The 2024 South girls’ and boys’ basketball teams are primed for success in the upcoming season.

Boys Basketball

It’s been a hardfought climb for the South Eugene boys basketball program post-COVID, going from back-to-back league champions in 2019 and 2020 to a downturn in recent years. 

This could be expected following the loss of so many impactful seniors after the impressive run in 2020. Last year’s 10-14 record finishing at 6th in league was a bit misleading. With 8 of those losses coming in deficits of 10 or less points, and the Axe having finished with the most points scored in league last season, the Axe look to impress.

Senior James Harrison acknowledged the team’s struggles with defense but emphasized a significant shift in focus. 

“There’s been a very big emphasis on defense and rotation,” he stated, highlighting the team’s drive this season to improve on last season’s mistakes and come back better than ever.

The bond amongst the starting group is only emphasized by the presence of numerous seniors bodes well for this season. 

The Axe are back this winter tied for the most All-league players returning, with All-league second team selection Landyn Bryant and All-league honorable mentions Trey Saunders and Koen Thurman back for their senior year. The Southwest Conference was extremely competitive last year and will continue to be a difficult league this season.

The departure of seniors like Solomon Nice, a more traditional big man, does pose a challenge when it comes to the interior defense and rebounding. However, the team has known this was coming and has been ready to make changes focusing more on a team oriented defense to make up for the size they lost this off season. 

When asked about playoff chances, senior James Harrison was confident.

“I am 100% certain we’ll make the playoffs,” he stated. 

He mentioned key players like Saunders, Thurman, as well as Levi Hawes and Bryant, all set to have a big season. With the Southwest Conference wide open for the taking after South Medford star Boden Howell transferred away in the offseason, South Eugene could be the team that lives up to the moment. 

The Axe are hungry for victory and should be considered serious contenders this season. South plays Churchill Jan. 2, one day before school starts back up. That Friday, they will play McMinnville at home. Everyone should try their best to attend the Axe’s league-winning season. 

Girls Basketball

The Axe are gearing up for redemption after facing a challenging 4-20 record last year. Under the guidance of first year coach Jacob Clark, a social studies teacher at South Eugene, the Axe look to use last season’s struggles as a catalyst to bounce back in a big way this year. The team has put in some serious work in the last couple of months and is ready to impress.

“We’ve been working hard to get better and I think we see improvement each week,” said senior Abby Keiper.

The Axe showed off their hard work with a triumphant win against Thurston in the first game of the season. The game occurred on Nov. 29, and it wasn’t just any match, but a statement match for the Axe. The Axe are hoping to build momentum off of that win and head into league play in December with a few wins under their belt. 

Girls’ basketball at South has always been prevalent, with two state championship wins not too far back in our memories. With the Axe having made it to a state championship as far bacj as 2009, where they finished off the season with a 27-1 record, Jacob Clark is looking to build the program in his second year of coaching the Axe in an attempt to build them into the powerhouse they once were.

“I think we’ll see a lot more success this season as we continue to get better at working as a team,” said Keiper.

The girls basketball team opened their season playing Thurston High School on Nov. 29, coming out on top 48-31.

Article by Logan Williamson