The top-seeded Barlow Bruins face the 11th-seeded Jesuit Crusaders in the Oregon (OSAA) high school boys basketball 6A state tournament championship game Saturday at 8:45 p.m. at the University of Portland’s Chiles Center. 

Follow this post for live updates. 

Jalen Atkins, Barlow, senior

The Eastern Arizona commit and four-time all-MHC first-team selection averages 21 points, 7.5 assists and four rebounds per game, scoring a career-high 43 in the Bruins’ second-round win over Clackamas.

Brayden Barron, Barlow, senior

Bruins coach Tom Johnson called Barron “one of the most improved players our program has ever had” — high praise from the long-time coach about the Portland State commit and Mt. Hood Conference defensive player of the year who averages 14.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 2.5 blocks. 

Mason Bierbrauer, Barlow, senior

The Bruins’ third all-Mt. Hood Conference first-team selection is a three-year starter who averages 16.5 points and six rebounds.

Patrick Kilfoil, Jesuit, senior

The Crusaders were a well-balanced attack this season, but Kilfoil (a Saint Martin’s commit) was the leader of the group, making the all-Metro League first team after averaging team highs in scoring (14.4 points) and assists (3.3) while grabbing 4.5 rebounds per game. 

Isaac Bongen, Jesuit, sophomore

Bongen shot 36% from beyond the 3-point arc and averaged 12.1 points in making the all-Metro League third team.

Joe Stimpson, Jesuit, junior 

Stimpson missed most of the first half of the season, but over the Crusaders’ past 13 games, he averaged 8.3 points and 2.5 assists. He made the all-Metro League third team and helped Jesuit win eight in a row to clinch a state tournament berth.

Ryan Fraser, Jesuit, senior 

The third-team all-Metro League selection (10.2 points per game) led the Crusaders in 3-point shooting, hitting at a 46% clip — including going 9 for 12 in playoff wins over Gresham and Nelson, scoring 17 points in each game.

Barlow starting five: Jalen Atkins, Brayden Barron, Mason Bierbrauer, Maddyn Cummings, Blake Hills

Jesuit starting five: Patrick Kilfoil, Trey Cleeland, Joe Stimpson, Ryan Fraser, Ryan Barone

First basket of the game goes to Jesuit’s Trey Cleeland. Blake Hills answers with a 3 for Barlow. 3-2 Bruins after 1:30.

Patrick Kilfoil scores in the lane for Jesuit, which leads 4-3.

Maddyn Cummings offensive rebound and basket for Barlow, which leads 5-4 after 3:30.

Jesuit’s Joe Stimpson makes 1 of 2 from the line. It’s 5-5 with 4:18 left in the first quarter.

Maddyn Cummings with a smooth jumper in the lane for Barlow, which leads 7-5. Cummings has four early points.

Maddyn Cummings for 3! He has seven points. Barlow leads 10-5.

Brayden Barron scores for Barlow, which leads 12-5.

Jesuit’s Patrick Kilfoil makes 2 of 2 at the line. Crusaders trail 12-7, 1:33 left in the first quarter.

Mason Bierbrauer with his first basket for Barlow. Patrick Kilfoil answers for Jesuit. Barlow leads 14-9.

Barlow 14, Jesuit 9, end of first quarter. Maddyn Cummings has seven points for Barlow. Jalen Atkins has zero (0 for 4 from the field). Patrick Kilfoil leads Jesuit with six points.

First basket of the second quarter goes to Jesuit’s Trey Cleeland. Crusaders down 14-11.

Ryan Barone 3-pointer ties it for Jesuit! 14-14, 5:06 before halftime. Timeout, Barlow.

Mason Bierbrauer hits a jumper after the Barlow timeout. Patrick Kilfoil gets to the rim on the other end for Jesuit. It’s 16-16.

Brayden Barron with a put-back DUNK for Barlow, which leads 18-16.

Jalen Atkins with his first basket for Barlow. Bruins up 20-16.

Patrick Kilfoil drives the lane for another layup for Jesuit, which trails 20-18.

