By Jeremy McDonald
jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– It’s an honor for sure to be apart of an historic event like the Oregon Basketball Coaches Association State-Metro All-Star Series.
2020 was suppose to be the 48th-year of the series, pinning the best 5A/6A women seniors and the best 2A-6A men seniors against one another in a fun little exhibition of talent, but the Coronavirus Pandemic had hampered the games from being played this year. The association had gone forth and created the teams, still honoring the Seniors in some fashion for this past season.
“With all that had gone on with senior year being cut short it felt good to get some good news. I was sad it was cancelled because I would’ve loved to have played with some of the top players with a couple being former teammates of mine from AAU but it was still an honor to be recognized for all the hard work I have put in as a basketball player and knowing that it was being noticed and paying off,” said South Salem’s Victoria Stafford, who was named to the Girls State All-Star team, averaging 14.1 points and 6.5 rebounds a game as a Senior in 2020.
The two former teammates for Stafford from AAU were Riley Traeger (Silverton) and Ellie Croco (Lebanon) on the State team. Mountain Valley Conference-opposition Kaycee Brown (Bend) and Caitlin Wheeler (Bend) were also on the State team coached by Melanie Wagner (Liberty) and Mardy Benedict (Lebanon).
Blanchet’s James Moore, who was named to the North All-Star team, played alongside some of the guys named to the same All-Star Games in travel ball in Jalen Lampma of Lakeview and Aiden McAuliffe of Lost River. Lampman and McAuliffe were named to the South Team, coached by Moore’s dad, as the moment was awesome for the Cavs-graduate.
“It was amazing. Especially when I saw the names I was next to, guys like George (Sadi), Isaiah (Mariscal), Jalen, Aiden. It’s truly an honor to get recognition on the state level along with all of those guys. I really wish we could get a chance to play the games, but even though we can’t, it still means a lot to me,” said Moore.
Here are the full rosters for the games:
Girls State All-Stars
Mary Workman- Lebanon
Meagan Mendazona- Central
Bella Pedrojetti- South Medford
Alyssa Mirabile- Sheldon
Kaycee Brown- Bend
Riley Traeger- Silverton
Caitlin Wheeler- Bend
Bella Hamel- Liberty
Victoria Stafford-South Salem
Elli Croco- Lebanon
Natalie Willoughby-Willamette
Coaches: Melanie Wagner (Liberty) Mardy Benedict- Lebanon
Girls Metro All-Stars
Nia Bradley- Grant
Ajaw Yoakum-Benson
McKelle Meek-Southridge
Tyra Bradford- Oregon City
Mary Kay Naro- Beaverton
Laura Erikstrup- Beaverton
Bria Dixson-Benson
Sydney Erikstrup- Beaverton
Abigail Cooper- Central Catholic
Cameron Brink- Mountainside
Maddie Holm- St. Helens
Libby Mathos-Barlow
Coaches Kathy Naro- Beaverton Eric Knox-Benson
Boys State All-Stars
Jacob Thompkins-Summit
Trey Galbraith- South Salem
Silas Bennion- Chruchill
Jett Carpenter- North Medford
Jamison Guerra- Sherwood
Sam Harris- South Eugene
David Gonzales-Silverton
Kruger Edwards-Crater
Blake Jensen-Sherwood
Brain Goracke- Chruchill
Grant Dunn-Silverton
Jasper Reinalda-Corvallis
Coaches: Dave Hancock- South Eugene. Kelly Bokn-Churchill
Boys Metro All-Stars
Gabe Reichle- Wilsonville
Micah Garrett- West Linn
Braden Sato- Sunset
Dakota Reber- Wilsonville
Casey Graver- Lake Oswego
Erik Fraser- Grant
Matt Levis- Jesuit
Andre Best- Oregon City
Evan Inglesby- Barlow
Jesse White- Barlow
Wayne Jamison- Westview
Keegan Shivers-Wilsonville
Coaches: Tom Johnson (Barlow). Scott Aker (Franklin). Todd Sherwood (Sunset)
2A/3A/4A All-Star Teams
North All-Stars
Isiah Mariscal- Columbia Christian
James Moore- Blanchet
Luca Pejovic-Nezhut- OES.
Conner Rea- Rainier
Jarred Evans- Banks
George Sadi- De La Salle
Ryan Hague- Seaside
Jacob Slifka- Banks
Beau Johnson-Seaside
Mason Westerholm- Knappa
Coaches- Bill Westerholm-Seaside. Edward Kirk- OES. Paul Isom-Knappa
South All-Stars
Conner Merchant- Toledo
Jeremy Kistner- Coquille
Ethan Hutsell- Phoenix
Brayden Frietag- Bandon
Jalen Lampman-Lakeview
Aiden McAuliffe-Lost River
Kiegan Schaan- Cascade Christain
Mason Gill- Sutherlin
Darius Hull-Henley
Matthew Newbert- Henley
Ean Smith- Coquille
Trey Foster- St. Mary’s
Coaches: Luke Hammond-Henley. Eddie Townsend-Toledo. Brain Morse-Cascade Christian.
East All-Stars
Kaleb Myer- La Grande
Andrew Earl-Umatilla
Caden Long-Baker
Sergio Jimenez- North Marion
Pedro Chavez-Nyssa
Dapri Miller-Madras
Mason Lehman-Heppner
Tristan Morris- Grant Union
Peyton Thurman- Pilot Rock
Johnny Page- North Marion
Coaches: Mark Carollo- La Grande. Cody Aker- Gladstone.
West All-Stars
Fredy Hidalgo- Newport
Nick Stice- Marist
JJ Anderson-Marist
Colin Thuston-Sanitam
Payton Richardson- Western Christian
Zach Young- Monroe
Tyler Frieze- Creswell
Alex Nicoli- Western Christian
Luke Hall-Kennedy
Koby Williamson- Santiam Christian
Colton Brownson- Oakland
Coach– Bart Pollard- Marist. Jesse Thomas-Creswell. Jeff Clark-Oakland.
