Wilsonville Wildcats

‘We’re comfortable here.’ Wilsonville up to its old tricks at Gill Coliseum, will face Crescent Valley for shot at another 5A boys title

“I love this place. We have the benefit of having been here a bunch, and I do think that’s a real plus.”

BOB LUNDEBERG; MAR 9, 2023

By Bob Lundeberg | Photos by Leon Neuschwander 

CORVALLIS — Over the past several years, Wilsonville has done some of its best work in the friendly confines of Gill Coliseum.

The Wildcats are five-time state champions under coach Chris Roche, and all five blue trophies were secured in Corvallis. The past four have come at the Class 5A level, the second-most in the history of the classification behind Jefferson’s five.

After dispatching sixth-seeded Woodburn 46-26 on Wednesday night in an OSAA state quarterfinal, No. 3 Wilsonville sits two wins from matching the Democrats’ 5A title count. A victory over Crescent Valley in Thursday’s semifinals would send the Wildcats to a seventh consecutive 5A state championship game. 

“I love this place,” Roche said of Gill Coliseum. “I think we’re comfortable here. We have the benefit of having been here a bunch, and I do think that’s a real plus. We’ve not only been here, but we’ve seen success here. But you’ve still got to go do it.”

Wilsonville, the Class 3A state champion in 2005, last missed a 5A tournament in 2008. The Wildcats secured their first 5A title in 2016 and won three more in 2017, 2019 and 2022.

If not for COVID-19, Wilsonville might have earned one or two more in 2020 and 2021.

“We just try to build upon something that’s pretty special, and it’s all led by our coach,” junior wing Kallen Gutridge said. “He’s been here numerous times and he knows how to get us right. I’m biased, but he’s one of the best around. We’re super grateful to play for him.”

Added junior forward Kyle Counts: “We have a great coaching staff. Our coach, I call him a legend. I thank God he’s my coach and I’m very blessed to have him. All the coaches around us work super hard and are very positive guys. I also think we build leaders in this program, and that helps our team bond together.”

While proud of his program’s success over the years, Roche was quick to point out that this season’s team is its own group. 

“We know what happened in the past isn’t going to help us win tomorrow night; it didn’t help us win tonight,” the coach said. “We have to show up and compete. If we don’t show up and compete tomorrow, nobody is going to feel bad for us. Everybody is going to want to beat us, so we just have to be ready to go. 

“I give the kids credit for answering the bell and meeting the challenge that’s in front of us right now. Because if you start thinking big-picture too much, it gets in the way.”

Wilsonville (22-5) stayed in the present Wednesday night and turned in a spectacular defensive performance against Mid-Willamette Conference champion Woodburn (20-6).

The Bulldogs finished 8 of 45 (17.8 percent) from the field and 3 of 20 from beyond the arc. Star guards Cruz Veliz and Spencer Karsseboom netted 13 combined points.

“Woodburn’s offense is great and it was definitely important for us to guard some of their key players,” Counts said. “We didn’t have our best offensive game, but we can always rely on our defense. We played pretty good defense and rebounded well.”

Counts scored his team’s first eight points and had 10 in the opening period as the Wildcats forged a 12-3 lead after eight minutes. Woodburn started 1 of 14 from the field with three turnovers against Wilsonville’s impenetrable defense.

As both offenses sputtered, Veliz knocked down a 3-pointer in the final seconds of the second quarter that trimmed the deficit to 16-12. The teams combined to shoot 12 of 51 (23.5 percent) in the first half. 

Wilsonville seized control with a 10-1 run to begin the third quarter and rode its defense back to the semifinals.

“They are a machine defensively,” Bulldogs coach Raul Veliz said of Wilsonville. “Their physicality got us early. We were trying to respond and be a little more physical, but we just never responded.” 

Counts shined at both ends of the court and compiled a stat line of 16 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and two steals. Gutridge added 12 points, six rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals; Maxim Wu had 11 points and three assists.

The Wildcats used only six players with the starting five of Counts, Gutridge, Wu, Nick Colyer and Emmitt Fee logging all but seven of the 160 total minutes played.

“I feel like people say that we lost some size, and some people have said we’re not deep,” Gutridge said. “I just say that we focus on ourselves and just give our best effort, play tough and together and see what happens.”

Added Roche: “I love these kids. They’re great kids. We’re really talented, but we get in our own way a little bit and we’re still learning the game. But they want to be great and they want to do the right stuff.”