South Wasco County senior guard Jason Hull, who set a state freshman record with a 54-point game, recorded a new career high Tuesday against North Lake in a 1A nonleague boys basketball game.
The 6-foot-4 Hull poured in 60 points to lead the No. 6 Redsides to a 90-26 home win. It is the ninth time in state history that a player has reached the 60-point plateau. The state record is 73, set by McLoughlin's Jerry Crimins in 1952.
Hull scored 22 points in the first quarter and 20 points in the second quarter. He reached 60 points midway through the third quarter and subbed out of the game after playing 21 minutes.
“He just came out hard,” said South Wasco County coach Jim Hull, his father. “It was a multitude of threes, pull-ups, drives. He's truly a three-level scorer.”
Hull shot 24 for 38 from the field, including 6 of 13 from three-point range, and made all six of his free throws. He increased his season scoring average to 35.8.
Hull averaged 28.7 points as a freshman before his season ended with a dislocated kneecap in the team's 20th game. He suffered the same injury in September 2023 and underwent surgery, missing his sophomore season.
He returned for his junior season and averaged 31.5 points, racking up 914 points, the third-highest season total in state history. For his career, he has scored 1,774 points and is averaging 31.1 points per game.
Since last season, Hull has grown an inch and added about 20 pounds, now weighing 170.
“Compared to a year ago, he's taken another gigantic step in terms of strength,” Jim Hull said. “He's probably smarter as a player. Now we're two years removed from knee surgery and you can just see it. He's got hops better than he ever has.
“We feel blessed that he even has the opportunity. I think that partially drives him. Every time he steps on the court, it's something that he loves.”
Jason has received a full-ride offer from Corban University, according to his father. Jim Hull said that Jason has developed as a player in rural north central Oregon by drilling fundamentals.
“He's gotten to where he is by doing it the old-fashioned way,” Jim Hull said. “When he was a seventh- and eighth-grader, we did a lot of AAU stuff. Then it just became busy here, and it was harder to get over there all the time.”
South Wasco County went 22-7 last season, losing in the first round of the 1A playoffs. The Redsides are off to a 7-1 start this season, the only setback a 54-50 loss to Crosshill Christian on Dec. 6.
The team added an impact player this season in 6-6 senior forward Rowen Huff, a transfer from Trout Lake (Wash.). Huff is averaging 16 points and 13 rebounds.
4A showdown
Scappoose, No. 1 in the OSAAtoday 4A coaches poll, turned in its most complete performance of the season Monday by dispatching 4A No. 3 Marshfield 55-42 on the final day of the Scappoose Tournament.
Junior guard Elijah Greenan-Biggs made three three-pointers and finished with a team-high 19 points and seven rebounds for the Indians (9-1), who won all three of their games at the tournament. Senior forward Brayden Miller had 10 points and six assists and senior forward Drew Butler added six points and 13 rebounds.
Scappoose committed a season-low eight turnovers and had 16 assists against the Pirates (6-4), state runners-up last season.
“I think the key to our win was our nearly flawless execution of team basketball,” Indians coach Robby Backus said. “We've blown really big second-half leads in multiple games this year, but we finally put it together for all four quarters against Marshfield.”
Marshfield standout Max Ainsworth, a 6-2 freshman guard, scored 16 points but shot 5 of 20 from the field against tough defense by Scappoose senior Trever Olsen. Brett Butler Jr., a 6-4 sophomore, also scored 16 points for the Pirates, making four three-pointers.
Both teams were missing starters. Marshfield junior guard Keller Vinyard did not play after suffering a concussion in a 61-57 tournament loss to Napavine (Wash.) on Dec. 28. Scappoose junior guard Will Kessi, who sprained his ankle in a 74-67 win over Napavine on Dec. 27, played in only one possession, hitting a three-pointer late in the game.
Lakers win tourney
Lake Oswego needed a buzzer-beater to defeat Summit in the final of the Summit Holiday HoopFest on Monday.
After host Summit tied the game at 58-58 on a layup by senior Matthew Tompkins with five seconds left, senior Jackson Freeman drove the length of the floor for a layup to give the Lakers a 60-58 win.
Senior Robbie Durbin had 17 points, six rebounds and six assists and senior Liam Rigney had 17 points and nine rebounds to lead 6A No. 8 Lake Oswego (7-2) over the 5A No. 5 Storm (8-2).
The Lakers went 3-0 in the tournament, defeating South Eugene 55-50 in the first round and West Salem 75-63 in the semifinals. Against West Salem, Rigney had 25 points and 10 rebounds and Freeman had 20 points.
“I was happy that we found a way to win each of the three days,” Lake Oswego coach Tully Wagner said. “We didn't shoot the ball particularly well on any of the days, but our defense and rebounding were consistent. Different guys stepped up each day, so it was truly a team accomplishment.”
Cowboys stay unbeaten
Undefeated Crook County, the top-ranked team in 5A, cruised to three wins at Ridgeview High School to claim its bracket of the Summit Holiday HoopFest.
The Cowboys turned away Newberg 76-39 and Hillsboro 79-69 to advance to the final, where they handled No. 8 Ridgeview 61-43 to improve their record to 10-0. Bryce Lowenbach, a 6-10 senior, scored 76 points in the three games to lead Crook County.
The Cowboys survived a semifinal challenge from Hillsboro (5-1), which led by two points entering the fourth quarter. Lowenbach poured in 36 points, 23 in the first half, and senior guard Jace Jonas added 18 points.
Hillsboro senior Luke Eischen made five three-pointers scored 20 points in defeat. Senior Terrance Townsend also had 20 points for the Spartans.
jerryu@osaa.org
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