Riverside junior Cooper Cemore is nearing 1,500 points for his career. (Photo courtesy of Kathy Aney)

It’s been nearly two decades since Riverside’s boys last advanced to the final site in the state basketball tournament.

To say the team and the Boardman community along the Columbia Gorge is excited might be an understatement after the Pirates punched their ticket to Oregon’s Bay Area for this week’s OSAA/On-Point Community Credit Union 3A Basketball Championships.

“The kids are excited about it,” said Riverside coach Cole Ashby. “It’s something they’ve been waiting for for a while.”

The tournament starts Thursday with the four boys quarterfinal games at North Bend High School and the girls quarterfinals at Marshfield High School in Coos Bay. Friday’s semifinals and all the trophy games are at Marshfield.

Ashby is in his fourth year coaching the Pirates and the team has seen a remarkable turnaround from that first season, when Riverside won just two games.

Senior Jesus Pena was a starter on that team, and the next year freshmen Cooper Cemore, Jeremias Calvillo and Chase Lantis joined him in the starting lineup and the Pirates quickly started finding success.

Riverside made the playoffs in 2024, but found themselves facing a Cascade Christian team led by twins Austin and Peyton Maurer that was on its way to winning its third straight title.

“That was a bad draw,” Ashby said.

Last year, the Pirates got to host a playoff game, but came up short again, this time against Creswell.

Fast forward one season and Riverside is among the favorites this week, ranked fourth in both the final coaches poll and the OSAA power rankings. The Pirates beat Elmira 72-53 in their playoff game to reach the tournament for the first time since 2007, when it was held in Salem and the Pirates placed third.

Riverside (23-4) has only lost to one other 3A school, 2025 champion Westside Christian, and also has only lost one game since the calendar flipped to 2026 (a two-point setback at defending 4A champion Baker).

The excitement for the season has been building in Boardman.

“We’ve had a couple times where the tickets were sold out,” Ashby said. “They had to stop people coming in. The community is really excited.”

They have been watching an exciting style of basketball, too.

“We only have one guy over 6 feet, so we try to guard up all 94 feet,” Ashby said. “Our team philosophy is that the other team isn’t able to get a comfortable dribble without seeing some pressure.”

The team has embraced the man-to-man, full-court pressure the Pirates use as they try to speed the game up.

“The kids love playing defense,” Ashby said. “They love to get up and pressure. That’s nice to have as a coach.”

He said some coaches have asked about his practices, and whether he ever uses the shot clock in practice.

“There’s no need,” he said. “If we can play fast, we will play as fast as we can.”

The Pirates are led by Cemore, the Eastern Oregon League player of the year, who is nearing 1,500 points for his career.

What impresses Ashby isn’t Cemore’s scoring.

“He does a lot for us,” Ashby said. “He gets the offense rolling. He just makes the right play.

“A lot of times when you have a scorer on the team, they are just trying to score. He makes the right decision. He gets the ball moving. He hits the open guy. It’s impressive for a kid who’s a junior to be unselfish.”

And it’s good for the Pirates, who have strong shooters, including Pena and Calvillo, who both hit 40 percent from 3-point range. Pena had five 3-pointers in the win over Elmira.

Cemore averages 20 points a game and senior Cougar Philippi, another first-team pick in the Eastern Oregon League, averages 15. Calvillo scores 11 points and senior Rodrigo Claustro, the one relatively tall player on the team at 6-4, averages eight points and six rebounds.

The reward for all the work is finally getting to the state tournament.

“They are super excited,” Ashby said. They set a goal for the year. It’s just one of the stepping stones that they set to hopefully hit the main goal at the end.”

Riverside starts the tourney run with the team that finished second to Westside Christian last year, Pleasant Hill.

“The kids know there’s eight teams left, you are going to see, no matter what, a really good team on the other side,” Ashby said.

Pleasant Hill is the highest returning team from last year’s tournament after top-ranked Westside Christian was upset in the playoffs last Friday at home by Banks. The Braves open the tournament in the first game Thursday against St. Mary’s, which also won a road playoff game over Douglas, at 1:30 p.m.

In the evening session, No. 2 Cascade Christian faces Creswell at 6:30 p.m. and No. 3 Valley Catholic battles Blanchet Catholic at 8:30 p.m., a game 15 minutes later than the regular tournament schedule so Valley Catholic fans can get to North Bend after watching their girls team at Marshfield in the opening game of the evening session.

The girls tournament includes the top eight teams in the coaches poll, who all won at home in the playoffs Saturday. Collectively, they are a defensive-minded group and one strong with tournament experience.

Defending champion Amity is hoping to repeat after breaking through with its first title last winter, a two-point win over Banks, which also returns.

