PENDLETON — It’s hard for opposing coaches to draw up a game plan to slow down Stanfield’s Mazie Reeser.
The 5-foot-11 senior is a threat inside, but she is most comfortable as a wing, and at times will step out and shoot a three-pointer.
“When I was a freshman, I didn’t know what I should be,” Reeser said. “I was too small to be a post, but too tall to be a guard. The team utilizes my strengths and they know my weaknesses. It’s so easy to play with them.”
Trinity Lutheran got a dose of Reeser in the 2A girls basketball playoffs last week when she went off for 23 points, including a three-pointer. She also was 6 of 7 from the free-throw line and had eight rebounds.
“Mazie gives us mismatch opportunities,” Stanfield coach Dan Sharp said. “She can shoot. Being in the post is the toughest matchup for her. Trinity Lutheran was tall and long, she tried to bang down low and it wasn’t working. She stepped out and had a great third quarter. A lot of teams will put their post on her, then when she goes outside and takes advantage when they put a smaller player on her.”
Reeser will put her skills to work when Stanfield takes on Bandon in the first game of the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 2A tournament Thursday.
“She is a great player,” Bandon coach Jordan Sammons said of Reeser. “I would say there are lots of really good players in our classification and Mazie is definitely one of them. We have a really good player in Makenna Vierck. I’m excited for that match. She is definitely a tough matchup, but we are going to try to make it as tough on her as we can.”
Reeser (19 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2.5 steals) also is a standout volleyball player, who has signed to play at Linn-Benton Community College in the fall, but she also loves basketball.
“I don’t think I am ready for it to end,” she said. “For me to me, Saturday will be my last basketball game ever. I am never going to be able to play with these girls again. I have so much love for the team and the game. We gotta get some new hardware and put it in the trophy case. I really hope we can get the job done.”
Reeser and senior Kylee Jackson (7 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists) are making their fourth appearance at the state tournament.
“Kylee is the girl we put on some of the better offensive players and she gives them fits,” Sharp said. “She has really developed her outside game and has been very solid for us. Our most consistent player all year.”
While Sharp gives credit to his players, Reeser said her coach is the driving force behind the Tigers’ success.
“Honestly, I would have never imagined my high school years like this,” Reeser said. “Mr. Sharp has led us there every year. It’s a reflection on him. How he runs practices. He is the glue that holds us all together.”
Stanfield will play its first game at Pendleton High School, which is about a 20-minute drive from their home court.
“Playing Stanfield at Pendleton is like playing Stanfield at Stanfield,” Sammons said. “We are going to do our best to go in there and compete. It will be a tough one, but a fun one for sure.”
Reeser loves the hometown feel in Pendleton.
“It feels like home for us,” she said. “It’s nice to have the fans there. Our community support is incredible. I’m thankful for them for showing up.”
A look at the match-ups for the boys and girls tournaments, which conclude with the finals Saturday:
Girls quarterfinals, Thursday, Pendleton High School
No. 8 Bandon (20-7) vs. No. 1 Stanfield (21-5), 1:30 p.m.: Bandon, champion of the Sunset Conference, is making its sixth consecutive appearance in Pendleton. The Tigers, who have won 13 of their past 15 games, finished second at state last year to Western Christian 45-30, but lost a handful of all-state players to graduation. Coach Jordan Sammons returns four-year starting post player Makenna Vierck (12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3 assists) and point guard Caitlyn Michalek (11.7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, five steals). The teams are no strangers to one another. Stanfield beat Bandon in the 2023 quarterfinals, and Bandon beat Stanfield in the 2021 2A Preview tournament. Stanfield’s schedule was chock full of quality teams, including 3A Vale and 4A La Grande (twice) to prepare for this week. The Tigers went 10-0 in Blue Mountain Conference play, and go into state on a seven-game win streak after a loss to La Grande. Stanfield is making its fourth consecutive appearance at state. The Tigers finished sixth in 2022, second in 2023, and they went 0-2 last year with losses to Regis and Oakridge. Stanfield is led by senior Mazie Reeser (19 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, 2.5 steals), who eclipsed the 1,000th point mark this season, and junior guard Kahleigha Haney (9 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, 5 assists) who fills out the stat sheet every night. Both were unanimous first-team selections in the Blue Mountain Conference. Senior Kylee Jackson (7 points, 8 rebounds, 5 steals, 4 assists) and Reeser are making their fourth trip to state.
