Lafayette-area baseball 2026 season comes to bitter end with no trips to Sulphur

This past weekend, the 2026high school baseballseason in the 337 came to an end.

Twenty-nine teams hailing fromLafayette Parishand its surrounding areas earned a spot in the LHSAA Baseball State Tournament, and all 29 have been eliminated before the coveted trip to Sulphur. Last year, the area was home to three state championship teams. That trend won’t continue this year.

A handful of teams came close seeing their postseason journey end in the semifinal and finals round of their respective brackets. In Non-Select, Rayne was the last standing area-teams with the Wolves falling to Lutcher 2-1 in the Division II semifinals series. This was the second deepest playoff run for the Wolves in over a decade since securing their state championship back in 1993. Delcambre, Erath, and Iota saw their seasons end in the quarterfinals of the Division IV and II brackets, respectively.

REQUIRED READING:Who’s the greatest Lafayette-area high school boys/girls hooper of all time?

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Over in the Select brackets, Teurlings Catholic, Catholic-N.I., St. Thomas More, Acadiana Renaissance Charter, St. Edmund and Ascension Episcopal were the last standing area teams. The Rebels and Panthers were on the hunt for back-to-back state titles in Division II and Division III, but both lost their semifinals series 2-1.

The Cougars and Eagles also fell short in Division I and Division II semifinals, respectively, with STM losing to Brother Martin 2-1 and ARCA losing to Vandebilt Catholic 2-1. For the Eagles, their postseason run was one for the history books as they made their first semifinals appearance in progam history.

In the Class C bracket, Northside Christian was the last standing area team. The Warriors ended their season in the quarterfinals round with a 10-2 loss to Maurepas.

Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on X, formerly known as Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser:No Lafayette-area baseball teams reached LHSAA state finals

byCosmopolite

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May 12, 2026

Lafayette-area baseball 2026 season comes to bitter end with no trips to Sulphur

This past weekend, the 2026high school baseballseason in the 337 came to an end. Twenty-nine teams hailing fromLafayette Parishan...

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Yahoo Finance

By Stella Qiu and Wayne Cole

SYDNEY, May 12 (Reuters) - Australia's centre-left Labor government has rolled out the biggest changes to investment taxes this century to help young people break into the housing market, along with cost-of-living relief to cushion the fallout from the Iran war.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers on Tuesday called his fifth ‌budget the most "important and ambitious" in decades, as a landslide election victory last year allowed the government to address the politically thorny problem of intergenerational inequity.

"I acknowledge ‌this is a controversial change, I acknowledge this is a government coming into a different view to the view we held 12 months ago," said Chalmers in a press conference.

"The main change in our thinking is the view that ​we cannot let the intersection of the housing market and the tax system continue to lock out so many people from getting a toehold in the housing market, particularly the young people."

The centre piece are proposals limiting capital gains tax discounts and negative gearing on assets, policies that have long been criticised for skewing home ownership towards older, wealthier investors and away from first-home buyers.

From 1 July 2027, the government plans to scrap the 50% capital gains tax (CGT) discount on assets held for more than a year, a benefit begun in 1999 that coincided with a sharp and lasting ‌acceleration in house price growth.

Instead, the CGT will return to the ⁠pre-1999 policy of taxing inflation-indexed gains, with a 30% minimum tax on net capital gains. It will apply to all assets including housing.

Negative gearing, which allows investment losses to be offset against taxable income, will be limited to newly built homes to support new housing supply.

There will also be ⁠a new tax cut for working Australians through a A$250 ($180.88) tax offset, as well as a new A$1,000 instant tax deduction. That is on top of already legislated tax cuts set to deliver up to A$536 in annual savings for taxpayers.

Ratings Agency S&P said in a note after the budget announcement that, since the new housing tax rules are not retroactive, there should be minimal effect on house prices ​and ​rents.

Here are the key highlights of the budget:

BUDGET BOTTOM LINE IMPROVES

The government said the investment tax reforms will ​save over A$3.5 billion over the next four years, with most savings ‌coming in later years.

They will be dwarfed by massive savings from an overhaul of its disability welfare programme - worth more than A$35 billion over the next four years - as well as higher commodity prices from the Iran war and elevated inflation.

Overall, the budget deficit is projected to be A$45 billion lower over the next four years, part of an effort to fight inflationary pressure caused by spiking oil prices.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has already lifted interest rates three times this year to head off the war-driven energy shock, fully reversing the policy easing from last year.

