Behind a big season from do-everything junior point guard Sara Mangan and a breakout freshman year from guard Camryn Herzberg, Southridge has taken the inside track in 6A Metro League girls basketball.
With three league games remaining, the No. 9 Skyhawks (14-7, 6-1) hold a one-game lead over Jesuit (11-9, 5-2) and Beaverton (10-11, 5-2), the same teams they shared the league title with last season.
Southridge has won its last six games, including a 69-58 home win over Beaverton that was payback for a 52-46 road loss. That defeat is the only in-state setback this season for the Skyhawks, who have not played a team currently ranked in the OSAAtoday 6A coaches poll.
“We lost some games early, but we played hard,” coach Michael Bergmann said. “By the time Metro hit, I felt like we were prepared. Since then, I think we're just executing a little bit better. We're focused on trying to get through Metro, but it's still anybody's league.”
The last two seasons, the 5-foot-7 Mangan led Southridge in scoring and was a Metro first-team selection. This season, she is averaging a career-high 17.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.8 steals while shooting 42.3 percent from the field, including 35.4 percent from three-point range, and 81.3 percent on free throws.
Mangan has flirted with a triple-double, putting up 23 points, nine rebounds and nine assists in one game. She has improved in controlling other aspects of the game this season, according to Bergmann.
“She's learning even more to be an all-around player,” Bergmann said. “It hurts other teams when they try to keep her from shooting threes. She did a really good job last year of not just being a shooter, and now she's taken it to another level where she's just so efficient.”
Mangan has improved her pull-up jumper. If opponents overplay her, she has learned to burn them backdoor.
“In the past, when teams got in her face and were physical with her, it kind of got her frustrated,” Bergmann said. “Now if they're playing physical with her, she takes advantage of it by being stronger than them, and then setting up her teammates.”
The addition of the 5-7 Herzberg has helped take some of the scoring load off Mangan. She is averaging 16.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.5 steals, shooting 52.1 percent from the field, including 33.3 percent on three-pointers.
Herzberg is so athletic, the Skyhawks use her on the opening tip.
“I've never seen anyone jump as well as she does,” Bergmann said. “She's got a really nice pull-up jumper, and she finishes at the rim really well with both hands.”
Mangan and junior guard Alex Lytchanyi are the only starters back from last season. The new starters are Herzberg, 6-1 junior post Addison White (8.3 points, 7.3 rebounds) and senior combo guard Faye Scott (7.1 points).
White, who transferred from Lakeridge as a sophomore, has become the team's interior presence after the graduation of 6-1 Bella Loits. White is in better condition this season, enabling her to anchor the defense and play big minutes.
“She's had a huge improvement,” Bergmann said.
Freshman point guard Bailey Griffin (6.0 points, 2.6 assists) provides a spark off the bench. Bergmann said Griffin plays point guard with more confidence than Mangan did as a freshman.
“She's really small, but her nickname is 'Biggie' because she just plays so tough and big,” Bergmann said.
Southridge can clinch the outright Metro title by winning its last three games: at Sunset, home vs. Jesuit and at Mountainside. Down the stretch, the Skyhawks have been playing with more confidence as they embrace their roles.
“When teams try to take Sara away now, we've got kids that feel confidence that they want the ball and they want to shoot it,” Bergmann said.
Southridge made the state tournament last year but lost to eventual champion South Medford 56-24 in the quarterfinals. Bergmann said the Skyhawks are at a similar level this season and can't afford to look past any team.
“We could lose in the first round if we don't play well,” he said.
Willamette blasts South Medford
No. 4 Willamette put a virtual lock on the 6A Southwest Conference title Friday with a 66-44 win at No. 5 South Medford, the six-time reigning conference champion.
The Wolverines (18-5, 10-0) – who lost all three meetings against South Medford last season, including in the state semifinals – have won both games against the reigning state champion Panthers (16-4, 6-2) this season.
In Friday's win, senior Brynn Smith had 19 points, four rebounds and four assists, senior Diamond Wright had 16 points and senior Isabella Harms added 15 points and seven rebounds.
The Wolverines made three three-pointers to open a 17-7 lead in the first quarter and led the rest of the way. They went on a 10-0 run early in the fourth quarter to expand the lead to 22 points.
“As disappointed as I am about how we played, I can't just diminish how good they played, and I have to give them credit,” South Medford coach Tom Cole told the Rogue Valley Times.
It was South Medford's fourth home loss since 2010.
Amity prevails in clash of No. 1s
Undefeated Amity dominated visiting Philomath 59-37 on Feb. 12 in a game between teams ranked No. 1 in the 3A and 4A OSAAtoday coaches polls, respectively.
The Warriors (25-0, 16-0), one day removed from clinching the PacWest Conference title with a 56-46 win at No. 6 Jefferson (19-5, 14-2), took control early against Philomath (17-4, 6-1).
Amity led 22-9 after one quarter and extended its lead to 18 points at halftime and 19 points after three quarters. Junior wing Alyssa McMullen scored 15 points and junior Eliza Nisly and senior Saralynn Grove added 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Warriors, who were able to recharge despite the short turnaround.
“There’s no time to be tired and to think about that,” Amity coach Jed McMullen said. “We brought it tonight for sure. We’re feeling like we’re playing our best basketball right now. Every game, I feel like we’re getting just a little bit better.”
--Jeremy McDonald contributed to this report
Cyr lifts North Douglas
No. 5 North Douglas needed some late heroics to clinch its sixth consecutive 1A Skyline League championship Feb. 12 at New Hope Christian.
Senior guard Brooklyn Cyr made a 15-foot jumper with 12 seconds left to lift the Warriors (19-4, 10-0) over New Hope Christian 37-35. It was the first loss of the season for New Hope Christian (19-2, 8-2), which also fell 45-42 at second-place Umpqua Valley Christian (16-7, 9-1) on Friday.
Cyr finished with 22 points, six rebounds and six assists and sophomore post Aili LeHolm added eight rebounds in the win. New Hope Christian got 22 points from senior guard Ava Barnett, whose steal and layup tied the game at 35-35 in the final minute.
North Douglas has won 65 consecutive regular-season league games. Counting league playoff games, the winning streak is 75.
jerryu@osaa.org
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