Five Central Oregon HS basketball teams set to compete at state tournaments
(Update: Adding information and video)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- For the first time since 2011 and only the second time ever, five Central Oregon high school basketball teams will be competing at the state championships.
The Crook County girls, Madras girls, Redmond boys, Ridgeview girls and the Summit boys will be competing this week at tournament sites in Coos Bay, Corvallis and Portland.
The #3 ranked Crook County, #1 Redmond and #4 Ridgeview will be playing in the 5A bracket at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis. Madras, ranked just outside the top five at #7, will play in Coos Bay. The #2-seeded Summit Storm will be playing in the 6A bracket in Portland.
Ridgeview and Summit will be looking to win their first state championship, as the Crook County girls, Madras girls, Redmond boys have won state basketball titles previously.
While the Cowgirls have already won a state title, it would be a first for head coach Bob Boback who has coached high school basketball for more than 20 years and is in his second season with the Cowgirls.
“I’ve never been in the final four," Boback said. So, if we win Thursday, that would be a new thing for me. Pretty cool for an old guy at this age to have this happen.”
Crook County players will not only be traveling with their teammates for Thursday's quarterfinal game against Crater. About 40 students will travel to Corvallis to root on the team.
“Our emphasis this year is family," senior Grace Brooks told NewsChannel 21. "We get to go to state, and I get to be with my family.”
The last and only time that five Central Oregon teams made it to state was in 2011, when the Bend boys, Crook County girls, Madras girls, Mountain View boys and girls all competed.
