It's been more than two decades since Maarty Leunen led Redmond's boys basketball team to back-to-back big-school state finals – including a championship in 2003 – before starting his college career at Oregon.
This season, as the coach at 5A Ridgeview, Leunen is watching his junior son Gavin break out as one of the state's best players for the Ravens (13-11).
Gavin, a 6-foot-7 forward, is averaging a 5A-leading 27.2 points and 10.5 rebounds per game. He has scored 39 points three times and 37 points once. He has reached 20 points in all but one game, when he scored 19.
With Gavin accounting for 45 percent of his team's points, Ridgeview has earned a state playoff berth for the first time in the program's 14-year history. The Ravens, No. 13 in the OSAA 5A power rankings, will play on the road in the round of 16 on Friday.
“He has taken huge strides from last year,” Maarty said of Gavin. “He's become more of a team leader, playing with that enthusiasm and competitiveness. Gavin has a lot on his shoulders, so for him to play so consistent, it's tough.”
As a sophomore, Gavin averaged 13 points and played a secondary role on offense to forward Brady Muilenburg, who graduated. As one of two returning starters from a team that finished 10-15, he has become the focal point for the team not only on offense, but also as the anchor on defense.
“He's able to protect the paint and has the responsibility of guarding one of the other team's best players,” Maarty said.
Gavin gets most of his points posting up and off pick-and-rolls, but he has the ability to initiate the offense in transition and can connect from behind the arc. He is shooting 60.0 percent from the field, including 29.4 percent from three-point range (15 for 51), and is making 76.9 percent of his free throws.
In the last year, he has grown about an inch and is nearly seeing eye-to-eye with the 6-9 Maarty. Does his game resemble his father's?
“I didn't come close to scoring 39 points in high school,” Maarty said. “I was more of a role guy, gel guy. I could shoot the basketball, very skilled, high IQ, but my game was pretty basic.
“He's way more skilled than I ever was. I wasn't dreaming of shooting pull-up threes at any point in my career, and playing off the dribble constantly. It's still too early to determine what his max is because I think he's got a lot in the tank.”
Gavin received a college offer from Portland State last summer and is drawing interest from smaller schools such as Western Oregon and Oregon Tech, according to Maarty. With his improvement this season, he is likely to get more attention in the offseason.
“I think he's ready for a big summer,” Maarty said.
Gavin's physical development will be key in determining his future as a player.
“I'm hoping he grows a couple more inches because I think his skill set right now is more of a power forward, like a stretch-4 type of player,” Maarty said. “We're going to work really hard this summer just developing him to potentially be a small-forward type.”
Marshfield freshman shines
Another coach's son who has emerged as a top player this season is Marshfield freshman point guard Max Ainsworth.
The 6-2 Ainsworth, the son of Pirates coach Jesse Ainsworth, is averaging 22 points, six assists, three steals and four rebounds per game. He is shooting 53 percent from the field, including 41 percent from three-point range, and 81 percent on free throws.
Max had big shoes to fill in replacing first-team all-state point guard Steel Carpenter from last year's 4A runner-up, and he has proven more than capable. Like Carpenter, Max was named MVP of the Sky-Em League.
“He's not a loud kid, but teammates follow his example,” Jesse Ainsworth said. “The way he prepares, practices and carries himself has given him credibility in the locker room.”
Max has set 4A freshman state records for points in a season (506) and points in a game (40). His consistency and poise has made him a steadying influence, in particular in late-game situations.
“Even as a frosh, he handled a lot of responsibility for us, initiating offense, managing tempo, and defending the opponent’s primary ball handlers,” Jesse Ainsworth said. “He competed with maturity beyond his age all while being guarded by our opponent's best perimeter defender, and often being face-guarded or doubled.”
Marshfield (15-9), No. 7 in the OSAA 4A power rankings, plays in the round of 16 on Friday.
Titans claim CVC
West Salem took sole possession of first place in the 6A Central Valley Conference with a 75-62 home win over South Salem on Feb. 24, then clinched the outright conference title Friday with a 78-50 rout at Sprague.
The Titans (15-9, 11-1) finished one game ahead of South Salem (20-5, 10-2) in the conference standings. They have won five in a row since losing at South Salem 80-77, a game that they led by 17 points.
Before a packed home gym Friday, West Salem came out blazing against South Salem, taking a 34-12 lead early in the second quarter. The Saxons rallied to within 10 points in the third quarter before the Titans regained control.
Sophomore guard Jonah Munns and senior wing Diggs Sladek scored 18 and 17 points, respectively, for West Salem.
“So many guys stepped up in different ways,” Titans coach Dean Sanderson said. “It was a lot of fun. We have a group that’s playing really well together right now. They play hard for each other and they’re talented. We have a good combination.
“We want to be peaking, and I think we’re peaking at the right time to where we’re playing our best basketball of the year right now.”
-- Jeremy McDonald contributed to this report
jerryu@osaa.org
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