Lake Oswego looking for better things

The Lakers promise to be more competitive in the 2022-23 TRL race.

The Lake Oswego girls basketball team is ready.

Ready to step up, ready to continue its growth under second-year coach Kaitlin Jackson and ready to compete for wins in the Three Rivers League.

“We are going to compete a little better in the TRL against every team top to bottom,” Jackson said. “We are hoping to continue our overall strong defensive scheme from last season and put together more complete games.”

The 2022-23 Lakers will be led by junior Riley Ha (a 5-foot-7 honorable mention all-league selection a year ago), Annie Sale (a 5-9 junior transfer from California), Maddie Douglas (a 5-9 junior) and Morgan Hoover (a 6-0 sophomore).

“(Ha’s) speed and ability to get to the rim, as well as hit open mid-range shots is a great asset,” Jackson said. “She is an aggressive defender who likes to push the pace and can get easy buckets off turnovers.”

Sale, Jackson continued, “can create her own shot anywhere on the court and has incredible vision to distribute the ball and get everyone involved,” adding that Douglass “is a positive force and energizer for our entire team,” while Hoover’s “game just exploded over the summer. Her ability to slash and finish around the blocks is going to be tough for defenses to handle, and her long arms alter a lot of shots around our hoop defensively.”

In addition to that quartet, the Lakers will also look to 5-7 junior Gia Pacioni, 5-4 senior Sofia Schreiber and 5-4 sophomore Olivia Jordan for prominent contributions.

“Schreiber (is) a great outside shooter and another ball handler,” Jackson said, adding that Pacioni “has been a glue player for us so far by doing all the little things,” while Jordan “is a dynamic guard who can play any position 1-4.”

Also ready for varsity time this year are: 5-9 junior Blake Francis; 5-6 freshman Taylor Sheldon; 5-5 freshman Lauren Seibt; and 5-7 freshman Addie Sale.

“This year, we have some more scoring options, both outside shooters and in and around the rim,” Jackson said. “We are converting more on open looks which will add pressure to other teams.”

As to the coming TRL race, Jackson said she expects reigning Three Rivers champion Lakeridge and Tualatin to set the pace in 2022-23.

“Lakeridge has some lights-out shooters that will stretch defenses and tire them out, but Tualatin also has some power players that can score from anywhere,” she said. “Both of those teams have dominant players and have the chance to go pretty far this year, in the TRL and beyond.”

See the Lakeridge team preview by clicking here.

See the West Linn team preview by clicking here.