The budget deficit for the current 2025/26 financial year is expected to come in at A$28.3 billion, narrower than the $A36.8 billion tipped in December. This is projected to widen again slightly ‌to A$31.5 billion in the 2026/27 year.

Inflation is forecast to hit 5% by June as the Middle ​East conflict drives up energy costs, way above the central bank's target band of 2% to 3%. That will ​keep the RBA wary, raising the risk interest rates will stay high for longer.

Markets ​are wagering there is an 18% probability that the RBA will have to raise rates a fourth time in June, while a move by ‌September has been fully priced in.

"New fiscal spending could boost aggregate demand, ​complicating the job of the central bank," S&P said ​in its note.

Higher interest rates are expected to weigh on the economy, with the budget projecting growth slowing to a sub par rate of 1.75% next financial year. The unemployment rate, which has held low at 4.3%, is seen drifting up to 4.5%.

Treasury also studied a more severe scenario where the oil price peaks at $200 and takes ​three years to fall back.

"We would still avoid a recession, but ‌unemployment would spike to pre-pandemic levels and inflation would peak above 7%," said Chalmers. "Australians have been paying a hefty price for this war, at the bowser ​and beyond."

A A$14.8 billion "fuel security and price relief package" was also announced which the government said would to help boost fuel supply and aid households and ​businesses impacted by surging energy costs.

(Reporting by Stella Qiu; Editing by Sam Holmes and Andrew Heavens)

byCosmopolite

in

May 12, 2026

Yahoo Finance

By Stella Qiu and Wayne Cole SYDNEY, May 12 (Reuters) - Australia's centre-left Labor government has rolled out the biggest ch...

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Florida football recruiting: What Gators, Hurricanes are watching in spring

(Editor's note: This is the latest edition of "Extra Points," the newsletter providing additional news, analysis and opinions on all things high school recruiting in the state of Florida.You can sign up to receive this newsletter in your email inboxweekly.)

Spring is time to travel in the recruiting world, and reporters are no different.

USA TODAY's Florida Network has been busy this spring, travelling the state to check in with premier recruits and look for under-the-radar prospects.

In this week's Extra Points, we're dumping the notebook halfway through the spring. There are still plenty of schools on the list to check in with, and more intel will come pouring in as the pressure increases on the state's elite recruits.

Here's where we've been and what we're hearing so far this spring.

Florida commit Anthony Jennings headlines talented Dillard squad

Jennings, who committed to Florida on April 25, is the marquee name at Dillard but far from the only elite recruit suiting up for the Panthers.

Jennings (No. 61)namedthe Gatorsfrom an offer list that includes nearly 40 schools. He confirmed with USA TODAY that he as all but officially shut down his recruitment after using all five available official visits. Ever sinceJon Sumrall and his new staff got to Gainesville, we haven't stopped hearing about how unique this new regime is. Jennings reinforced the point, saying that the staff is what got the Gators over the hump against other finalists like Florida State, Auburn and Maryland.

"Coach Sumrall and (WRs coach Marcus) Davis were two key factors in my commitment," he told us at a spring practice. "As soon as I met (Sumrall), he was off the charts — dapping me up and giving me a hug. Even when I committed over the phone he was just really excited..."

Jennings, a 6-foot speedster, is WR1 within a group that includes two 6-4 rising senior pass catchers. Isaiah Monestime and Josh Sylvain both have seen their respective recruitments gain steam this spring. Colorado and Kentucky are among the programs that have extended offers to both in recent weeks.

After transferring in from Piper with zero Division I offers, Monestime has been offered by five different programs in the last two months. Sylvain, a returning senior, reports 10 offers from the likes of Tulane, USF and Cal. Expect the offer count to rise for both as more college coaches stop by Dillard to do their due diligence.

The secondary is also loaded, headlined by Penn State commit Semajay Robinson (No. 79). Robinson confirmed with us that he has not shut down his recruitment and two other programs are nearing visits. Louisville and Virginia are the teams to watch for the 6-3 cornerback.

Louisvillehas made recruiting Florida a priority under Jeff Brohm, and they've already landed three Top 100 commits this cycle. They hope to add another in Robinson.

"They just know what they want, there's a lot of Florida guys there," he said. "And I feel like if I wasn't home at Penn State, that'd be another place I could call home."

