Nelson boys and girls basketball teams establishing identity, picking up wins in inaugural season: ‘We belong in this league’

By Dave Ball | Photos by Dave Ball

The Nelson boys basketball team is creating plenty of memories in its inaugural season, and the Hawks are hopeful of making the fun last just a little longer.

Head coach Alex Edwards is excited to be setting traditions for a team that entered the season with a blank slate.

“Everything we do sets the standard moving forward from how we practice to how we play,” he said.

The start-up program is playing this season with only two players, post C.J. Borin and guard Reid Gray, who came in with any varsity experience. Still, the bulk of the Hawks’ lineup grew up playing together since grade school.

“There are a few new guys we’ve brought in, but most of us have played together all the way up from the youth leagues,” said junior Parker Harrison. “Everything is fresh, and we’ve all bought into it.”

The Hawks found their wings with a five-game win streak early in the season — three of those victories coming by double-digit margins.

“That showed us that we can compete and that we can get through any rough patches that come up,” Borin said.

Nelson hosted its old friends from cross-town Clackamas in late January and came away with a 45-41 win.

“It was a tough game playing against our friends, but it meant a lot to us and coming out with the win was really special,” Borin said.

The Hawks showcased their ability to win in a variety of ways during a recent 69-55 road win at Centennial.

In the halfcourt, Nelson proved effective with the high-low attack of post players Borin and Vanndon Heard.

Borin put up a team-high 25 points, while Heard finished with eight points and several blocked shots. Heard is a main member of the varsity rotation, moving up two levels from playing JV2 last season at Clackamas.

“We try to get them to play off each other in that high-low game,” Edwards said. “They push each other every day in practice, and both are young and athletic with room to improve.”

Nelson also ramped up its full-court press to build its lead to 24 points midway through the second half. Harrison highlighted the effort when he picked off back-to-back passes near midcourt that led to runaway layups.

Nelson sits at 9-10 with two weeks left in the regular season. Not only is a winning record within reach, but the Hawks are also in contention for a spot in the 6A playoff bracket.

“Coming into the year, we were the new school and there weren’t a lot of expectations,” Edwards said. “Now, the playoffs are something we are striving for. We want to go out and compete.”

Edwards estimates that his team would need to reach No. 28 in the OSAA rankings to earn one of the 6A wild card spots. The Hawks finished last week at No. 31 in the rankings.

“We are excited and working hard every day — we have a legit shot at it,” Harrison said.

The Nelson girls have also found success in their first season, including a 38-36 road win over Canby in the season opener.

“Being a new school, that first win really bonded us and has helped us keep going,” post player Kaylie Christopher said. “Every time we get a win, we celebrate it.”

“It’s been a super cool experience doing all of these firsts and building our team chemistry,” junior Sophia Hardy said.

The Hawks’ most notable win came at home in late January, when they beat perennial playoff qualifier Central Catholic 64-57.

“That was a big moment for us,” Nelson coach John Schlaefli said. “It put us on the map and we felt that we belonged in this league.”

The Hawks finished last week with a 6-13 overall record, but they were 30 seconds from being .500 in league play, only to fall 36-32 in overtime to David Douglas on Saturday.

Nelson pulled ahead early in the fourth quarter when Isabel Morser sent a pass across the lane that fed teammate Adri Sale for a wide-open layup. The Hawks boosted their lead to 28-25 in the final minute after Hardy sent a kick-out pass to the perimeter and Sale buried a 15-foot jumper.

David Douglas tied the score with a late 3-pointer and went on to win in overtime.

“A game like this where we come up just a little short, you hope that these experiences help us continue to build,” Schlaefli said. “It’s been special to be the first in all of these things.”