Marley Zeller gets ‘perfect ending’ to high school basketball story with Central Catholic’s 6A state title

The Mt. Hood Conference player of the year will head to Pepperdine with a championship ring — and memories to last a lifetime

Marley Zeller, along with his teammates on the Central Catholic boys basketball team, had just been through a battle. 

The Rams emerged victorious in an intense back-and-forth contest, coming away with a draining, hard-fought 73-67 win over two-time defending champion Tualatin in a Class 6A state tournament semifinal Friday at the University of Portland’s Chiles Center. 

The 6-foot-5 Zeller, a senior, played a key role for the Rams in the victory. He scored 12 points with seven rebounds, two assists and two steals to help Central Catholic triumph against the Timberwolves. 

Zeller and his teammates seemed to be physically and emotionally drained after the victory. But before heading back to the locker room, Zeller looked up at the Central Catholic student section, smiled and pointed to the ring finger on his right hand.

“It’s just confidence,” Zeller said of the moment. “That’s what it is — confidence.”

Marley Zeller Central Catholic Dan Brood 4

He was confident the Rams were going to win a state championship, and he was going to realize a longtime dream of getting a championship ring. 

“I knew right from the start that I was going for that ring,” Zeller said. “It’s been a goal since I was a kid. It feels so good.”

That good feeling came Saturday, when Zeller helped the Rams earn an 85-76 come-from-behind win over Roosevelt in and up-tempo Class 6A state championship game.

“It means a lot to me because this is the perfect ending to my high school basketball story,” Zeller said as he celebrated with his teammates on the Chiles Center court. “It feels amazing.”

Zeller’s high school basketball story didn’t start at Central Catholic. He played his freshman season at Catlin Gabel and transferred to Central Catholic before his sophomore season.

“Coming in his sophomore year, he had some struggles at times,” Central Catholic head coach David Blue said. “But as soon as he figured out how good and talented he is and he trusted himself, he took off.”

He certainly did. 

In his sophomore season at Central Catholic, Zeller was an all-Mt. Hood Conference honorable mention pick. As a junior, he earned first-team all-conference accolades as he helped the Rams reach the Class 6A state tournament.

Marley Zeller Central Catholic Dan Brood 2

This season, he was tabbed the Mt. Hood Conference Player of the Year after he helped lead Central Catholic to a 14-0 record in conference play.

“Marley’s growth over the last three years has just been astronomical,” Blue said. “I think once he got confident, his game skyrocketed.” 

“Marley means a lot to us,” assistant coach Shawn Malloy said. “Marley came in his sophomore year from Catlin Gabel, and to see him grow and become what he is now is because of how consistent he stayed with the work. He just kept working.”

That hard work continued in the state championship game despite the fact he was dealing with a knee injury.

He sank key 3-pointers on back-to-back Central Catholic possessions in the first quarter, giving the Rams a 13-10 lead.

“That felt great,” Zeller said. “I wasn’t shooting super good during the first part of the state tournament, but I know I’m a shooter, so I kept shooting.”

He connected on another 3-pointer, coming from the left corner, and he scored on a layup off a pass from junior Duce Paschal in a big third quarter that saw the Rams turn a 43-36 deficit into a 66-51 lead going to the fourth quarter.

“Marley Zeller gave an incredible effort tonight,” Blue said after the game. “He was playing hurt. Our trainer, Erin LeRoy, she was on him, keeping him healthy and upright the whole time.”

For Zeller, who earned first-team all-state tournament honors, it was all about getting that ring and being a part of Central Catholic history.

“It means a lot to me,” he said of the championship. “It’s history. I forget when the last time a school won state in both football and basketball in the same year, and let alone when the last time Central won a state championship in basketball.”

Marley Zeller Central Catholic Dan Brood 5

In addition to helping the 2023-24 Central Catholic basketball team claim a spot in school history, Zeller also earned the respect and admiration of his Rams teammates.

“Marley is my best friend. I love Marley,” senior Miles Berry said. “He’s a great guy, and he’s super humble. He’s spent a lot of time playing basketball, and I’m glad that it’s paid off for him.”

“That guy, he’s a sharpshooter,” senior Tony Angelo said. “He brings so much effort. He’s battled with knee injuries throughout the year, but the entire time, he’s stayed consistent. He’s a great player and a great teammate.”

“He’s a super talented player, and he’s got a super future ahead of him,” junior Isaac Carr said.

That certainly appears to be true.

While Zeller’s high school basketball story has come to an end, his college basketball story is soon to start, as he’s signed to play at Pepperdine University.

Marley Zeller Central Catholic Dan Brood 1

Blue sees big things ahead for Zeller at the next level. 

“He’s a professional scorer,” Blue said. “At college, it’s all about how you can impact them winning at their level, and not too many people have his skill set. I’m excited. They’re going to work on his body. When he’s 20 years old, he’s going to be a monster — he’s a monster now. He’s going to get paid for this one day.”

More on Rams' tournament run:

Central Catholic shows off defense in 6A quarterfinal win over Holy War rival Jesuit

Oregon Ducks commit Isaac Carr puts his many skills on display in leading Central Catholic to 6A boys basketball semifinals

Central Catholic ends Tualatin’s reign over Oregon 6A boys basketball: ‘If you want to be the champion, you have to beat the champion’

Central Catholic adds boys basketball title to football title, rallying past Roosevelt in 6A final: ‘We did it the right way’

Watch: Central Catholic and Roosevelt battle for Oregon 6A boys basketball title (video highlights)

Watch: Central Catholic celebrates after winning 2024 Oregon (OSAA) 6A boys basketball title

Meet the Oregon (OSAA) 6A boys basketball all-tournament teams for 2024

Tony Angelo the indispensable ‘Mr. Energy’ for Central Catholic: ‘If we didn’t have Tony, we don’t have this championship’

Fan support a vital part of Central Catholic’s 6A boys basketball title: ‘Without them, we couldn’t have done this’

COMPLETE PLAYOFF COVERAGE

Photo gallery by Naji Saker

Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-200
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-201
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-202
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-203
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-204
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-205
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-206
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-207
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-208
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-209
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-210
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-211
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-212
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-213
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-214
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-215
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-216
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-217
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-1
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-2
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-3
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-4
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-5
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-6
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-7
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-8
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-9
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-10
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-11
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-12
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-13
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-14
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-15
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-16
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-17
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-218
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-219
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-220
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-221
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-222
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-223
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-224
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-225
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-226
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-227
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-228
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-229
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-230
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-231
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-232
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-233
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-234
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-235
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-236
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-237
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-238
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-239
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-240
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-241
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-242
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-243
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-244
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-245
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-246
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-247
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-248
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-249
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-250
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-251
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-252
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-253
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-254
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-255
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-256
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-257
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-258
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-259
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-260
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-261
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-262
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-263
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-264
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-265
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-266
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-267
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-268
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-269
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-270
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-271
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-272
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-273
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-274
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-275
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-276
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-277
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-278
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-279
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-280
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-281
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-282
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-283
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-284
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-285
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-286
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-287
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-288
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-289
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-290
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-291
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-292
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-293
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-294
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-295
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-296
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-297
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-298
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-299
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-300
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-301
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-302
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-303
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-304
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-305
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-306
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-307
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-308
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-309
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-310
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-311
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-312
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-313
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-314
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-315
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-316
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-317
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-318
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-319
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-320
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-321
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-322
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-323
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-324
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-325
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-326
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-327
Central Catholic Roosevelt 6A Oregon boys basketball final 2024 Naji Saker-328

Published