Newberg girls basketball expects to be ‘competitive in every game’ in one of state’s deepest conferences

Here’s our look at the Newberg Tigers girls of the Class 6A Pacific Conference.

By René Ferrán

Over the next two weeks, SBLive Oregon will break down more than 100 Oregon high school basketball teams. Here’s our look at the Newberg Tigers girls of the Class 6A Pacific Conference.

Photo by Leon Neuschwander

NEWBERG TEAM PAGE

HEAD COACH

Luke Lindell, seventh season at Newberg (251-167 overall; 64-86 at Newberg)

2019-20 AT A GLANCE

Overall record: 12-13

League record: 2-10, tied for sixth in Pacific

Playoffs: Lost 61-35 to Oregon City in first round

ALL-LEAGUE PLAYERS DEPARTED

G Sicily Hampton, second team

W Karly Fouche, honorable mention

PLAYERS TO WATCH

G Ashley Kosmicki, Sr., 5-5

Kosmicki is the lone returning Newberg player to receive all-Pacific recognition, making the honorable mention list after finishing second on the team in scoring (8.9 points per game) and steals (1.6) while shooting 38.9 percent from three-point range. Lindell thinks she has the potential to make the all-conference first team this spring. “Ashley is a quick and athletic guard who plays on and off the ball and is also a great on-ball defender,” he said. “She is a terrific perimeter shooter and will be counted on to provide a major scoring role for our team.”

W/G Lexi Morace, Sr., 5-8

Morace will be a four-year starter in the backcourt. She led the team in assists (2.3 per game) and steals (1.9) as a junior and will be expected to improve upon her 3.6 points per game. “She really can score at all three levels,” Lindell said. “She will be counted on to provide a scoring punch for this team.”

W/F Alli Stilp, Jr., 5-8

Stilp had a strong sophomore season, leading the team in rebounding at 6.3 per game while averaging 8.1 points. She worked on her perimeter game in the offseason and could take another giant leap this spring. 

P Paige Krebs, Sr., 5-11

Krebs will enter the starting lineup after playing a key role off the bench as a junior. “She will provide a presence in the paint and be counted on to rebound the basketball at a high rate and provide physicality on the interior,” Lindell said.

P Abby Carsley, So., 5-7

Carsley moves up from the JV this spring and will be tasked with guarding the opponent’s top scorer on many nights, teaming with Kosmicki to form the Tigers’ defensive core. “Abby is an incredible athlete,” Lindell said. “She is physical, tough, and has a high ceiling for her potential.”

W Scarlet Ramos, Jr., 5-9

Ramos swung between the JV and varsity last season, playing in 10 varsity games. Lindell sees her as someone who can help make up for the graduation of top scorer Sicily Hampton (12.8 points per game). “Scarlet will be a key contributor,” Lindell said. “She has a knack for scoring, and her length will have an impact for us defensively.”

W Moira Turpen, Fr., 5-8

Turpen should make an immediate impact as a freshman vying for playing time in the Tigers’ crowded backcourt picture. “Moira is a dynamic athlete,” Lindell said. “She is explosive and continues to work hard on her offensive game.”

OUTLOOK

The Tigers started 10-2 last season before having a rough go through the conference slate, losing five games by eight points or fewer before finishing the season with a first-round playoff loss at Oregon City. 

“We were extremely competitive in league last season, and while that did not reflect in the win-loss column, we were capable each night of beating everyone with the exception of Liberty,” Lindell said.

One area Lindell hopes to see improvement this spring is on the boards, where the Tigers struggled last season with no player on the roster taller than Krebs at 5-11. 

With top scorer Hampton having graduated, Lindell is looking to players such as Stilp, Kosmicki and Morace to pick up the slack to help Newberg get over the hump and crack the top three in the conference standings.

COACH SAID 

“Our league has consistently been one of the deepest in the state. A realistic goal for us is to be competitive in every game we play. We will need to come together pretty quickly as a group, with limited practices to find ourselves in a position where we can play consistent basketball from the start.” — Luke Lindell 

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