Grady Keljo makes 1 of 2 from the free throw line for Jesuit, which trails 20-19 with 57 seconds left in the half.

Brayden Barron scores to give Barlow a 22-19 lead.

Barlow 22, Jesuit 19, end of second quarter. Maddyn Cummings has seven points for Barlow. Patrick Kilfoil has a game-high 10 points for Jesuit.

First basket of the second half goes to Barlow’s Jalen Atkins. Bruins lead 24-19.

Patrick Kilfoil 3 brings Jesuit within 24-22.

Brayden Barron scores inside to give Barlow a 26-22 lead.

Ryan Fraser for 3 for Jesuit! Crusaders down one at 26-25.

Blake Hills gets the 3 right back for Barlow. And now a 3 by Jesuit’s Patrick Kilfoil. Barlow up 29-28 midway through the third quarter.

Brayden Barron makes 2 of 2 from the line for Barlow, which leads 31-28.

Patrick Kilfoil gets to the rim for two Jesuit points. Crusaders trail 31-30. Kilfoil has 18 points.

Barlow’s Blake Hills gets a friendly bounce on a 3-pointer. Joe Stimpson scores for Jesuit. Barlow up 34-32.

Barlow’s Brayden Barron for 3! He has 13 points. Bruins up 37-32.

Shot clock violation on Jesuit. Brayden Barron hits a jumper for Barlow. It’s 39-32.

Oh, boy … Barlow’s Jalen Atkins is fouled as he’s launching a half-court shot at the buzzer. He makes all three free throws, and Barlow will take a 10-point lead to the fourth quarter.

Barlow 42, Jesuit 32, end of third quarter.

First basket of the fourth quarter goes to Barlow’s Brayden Barron, and Bruins have a 12-point lead at 44-32. Barron has 17 points, eight rebounds.

Patrick Kilfoil makes two free throws, and Jesuit trails 44-34.

Maddyn Cummings scores to give Barlow a 46-34 lead.

Joe Stimpson converts a reverse layup for Jesuit — and he’s fouled. Free throw good. Crusaders down 46-37.

Joe Stimpson floater in the lane brings Jesuit within 46-39 with 5:46 remaining.

Mason Bierbrauer goes to the line for Barlow and makes 2 of 2. It’s 48-39 Bruins.

Patrick Kilfoil makes 2 of 2 free throws for Jesuit. Crusaders down 48-41. Kilfoil has 22 points. Exactly 5 minutes to go.

Blake Hills for 3 for Barlow. Grady Keljo scores for Jesuit. It’s 51-43.

Jalen Atkins scores for Barlow. It’s 53-43 with 4 minutes to go.

Jalen Atkins makes 1 of 2 free throws for Barlow, and it’s crunch time for Jesuit … 54-43 with 2:41 left.

Isaac Bongen makes 1 of 2 free throws for Jesuit, which trails 54-44 with 2:34 on the clock.

Maddyn Cummings makes 1 of 2 free throws, and Barlow leads 55-44 with 1:33 to go.

Ryan Fraser makes 2 of 2 free throws for Jesuit, which trails 55-46.

After Barlow gets called for traveling, Jesuit’s Joe Stimpson gets fouled and makes 1 of 2. It’s 55-47 with 1:13 to play.

Jalen Atkins makes 2 of 2 free throws for Barlow, which leads 57-47 with 1:11 left.

Goaltending called on Barlow. Basket to Joe Stimpson. After a steal, Stimpson scores again. Jesuit within 57-51 with 54.7 seconds to go.

Jalen Atkins makes 1 of 2 free throws. Barlow up 58-51.

Jesuit misses a 3-pointer. Jalen Atkins makes two free throws. It’s 60-51, and Barlow fans are starting to celebrate.

FINAL SCORE: Barlow 61, Jesuit 55. Brayden Barron with 17 points and nine rebounds. Jalen Atkins has 16 points and eight rebounds. Blake Hills has 12 points; Maddyn Cummings scores 10. For Jesuit, Patrick Kilfoil finishes with a game-high 24 points. Joe Stimpson adds 13 points.

