Only 6 times in history has the Bend HS Lava Bears Girls basketball team made it to the OSAA State Tournament, and the Lady Lava Bears have reached the Final-4 just once.
The 5th ranked Bears (19-4) look to clinch the ‘IMC’ Championship Friday with a perfect 9-0 mark when they play rival Mt. View to end the regular season.
Bend is hoping to make its 20th OSAA Tournament appearance which tips off March 12th on the University of Oregon campus.
Last season, Bend was ousted in two games at the final Tournament site in Eugene at Matt Knight Arena, but the Lava Bears reached the semifinals in 2012 led by Mekayla Isaak who is now on the roster at University of Montana in the Big Sky Conference.
5th year Bend Head Coach Todd Irvin has a veteran club led by Lisa Sylvester, Delaney Crook and Jessica McClay.
That trio, and Isaak were knocked out of the Tourney in 2-games last spring losing to Hermiston and Lebanon.
The Lady Bears also exited in 2 games in 2008 & 2010.
#8 Summit of Bend is idle Friday, but will await a postseason bid next week and hopes to return to the elite-8 Tournament where the Storm last appeared in 2009 losing the Consolation Championship game.
Mt. View’s last Tourney showing was in 2011. The Cougars will not qualify for the ‘Play-In’ round this year.
Hear Bend High’s Crook and McClay talk hoops and life off the hardwood with ‘PREP SPOTLIGHT’ host John MacAulay.
[buzzsprout episode=’153821′ player=’true’]
Meantime, 3 other local Girls teams get set for Class 4A ‘Play-In’ games Friday & Saturday.
#16 Madras (15-9) travels to Ontario (8-18), Ridgeview (15-9) ventures to face 2011 State Champion Cascade of Turner (14-8), and La Pine (14-10) visits Sky-Em foe Elmira (15-7) Saturday.
The winners will be seeded in the Class-4A 16 team bracket with the final-8 advancing to the State Tournament at Oregon State March 12th.
Reader Interactions