Panthers off to fast start, seek playoff bid

The objective is clear for coach Marc Burleson (center) and his Panthers girls varsity basketball team: To earn a state playoff berth. It helps their chances that Central is off to a fast start, having won five of their first seven games. Contributed photo is from the 2023-23 campaign.

/ Contributed photo

Familiarity doesn’t breed contempt. It breeds wins, at least it does so in the case of the Central High girls varsity basketball team.

The Class 5A Panthers are out of the gates quickly, having won five of seven games to jumpstart the 2023-24 season. And those two losses? They came against Class 6A foes in South Salem and Glencoe. Which means Central began this week’s play undefeated in its class.

Small wonder then that the Panthers (5-2, 1-0) are ranked second in the state by OSAA. Only Crater (10-1, 0-0), of the Midwestern League, is ranked higher.

Two facets contribute to the familiarity factor. The girls are well versed in coach Marc Burleson’s system. And, they know each other’s game quite well, especially the four seniors: Ashley Barba, Emily Newbeck, Tatum Lushenko and McKenzie Wells.

“We’ve been playing together since elementary school, so we have a real tight bond,” Barba said of the quartet. “We’ve played together in volleyball as well. So we’re really focused on each other.”

This bonding extends to players down the roster.

“It’s not much of a surprise on how well we’re doing because the bond between all of us is a lot tighter,” junior Hadley Craig said. “We feel really comfortable with each other. So we play hard for each other.”

Burelson’s system is based on a stingy aggressive defense and a frantic but balanced offense. It’s the only system the players have known since suiting up for the Panthers.

“We’re trying not to be one dimensional. We’re trying to be where you have to guard all five players on the court,” Burleson said of his offensive philosophy. “Obviously, we’re looking for wins. But we’re also looking for teamwork, which we have seen in the last couple of games.”

The teamwork was there even in the losses to South Salem, 58-55, and Glencoe, 51-46.

“We were right there on the bubble, so to speak. One shot here. One less turnover. One foul the other way, and it’s a victory,” he said.

This is Burleson’s fifth year as Panthers head coach.

“So the (team) is familiar with the system. We are able to make minor adjustments as needed. I think that’s what’s been helping us. Just the fact that (the girls) understand the system” so well, he said.

It’s been three years and counting since the Panthers last saw the postseason. Job one is to end that streak.

“(We) understand what we’re trying to do. We want to make the playoffs. (We’ve) missed it the last couple years,” Burlson said. “The senior girls that have been playing at the varsity level are hungry to get to the playoffs. They want to prove they can make it.”

Success will only come through hard work. And the hard work begins in practice.

“We try to run the girls the best we can. We put them under a lot of pressure. A lot of situations that they’ve got to try and figure out,” Burleson said. “Practices are harder than the games; that’s what we’ve been preaching all year.”

The Panthers were fifth in the Mid-Willamette Conference a year ago. As play resumes following the winter break, they are the MWC’s  top ranked team, according to pollsters. Burleson downplayed the ranking. The Panthers, he said, are more concerned with the bigger picture.

“We’re just focused on ourselves at this point. We’re not really too concerned about the rankings because rankings change every day. We just want to make sure we focus on what we can do to win games, and to remain competitive,” he said.

The team’s ability to remain competitive will be tested. There are 10 teams in the MWC. Five are ranked in the top 10: Central, second; South Albany, third; Corvallis, sixth; Silverton, seventh; West Albany, 10th.

“We have one of the toughest leagues in the state, and that’s across all classifications … Every league game is a challenge. Every league game is important. It doesn’t matter who we’re playing,” Burleson said. “We’re just focusing on what we need to do to be competitive and to win games and to win the league.”

One advantage the girls have is that they’re no strangers to the road. Nine of their first 10 games (including a scrimmage) are away, including their first four league games. This gauntlet could pay dividends later, especially as teams jockey for position and baskets become scarcer.

“It really focuses the team because we’re on the bus a lot. We’re traveling a lot. And having to play in different scenarios, having to be mentally prepared when we step onto the floor” requires mental toughness, Burleson said of his road warriors. “But on the other side, the girls have to be mentally prepared when they step on the floor each game, each night.”

Or, as Craig said: “I think we just need to keep up with our intensity and know that every game we play is going to be a challenge.”

Central defeated Lebanon, 75-59, last month in the conference opener. They resume league play at South Albany on Tuesday. Then it’s off to Silverton Thursday and to West Albany Monday.

The team’s next home game is Thursday, Jan. 11, against Corvallis. Game time is 5:30 p.m.

Emma Martinez, Kyleah Medel, Kamryn Winkler, Air Centoni, Lily McCormick and Craig are the team’s junior players.

Isabella Names is the lone freshman.

Don’t expect the Panthers to relax. Not when stakes are so high.

“Games are more meaningful now,” Burleson said, “because each one has playoff implications and league implications.”

(Publisher’s note: This article originally appeared in the Polk County Itemizer-Observer. It has been edited slightly for publication in the Monmouth Free Press.)