“We obviously have aspirations of a repeat but I think this group is in a good place with that mentally,” Amity coach Jed McMullen said. “Getting the monkey off our back last year has made this season a lot less stressful.”

Banks is back, too, in its final year before moving up to 4A in the fall (Cascade Christian and Valley Catholic also move up).

“Last year's runner up season has fueled this team this year,” Banks coach Nick Rizzo said. “That was a bitter taste left in our mouths losing by just two to the heavily favored Amity Warriors. The kids have worked really hard to try and put themselves back in a position to contend this year.”

Vale has the top ranking this year after beating Amity early in the year at a tournament in Salem.

“Even though we are the number 1 seed in the rankings I don't believe we are the best team there by any means,” Vale coach Randy Seals said. “Amity is still the defending champ and until they get beat at the tournament they are still number 1 in my mind. The girls know we have had a successful season so far but the hardest competition is yet to come and they are hungry to make a run at Coos Bay.”

Top-ranked Vale plays in the first game at 1:30 p.m. at Marshfield against Sutherlin, which missed the tournament last year for just the second time in coach Josh Grottiing’s 20 years at the helm.

The 3:15 p.m. game features Mountain Valley Conference rivals Sisters and Creswell. The Outlaws are the only team in the tournament that has had to wait longer than Riverside to get back to the final site. The school’s only other trip to the girls tournament came in 1994, back when Sisters was in the 2A ranks playing in Pendleton.

“Man what an amazing season these girls have put together,” Sisters coach Kevin Cotner said of his young squad that has grown a lot since the first game. “In the end, they are just a gritty group of girls who don't give up, and that has won us a lot of games and created some amazingly wonderful memories. As far as the tournament goes, we are entering uncharted territory. We are trying to keep it simple — our next goal is to play in a Saturday Game.”

Banks faces Valley Catholic at 6:30 p.m. before Amity wraps up the opening day at 8:15 p.m. against Pleasant Hill.

Quarterfinal Capsules

BOYS (at North Bend)

No. 17 Banks (17-9) vs. No. 9 St. Mary’s (19-5), 1:30 p.m.

The Braves, champions of the Coastal Range League, lost to Westside Christian 85-53 on Jan. 3 but shocked the Eagles 67-60 last week after also winning at Lakeview 60-42 in the first round of the playoffs. After losing eight of its first 10 games, Banks has gone 15-1. “We hit a reset button in early January and made a commitment to each other that practices were going to change and intensity was going to rise,” coach Patrick Marlia said. “The kids bought in. We focused more on getting stops than scores. We created really intense practices that would get kids fired up a bit at each other but then come back together and realize we are all Braves.” Banks also committed early to starting three freshmen and stuck with it. One of them, Ryder Powell, was the league’s player of the year after averaging 21.3 points and 5 rebounds. Another, Jalen Janecek, was the league’s defensive player of the year. Junior Fisher King, who averages 13.8 points, also was on the first team while freshman Mason King (10.3 points) was on the second team. Junior Nate Lyda received honorable mention. 

First-year St. Mary’s head coach Luke Decoste, in his fifth year with the program, said the Crusaders focused on building the right culture and thrived behind the leadership of seniors Tai Zimmerman, Jax North and Jack King. “Without their buy-in, we don’t achieve the success we’ve had this season,” Decoste said. He noted that confidence grew when the Crusaders nearly beat Cascade Christian during their second meeting in league play. Zimmerman (15.4 points) and North (14 points, 53 percent field goals, 8.2 rebounds) were named to the Southern Oregon Conference first team and King was named to the all-defense team. Freshman Isaiah McFarlane was an honorable-mention selection and is part of a younger core of players also including sophomore AJ Zimmerman that has Decoste excited about the future. Tai Zimmerman had 17 points and North 14 as the Crusaders won at Douglas 67-52 to reach the final site for the first time since 2020. “Our seniors have been playing together since early middle school and it’s amazing to see how far they have come in their basketball journeys,” Decoste said.

No. 4 Riverside (23-4) vs. No. 5 Pleasant Hill (21-5), 3:15 p.m.

Riverside is led by Eastern Oregon League MVP Cooper Cemore (20 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals) and fellow first-team all-league pick Cougar Philippi (15 points, 5 rebounds). Jeremias Calvillo, Rodrigo Claustro and Jesus Pena all were named to the second team for the Pirates, who won 16 of their last 17 games.

The Billies were runners-up last year won the Mountain Valley Conference regular-season title with a perfect record for the second straight year. Senior Landon Melvin, one of the returning starters from last year’s team, was the league’s MVP and is joined by two younger brothers on the squad. Junior Doug Green was on the first team. Junior Noah Johnson was on the second team along with junior Logan Melvin and freshman Luke Melvin was an honorable mention pick. Senior Chase Vargus was on the all-defense team. “The team isn’t very tall but they rebound bigger than their size and have a lot of heart over height,” coach Luke Jackson said. “We average almost 40 percent as a team from 3. When we shoot the ball well, we usually have a chance to win.” The Billies lost the league championship game to Creswell, but bounced back to beat Neah-Kah-Nie 79-40 in the playoffs to reach the tournament.