No. 5 East Linn Christian (19-8) vs. No. 4 Salem Academy (23-4), 3:30 p.m.: East Linn Christian is making its first appearance at state in nine years. With the boys team also qualifying, it marks the first time in school history that both teams have qualified for state in the same year. Then Eagles shared the Valley Coast Conference title with Central Linn, despite losing both conference games to the Cobras. East Linn Christian is led by first-team all-conference players Josie Grunerud (16 points, 5 assists, 4 steals, 5 rebounds) and Piper Sewell (13 points, 2 assists). Avery Runyon was a second team pick, as well as a first-team pick on the all-defensive team. What the team lacks in height, coach Mike Runyon said they make up for it with their athleticism. Salem Academy shared the Tri-River Conference title with Western Christian, with the teams splitting their conference games. The Crusaders, who were fourth at state in 2023, are led by junior guard Clara Persons (14 points), senior guard Celia James (12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists) and freshman wing Jordyn Copeland (7 rebounds).
No. 6 Central Linn (19-6) vs. No. 3 Western Christian (23-3), 6:30 p.m.: Last year’s champion Western Christian is making its third consecutive appearance at state. The Pioneers, who are on a 10-game win streak, are led by senior guard Runon Muroya, last year’s 2A player of the year. This season, Muroya (18 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals) is the Tri-River Conference MVP. Senior post player Haley Ferry, a first-team all-conference player, averages seven rebounds a game. Pioneers coach Ben Brown said the game is a tough matchup for them. The Cobras, co-champs of the Valley Coast Conference with East Linn Christian, are looking for their first state title. They were third in 2022 and 2023. Coach Wendy Farris’ team is led by Addie Wolff (13 points, 3.5 steals) and Jennifer Smith (6 points, 9 rebounds). With only three seniors on the roster, Farris said she has been trying to calm the nerves of her players for state so they don’t think it’s as scary as it seems.
No. 7 Knappa (21-6) vs. No. 2 Weston-McEwen (22-6): Weston-McEwen won its first 12 games of the season before losing to 1A powerhouse Union. The TigerScots had Blue Mountain Conference losses to Heppner, Stanfield and Enterprise. Stanfield beat Colton 47-28 to reach the quarterfinals. The BMC, one of the toughest conferences in the state, had four teams make the playoffs. The TigerScots are at state for the first time since 2017. They won a state title in 2005. Senior Kelsey Graham (8 points, 3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 3.7steals) and sophomore Charlotte Hansell (13 points, 6 rebounds, 2.5 steals), both unanimous first-team all-conference players, lead the TigerScots. They have a good supporting cast in Brooklyn Parker (5 rebounds) and Addie Hall (3 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 3.1 steals). Knappa won the Northwest League with a 13-1 record. The Loggers lost to the TigerScots 44-30 at the 2A Preview tournament in December. Since that game, Knappa has won 15 of its past 17 games, with losses to Clatskanie in league play, and to 3A Oregon Episcopal in a nonleague game. The Loggers won a state title in 1977, and finished third last year, but before 2024, they hadn’t been to state since 2006. Knappa is led by junior Mylie Lempea (14 points, 5.3 rebounds. 4.5 steals. 4.5 assists) and senior Alondra Piña (10.5 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 4.7 steals).
Boys quarterfinals, Thursday, Pendleton Convention Center
No. 8 East Linn Christian (20-5) vs. No. 1 Western Christian (24-3), 1:30 p.m.: Western Christian is making its 19th appearance at the state tournament. The Pioneers are looking for their fifth title to add to the ones they won in 2011, 2019, 2022 and 2024. Western Christian is a run-and-gun team led by 6-foot senior guard Gavin Hall (23 points, 6.7 rebounds), the Tri-River Conference player of the year and last year’s 2A state player of the year. The Pioneers also get 13 points and six assists from guard Lucas Zook. Western Christian’s three losses were to three 6A teams at the Capitol City Classic in December. The Pioneers have won 19 games in a row since then. East Linn Christian coach Jonathan Whitehead said his team has a tough draw, and hopes to find a weakness in the Pioneers’ game. The Eagles, who pride themselves on their defense, have the Valley Coast Conference player of the year in guard Blake Knurowski (17 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2.5 steals), and also get good contributions from Ely Faught (9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds). This is the fourth consecutive trip to state for the Eagles, who were sixth last year and fifth in 2022.
