Taylin Smith, Livia Knapp lead Liberty girls basketball team hoping for an encore to historic 2019-20 campaign

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 Liberty Falcons girls of the Class 6A Pacific Conference.

Taylin Smith photo by Taylor Balkom

LIBERTY TEAM PAGE

HEAD COACH

Melanie Wagoner, ninth season (109-95)

2019-20 AT A GLANCE

Overall record: 24-3

League record: 12-0, first in Pacific

Playoffs: Beat Westview 68-42 in first round; beat Canby 52-42 in second round; beat Mountainside 62-44 in quarterfinals

ALL-LEAGUE PLAYERS DEPARTED

G Bella Hamel, co-defensive player of the year

P Clara Robbins, second team

P Breeze Bartle, honorable mention

G Talia Kahakai-Wyatt, honorable mention

PLAYERS TO WATCH

G Taylin Smith, Sr., 5-6

Smith is the first player in school history to win conference player of the year honors and make the all-state first team. As a junior, she averaged a team-high 15 points per game while shooting 33.8 percent from three-point range to go with 2.7 assists and 1.8 steals. She signed with UNLV in the winter. “Taylin is an explosive point guard who scores from anywhere on the court and is a tough defender,” Wagoner said.

G Livia Knapp, Sr., 5-6

Knapp makes an ideal tag-team partner with Smith in the backcourt. The first-team all-Pacific point guard shot a team-leading 39.2 percent on three-point attempts last season, with her 47 threes second only to Smith’s 51, and averaged 10.5 points, three assists and 2.7 steals per game. “Livia is an electric point guard who can score, find her teammates and rebound the basketball,” Wagoner said.

G Sage Reamer, So., 5-4

Reamer was the swing player from JV who received the most action on a senior-heavy squad last season, getting into 16 games and averaging 0.9 points and 0.6 steals. “Sage adds an outside threat for us,” Wagoner said.

G Amara Harper, So., 5-7

Harper was one of eight freshmen who played JV last season. She appeared in five games at the varsity level. “Amara is one of our most improved players, and it will be exciting to see her on the floor,” Wagoner said. “She is athletic and can score the ball as well as defend and rebound.”

G Brynly Bryan, Jr., 5-5

Wagoner expects Bryan, who also swung between JV and varsity last season, to step into the starting lineup right away this spring. “She will be key for us on the defensive end and rebounding,” Wagoner said.

OUTLOOK

The Falcons graduated seven of their nine rotation players from a team that established several program firsts last season — first outright conference title, first state tournament berth and first player to make the all-state first team in Smith.

Two now play at four-year colleges — Robbins at Southern Oregon and Kahakai-Wyatt at Linfield — while Hamel (Lane) and Alexa Smith (Clark) are playing NWAC ball and a fifth (Bartle) plays volleyball at Pacific Lutheran.

Smith will be on the shortlist for state player of the year honors. Knapp is an all-state caliber player who complements Smith perfectly in the backcourt.

“They are the best backcourt duo in the state,” Wagoner said. “They’re both dynamic scorers, great leaders and hard workers.”

Who fills in around the Falcons’ dynamic backcourt remains to be seen. Reamer, Harper, Bryan and 5-6 senior Nesse Grenfell received action swinging up from JV last season, and two players who received no playing time last winter — sophomore guard Makenzie Harper, who tore her ACL during tryouts last season, and 6-0 freshman Kammy Mahlum, who instantly becomes the team’s tallest player — step into key roles this spring.

“Kammy adds height and length, and we expect her to make an impact,” Wagoner said. “And we are excited to have Makenzie back healthy. She is a well-rounded player who can do a little of everything.”

COACH SAID

“We are hopeful and thankful for an opportunity to compete this season. With the two-week overlap of spring sports, basketball happening in May and June, along with no preseason games, it’s going to be an interesting season. Taylin and Livia will be our leaders, and their experience, skill and passion will help us be competitive, and their supporting cast brings a lot of athleticism.” — Melanie Wagoner