SALEM (OR) - Friday, 12/16/22 - Oregon had the stage on Opening Night at the 2022 Capitol City Classic presented by Northwestern Mutual, and the teams who performed were compelling.
Last year, West Salem became the first Oregon team to ever win the Capitol City Classic, and they tipped things off agains Regis. The Titans, slowed by injury and illness to start the season, played without 6'8 big man Trenton Ferguson but still managed to blow open the game against the Rams in the second half, winning 80-52. Jackson Leach led the way with 15 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists for West, while Phillip Goodrich (15), Connor Oertel (14) and Jimmy Lathern (10) all scored in double figures as well. The backcourt tandem of Isaiah Koehnke (22) and Danny Aguilar (18) poured in 40 of Regis's 52 points.
In the day's opening game, Beaverton cruised to a 53-36 win over Sherwood, who was playing without the injured Jared Sucher, who leads the Bowmen in scoring. The Beavers got a strong performance from senior point guard Jalen Childs, who scored 20 points and had 6 rebounds in Beaverton's win.
While West might be rounding into shape, and Beaverton was impressive, it was the play of West Linn senior point guard Jackson Shelstad, the reigning Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year and an Oregon Duck commit, that stole the show. Shelstad showed his vast arsenal of offensive skill, slicing and dicing his way to a 33-point, 12-assist effort that was as smooth as it was explosive.
The wins by West Linn and Beaverton setup a Monday CCC quarterfinal matchup between the teams who were ranked 1 and 2 in the OSAA 6A pre-season coaches poll.
Tonight, out-of-state powers St. John Bosco (CA), Modesto Christian (CA) and John Paul II (TX) will tip-off and highlight a five-game set of games that should be scintillating for the Mid-Willamette Valley basketball fan.
Tickets will be available at the gate.
Opening Night, Round 1 Results:
Beaverton Beavers 53, Sherwood Bowmen 36
West Salem Titans 80, Regis Rams 52
West Linn Lions 78, South Salem Saxons 55
Tonight: Rest of Round 1 Schedule:
2:30pm: Gresham Gophers v. John Paul II Cardinals (TX)
4:00pm: Central Panthers v. Cascade Cougars
5:30pm: Canby Cougars v. Modesto Christian Crusaders (CA)
7:00pm: Silverton Foxes v Wilsonville Wildcats
8:30pm: Sprague Olympians v. St. John Bosco Braves (CA)