To get live updates on your phone — as well as follow your favorite teams and top games — you can download the SBLive Sports app: Download iPhone App | Download Android App

The number of Western snowy plovers in Oregon increased slightly last year, continuing what’s been a major success story for the threatened shorebird as officials begin roping off beach for nesting season.

After two years of slight declines, officials counted 440 plovers during the 2024 breeding season survey, which was higher than the 433 counted in 2023 but still lower than the historic high of 532 in 2021.

Plovers are one of Oregon’s biggest success stories. Their numbers dropped to as low as 55 in 1993 and 76 in 2003, leading to them being listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act.

“With the support of the public and improvements to plover habitat, we’re making great strides in reversing the decline of this species,” said Cindy Burns, Siuslaw National Forest wildlife biologist. “Keep doing your part to understand nesting season rules and to share the beach this spring and summer.”

Beaches roped off to protect nesting for snowy plover

A main reason for the rebound has been the policy of roping off roughly 40 miles of dry sand on coastal beaches in management units that allow plovers to hatch and thrive in peace.

That policy, which started in 2010, began anew on Saturday. Plover nesting season lasts from March 15 to Sept. 15. The plover management units prohibit people and dogs tramping into the dry sand of plover nesting units, though in some cases they can bypass the areas on wet sand.

Sensitive plover nesting areas are identified on maps for the northern Oregon Coast and southern Oregon Coast. Signs may be present at trailheads with additional rules and limits, such as staying on the wet sand and no dogs even on a leash, “to help protect the small shorebirds and their exposed nests during this crucial period,” a news release from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department said.

Reminders for recreation on designated plover beaches March 15-Sept. 15:

• The following are not permitted: dogs (even on a leash), driving a vehicle, riding a bicycle, operating electric-assisted bicycles, camping, burning wood, flying kites or operating drones.
• Foot and equestrian traffic are permitted below the high-tide line on hard packed sand.

Snowy plovers nest in open sand

The numbers of plovers began to improve dramatically following the establishment of the roped-off units, the numbers show.

“They’re a ground-nesting bird that lays their eggs in small depressions on open sand — we call them scrapes in the sand — and rely on camouflage for protection. They need undisturbed time for the young to develop,” Cheryl Strong, a wildlife biologist and plover lead for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, told the Statesman Journal last year.

If the birds are disturbed by people, dogs, kites or drones — all of which are perceived as predators — they may fly away from their nest and put the eggs or young at risk.

Snowy plovers expanding range

Beyond plover numbers improving is the fact that they’ve expanded their range, Strong said previously.

“We’ve seen them expand their range to the north and south. We now have plovers in every coastal county in Oregon. It’s quite a turnaround,” Strong said last year.

One of the new areas plovers have been nesting is the Sand Lake Recreation Area, near the lake’s inlet, every year the last few years.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 18 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors and BlueSky at oregonoutdoors.bsky.social.

In the late 1980s, former Governor John Kitzhaber was a chief architect of the Oregon Health Plan, the state’s reformulation of Medicaid. In 2012, he was the driving force behind another huge transformation: the creation of coordinated care organizations or CCOs, which became the way low-income Oregonians get their healthcare.

Kitzhaber has been out of office for 10 years now, but he has been paying a lot of attention in recent weeks to Congress, where Republicans are looking to trim upwards of $800 billion from Medicaid over the next ten years.

Kitzhaber spoke with OPB’s “Think Out Loud” about what Medicaid cuts or reform could look like for Oregon and the nation. Excerpts, edited for length and clarity, are below.

What an ideal healthcare system should look like

“The objective of the health care system ought to be health, right? And I think that, primarily, we view it as something to fund and deliver medical care, right? I think most of us would probably agree that we want a healthcare system that’s affordable, accessible and that actually improves health outcomes when people need it.

