Oregon’s best high school girls basketball players: Meet the top stars in the 5A Mid-Willamette Conference (Part 2)

By Bob Lundeberg

Over the next two weeks, we'll be taking a conference-by-conference look at some of the state's top high school basketball players. Here's Part 2 of the Mid-Willamette girls list. (See Part 1 here.)

Every league has numerous standout players, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive. Let us know which other players you think should be added to the list.

Lilly Horner (Silverton) photo by Taylor Balkom

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North Salem 

W Talhaya Powers, sr., 5-9

Powers, an impact player for the Vikings as a freshman and sophomore, didn’t play in the spring but is back for her senior season. She is a strong scorer who also contributes without the basketball. “Talhaya is a three-level scorer who leads the offense,” interim head coach Chris Feskens said. “She is hoping to continue her education and basketball career in college.” 

W Tashaya Powers, sr., 5-9

Talhaya’s twin sister, Tashaya is also back after sitting out the spring season. Feskens said Tashaya is a true leader for the Vikings on and off the court. “She is someone we rely on heavily to communicate and direct the team on the court,” Feskens said. “She is a very good defender that anchors our team’s defense.”

W Marbella Garcia, sr., 5-8

In her first season with North Salem, Garcia has already established herself as a tireless worker. She is also a star softball player for the Vikings. “She will out-work anyone on the court,” Feskens said. “She brings a ton of energy to the team and is overall a great teammate who is always lifting the program up. She is relentless on defense and brings flexibility to our defense as she can guard one through five in tight situations.” 

Silverton

G Lilly Horner, sr., 5-3

Horner is a veteran point guard who shot nearly 40 percent from three-point range as a junior. She is a standout on-ball defender and one of the Foxes’ team captains. “She can play point guard or off the ball as well,” head coach Tal Wold said. “She plays very hard for us, and she is also one of the best liberos in the state for volleyball.”

W Paige Traeger, sr., 5-7

Another longtime varsity contributor, Traeger is an all-around player who is an outstanding leader and captain, Wold said. “Paige is one of the best teammates we’ve ever had here,” he added. “She leads us weekly on the heart and hustle board.” 

W Lily Hayashida, jr., 5-10

A junior wing with great upside, Hayashida is averaging around 10 points and four rebounds per game. She is one of the top shooters in the MWC. “Lily has improved by leaps and bounds defensively,” Wold said. “She is also making strides in scoring at all three levels.”

G Kyleigh Brown, so., 5-7

A first-team all-MWC pick as a sophomore, Brown has taken her game to a new level this winter. The 5-foot-7 point guard is averaging 17 points, four assists and five rebounds per game. “She loves basketball and competing,” Wold said. “She can really pass and score in a variety of ways. She is one of the best players in a league full of good players.” 

West Albany

G Brooklyn Strandy, sr., 6-0

A Portland State signee, Strandy is a two-time all-MWC selection. The 6-foot senior is a versatile guard/wing hybrid who is averaging 12.5 points, six rebounds and three blocks per game. “She is becoming more and more of a threat from the outside and has great ball-handling skills that allow her to attack the rim,” West Albany head coach Shawn Stinson said. 

G Lyndsay Bailey, sr., 5-4

Bailey is a true point guard who is averaging 12 points, seven assists and 3.5 steals per game while shooting 43 percent from three-point range. She is being recruited by Corban, Clark C.C. and Linn-Benton. “Lyndsay has some of the best court vision of any player I’ve ever coached,” Stinson said. “She is able to get to the rim at will with a great handle and is starting to become a good deep threat.”

G Lily Ruiz, sr., 5-4

An off-guard, Ruiz is also receiving interest from multiple smaller schools. The feisty senior is putting up 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and 3.5 steals per game. “Lily is an absolute ballhawk, one of the best reactive defensive players I’ve coached,” Stinson said. “She is becoming an all-around player with improved confidence and is my best-kept secret.”

F Kendra Kosmicki, sr., 5-10

Kosmicki is stuffing the stat sheet as a senior with 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, one assist and 1.7 steals per game. A strong athlete for her size, Kosmicki’s suitors include Eastern Oregon, Western Oregon and Mt. Hood. “She is developing a good mid-range jumper but gets to the rim with solid footwork,” Stinson said. “She is a workhorse.”

P Emmy Louber, so., 5-10

A rising sophomore for the Bulldogs, Louber excels at rebounding and finishing around the basket. Stinson said roughly 80 percent of her rebounds are on the offensive end. “She runs the floor well in transition and has great court awareness,” Stinson said.