Defense nearly carried Banks to the 3A girls basketball title last year, when the Braves led in the last minute of the state final before falling to Amity by two points.
But as good as they were last season, holding opponents to 31.4 points per game, they have cranked it up a notch this season, lowering that average to 23.8, best in the state for all classifications.
“I told last year's team, 'This is the best defensive team I've ever coached in my life,'” coach Nick Rizzo said. “And I told my team this year, 'This is the best defensive team I've ever coached in my life.' I do think we've evolved.”
Banks (16-4, 10-0 Coastal Range League), ranked No. 3 in the OSAAtoday 3A coaches poll, has been particularly stifling in the last month. During their current 12-game winning streak, the Braves are giving up 18.3 points per game. Rizzo said the team's zone defense is the “3A equivalent” to the suffocating zone employed by reigning 6A champion Tualatin.
“I've tweaked this thing over the years,” Rizzo said. “I have yet to see a team play our zone. It's our bread and butter. People know it, when you play Banks, you're going to have to deal with that zone.”
Six-foot junior post Clarissa Shurts and 5-7 sophomore guard Brooklyn Evans wreak havoc at the top of the zone, averaging 4.0 and 3.9 steals per game, respectively. Junior point guard Nylah Vanthom (5-4), the league's two-time reigning defensive player of the year, also is a menace, averaging 4.0 steals.
“They are absolutely giving teams unbelievable fits defensively,” Rizzo said. “We've added some things defensively. We can press teams three different ways now. We can zone you a few different ways. And when we need to lock down teams man-to-man, we can do that. It's pretty fun.”
The Braves, averaging 17.6 steals per game, are creating turnovers in waves. And with an improved ability to take care of the ball this season, it has led to a giant disparity in shot attempts, such as in Friday's 48-21 win over second-place Neah-Kah-Nie (13-7, 6-3), when Banks forced 29 turnovers and committed only five.
Banks brought back four starters from last year's state final but absorbed a blow in its fourth game when one of those players, senior guard Jade Janecek, suffered a season-ending separated shoulder. The injury set the team back.
“It took us a little bit of time to figure out our best lineup, and who's going to step up,” Rizzo said. “We're starting to figure things out now. We've come together.”
Evans moved into the starting lineup alongside the other three starters from the state final in Vanthom, Shurts and senior guard Emily Graham. Junior post Sydney Phillips is the fifth starter.
Banks opened the season 2-2, losing at 3A Jefferson 45-43 and at 4A No. 5 Seaside 31-26 in back-to-back games. The Braves rebounded with two of their best wins of the season, rolling over 3A No. 6 Valley Catholic 46-25 and 4A Scappoose 47-21.
They went 1-2 in the So Cal Holiday Prep Classic in San Diego in late December, when they faced three out-of-state teams from schools with much higher enrollments.
“We had to do some growing up down there,” Rizzo said. “We learned that we can play with some physical teams. We've been kind of rolling since then. I really, really like how we're playing right now.”
Vanthom (12.0 points, 4.1 assists, 3.6 rebounds), Shurts (10.9 points, 5.0 rebounds) and Evans (10.1 points, 3.6 rebounds) have been leading the way. Vanthom is the catalyst.
“Every kid loves playing with her,” Rizzo said. “She makes so many incredible passes. She's so quick, she can get to the rim at will.”
Banks won its first state title in 2023 and lost in the quarterfinals in 2024 before pushing top-seeded and undefeated Amity to the limit in last year's state championship game. This is the Braves' last run in 3A before returning to the 4A Cowapa League next season.
“They're hungry,” Rizzo said. “No doubt they have not forgotten the end result of that game. To have it slip through, it's a motivator.”
OES, VC share first place
Oregon Episcopal moved into position to share the 3A Lewis & Clark League title with No. 6 Valley Catholic by going on the road to defeat the Valiants 62-57 on Feb. 3.
The Aardvarks (13-5, 9-1) and Valley Catholic (17-6, 10-1) each have one league loss heading into the final week of the regular season. Oregon Episcopal plays Horizon Christian (0-19, 0-10) on Tuesday and Westside Christian (14-8, 6-4) on Thursday in its two remaining league games. The Valiants complete their league schedule Thursday against Portland Adventist (10-11, 5-5).
In last week's win over Valley Catholic, the Aardvarks got contributions across the board: junior guards Ruby Halpin (14 points, 10 rebounds, five assists) and Taylor DuBose (15 points, six rebounds), junior forward Kendall Kuni (15 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three blocks) and senior guard Cici Ji (13 points).
Valley Catholic defeated Oregon Episcopal 52-41 in the first round of league play.
Bandon commands Sunset
No. 4 Bandon secured its grip on first place in the 2A Sunset Conference with a 46-30 home win over second-place Oakland on Feb. 3.
The Tigers (20-2, 8-0), who followed up with a 44-32 win at Myrtle Point on Friday, hold a two-game lead over the Oakers (15-8, 6-2) with two league game remaining.
Senior forward Caitlyn Michalek and junior forward Shasta Johnson each scored 12 points against Oakland. Johnson also had 11 rebounds for Bandon, which also got nine points from senior guard Safaa Dimitruk, who shot 3 for 4 from three-point range.
Marlie Carmack, a 5-10 senior center, anchored the Tigers defense, which held Oakland to 19-percent shooting.
In the teams' other meeting this season Jan. 16, Bandon won at Oakland 29-27.
Cowapa knotted
No. 8 St. Helens moved into a first-place tie with No. 5 Seaside in the 4A Cowapa League by beating the visiting Seagulls 52-47 on Feb. 3. With the win, the Lions (12-4, 6-1) avenged a 44-36 road loss to Seaside (14-4, 6-1) in the first round of league play.
Senior Devan Lee made five three-pointers, including one in overtime, and finished with a game-high 22 points to lead St. Helens. Senior D'aye Davidson added 12 points, scoring six in the fourth quarter.
Seniors Carly Corder and Lili Miller led Seaside with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
jerryu@osaa.org
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