“You need to align the fiscal incentives with the outcomes that you want. So fee-for-service medicine, which is what most hospitals operate on, rewards you for doing more regardless of whether what you’re doing actually is connected to a health outcome. If you operate under a global budget that is a fixed amount of money that grows at a predictable rate each year, then you have an incentive to actually invest in, let’s say, childhood obesity, because you want to reduce the very costly consequences of diabetes downstream.”

How Oregon sets an example

“The Coordinated Care Organizations are essentially local organizations that operate on a global budget that can grow at about 3.4% per member, per year and are required to maintain enrollment and benefits and meet metrics around quality and outcomes. The idea originally was to prove that up in Medicaid and then move it into the private insurance market in the individual market and small group market, which I still think is a really important step because both Medicaid and Medicare and our employment-based system are simply unsustainable. They’re getting unaffordable for employers, for government and for individuals.

“We signed an agreement with the federal government that we would reduce the cost trend two percentage points from medical inflation by the second year of the waiver, but we had a period to phase that in and the feds gave us a $1.9 billion dollar one-time loan and that money went down over the five years as the cost savings came in.

“The classic block grant is they give you a fixed amount of money. And if the number of people in your Medicaid system goes up, then you’ve got to either drop some of them off or you have to cut benefits. The three classic ways to manage cost in any health care program is to reduce benefits, reduce enrollment or reduce what you pay providers. What we’re trying to do in Oregon is the fourth path, which is reduce the total cost of care itself, while maintaining access, while maintaining benefits, while maintaining quality.”

What cuts to Medicaid at the federal level could look like

“I think the Democratic response has been very loud and focused: ‘No cuts to Medicaid. Period.’ I think that’s not only the wrong response, but I think it misses a huge opportunity that’s presented at this moment in time.

“What I’ve been proposing and discussing with [Congressman Cliff Bentz] is using Oregon’s CCO model as a way to transform the Medicaid system nationally. We’ve saved the federal government almost $4 billion over the last ten years. Give other states the opportunity if they want to move down that path to adopt the key principles of our plan: a global budget that’s growing at a rate below medical inflation. Secondly, requirements: You can’t cut enrollment, you can’t cut benefits and you have to meet metrics around quality and outcomes.

“You can look at the $4 billion we saved as cutting Medicaid, or you could look at it as I do; as making the program more efficient and more responsive to the needs of people who depend on it. And actually ECOnorthwest did a study in 2018 on what would happen if the nation adopted a very similar program and received cost savings of the same magnitude as Oregon, and the 10-year budget reduction was about $700 billion.”

The potential political hurdles to get there

“One of them is on the Democratic side of the aisle. I think this attitude that [there should be] no cuts to Medicaid is politically not very smart. The last three election cycles, the Democrats have insisted that all our public institutions are working just fine, which doesn’t match up with the reality of millions of Americans who are working hard and can’t make ends meet, right? This is an opportunity for us to say, ‘Let’s defend the need for our public institutions – in this case, a healthcare program for vulnerable Americans – but let’s make it work. Let’s make it efficient. Let’s not continue to spend dollars on things that don’t produce health and simply line the pockets of big corporate interests.’

“On the Republican side, I question the motives of at least the president’s desire to cut these things. I don’t think there’s a lot of compassion there or understanding of the fact that these are hardworking people who are working one or two jobs and just can’t get by. And that healthcare to me, particularly in rural Oregon, is a key ladder to economic self-sufficiency. It’s part of the infrastructure of upward mobility. I’m not sure they understand that.

“I’ve been working closely with Congressman Bentz who has introduced this notion to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Obviously, I don’t know what’s going to happen. But the question on the Republican side is whether they’re interested in just slashing and burning and cutting a program that is incredibly important to 80 million people, most of them kids in this country, or whether they’re actually interested in getting legitimate efficiencies without damaging this incredible infrastructure that’s so important to health.

“It doesn’t have to be an ugly partisan battle. We all need health care, no matter who we are, no matter where we live. Let’s work together to make it affordable and to make it effective.”

Former Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber spoke with “Think Out Loud” host Dave Miller. Click play to listen to the full conversation: