For the fourth year in a row, the La Salle varsity boys basketball team is competing in the playoffs, ranked as the ninth best team in the state by OSAA with an overall record of 20 wins and nine losses.
The last three years, the Falcons entered the playoffs ranked No. 10, No. 7, and No. 9, but have been unable to achieve success, making it to the second round once and being eliminated in the first round twice.
This year, the Falcons are aiming to make it all the way.
The Falcons have won 10 of their last 12 games, with their only losses both coming against Wilsonville High School during games that they were leading at the half.
“In the first half [away at Wilsonville], we played really together defensively and were very disciplined,” senior point guard and captain Paul Skoro said. “In the second half, the game got out of hand and we broke down individually.”
As they gear up to play competition similar to Wilsonville in the playoffs, the team believes that their hustle on defense, rebounding, and fast-break intensity is the key to success.
“Defense and rebounding, that’s kind of what we do, especially getting out in transition to fast break. That’s what we’re really good at,” junior forward Sam Johnson said.
The team looks to their great chemistry as a huge reason for their success, and something that sets them apart from recent years.
“[The team chemistry] has been really good,” Johnson said. “We go to Chipotle a lot after practices, and Red Robin after games a lot of the time.”
They believe that their team trip to Bend for a tournament was a big factor for building their chemistry.
Junior forward Vince Faris, who joined the team this season after transferring from Adrienne C. Nelson High School in the fall, said “[the trip] was super fun, and just a great way to bond together.”
Faris is the only new member on the team, but he still feels that he has been welcomed into the Falcon brotherhood by his teammates and coaches.
“[The team] actually welcomed me in greatly,” Faris said. “It’s been a great experience coming in with a new coach and a whole new team. I felt like we bonded really well throughout the season. And honestly, it’s probably been one of the best teams I’ve been on so far experience wise.”
This season, the Falcons have their smallest roster by far in the last few years, totaling eight non-swing varsity players.
Having such a small group of players has taken its toll on the team for a multitude of reasons. “Whether there’s sicknesses or injuries or foul trouble…we need to have more bodies,” Skoro said.
Despite the drawbacks of having such a small group, they also believe that it has had its advantages, helping them build a stronger chemistry between the team.
“[Less] people makes a more tight-knit group,” Skoro said. “You really get a chance to hear from everyone.”
Another important factor to the team’s performance this season has been the rise of sophomore guard Righden, also known as Riggy Khyungra. Khyungra made headlines as a freshman, but has now emerged as the team’s leading scorer and is one of the top scorers in Oregon 5A basketball.
“It takes a lot of pressure off our shoulders knowing that if we’re getting locked up for a little bit, he can go get a bucket on his own,” Skoro said.
Most team members think that they have a good chance at going on a big run in the playoffs. According to Skoro, the key to success will be being able to control the pace of the game and forcing other teams to play at their speed.
Johnson said, “Last year, the tough loss with Redmond in the playoffs, that built up a spark in us early on in this season.”
Faris, Skoro and Johnson believe that if they stick to their principles of tough defense, rebounding and transition baskets, they will be tough to beat.
The Falcon’s first playoff game is away against Woodburn High School this Friday, starting at 5 p.m.
