With the 2025-26 Oregon high school basketball season past the midway point, we’re taking a position-by-position look at some of the best boys players in the state.

We continue our look at the top forwards in 6A. Part 2 of the list focuses on the best forwards and wings in the Three Rivers League, Central Valley Conference and Southwest Conference. (Part 1 of the list featured the standout forwards from the PIL, Metro League, Pacific Conference and Mt. Hood Conference.)

We asked every 6A coach in the state to tell us about their star players through the first half of the season. These lists were compiled based on the information provided by the coaches who chose to respond.

Think you belong on this list? Encourage your coach to respond to requests for information about the team! We will continue to add to these lists throughout the month.

(Note: North Medford coach Scott Plankenhorn and South Medford coach James Wightman declined to identify any standout players on their rosters.)

All statistics are as of mid-January. Check back soon for the poll in which we’ll ask fans to vote for which of these forwards is the best of the best. If you have a photo of a player you would like to share, email jhumburg@advancelocal.com.

BEST FORWARDS IN 6A OREGON BOYS BASKETBALL

Logan Baertsch Kovalchick, jr., Lakeridge

Baertsch Kovalchick received all-Three Rivers League honorable mention as a sophomore. He’s averaging 12 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in league play this season, and he leads the team in one of Pacers coach Jimmy Watts’ favorite categories — charges taken. “He is one of our best all-around players on the team who can score, play defense and do all of the hustle plays that keep us in games,” Watts said.

Quinton Bailey, sr., Tigard

Bailey is a first-year letterman who has been invaluable to the Tigers. “He leads the team in scoring at the midway point, and he leads the team in 3-pointers made,” Tigard coach Stu Bailey said.

London Butler, so., Sprague

Butler played on the JV team as a freshman. Now? “He is a starter and captain of the team,” Olympians coach Tyler Lewis said. Butler is averaging seven points and five rebounds per game.

Gerrit Cupp, sr., Sheldon

Cupp is averaging seven points, five rebounds and two steals per game. “He brings toughness, athleticism and elite defensive ability to our team,” Irish coach Brian Brancato said. “He is often tasked with guarding the opposing team’s best player and consistently makes a major impact on that end of the floor.” It’s all part of his team-first attitude. “He stands out as a selfless, caring teammate who will do whatever the team needs to win,” Brancato said.

Tyson Donnerberg, jr., West Linn

Donnerberg is averaging 11.4 points and six rebounds per game. “Tyson is a slasher who can get to the paint with the ball,” Lions coach Travis Myers said. “He has sneaky athleticism that shows up when he is attacking rebounds.”

Brayden Fleener, sr., South Salem

Fleener is the Saxons’ all-time leader in blocked shots. He’s averaging 2.5 per game this season, along with six points, seven rebounds and 1.5 steals. “Brayden is the backbone of our pressure package defensively,” South Salem coach Kip Ioane said. He received honorable mention all-Central Valley Conference as a junior.

Kai Holmes, sr., Sheldon

Irish coach Brian Brancato describes Holmes as “a 6-foot-6 wing who brings versatility, skill and a high basketball IQ to our lineup. He is a talented scorer who can shoot and score at all three levels, while also making a strong impact defensively with his length and instincts.” Holmes is averaging 14 points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and one block per game. His attitude is even more impressive than his numbers, according to his coach. “He stands out as a dependable teammate and person who competes and does whatever is needed to help the team succeed,” Brancato said.

Lane Isham, jr., Sprague

“Lane was a swing player for us last season and is now a starter,” Olympians coach Tyler Lewis said. He’s averaging 10 points and five rebounds per game.

Blake Lampert, jr., West Linn

Lampert is averaging 12.5 points per game and has, in the words of Lions coach Travis Myers, “stepped up” as other starters have missed time because of injury. “He is a smooth driver of the ball and is a skilled finisher at the rim,” Myers said. “He is a long 6-foot-2 and is tough to stay in front of.”

Takeo McCrae, sr., Tualatin

McCrae joined the Timberwolves after transferring from Millennium High School in Arizona. “He is one of the best on-ball defenders and has the ability to score 15 points per game,” Tualatin coach Bubba Lemon said.

