3-point avalanche buries Grizzlies

WEST LINN — McMinnville boys basketball coach Willie Graham called West Linn’s 11 3-pointers Tuesday in the Lion’s 74-55 win vs. the Grizzlies in the first round of the 6A state playoffs an “avalanche of threes.”

Avalanche, barrage, tsunami. Whatever you want to call the outbreak, it was more than enough for the Lions (18-6) to move on to the second round and end McMinnville’s season. 

“That’s really tough,” Graham said. “Really no doubt about that.” 

Senior guard Spencer Payne — playing for the first time this season — provided a spark for the Grizzlies (13-11), but it wasn’t nearly enough to stop the Lions from advancing. Anthony Morris scored 26 points for West Linn and Hayden Coppedge added 24.

Gage Gubrud scored 21 points for the Grizzlies, and Taylor Vicknair scored 18.

The Grizzlies led 4-2 after Gubrud scored with 6:18 left in the first quarter, but the Lions outscored Mac 23-10 the rest of the period. Coppedge scored 13 points in the quarter, and the Lions hit four 3-pointers in the quarter.

The Lions hit five 3-pointers in the second quarter and took a 46-27 lead at halftime. West Linn was 9-of-14 from behind 3-point line in the first half and shot 60.7 percent.

Things didn’t get much better for the Grizzlies in the third quarter. West Linn extended its lead to 61-38. Mac did outscore the Lions 17-11 in the fourth quarter, but it was too little, too late.

Payne scored six points for McMinnville, Nicholas Autencio scored three points, and Blaine Parker and Alex Israel both added two points.

Ryan Shearmire scored 11 points, and Payton Pritchard added seven.