No. 2 Cascade Christian (23-3) vs. No. 7 Creswell (18-8), 6:30 p.m.

The Challengers of Medford are in the tournament for the seventh straight season after beating Santiam Christian 61-49 in the playoffs. Brian Morse is in his 38^th year at the helm at Cascade Christian and his squad has won 17 straight games and has a defense that has given up just 39.6 points a game against fellow 3A schools this year. Senior Deryk Farmer was both player of the year and defensive player of the year in the Southern Oregon Conference and sophomores Andy Alvarez and Jake Holden, the team’s leading scorer at 16.3 points, also were first-team picks. Three others — senior Brady Kleker, junior Hudson Gotzman and freshman Hutton Walker — were second-team picks. In addition to league rival St. Mary’s, the Challengers have wins over tournament teams Creswell and Valley Catholic and top 4A programs Junction City and Marshfield. In the win over Junction City, which started the current streak, the Challengers came back from 20 points down at halftime to win in overtime.

Creswell edged Salem Academy 57-55 to reach the tournament and, like Cascade Christian thrives on tough defense. “We’re not the flashiest group, but our guys play really hard and continue to battle to the end,” coach Jesse Thomas said, adding that the Bulldogs’ “toughness and ability to keep the game close gives us a chance to win it in the fourth quarter.” Seniors Ace Arnold and Luke Bailey, who average 15 and 13 points, respectively, were named to the Mountain Valley Conference first team while juniors Mason Schartz and Emerson Velarde were named to the second team. The Bulldogs hope to reverse the result from the teams’ first meeting this year, a 53-49 Cascade Christian win at Creswell on Jan. 17.

No. 3 Valley Catholic (24-3) vs. No. 6 Blanchet Catholic (21-6), 8:30 p.m.

The Valiants spent a good chunk of the season at No. 1, splitting their Lewis & Clark League games with Westside Christian before losing to the Eagles in double overtime in the league championship game. Valley Catholic needed double overtime again to beat Oregon Episcopal 82-73 to reach the state tournament. The Valiants have a new coach in Bryan Fraser and five new starters after finishing third in last year’s state tournament. The team leads the state in offense, averaging 79.5 points per game, and had a trio of players on the all-league first team — senior Michael Mehta and juniors Hank Lomber and Garrett Frank. Senior Cooper Bonnett was on the second team and senior Marcos Mueller was honorable mention and the Valiants feature a deep bench, with all the players having started at least one game.

Blanchet Catholic is in the tournament for the first time since 2018 and beat Burns 50-43 to advance. Third-year head coach Hans Rasmussen said the Cavaliers have worked hard to get back to the Bay Area after eight mostly lean years. “We have building each year to try to get back to this spot, and the players have worked to do so,” he said. After the team lost a one-point overtime game to Cascade Christian and another to De La Salle North Catholic early in the season, the Cavaliers, who feature two sets of brothers in the starting lineup began to establish themselves as “one of the best defensive teams in the state.” Senior Sam Mosar (16.4 points and 6 assists per game) was a first-team all-league pick. Brothers Adam and James Barnett, a sophomore and senior, respectively, were on the second team and senior Christian Orozco was honorable mention. The other starter is junior Sam Mosar, who had 21 points in the playoff win over Burns.

GIRLS (at Marshfield)

No. 1 Vale (25-1) vs. No. 8 Sutherlin (20-7), 1:30 p.m.

The senior-heavy Vikings suffered their only loss on Dec. 20 to 4A Henley and finished the season with 20 straight wins, including beating Brookings-Harbor 54-24 to advance to the tournament. It’s the third time the seniors have made the final site. Senior Kesley Stapleton was Eastern Oregon League player of the year after averaging 15 points, nine rebounds and five steals. Elli Jaccobs, an all-tournament pick last year, was also on the first team after averaging 11 points and three steals. Two other seniors, Izzy Maag and Bailey Blake, also were on the first team. The Vale seniors lost in the semifinals the past two years by a combined total of four points before bouncing back to win the third-place trophy, including beating Sutherlin in 2024.

Sutherlin’s Grotting said this year has been special because of how his team has overachieved, including beating Coquille in the Far West League title game for his 16^th league title. “Individually we aren’t that great, but collectively they all fit together well and have been great teammates,” Grotting said. He noted that of the 11 players, eight have perfect 4.0 grade point averages. Seniors Makaila McClatcher and Allison Waechter and junior Jordan Harris all were on the all-league first team while junior Khloe Grotting, the coach’s daughter, was on the second team and sophomore Lexie McKnight was honorable mention. The Bulldogs avenged last year’s playoff loss to Cascade Christian with a 31-29 double-overtime win to reach the state tournament.

