Tigard boys basketball could have challenged for a state title were this a normal season

By Bob Lundeberg

Over the next two weeks, SBLive Oregon will break down more than 100 Oregon high school basketball teams. Here’s our look at the Tigard Tigers boys of the Class 6A Three Rivers League.

Brett Moss photo by Dan Brood

TIGARD TEAM PAGE

HEAD COACH

Shawn Alderman, 23rd season

2019-20 AT A GLANCE

Overall record: 16-10

League record: 5-7 (tied for fourth place in 6A Three Rivers)

Playoffs: Lost in second round

ALL-LEAGUE PLAYERS DEPARTED

G Drew Carter, player of the year

W Steven Long, honorable mention

PLAYERS TO WATCH

W Brett Moss, sr., 6-4

Moss averaged eight points and four rebounds per game as a junior and received honorable mention all-Three Rivers. He will shoulder a bigger load on offense this season with leading scorer Drew Carter having departed. “He has always been a good defender and now we will look for him to score more while accepting some leadership duties as well,” Alderman said.

G Malik Brown, so., 6-0

Brown started every game at point guard as a freshman and put up seven points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals per game. Just like Moss, he is slated to have an expanded role on offense. “He will need to control the game at both ends and make sure to spread it around while also scoring a bit more this year,” Alderman said of Brown, a second-team all-TRL pick last winter.

G Kalim Brown, so., 6-0

Twin brother of Malik Brown, Kalim notched a few starts as a freshman but was primarily the team’s sixth man. He averaged six points, five rebounds and two steals. “He plays with such a high motor — just flies all over the court, taking charges, diving for loose balls,” Alderman said. “He is a good outside shooter and with his ability to spread the floor, he should be able to create driving lanes for himself and others.”

W Jake Wihtol, sr., 6-6

A strong all-around player, Wihtol averaged five points and four rebounds a season ago. Alderman said Wihtol worked hard during the offseason to improve his ball handling and play when facing the basket. “I think Jake will have a great year and really surprise people who haven’t seen him since last season,” Alderman said.

G Spencer Kuffel, sr., 6-1

A three-sport athlete, Kuffel has missed the past two seasons because of knee injuries. “He will instantly be one of our better defenders but also has the ability to score,” Alderman said.

OUTLOOK

The Tigers would have been a state tournament contender in a normal winter season with Three Rivers player of the year and first-team all-state guard Drew Carter back in the fold. Carter wound up enrolling early at Colorado to play football and basketball, leaving Tigard with a gaping hole to fill on both ends of the court.

“Anytime you lose one of the best players in the state, it is going to be a big loss,” Alderman said. “Drew did it all for us, scoring inside and out. He was also a great kid off the field and floor, so for sure he will be missed. With that comes opportunities for others to step up and show off their hard work.”

The Tigers return two full-time starters in Moss and Malik Brown. Alderman also believes Kalim Brown, Kuffel, Wihtol and others are capable of being offensive threats.

“We have some kids really excited to take on more of a roll in our offense,” Alderman said. “We will have to do a better job of execution at that end where, with a kid like Drew, sometimes when things would break down, he’d still score. But, like I said, we have some talented kids who are excited to expand their role.”

Alderman believes the Tigers once again will rank among the top defensive teams in the TRL. The team shook off a three-game losing streak to close the 2019-20 regular season and came within a victory of a second consecutive state tournament berth. The 2021 Tigers are a bit undersized but still have enough roster talent to stay competitive in the ultra-tough TRL.

“We will be a little light in terms of experience, but they are a fun group and work extremely hard,” Alderman said. “Our ability to defend and rebound will be keys.”

COACH SAID

“We will talk a lot about just getting better while enjoying every moment. Kids having to miss full seasons is heartbreaking, so we’re just enjoying the fact that we get to be together and compete in arguably the best league in the state.” — Shawn Alderman