It won't be an easy flip, as Robinson committed back in March after associate head coach and CBs coach Terry Smith closed the deal for the Nittany Lions. The relationship with his verbal pledge remains strong midway through the spring.

"I love (the staff), coach Terry is the G.O.A.T," he said, "I love him. He's the reason I even committed there. And Penn State culture is very big, and I want to be a part of that. And (head coach Matt) Campbell, I love him to death."

Another senior to watch on the defensive side of the ball is Tedrick Oatman, a versatile athlete that roams from the nickel to linebacker that reports offers from the likes of Boston College, UConn, Cal and Georgia State.

Cardinal Mooney looking to repeat with Top 100 recruits leading way

The Cougars have Davin Davidson running the show again this year and are primed for a title defense season with theNo. 1 signal caller in the stateat the helm.

The 6-7 Davidson (No. 17) has had a breakout offseason unlike any other, and committed to Florida after a host of offers came rushing in. Now an Elite 11 finalist with a verbal commitment made, Davidson committed quickly after the offers came in order to avoid distractions and visits during the summer and fall. Expect his pledge to the Gators to hold firm until signing day.

Kaleb Exume (No. 56)transfers in from Parrish, and has one of the more impressive tapes in the state. The 6-2, 310-pound defensive tackle played both ways at Parrish, and is expected to do the same for the Cougars.He committed to Louisville on April 19over Indiana, Virginia Tech and Kansas.

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Connail Jackson (No. 69) committed to UCF on May 2 over North Carolina and Virginia Tech. The Knights were early on Jackson, and started their recruitment his sophomore year — a head start that Jackson says helped seal the deal. They land a commitment from him after a junior campaign that saw him rush for 2,452 yards and 39 touchdowns on 217 touches.

American Heritage still priority stop for college coaches

Miami, Florida State, Auburn and more were in attendance for a spring practice on April 5 at American Heritage, which sees a revolving door of coaches come by to evaluate talent regularly.

The south Florida powerhouse and defending back-to-back state champs have a new marquee recruit in at quarterback after Dia Bell's (Texas signee) graduation. Rising junior phenom Neimann Lawrence arrived from Miami Northwestern, and is among the most touted signal callers in the 2028 class.

Texas, Texas A&M, Notre Dame, Michigan and Miami are leaders in his recruitment at this stage, and he visited all five this spring. Lawrence has long been on the 'Canes board, and they've been recruiting him since he was in eighth grade.One of Miami's most successful recruiters, offensive line coach Alex Mirabal, was at practice and made sure to check in with Lawrence (as well as the trenches).

Lawrence will have big targets this year. 6-5 Kentucky commit Trae Proctor (No. 35) will start practicing with the team as soon as his transfer from Southridge becomes official, and 6-6 rising junior Robert Outler has been gaining serious steam on the trail — reeling in offers from Missouri and UCF this offseason. Rising senior Michael Stringer (6-0, 190 pounds) is unranked by major recruiting services, but has picked up five offers in the last week from the likes of East Carolina, Cornell and Western Kentucky.

The other side of the ball has elite prospects as well.CB Amare Nugent (No. 12) is a Florida commitand the No. 3 corner in the state, and defensive lineman Micah price reports 14 offers, including Missouri, Purdue and Kentucky this offseason.

Chaminade-Madonna still stacked with high-end talent

Rising junior quarterback Brady Quinn is another quarterback that is being pursued heavily, and has had a busy spring taking visits. Indiana, Notre Dame, Alabama, Clemson, Miami, Kentucky and Purdue were the programs that hosted the 6-1 composite 3-star.

Quinn will have plenty of elite targets in his first year with the Lions, including LSU WR commit Ah'Mari Stevens (No. 41). Stevens held a longtime commitment to Miami before he and the 'Canes mutually agreed to part ways shortly after an official visit to LSU. He named the Tigers one day after his visit to Baton Rouge.

Another big name in the receiver's group is is tight end Peter Pierre, who enters his junior campaign at 6-4, 220 pounds. Pierre reports over 30 offers, and added Alabama, West Virginia, and Mississippi State to the list last week. Rising junior Armani Strong has gained momentum this spring, and added USC and Virginia Tech to an offer list that already includes Ole Miss, Notre Dame, and Florida State.

The Lions also have Amos Bradford at running back, a 6-0, 170-pound 3-star that decommitted from Toledo in February before committing to Purdue this spring.

