Powers, Myrtle Point girls advance to playoffs

Both Powers and Myrtle Point will be in the Class 1A girls basketball playoffs after the two teams were high enough in the power rankings for an at-large selection.

Myrtle Point is headed to northeastern Oregon to face Union in the first round Wednesday. The winner will play either Camas Valley or Country Christian on Saturday for a spot in the state tournament at Baker City.

Powers is headed to the Portland area to play North Clackamas Christian on Wednesday, with the winner playing Bonanza or Umpqua Valley Christian on Saturday.

This is the first year OSAA has given each league three teams and then added eight at-large qualifiers for basketball. In the past, each of the eight leagues advanced four teams.

Powers would have advanced under the old rules this year. The Cruisers beat the Bobcats 42-29 in the league playoffs at Myrtle Point on Wednesday to advance to the Skyline League tournament at North Bend.

The Cruisers led by one point at halftime and then hit a series of jumpers to stretch the lead in the second half.

Danika Bushnell had 14 points to lead the Cruisers and Skylar Thompson, a senior and the team’s only player older than a sophomore, added 11. Lily Shorb, one of the six freshmen, scored eight.

Jakelynn Hermann had nine points to lead the Bobcats.

At the district tournament, the Cruisers put a scare into eventual champion North Douglas, losing just 45-38 in the semifinals. Powers lost to New Hope 46-29 in the third-place game.

Myrtle Point was 19th and Powers 25th in the final power rankings.