Titans a step away from a return to the Elite 8
West was last at the UP's Chiles Center in 2018, won an OSAA trophy in 2017
The West Salem Titans were identified early by local coaches as the favorites to win the Central Valley Conference prep boys basketball crown. They returned a long list of athletic players, and were looked at as the league’s best bet to return to the elite eight teams at the OSAA 6A tournament in Portland. West was last there during the 2016-17 and 2017-18 seasons, bringing home a consolation trophy in the first appearance.
West did little to change those expert opinions about their championship pedigree, winning 11 of 12 league games in the five-team league’s round robin format to clinch the conference title—the first crown for Coach Travis Myers in seven years at the helm. All-Conference balloting landed three Titans on the all-league first team, with junior point guard Jackson Leach being named co-player of the year.
All totaled, West had five players receive honors—and Myers was tabbed as coach of the year.
It has been a magical season made even more special by the team’s refusal to fold its tent, despite some obstacles that cropped up during the season.
Coach Myers says a tough schedule combined with a void created by key injured teammate, made for a challenging winter.
“We played one of the more difficult non-conference schedules: (#1) West Linn, Tigard, Mountainside, South Medford twice, Wilsonville, two California power houses,” recites Myers.
A challenging list of opponents made even more difficult by the lack of a crucial player. 6-7, 300 pound junior post Trenton Ferguson was out for the entire non-conference season, and half the regular season—nursing a bad foot injured during football season. He played in only two games prior to the post season.
“Our players kept fighting at every turn,” says Myers, “and other players kept stepping up and progressing.”
Those developing players--like junior wing/guard Matt Luke, muscular post Phil Goodrich, athletic Kaiden Martirano, and sophomore post Hudson Whipple—were called upon when illness, injury or foul problems arose. They all became key contributors. Goodrich even received honorable mention accolades in all-league balloting.
“All those guys kept working and each stepped up in big spots,” repeats Myers matter-of-factly.
For their efforts, the Titans received the #11 power ranking out of 32 playoff teams.
The first-round playoff game at home Wednesday against #22 Oregon City was a good test of the team’s resolve.
Although the Pioneers finished fourth in the Three Rivers League, they touted a very large front court, with four different players 6-5 or better who had the potential to dominate the boards.
And in the first quarter, it was quite the battle—both teams traded baskets, with West clinging to a 20-16 lead.
But in the second quarter, the Titans outscored Oregon City 25-7, using their speed and athleticism to out maneuver the bigger Pioneer line-up. Great defense by the entire squad, spear headed by senior Tommy Slack and Leach, frustrated Oregon City the entire period. It was 45-23 Titans at the half.
It was an impressive Titan lead, but not insurmountable. So West Salem came out of the locker room determined to continue what they started.
The Titans opened the third quarter with 14 unanswered points, and stretched the lead to 36 points midway through the period. At that point, it appeared it was all over. The score was 59-32 West heading into the fourth quarter. The Titans went into cruise control to open the last period, then emptied the bench and finished the game. The final was 82-60, West Salem—the team’s highest point total of the season.
As has been the case for most of the season, a balanced scoring attack was the key to success. Slack had 21 points, followed by Leach with 16. Jimmy Lathen and Goodrich chipped in ten points each as well. Ferguson scored just five points, but was a rebounding force. Myers was predictably low key about the big team victory.
“The kids did a great job tonight,” he told me after the game. The win improved West’s record to 17-8.
Standing in the way of West’s long-awaited return to the Chiles Center at the University of Portland is a team with a long tradition of basketball excellence: the Beaverton Beavers.
Beaverton (19-7) is ranked sixth in the power rankings, and will host the second-round game against the Titans on Saturday night.
The Beavers’ playoff game against Sandy on Thursday mirrored West’s victory. After holding a one-point lead at the end of the first quarter, Beaverton outscored Sandy 18-4 in the second period to take a 35-20 halftime advantage, and expanded it in the second half for a 65-39 victory.
Like West, Beaverton (19-7) has a balanced offensive attack. Brady Rice averages 15 points a ball game as a 6-2 guard. 6-4 Jalen Childs—a transfer from nearby Sunset—averages 14 points and 3 assists a contest, and sharp shooting Max Elmgrin (6-1) averages 11.5 points. Add in 6-11 Beavers center Chance Winter—a Glencoe High transfer who scored 11 in the Sandy game—and you have a slightly larger version of the Titans.
West will play this game short-handed—with second team all-conference wing Connor Oertel out with an injury. That will do nothing more than strengthen their resolve to win.
Behind the offense of Leach (13.8 ppg), Lathen (12.7) and Slack (12.1)—and the supporting cast that has stepped up repeatedly—West is prepared to rise above expectations one more time.
To quote Coach Myers, “Go Titans.”