No. 4 Creswell (20-6) vs. No. 5 Sisters (20-6), 3:15 p.m.

Creswell missed the tournament last year, but like Sutherlin avenged last year’s playoff loss, beating Jefferson 61-42 to extend a season-ending win streak to 10 games. “I have a tuff-nosed group of girls who play really hard and pride themselves on their defense,” Creswell coach Tyler Hollingsworth said. “We try to use our athleticism to our advantage.” Senior Elliett Kinney was the Mountain Valley Conference co-player of the year after averaging 18 points and 7.5 rebounds. Seniors Kylie Leonard (8 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 steals) and Mila Nguyen (11 points) both also were on the first team. Senior Raelee Green was on the second team and senior Peyton Jenkins was honorable mention. All five starters average two or more steals. Creswell and Sisters split their two meetings during the season, each winning on the other’s court.

Sisters starts two juniors, two sophomores and a freshman and like Creswell thrives on defense. Sophooore Maddie Durham was on the all-league first team and junior Audrey Corcoran and sophomore Verbena Brent both were on the second team. Junior Paityn Cotner was an honorable mention pick and freshman Maici Cotner was on the all-defensive team. The Outlaws beat Yamhill-Carlton 38-29 to earn the long-awaited trip to the state tournament. “I feel like there is a little bit of pressure that is off our girls now,” Kevin Cotner said. “We have blazed a new trail and now they can take a breath and have some fun.”

No. 3 Banks (21-4) vs. No. 6 Valley Catholic (21-5), 6:30 p.m.

The Braves return three starters from last year’s runner-up squad including all-tournament selection Nylah Vanthom, the Coastal Range League’s player of the year, who averages 11.8 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 4.1 steals and 6.3 pass deflections a game. Post Clarissa Shurts, like Vanthom a junior, also was on the first team after averaging 12.7 points and 5.7 rebounds. Sophomore Brooklyn Evans was the league’s defensive player of the year and a second-team all-league pick and junior post Sydney Phillips also was on the second team. Senior Emily Graham and junior Naomi Brown were honorable mention picks. Banks overcame the loss of senior Jade Janecek to a separated shoulder to win with a stifling defense that has allowed just 21.7 points during its current 17-game win streak. “We can play man or zone pretty well so it depends on the strength of the opponent on how we might try to defend them,” Rizzo said. “We are sneaky good on offense and are pretty athletic. The kids play really hard, like all Coos Bay teams do.”

The Valiants lost in the game to get to the tournament each of the past three years before finally breaking through with a 45-36 win over Taft on Saturday. Four seniors lead the team — Lewis & Clark League player of the year Calista Everson, first-team pick Emmee Kinder and second-team picks Brooke Wilson and Ava Henry. Everson, Kinder and Wilson all average between 9 and 10 points per game. Junior Mia Verzani and freshman Rachel Pippin were honorable mention picks. “The seniors have been leading the charge but every single player has hopped on board and committed to this season and this team,” coach Pat Thomas said of offseason workouts that started just after last year’s playoff loss. “This trip to Coos Bay has essentially been a full 12-month project for this team.” The team thrives on its pressure defense. Valley Catholic hopes to reverse a 46-25 loss to Banks early in the season.

No. 2 Amity (25-2) vs. No. 7 Pleasant Hill (18-9), 8:15 p.m.

The defending champion Warriors are led by six seniors who not only won the team’s first basketball title last winter, but also its first soccer title in the fall. Amity has won 19 straight after its loss to Vale and features three returning starters, all first-team all-league picks — Alyssa McMullen (12 points), Eliza Nisly (9.5 points, 5 rebounds) and Adie Nisly (12.5 points, 5 rebounds). Haley Miersma, a second-team pick, was a first-team all-tournament selection last year and Lyli Rideout also was on the second team. The sixth senior, Kylie Wilson, was the goalkeeper on soccer champion team. “Hopefully they can write this final chapter the way they want it to end,” Jed McMullen said. “Either way, this group has been unbelievably successful and really have nothing to prove to anyone.”

Pleasant Hill lost five of its lost seven games in the regular season, but won when it mattered, beating Coquille 40-31 in the playoffs to reach the tournament. “Our strength is in our numbers,” coach Terry Newton said. “We play nine kids about the same and play strong man to man and will get after you.” Junior Anna Crawford was a first-team all-league pick averaging six points and six rebounds and junior point guard Karsyn Stapleton was a second-team pick. Senior Soleis Jones was a first-team all-defense pick for the league and Newton said senior Ashlyn Johnson is the team’s “glue” player who does a little bit of everything.