No. 5 Regis (21-7) vs. No. 4 Trinity Lutheran (18-8), 3:15 p.m.: Trinity Lutheran was a household name at the 1A state tournament, making four appearances from 2019-2024. The Saints were third last year, then made the jump to the 2A ranks and the East Cascades Conference this year, where they won the conference title with a 10-0 record. The Saints are led by two-time conference player of the year Andrew Imhoff (22.8 points, 10.4 rebounds), who also was first-team 1A all-state last year. Imhoff also is the grandson of former Portland Trail Blazer and 1960 Olympic champion Darrall Imhoff. Also contributing to the Saints success are ECC first-team selection Chimi Gilbert (11.2 points, 4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.4 steals) and Chace Nichols (12.8 points, 5 rebounds 3 assists), who was a second-team pick. The Rams, who enjoy a trip to Pendleton, placed fourth last year, sixth in 2023 and fourth in 2022. Regis coach Jason Koehnke said his team is excited about the matchup, but knows it will have shore up its defense to slow down the Saints. The Rams, who were second in the Tri-River Conference to Western Christian, are led by senior guard Isaiah Koehnke (22 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds) who is a two-time all-conference first-team pick, and was a first-team all-state selection last year. Eli Silbernagel (17 points, 13 rebounds), a 6-3 junior post, was a first-team all-conference selection this year.
No. 6 Stanfield (20-6) vs. No. 3 Oakland (23-4), 6:30 p.m.: Stanfield has used its speed and ability to shoot the ball well to advance to Pendleton for the second year in a row. The Tigers won the Blue Mountain Conference title with a 9-1 record, then ran over Knappa in the first round of the playoffs to reach the quarterfinals. Stanfield senior guard Landon Bailey (17.67 points, 7.54 rebounds, 5.42 assists, 4.63 steals), who surpassed the 1,000th point mark this season, was named to the all-conference first team, while Michael Odell (12.17 points, 3.54 rebounds, 2.96 assists, 1.96 steals) and Jesus Arellano (788 points, 3.63 rebounds, 1.79 assists, 1.13 steals) were named to the second team. Stanfield, which has never won a title, was second in 2017 and third in 2014. While Stanfield likes to play with speed and intensity, the Oakers have size inside with 6-9 sophomore Jaxson Clark (7 points, 7 rebounds, 2.5 blocks), but they also can go with a smaller lineup and race up and down the court. Oakland, which won the Sunset Conference with a 10-0 record, is led by senior guard Joseph Fusco (14.5 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals), who was second team all-state last year. Andy McCurdy (11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists), a 6-3 wing, is the team’s second-leading scorer. Oakland is a frequent visitor to Pendleton. The Oakers won titles in 2006 and 2013, and in the past 10 years have placed second (2014), fifth (2018, 2024), and sixth (2020).
No. 10 Salem Academy (21-7) vs. No. 2 Portland Christian (25-2), 8:15 p.m.: Portland Christian is back in Pendleton for the second year in a row. They lost in the championship game last year to Western Christian 62-36. The Royals last went to state in 2010 before last year. Coach Erik Lyslo said his team, which has five seniors, are hungry for another shot at the title. The Royals, who won the Northwest League title with a 14-0 record, are led by 6-10 senior post Colby Getting (13 points, 11 rebounds), the conference player of the year, and 6-5 senior wing Joseph Diesel (13 points, 8 rebounds). The Royals’ two losses this season were to Regis (70-62) and Mannahouse Academy (66-48) in nonleague games. Salem Academy comes in with seven losses, but four are to Tri-River Conference rivals Regis and Western Christian. The Crusaders won the state title in 2023, then had a 7-17 record last year. Getting to Pendleton was the team’s goal this year. Boone Dunn (13.5 points, 7 rebounds), a 6-4 sophomore, leads the Crusaders, while 5-8 guard Noah Burns (11.5) is in the mix. Dunn is a first-team all-conference selection, while Burns was honorable mention, and senior Mateo Schutt, the only returning starter from 2023, was a third-team pick. Schutt has earned all-conference honors three years in a row.
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