The student news site of La Salle Catholic College Preparatory.

The La Salle Falconer
The student news site of La Salle Catholic College Preparatory.

The La Salle Falconer
The student news site of La Salle Catholic College Preparatory.

The La Salle Falconer
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Girls Basketball Looks Ahead to Playoffs Following Senior Night Loss to Wilsonville

Byline photo of Eli Batcheller
Byline photo of Ashe Hardigg
Eli Batcheller and Ashe Hardigg
March 4, 2026

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller

  • The Falcons varsity girls basketball team is headed into the first round of 5A playoffs ranked #10 as they are set to travel to #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7, at 3 p.m.

    Eli Batcheller
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The La Salle varsity girls basketball team held Senior Night prior to their 68-42 loss at home against Wilsonville High School on Monday, Mar. 2, at 7:15 p.m. 

The Falcons celebrated seniors Ava Bergeson and Meklit Wondwossen. Both teams organized a tribute for Wondwossen, who was out for the season with a fractured foot, with Wilsonville allowing her to score the first two-point field goal of the game before responding with an uncontested layup of their own.

“I can’t say enough positive things about Meklit,” head coach Lucas Fiorante said. “She loves her teammates, and she’s motivating them. Even though she’s hurt, we still have her … She’s going to be very important for us through this run.”

La Salle battled hard through the first two quarters and were down just 12 points going into halftime, but after a monstrous third quarter from the Wildcats, they were unable to muster a comeback and ultimately lost the game.

Despite another loss, Fiorante was happy with the increased fight that the Falcons showed in their second meeting against the Wildcats.

“I could say a lot of things about how we could have hit shots and knocked down a few more free throws,” Fiorante said. “But I’m just really proud of how our players competed against a really physical and talkative Wilsonville team.”

Heading into playoffs, La Salle is ranked #10 in 5A and will play their first round matchup away at #7 ranked Crook County High School on Saturday, Mar. 7 at 3 p.m.

Though Crook County is a “physical” team, Fiorante said he believes it is a good matchup for the Falcons.

“I’ve been watching them all year,” Fiorante said. “I think the way they play compared to how we play, it’s going to be a really fun battle.”

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About the Contributors
Eli Batcheller
Eli Batcheller, Assistant Editor
Eli Batcheller is currently a senior. Eli lived in Oregon City for around 16 years, until moving to Oak Grove in the summer after his Freshman year.  His favorite part of all of his classes are his friends around him that he has been able to make. One of the most important things he finds is the community at La Salle in all aspects.  He originally chose to go to La Salle because of his older sister, and because of the quality of education compared to public school. When he got to La Salle, he found more than he expected, finding great friends and a good community that he could immerse himself in.  Eli loves listening to music and talking and spending time with his friends — some of his favorite activities being going to the river or getting clothes, especially with friends. His favorite artist is Frank Ocean, someone he has always loved.
Ashe Hardigg
Ashe Hardigg, Assistant Editor
Born in Alaska, senior Ashe Hardigg moved to Portland 14 years ago and has lived there ever since. He went to Franciscan Montessori Earth School for middle school and, along with almost all of his classmates, chose to attend high school at La Salle. Ashe found a love for running during quarantine and carried this over to participating in track and field for La Salle during the spring. He also plays soccer in the fall for La Salle, in addition to playing club soccer year-round. Although out for the entirety of this year’s soccer season with a broken wrist, Ashe plans to work hard over the off-season to return a better player than ever for his senior season. Over the summer, Ashe works as a camp coach for Baxter Sports. He has attended this camp as a camper since he was five years old, and has met many friends along the way who have also gone along with him to become coaches. Ashe plans to work in sports or sports management in the future, and hopes that reporting for The Falconer will help him get an introduction to what this career would look like.