The Lions have some big names in the secondary, including Notre Dame safety commit John Ford III and Ohio State safety commit Angelo Smith — the younger brother of phenomBuckeye receiver Jeremiah Smith, who was at Chaminade's practice.

Venice flexes elite offensive talent

Tyree Mannings Jr. is one of the best receivers in the nation, and coaches from all over the country have stopped by The Island to check in. The rising junior has added offers from USC, Alabama, North Carolina and Virginia Tech this spring, and is already offered by Florida's Big 3 along with Georgia, LSU, Nebraska, and others.

Transferring in from IMG is rising junior Noah Patton, who has had limited meaningful snaps at the varsity level but has all the tools to take Venice's offense to the next level. He reports offers from Arkansas, Syracuse, Kentucky and others. Florida QB coach Joe Craddock stopped by a Venice practice to do his due diligence on the 6-3, 190 pound signal caller.

Running back Dorien Jones (No. 85) has added North Carolina, Georgia Tech and FIU to his offer sheet this spring. Jones took a visit to Chapel Hill already, and says the tar Heels are among his leaders. Georgia Tech, which extended an offer in late April, has already locked in a summertime visit. USF is working hard on the 5-11, 190-pound back and the Bulls are also among his leaders. Expect a summer commitment from Jones.

While the big names are on the offensive side of the ball, the defense has long been a strong point for Venice and players on that side of the ball are seeing their recruitment speed up. Defensive back Ira Dale has earned offers from Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky this offseason. Brothers Felly and Desi Kmit are two well-built linebackers in the class of 2028 that transferred in from Michigan, and will almost certainly reel in some big-time offers before next year's signing day.

Eau Gaille has promising crop of talent

It will be interesting so how colleges approach Eau Gallie rising senior quarterback Joseph Allen. Allen was being recruited by Power 4 programs before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the 2025 season opener. Coastal Carolina is a program to keep a close eye on with Allen moving forward.

Eau Gallie 6-5, 215-pound rising junior tight end Troy Silberzahn is seeing his recruitment take off this spring. He's a big body with soft hands and enough speed to separate from linebackers and safeties. Wisconsin, Maryland, Indiana, UCF, Florida State and North Carolina are among the schools to offer early this spring.

Defensive prospects shining at Cardinal Gibbons

Cardinal Gibbons rising junior edge rusher/tight end Ty Kirkpatrick has been taking plenty of reps at linebacker this spring. The 6-2 ½, 235-pounder led the Crusaders with six sacks in 2025. West Virginia, USF, SMU and North Carolina all offered in the past week.

Rutgers has been hot on the trail of Cardinal Gibbons rising senior edge rusher Michael Loudort. The 6-4, 240-pounder's offers also include Florida State, Georgia Tech, Nebraska and Pitt.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers:Florida H.S. football recruiting: What to know for spring practices

byCosmopolite

in

May 12, 2026

Florida football recruiting: What Gators, Hurricanes are watching in spring

(Editor's note: This is the latest edition of "Extra Points," the newsletter providing additional news, analysis and opin...

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Fisherman has largemouth bass catch confirmed as a record in Tennessee

Nearly 2½ months after catching a monster largemouth bass, Darren Nunley received confirmation from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency that his fish is a state record.

Nunley, 54, was fishing with professional fishing guide Hensley Powell on Nickajack Lake on Feb. 28 when he landed a largemouth bass weighing 15 pounds, 7½ ounces, breaking the previous record set more than 11 years ago, according to theTWRA.

The old record of 15 pounds, 3 ounces was set by Gabe Keen on Feb. 13, 2015, which had broken a record that stood for more than 60 years.

Nunley was using a Z-Man Jack Hammer Chatterbait lure on 17-pound test when he hooked the behemoth bass.

“It felt like it ran straight toward me at first,” Nunley toldNews Channel 9. “I thought I missed it and then I finally caught up with it.

“It was a pretty good fight, but it wasn’t jumping or anything. I guess it was too big to jump. I didn’t think it was as big as it was in the water, but then when we got it out of the water, I thought, ‘My God, what have I done?’”

Certifying the catch

The bass was weighed on a certified scale at a Save A Lot grocery store in Whitwell, where Nunley lives. Sequatchie County Wildlife Officer Shawn Edgmon witnessed the weigh-in.

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When Keen made his record catch in 2015, he didn’t expect it to last long, saying, “There’s another one in there,” referring to Chickamauga Lake, the location of his catch.

