Imbler's Justin Frost makes a push for the basket during the OSAA 1A state playoff game against Falls City/Kings Valley Charter at Imbler High School on Feb. 20, 2024. Imbler rallied in the second half of the game, but ultimately lost 49-46.

IMBLER — The hope for a state title ended on Tuesday, Feb. 20, for Imbler as Falls City/King Valley Charter upset the ninth-seeded Panthers, 49-46, in first-round action of the OSAA Class 1A state basketball tournament. The Mountaineers came into the Imbler gym as the 24th seed for the tournament.

The Imbler loss came due to a horrid first half of play. Shooting less than 15% from the floor and turning the ball over on 11 possessions, the Panthers were down 30-14 at the half.

“It was an awful, awful first half,” Imbler head coach Tony Haddock said. “It just set us back too far. We had a really good effort in the second half but it was too little, too late. I give a lot of credit to Falls City. They played extremely hard.”

Imbler scored 10 points in the third quarter and outscored the Mountaineers in the final eight minutes, 22-13, but as Haddock correctly said, it was just not enough.

Justin Frost led the Panthers in the loss with 15 points. Jake Bingaman added 11 points and Wyatt Burns ended the nine points for Imbler.

Imbler ends the season with a 23-4 overall record, including a perfect 10-0 1A Old Oregon League showing, and a third-place finish at the Old Oregon League tournament.

The Panthers were senior heavy this season and will take the court next year without the services of Jeremiah Martin, Kale Bingaman, Burns, Trevor Treat, Dallin Rasmussen, Jake Bingaman, Henry Treat, Eli Mola, Frost and Clinton Tarvin.

Valor Christian 55, Cove 52

TIGARD — Cove fell in the first round of the OSAA Class 1A state basketball tournament in a closely contested affair on Tuesday, Feb. 20. Making the trip to play in the Westside Christian gym as the 18^th seed, the Leopards were turned away by No. 15 Valor Christian, 55-52.

The Leopards end the season on a three-game skid, handing in the team’s jerseys after a 19-9 overall season, including an 8-2 1A Old Oregon League record. Cove entered the state tournament as the fourth team from the Old Oregon league.

The positive for Cove basketball fans is only two seniors were on this season’s roster and will not return. Wyatt Burgess and Markus Reynolds played their final game of their high school careers in the first-round loss.

Union 73, Willamette Valley Christian 33

UNION — Union swarmed all over Willamette Valley Christian on Tuesday, Feb. 20, opening the game with four quick baskets and a dunk by Tee Ledbetter, quickly taking the steam out of visiting the Warriors on the way to a 73-33 rout in the opening round of the OSAA Class 1A state playoff.

“It was a great opening round night in front of the home fans,” Union head coach Odin Miller said. “Our defense continued to create issues for the Warriors.”

Union created a 23-6 advantage in turnovers, a category that resulted in easy transition points for the Bobcats. Miller went to the bench early in the second half, allowing the younger players on the team some state playoff experience.

Ledbetter put up a triple double by halftime with 10 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds. The senior ended with 16 points after sitting down early in the game.

Chase Koshinsky led all scorers in the game with 17 points. Evan Cloutier added 15 points for the night and Trae Frank put in 12 points.

“Overall, the boys played great team ball and played with a purpose all night,” Miller said.

The march toward a state title continues for Union as the Bobcats now host Falls City/Kings Valley Charter on Feb. 23 with a 7 p.m. start. Preparation to take on the Mountaineers begins immediately as Miller had originally planned on taking on Imbler once again.

“We had already been prepping for Imbler,” he said. “Just proves that on any given day, anything can happen.”