Kyle Nichols, sr., Lakeridge

Nichols can catch fire from the outside, such as when he nailed five 3-pointers to help the Pacers beat Tigard. He’s averaging 10.7 points per game. “Kyle is an extremely good shooter and helps add instant offense from beyond the arc,” Lakeridge coach Jimmy Watts said. “His ability to stretch the floor and his basketball IQ help add a huge plus to our offense anytime he is on the floor.” That’s not all. “In addition to his basketball abilities, he is the ultimate teammate that everyone respects,” Watts said.

Cameron Perry, sr., South Eugene

Perry, who received all-Southwest Conference honorable mention as a junior, is averaging 15 points and six rebounds per game while simultaneously having responsibilities in the paint and handling the ball. “Cameron is the heart of our team in a lot of ways as he is an incredibly hard worker, dedicated teammate and positive influence on everyone around him,” Axe coach George Zaninovich said. As of midseason, Perry was shooting 46 percent from 3-point range on more than 60 attempts. “He is hoping to get his shot at a local community college,” Zaninovich said.

Liam Rigney, sr., Lake Oswego

Rigney is a returning first-team all-Three Rivers League player. He is the Lakers’ leading scorer at 22.5 points per game, and he gets them in a variety of ways. “He’s one of the most talented scorers in the state,” Lake Oswego coach Tully Wagner said. “Liam is incredibly efficient from 2 at 59 percent but also knocks down 1.5 3’s per game.” He’s also the team’s leading rebounder at 7.3 per game and serves as a team captain and leader. “Liam has a ton of college interest at various levels and is trying to decide where best to play next season,” Wagner added.

Alarion Scott, jr., Oregon City

Scott made the all-Three Rivers League second team as a sophomore. He’s averaging 10 points per game this season. “Alarion is a versatile inside/outside player who is an efficient scorer and offensive rebounder,” Oregon City assistant coach Colton Sundquist said.

Ryan Skinner, sr., McNary

Skinner is averaging nine points and four rebounds per game, and he’s shooting 60 percent from the field. “Ryan is the heart and soul of our team,” Celtics coach Ryan Kirch said. “He is tough and competitive and does all the dirty work teams need to be successful.”

Jack Tycast, sr., West Linn

Tycast has been one of the Lions’ saviors with several key players sidelined. “He has been a steady presence through all the injuries,” West Linn coach Travis Myers said. “He can score inside, can knock down the 3. Able to defend multiple positions and rebound at a high level.” Tycast is averaging 13 points per game.

Brady Watts, so., Lakeridge

Watts is one of the Pacers’ tallest players at 6-foot-4. He missed eight games early in the season with an AC joint strain. “Brady is settling in and becoming the key contributor we saw during the summer and fall,” Lakeridge coach Jimmy Watts said. “He provides essential size and rebounding we were missing for much of the season.” His physical presence was vital in a win against Roosevelt, when he recorded nine rebounds. He has also had some big games on offense, such as a 15-point performance to help the Pacers beat West Linn.

Calvin Yoder, sr., South Eugene

Yoder is averaging 13 points, five rebounds and three assists per game. “Calvin is a forward with a great mid-range game and can hit threes with consistency,” Axe coach George Zaninovich said. “He is an emerging leader who has battled through injuries and continues to work as hard as anyone.” Yoder received honorable mention all-Southwest Conference as a junior.

Branson Young, so., Grants Pass

Young suffered a broken foot before his freshman season, and he played the second half of the campaign for the JV team. “We thought he would contribute this year, but he has exceeded expectations,” Cavemen coach Nate Olson said. “He has become a regular starter and key contributor.” Young is averaging nine points and five rebounds per game. “His high energy, high motor is tough for opponents to keep up with and makes him one of the best offensive rebounders in our league,” Olson said.

For complete coverage of Oregon high school sports, including schedules, scores, recruiting news and additional player spotlights, visit OregonLive’s high school sports section throughout the season.

THE DALLES, Ore. (KATU) — Two Oregon State Police troopers were hurt Monday morning in a crash involving two commercial trucks on an Interstate 84 off-ramp, The Dalles Police officials said.

The crash was reported about 7:30 a.m. at the top of I-84 on-ramp at exit 87, along Highway 197 just north of the interstate.

Initial reports state an Oregon State Police Fish & Wildlife K-9 vehicle was involved in a crash with two commercial vehicles – an unloaded log truck and a semi-truck & trailer.

Two OSP troopers and one of the commercial truck drivers were all taken to medical facilities for treatment.

The K-9 and the other truck driver were not hurt in the crash.

RELATED | Crash on Airport Way led to DUII arrest during unrelated traffic stop

Highway 197 was closed at Bret Clodfelter Way through much of the day Monday, and is expected to reopen in the evening hours.

