzy Davidson building her legacy

Jazzy Davidson has more than lived up to the hype during her three years at Clackamas. Already a two-time Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year, Davidson led the Cavaliers to a 6A third-place state finish in 2022 and the program’s first state title last March. The five-star recruit is spectacular to watch and a true leader for Clackamas. “She is humble, kind, a great teammate, and does so many little things as well as the big things,” head coach Korey Landolt said. 

Jazzy Davidson (Clackamas) photo by Taylor Balkom 

2. Silverton, South Medford look to get over the hump 

The top seeds at the 6A and 5A levels share many similarities. South Medford has qualified for 12 of the past 13 6A state tournaments with one title (2012) to show for it. Silverton is making its ninth consecutive 5A tournament appearance with a single state title (2016) during the span. Neither team is viewed as the favorite in their respective classifications this season, but the consistency of the two programs is nothing short of remarkable. And both teams are plenty dangerous.

3. Is it Crater and everyone else?

With all five starters back from last year’s state tournament team, Crater is bringing a 21-game win streak to Linfield. The Comets play a unique, up-tempo style and have 5A’s top scoring offense (69.2 points per game) and defense (31.3) by a wide margin. With star guard Sage Winslow leading the way, Crater has a chance to blow through the state tournament and claim its first girls basketball championship.

4. Veteran Benson peaking at the right time

Eric Knox knows what a championship team looks like. Early in his tenure with Benson, Knox felt he had the core of a state champion, and the group led by Ciera Ellington and Tayler Lyday proved him right by routing Southridge and Cameron Brink in the 2019 6A title game. The coach has said similar things about his current crop of seniors that includes Mahogany Chandler-Roberts (Central Florida), Eboni Clay and Mauriana Hashemian-Orr. If Benson is cutting down the nets at the end of the week, Knox won’t be surprised. 

5. Astoria on a roll after starting slow

Astoria returned all five starters from last year’s team that placed third at the 4A tournament, but the Fishermen started 1-4 under new head coach Teke Silva. Top-seeded Astoria hasn’t lost since and is riding a 20-game win streak to the state tournament. Silva guided Springfield to the 5A final in 2019, and the Fishermen are set up for a special run with junior guard Shelby Bruney running the offense as they chase their first state title. 

6. The Kendra Hicks show comes to Chiles Center

Double-doubles are typically a noteworthy occurrence at the high school level, but not for Jesuit senior Kendra Hicks. Hicks, a Nevada signee and the leading rebounder in Crusaders history, is averaging 14.5 points and 16.1 rebounds this season. In Jesuit’s regular-season finale against Beaverton, she had a stat line that defies logic — 30 points, 31 rebounds and five assists. The Crusaders have a tough 6A quarterfinal matchup with Clackamas, but Hicks alone is worth the price of admission. 

Kendra Hicks (Jesuit) photo by Dan Brood 

7. Redmond knocking on the door

Redmond might be the least talked about team at the 5A state tournament, but the Panthers have all the ingredients of a classic spoiler. After going 13-11 a season ago without a senior on the roster, Redmond is 21-4 with young stars Dylan Cheney, Mylaena Norton and Azlynn Ure leading the way. The Panthers aren’t the biggest team, but the Intermountain champions play well together as they look to advance beyond the quarterfinals for the first time in program history. 

8. Jefferson, Willamette heavy on juniors

On paper, the most interesting 6A quarterfinal matchup is between a couple of junior-led teams in Jefferson and Willamette. All five Wolverines starters are juniors who helped lead the team to a fourth-place state finish a season ago. The Democrats do have two seniors to Willamette’s zero, but all four of the team’s double-digit scorers are juniors. Thursday’s quarterfinal could be a preview of a 2025 semifinal — or final.

9. Grants Pass finally breaks through

The one surprise team at Chiles Center is Grants Pass, which knocked off McMinnville in the round-of-16 to earn its first state tournament berth in the past 18 years. The Lady Cavers had fallen in the second round four times since 2018, including a 45-41 home loss to West Salem last winter. Brooke Anderson and Brooklyn Wakefield are four-year starters for Grants Pass. Of the Lady Cavers’ nine losses, only two have been by nine or more points. Expect Grants Pass to give Benson everything it can handle in the 6A quarterfinals. 

10. Are the two best 5A teams meeting in a quarterfinal?

Springfield, the defending 5A champion, is not the typical No. 7 seed. The Millers have two-time 5A player of the year Danaeja Romero-Ah Sam at point guard and added star transfer Diamond Wright during the offseason. But Springfield received a tough quarterfinal draw with Crater, a team it battled to a 58-56 loss at home Feb. 2. On paper, the matchup between Springfield and Crater looks a lot more like a title game than a quarterfinal. 

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