Michael Lloyd
2017 LES SCHWAB INVITATIONAL: TEAMS, STARS, HISTORY
Year No. 22 of the area’s best high school basketball tournament tips off Wednesday with 16 teams, including nationally-ranked Oak Hill Academy and Mater Dei, at Liberty High School. Here is information about the teams, the schedule, former champions, biggest stars, and LSI history about each team.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
At Liberty High School
Pete Christopher
Wednesday games
Jefferson vs. Lakeridge, 9 a.m.
West Linn vs. Oregon City 10:30 a.m.
Grant vs. Lake Oswego, noon
Beaverton vs. West Salem, 1:30 p.m.
Crespi (Calif.) vs. Jesuit, 4 p.m.
Mater Dei vs. South Eugene, 5:30 p.m.
Barlow vs. Oak Hill, 7 p.m.
Clackamas vs. Southridge, 8:30 p.m.
Kent Frasure
Thursday games
Mater Dei-South Eugene loser vs. West Linn-Oregon City loser, 9 a.m.
Beaverton-West Salem loser vs. Jefferson-Lakeridge loser, 10:30 a.m.
Crespi-Jesuit loser vs. Grant-Lake Oswego loser, noon
Clackamas-Southridge loser vs. Barlow-Oak Hill loser, 1:30 p.m.
Mater Dei-South Eugene winner vs. West Linn-Oregon City winner, 4 p.m.
Beaverton-West Salem winner vs. Jefferson-Lakeridge winner, 5:30 p.m.
Crespi-Jesuit winner vs. Grant-Lake Oswego winner, 7 p.m.
Clackamas-Southridge winner vs. Barlow-Oak Hill winner, 8:30 p.m.
Kent Frasure
Friday games
Consolation game, 8:30, 10 a.m.
Consolation semifinal, 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m.
Dunk contest, 3 p.m.
Fifth place semifinal, 4:30 and 6 p.m.
Championship semifinal, 7:30 and 9 p.m.
Kent Frasure
Saturday games
Consolation games, 8:30, 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
Consolation championship, 3 p.m.
Fifth place, 4:30 p.m.
Third place, 7 p.m.
Championship, 8:30 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION
All-tournament pass: $80
Reserved seats (evening session): $18 adults, $15 students
General admission (Wed. morning, other evening sessions): $15 adults, $13 students
General admission (other morning sessions): $8 adults, $7 students
Kent Frasure
LAST YEAR
It was a showdown of stars pitting Sierra Canyon’s Marvin Bagley III (now at Duke) against Nathan Hale’s Michael Porter Jr. (Missouri) in the championship game. In the end, Brandon Roy-coached Nathan Hale prevailed, as Porter scored 27 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in a 67-65 win over Sierra Canyon.
Kent Frasure
PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS
1996: Beaverton
1997: Oak Hill (Va.)
1998: Crenshaw (Calif.)
1999: Jefferson
2000: Dominguez (Calif.)
2001: Oak Hill (Va.)
2002: Bishop O’Connell (Va.)
2003: Jesuit
2004: Oak Hill (Va.)
2005: Reserve Christian (La.)
2006: Oak Hill (Va.)
2007: Archbishop Mitty
2008: Dominiguez (Calif.)
2009: Westchester (Calif.)
2010: DeMatha Catholic (Md.)
2011: Oak Hill (Va.)
2012: Lake Oswego
2013: Rainier Beach (Seattle)
2014: Montverde Academy (Fla.)
2015: Oak Hill (Va.)