Washington traffic heading south to Oregon was diverted to Hood River or Biggs Junction, while northbound traffic was rerouted onto Highway 30 at Exit 85.

“The investigation is ongoing and we are asking for anybody who has information regarding this crash to call us at 541-296-2613 and reference case number D26-0261,” City of The Dalles Police Department said.

The 4A wrestling district meets took place over the weekend, with the OSAA state championships scheduled for Feb. 26-27 at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland.

Here’s a look at the champions and three takeaways from each of the four district meets. The top four finishers from each district advance to state.

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Special District 1 (at Molalla)

Team champion: Tillamook (376.5 points)

Most automatic qualifiers: Tillamook (15), Molalla (11), Estacada (10)

Individual champions

106 Liam Pyle, jr., Tillamook

113 Braiden Grochowsky, sr., Estacada

120 Cole Stafford, fr., Molalla

126 Kipton Allen, soph., Tillamook

132 Leroy Mixon, jr., Estacada

138 Beau Sandberg, sr., Molalla

144 Beau Smith, jr., Astoria

150 Logan Riga, jr., Estacada

157 Brayden Cooley, jr., Seaside

165 Tyler Kenton, jr., Molalla

175 Turner Jackson, jr., Estacada

190 Charlie Becker, jr., Gladstone

215 Melesio Brito, soph., Astoria

285 Adrian Balli, sr., Astoria

3 notes

Tillamook earns eighth consecutive district title

The Cheesemakers romped to another championship, putting six wrestlers in the finals and advancing 15 to state to outscore runner-up Estacada by 105 points and set themselves up for a run at improving upon back-to-back sixth-place finishes at state. Pyle repeated as 106-pound champion, pinning teammate Javier Vazquez in 74 seconds in the final.

Three-time champions hope to make mark in two weeks

Two wrestlers won their third consecutive district titles, with Sandberg pinning Scappoose’s Lawson Komp 41 seconds into the second round and Cooley earning a 4-0 decision over Tillamook’s Dillon Bennet. Now, each looks to improve upon his 2025 state finish — Sandberg placed fifth at 132 and Cooley sixth at 150.

Estacada’s Grochowsky avenges loss in district final

Grochowsky won a district title as a freshman but lost 12-11 to Seaside’s Henry Rollins in the 113 final last year. This weekend, he got the better of Rollins when the Seagulls junior had to retire because of injury after the second round. Grochowsky’s teammate, Mixon, also won a second title, as did Astoria’s Balli.

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Special District 2 (at Newport)

Team champion: Sweet Home (507 points)

Most qualifiers: Sweet Home (20), Cascade (14), Cottage Grove (7), Philomath (7)

Individual champions

106 Cody Sieminski, fr., Sweet Home

113 Keegan Jefferson, jr., Sweet Home

120 Riley Vaughan, jr., Sweet Home

126 Jesse Landtroop, jr., Sweet Home

132 Jeffery Conklin, jr., Cottage Grove

138 Henry Bankhead, jr., North Marion

144 Leonardo Michel, sr., Stayton

150 Riley Barrett, sr., Philomath

157 Porter Compton, sr., Philomath

165 Hans Kamm, jr., Cascade

175 Luke Rosa, sr., Sweet Home

190 Lake Mulberry, sr., Philomath

215 Matthew Hinkle, sr., Cascade

285 Lynkin Royer, sr., Sweet Home

3 notes

Sweet Home poised to reclaim state championship

A 12th consecutive district championship trophy is nice, but with 2025 champion Crook County now in 5A, the Huskies put themselves in fine position to reclaim the state title in two weeks — they won in 2017 and 2024 and have five runner-up finishes in the past decade. They owned the lower weights, winning every title from 106 to 126 pounds, and Jefferson, Vaughan, Landtroop and Rosa repeated as district champions.

Conklin ends six-year title drought for Cottage Grove

Conklin improved to 46-0 (improving his win streak to 48 after placing third at state as a sophomore) when two-time district champion Tytus Hardee of Sweet Home sustained an injury in the final. Cottage Grove had not had a district finalist since 2023, and Conklin became the program’s first champion since 2020, when Jacob Dunn, Drew Swenson and Cobie Simpson took home titles.

