Boys basketball: North Eugene, Junction City and Creswell are top local teams to watch
North Eugene boys basketball will be the top team to watch in the Class 5A this season. The Highlanders will look to build off their fourth-place finish at the state tournament last season.
The Highlanders (7-1) are off to another strong start with 10 seniors on the roster. While North Eugene graduated its top scorer, returning are guard Joey Banry and wings Jonas Spencer and Caiden Gould. Joining the team is Sheldon transfer India Mohiuddin.
Junction City, Marist among teams to watch in 4A
Marist will look to improve from a sixth-place finish at the Class 4A state tournament last season.
The Spartans' (3-2) top returning players are 6-foot-5 sophomore guard Kai Holmes, senior point guard Peyton Tyner and 6-foot-6 senior forward Kaden Erlenbush.
Junction City finished in third place in the 4A state tournament last season.
The Tigers (7-1) graduated their top two scorers, but 6-foot wing Cooper Rothenberger is expected to put in the brunt of the work this season.
Pleasant Hill, Creswell top two teams to watch in 3A
Pleasant Hill is looking to improve from its quarterfinal appearance in the Class 3A state tournament last season.
The Billies (6-1) are led by 6-foot-4 junior guard Gavin Inglish who scored a combined 75 points in the first three victories of the season.
Creswell finished fourth in the Class 3A state tournament last season.
The Bulldogs (3-4) graduated their top three scorers but return 6-foot-2 junior guard Tyler Whitson.
Edith Noriega is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. You may reach her at ENoriega@gannett.com and follow her on Twitter at @Noriega_Edith
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: North Eugene, Junction City boys basketball aim to improve this season