2016: Nathan Hale (Seattle)
BEST PREVIOUS PLAYERS
Billy Gates
Marvin Bagley II
Michael Lloyd
Ben Simmons
Kent Frasure
Michael Porter
Billy Gates
Payton Pritchard
Ross William Hamilton
Calvin Hermanson
Randy Rasmussen
Kyle Wiltjer
Carmelo Anthony
Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Tyson Chandler
Stephanie Yao
Kevin Durant
Olivia Bucks
Brandon Jennings
Fredrick D. Joe
Terrence Jones
Thomas Boyd
Terrence Ross
Bruce Ely
Kevin Love
Steven Nehl
Kyle Singler
Olivia Bucks
Nolan Smith
Doug Beghtel
Ndamukong Suh
FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS
Jefferson vs. Lakeridge
9 a.m. Wednesday
Billy Gates
Jefferson Democrats
Record: 4-1
2016-17 season: 27-1, 6A state champions
Players to watch: Kamaka Hepa (6-9, sr., forward, signed Texas); Khalil Chatman (6-8, sr., forward); Marcus Tsohonis (6-5, jr., guard)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2016 (def. Churchill, Grant, Clackamas, lost to Gonzaga College)
LSI tourneys, record: 20, 49-30
LSI highlight: 1999
In what was one of the most exciting LSI finals, Jefferson survived a missed last-second free throw to beat Jesuit 76-75 to win the championship. The Democrats, who had future collegians Michael Lee, Brandon Brooks and Aaron Miles on the roster, reached the finals with wins over Redmond, West Linn and Beaverton.
LSI appearances
1996: 1-3
1997: 2-2
1998: 3-1, lost to Crenshaw 97-77 in title game
1999: 4-0, beat Jesuit 76-75 in championship game
2000: 3-1, lost to Dominguez 57-53 in championship game
2001: 3-1, third place
2002: 2-2, fourth place
2003: 3-1, consolation winners
2004: 2-2, fourth place
2006: 3-1, consolation bracket
2007: 3-1, consolation bracket
2008: 1-3
2009: 2-1
2010: 2-2
2011: 3-1
2012: 3-1 consolation championship
2013: 3-1 fifth place
2014: 2-2
2015: 1-3
2016: 3-1 fifth place
Chase Allgood
Lakeridge Pacers
Record: 1-4
2016-17 season: 16-7
Players to watch: Jake Fedrizzi (5-11, sr., guard); Mitch Gerot (6-7, sr., forward)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2014
LSI tourneys, record: Three, 4-8
LSI highlight: 2014
The Pacers won their only LSI trophy in 2014, bouncing back from an opening-round loss to Central Catholic to capture the consolation championship. Lakeridge defeated Oregon City and Peninsula, before topping South Salem 59-57 in overtime in the consolation final.
LSI appearances
2004: 1-3
2005: 0-4
2014: 3-1, consolation championship
West Linn vs. Oregon City
10:30 a.m. Wednesday
Michael Lloyd
West Linn Lions
Record: 2-2
2016-17 season: 23-5
Players to watch: Keishon Dawkins (6-7, sr., forward); Jalen Thompson (6-3, sr., guard)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2016
LSI tourneys, record: 9, 17-19
LSI highlight: 2014
The Lions made their first trip to the LSI finals, where they lost to Montverde Academy 70-58 to take second place. West Linn opened the tournament with wins over Grant and Jefferson, then knocked off Wheeler (Ga.) behind a 38-point performance from future New Mexico Lobo Anthony Mathis.
LSI appearances
1997: 1-3
1998: 2-2
1999: 2-2
2000: 0-4
2012: 2-2
2013: 3-1, third place
2014: 3-1, lost to Montverde Academy in championship game
2015: 2-2 fourth place
2016: 2-2
Billy Gates
Oregon City Pioneers
Record: 4-1
2016-17 season: 13-12
Players to watch: Teron Bradford (6-foot, sr., guard)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2014
LSI tourneys, record: Four, 8-7
LSI highlight: 2007
The Pioneers stormed to the championship game with wins over Jefferson, Helen Cox and South Medford before falling to Archbishop Mitty in the championship game. Brad Tinsley was the tournament’s leading scorer, averaging 25.8 points a game.
LSI appearances
2006: 2-2
2007: 3-1, second place
2009: 1-2
2014: 2-2
Grant vs. Lake Oswego
Noon Wednesday
Billy Gates
Grant Generals
Record: 4-0
2016-17 season: 18-10
Players to watch: Kelton Samore (6-8, sr., forward), Aaron Deloney (6-0, jr., guard), Ty Rankin (6-2, jr., guard)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2016
LSI tourneys, record: Eight, 10-22
LSI highlight: 2007
Grant’s best LSI showing came in 2007, when the Generals won three of four games to take third place. Grant was no match for eventual champion Archbishop Mitty in the semifinals, but were dominant in the victories, winning games over Mark Morris, Enumclaw and South Medford by double digits.