Philomath state champion shrugging off early-season injury

Barrett suffered an ankle injury at Philomath’s season-opening tournament and has been brought back gradually to prevent a recurrence as he tries to become the program’s first three-time state champion. He improved to 18-0 with a 14-0 major decision over Sweet Home’s James Hearick in the district final.

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Special District 3 (at Hidden Valley)

Team champion: Marshfield (299 points)

Most qualifiers: Marshfield (14), Hidden Valley (9), North Bend (9), Mazama (9)

Individual champions

106 Rhoan Rambo, fr., Hidden Valley

113 Garron Castro, sr., Marshfield

120 Ryker Pruett, fr., North Bend

126 Acen Clark, soph., Henley

132 Nicholas Campbell, sr., North Bend

138 Nicco Kovacic, soph., Klamath Union

144 Jackson Swanson, sr., North Bend

150 Levi Padoshek, jr., Mazama

157 John Willett, sr., North Bend

165 Walter Collier, sr., Henley

175 Jyles Peterson, jr., Hidden Valley

190 Brent Kolkow, sr., Hidden Valley

215 Dylan Swanson, sr., North Bend

285 Mitchell Quist, sr., Hidden Valley

3 notes

Depth key to Marshfield’s second consecutive district title

A year ago, Marshfield won eight individual championships en route to its first team title since 2018. This year, the Pirates won only one weight class when Castro took home his third district crown with a third-period technical fall, but their depth (state qualifiers at 12 of 14 weight classes) was enough to stave off Hidden Valley (and the Mustangs’ four district titlists) by 39 points.

Returning champions square off in 285 final

The 285 final featured returning district champions Quist moving up from 215 to challenge Marshfield’s Skyler Folau. Quist, whose only loss this season came in the High Desert Classic final to Burns’ Joe Weil, defeated Folau for the second time this season with a 4-1 decision. It was a closer match than in mid-December, when Quist (third at state a year ago) won an 11-3 major decision in the North Bend Coast Classic quarterfinals.

North Bend’s Swanson, Henley’s Collier also repeat

Two other wrestlers repeated as district champions, with Swanson moving down from 150 (where a possible final against two-time state titlist Riley Barrett awaited) to beat Phoenix’s Caden Cunningham by second-period fall, and Collier moved up from 157 to 165 and earned a second-round pin over Mazama’s Isaac Stacey.

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Special District 4 (at Madras)

Team champion: La Grande (396 points)

Most qualifiers: Pendleton (18), La Grande (16), Madras (9)

Individual champions

106 Darren Gulzow, jr., La Grande

113 Hank Roy, soph., Pendleton

120 Aiden Cox, fr., Pendleton

126 Deegan Nelson, soph., La Grande

132 Bragen Anderson, sr., La Grande

138 Colton Livingston, sr., La Grande

144 Bryler Anderson, soph., La Grande

150 Cole Roy, sr., Pendleton

157 Tommy Belding, sr., La Grande

165 Kainen Zimmerman, sr., Pendleton

175 Vance Nelson, sr., Pendleton

190 Aidan Perkins, sr., Pendleton

215 Dex Dunlap, jr., La Grande

285 Gage Valencia, sr., Ontario

3 notes

La Grande edges Pendleton for first district title since 2022

The departure of three-time reigning champion Crook County to 5A created a wide-open district tournament, where Pendleton enjoyed a 3-2 edge over La Grande in district finals matching the schools’ wrestlers and an 18-16 edge in state qualifiers but still saw the Tigers eke out a 1.5-point victory for their first title since 2022 — the year before the Cowboys dropped to 4A. Belding and Bragen Anderson each won a third district title to lead the charge, and Dunlap repeated as 215 champion.

Two No. 2 seeds help Buckaroos push for team title

The Buckaroos had six district champions, one fewer than La Grande, with Nelson needing just 31 seconds to pin Madras’ Colton Gillespie to earn his third individual crown. They also got wins at 120, where Cox earned a 5-3 decision over La Grande’s top seed Kallen Blakely, and 165, where Zimmerman posted a 14-5 major decision over top seed Noah Collins of La Grande.

Ontario heavyweight denies La Grande-Pendleton title sweep

Ontario will have only four wrestlers make the 375-mile trip from the eastern tip of the state to Memorial Coliseum, but one of them is Valencia, who was the only wrestler not from La Grande or Pendleton to win a title — he earned a second-period technical fall over La Grande’s Darryn Richardson to improve to 31-4.

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For complete coverage of Oregon high school sports, visit OregonLive’s high school sports section throughout the year.