LSI appearances
2004: 2-2
2006: 1-3
2007: 3-1, third place
2008: 2-2
2009: 0-4
2013: 1-3
2014: 0-4
2016: 1-3
Billy Gates
Lake Oswego Lakers
Record: 4-1
2016-17 season: 12-13
Players to watch: Josh Angle (6-2, jr., guard); J.R. Schilling (6-5, sr., forward)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2016
LSI tourneys, record: 17, 34-34
LSI highlight
It took nine years, but the Lakers avenged their 2003 LSI title game loss by beating Jesuit in the 2012 final. Future St. Mary’s Gael Calvin Hermanson scored 20 points to help Lake Oswego pull away to a 62-43 win over the Crusaders. The Lakers beat Sunset, Central Catholic and Neumann-Goretti to earn their second-ever championship game berth.
LSI appearances
1998: 2-2
1999: 2-2
2000: 2-2
2001: 2-2
2003: 3-1, lost to Jesuit in championship game
2004: 0-4
2005: 3-1 third place
2006: 3-1, third place
2008: 3-1 consolation bracket
2009: 2-2
2010: 1-3
2011: 3-1 fifth place
2012: 4-0, beat Jesuit in championship game
2013: 1-3
2014: 1-3
2015: 1-3
2016: 1-3
Beaverton vs. West Salem
1:30 p.m. Wednesday
Beaverton Beavers
Record: 5-2
2016-17 season: 23-6
Players to watch: Jake Estep (6-5, sr., forward, signed Western Oregon)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2016
LSI tourneys, record: 15, 31-29
LSI highlight: 1996
Beaverton won the inaugural LSI, then known as the Oregon Holiday Invitational, played at the Chiles Center. The Beavers stormed to the championship game, where they easily defeated McNary 76-53 to win the tournament.
LSI appearances
1996: 4-0, beat McNary 76-53 in championship game
1997: 3-1, third place
1998: 1-3
1999: 2-2 semis
2000: 1-3
2001: 3-1
2002: 2-2
2004: 2-2
2005: 2-2
2007: 1-3
2008: 2-2
2009: 2-2
2013: 1-3
2015: 2-2
2016: 3-1, consolation title
West Salem Titans
Record: 4-2
2016-17 season: 23-6
Players to watch: Kyle Greeley (6-5, sr., guard, signed Portland State)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2005
LSI tourneys, record: One, 1-3
LSI highlight: 2005
In their only LSI appearance, the Titans avoided a winless tournament by beating Lakeridge 45-44 on the final day.
LSI appearances
2005: 1-3
Crespi (Calif.) vs. Jesuit
4 p.m. Wednesday
LSI 
Crespi Celtics
Record: 10-1
2016-17 season: 10-17
Players to watch: Brandon Williams (6-2, sr., guard, signed Arizona)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: First
LSI tourneys, record: First appearance
Brent Wojahn
Jesuit Crusaders
Record: 5-1
2016-17 season: 15-10
Players to watch: Matt Lang (6-3, sr., guard)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2016
LSI tourneys, record: 20, 47-33
LSI highlight: 2003
Jesuit won its lone LSI championship in 2003 in emphatic style, routing Lake Oswego 64-42 in the tourney final. The Crusaders had little trouble throughout the tournament, beating Marist, Aloha and South Salem by double-digit margins before meeting the Kevin Love-led Lakers.
LSI appearances
1996: 3-1, fourth place
1998: 3-1
1999: 3-1, lost to Jefferson 76-75 in championship game
2000: 2-2, fourth place
2001: 2-2, fourth place
2002: 2-2
2003: 4-0, beat Lake Oswego 64-42 in championship game
2004: 3-1, third place
2005: 1-3
2006: 2-2
2007: 2-2
2008: 2-2 fifth place
2009: 3-1
2010: 3-1 third place
2011: 3-1 lost to Oak Hill in championship game
2012: 3-1 lost to Lake Oswego in championship game
2013: 1-3
2014: 2-2
2015: 2-2
2016: 1-3
Mater Dei vs. South Eugene
5:30 p.m. Wednesday
LSI 
Mater Dei (Calif.) Monarchs
Record: 6-2
2016-17 season: 33-3
Players to watch: Spencer Freedman (6-2, sr., guard, signed Harvard)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2001
LSI tourneys, record: One, 1-3
LSI highlight: 2001
Mater Dei’s lone LSI appearance wasn’t exactly what the team had planned. Coming into the Les Schwab ranked No. 24 nationally, Mater Dei won its opener against Roseburg, only to lose three straight, to Jesuit, Little Rock and Thurston.
LSI appearances
2001: 1-3
Michele Bunch
South Eugene Axemen
Record: 3-5
2016-17 season: 14-9
Players to watch: Aiden Clark (6-8, soph., forward); Jay Elmore (6-1, sr., guard)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2013
LSI tourneys, record: Three, 3-9
LSI highlight: 2004
South Eugene won two games and reached the consolation championship, where it lost to Fairfax 65-56.
LSI appearances
2004: 2-2
2009: 1-3
2013: 0-4
Barlow vs. Oak Hill
7 p.m. Wednesday
Chase Allgood
Barlow Bruins
Record: 4-2
2016-17 season: 13-13
Players to watch: Jesse White (6-1, soph., guard)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2003
LSI tourneys, record: Four, 7-9
LSI highlight: 1997
The Bruins narrowly lost their opener to Westview, but came back to win consecutive games against South Salem, Jefferson and Evergreen to take the consolation title.
LSI appearances
1997: 3-1, consolation championship
1999: 1-3
2000: 1-3
2003: 2-2
Oak Hill Academy
Record: 13-0
2016-17 season: 35-5
Players to watch: Keldon Johnson (6-7, sr., forward, signed Kentucky); Will Richardson (6-4, sr., guard, signed Oregon)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2015
LSI tourneys, record: Seven, 27-1
LSI highlight
Impossible to pick one, as Oak Hill is the most successful team in Les Schwab history. Oak Hill has won six championships and played in seven LSI finals in seven tournament appearances.
LSI appearances
1997: 4-0, won championship
2001: 4-0, won championship
2004: 4-0, won championship
2006: 4-0, won championship
2009: 3-1, second place
2011: 4-0, won championship
2015: 4-0, won championship
Clackamas vs. Southridge
8:30 p.m. Wednesday
Erik C. Anderson
Clackamas Cavaliers
Record: 2-4
2016-17 season: 24-5, 6A runner-up
Players to watch: Cole Turner (6-6, sr., forward, signed Nevada-Reno football); Mitchell Modjeski (6-3, sr., guard)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2016
LSI tourneys, record: Five, 10-10
LSI highlight
After losing to Jahlil Okafor-led Whitney Young by 40 points in its opener, Clackamas rallied to win three consecutive consolation-bracket games, beating Sunset, Grant and Central Catholic. In all three wins, the Cavaliers pulled out close games during the final minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime.
LSI appearances
1996: 2-2
2012: 1-3
2013: 3-1 consolation championship
2015: 2-2
2016: 2-2
Billy Gates
Southridge Skyhawks
Record: 7-0
2016-17 season: 16-10
Players to watch: Filip Fullerton (6-10, sr., forward, signed Portland State); Bo Quinlan (6-3, sr., guard)
Les Schwab Invitational history
Last LSI: 2015
LSI tourneys, record: Three, 3-9
LSI highlight: 2012
Southridge hasn’t had a lot of LSI success, having never won a first-round game and just three wins in three tournament tries. In 2012, the Skyhawks won their lone game against Sheldon. Southridge turned a one-point halftime lead into an 80-52 rout.
LSI appearances
2011: 1-3
2012: 1-3
2015: 1-3
2017 LSI bracket