“I think there’s some more 15 or 16-pound fish in that lake.”

The stocking of Florida bass helped

The reason for the big bass in Nickajack and Chickamauga lakes is the fact the TWRA began stocking Florida-strain largemouth bass fingerlings into these waters in 2015 and 2000, respectively. This strain of largemouth bass is known to grow large.

Once Nunley’s bass was in the boat, Hensley obtained an unofficial weight on his scale, and then didn’t waste time heading in to get an official weight, knowing the fish could be a state record, as reported byUSA Today/For The Win Outdoors.

After a lot of waiting, the catch was finally confirmed as a state record.

David Strege is an award-winning journalist who spent most his career as a sportswriter at the Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register before evolving into an outdoors writer. He joined Yahoo! Sports as a copy editor prior to providing outdoor-related blogs for a company associated with Yahoo! He is currently doing the same for USA Today.

This article originally appeared on For The Win:Fisherman has largemouth bass catch confirmed as a record in Tennessee

byCosmopolite

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May 12, 2026

Fisherman has largemouth bass catch confirmed as a record in Tennessee

Nearly 2½ months after catching a monster largemouth bass, Darren Nunley received confirmation from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Ag...

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Tennessee baseball's updated RPI after Game 2 Texas win

A series finale will take place Sunday between Tennessee (34-17, 13-13 SEC) and No. 4Texas(36-12, 15-10 SEC). The Vols are playing for a series sweep after winning the first two games.

First pitch on Sunday between the Vols and Longhorns is slated for noon EDT atLindsey Nelson Stadium. ESPN2 willtelevise the series finalewith Karl Ravech (play-by-play) and Chris Burke (analyst) on the call.

Ahead of first pitch, Tennessee enters Game 3 with a No. 32 RPI following May 9 college baseball games. Texas is ranked No. 4 nationally for RPI.

UCLA(1), Georgia Tech (2),Auburn(3),North Carolina(5),Alabama(6),Florida State(7),USC(8), Southern Miss (9) and Mississippi State (10) are also ranked in the top 10 for RPI after May 9 games.

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Tennessee’s final regular-season home game at Lindsey Nelson Stadium is slated for Tuesday versus Belmont. First pitch for the in-state matchup is scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT (SEC Network+).

More:How 2026 SEC Tournament strike zone challenge system will work

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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire:Tennessee baseball RPI after Texas win in Game 2

byCosmopolite

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May 11, 2026

Tennessee baseball's updated RPI after Game 2 Texas win

A series finale will take place Sunday between Tennessee (34-17, 13-13 SEC) and No. 4Texas(36-12, 15-10 SEC). The Vols are playing for ...

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Bluebird’s back at Coniston, but on a go slow

Credit: TheBluebirdProject / YouTube

Almost 60 years ago,Donald Campbellwas killed on Coniston Water as he raced to break 300mph.

Now the hydroplane used in that record attempt is returning to the crash site, for the first time since it somersaulted and sank on Jan 4, 1967.

Bluebird, which set four water-speed records before the crash, will race across the lake again this week. But this time it will only be allowed to reach speeds of 150mph.

Some 20,000 spectators are expected to visit the lake each day during the six-day Bluebird K7 Festival, hoping for a glimpse of the Bluebird flying across the water.

It will be piloted by Australian Dave Warby, who is himself a world water-speed record challenger and the son of the current record holder, the late Ken Warby.

The jet-powered hydroplane’s design means it glides on top of the water at high speeds, only touching the surface at three points so as to reduce drag that would slow it down.

Ken’s record of 317.6mph was set in 1978 in his boat, the Spirit of Australia, which he built himself. The mark still stands almost 50 years later, but son Dave is hoping to replicate his father’s achievements, albeit not in the Bluebird.

Dave, 58, has spent the last decade leading a motorsport team to design and build the Spirit of Australia II, focusing on safety measures and slowly increasing the speed of the craft through testing.

The boat has a theoretical top speed of 370mph and is powered by a Rolls-Royce engine.

However, this week, Dave will have to be satisfied with tamer speeds of around 150mph, implemented for safety reasons.

In 1967, Campbell had been attempting to set a new world record on water of more than 300mph when he crashed.

Its wreckage and his body were left on the lake bed for decades before being pulled out in 2001 byBill Smith, a Tyneside engineer, who enlisted a group of volunteers to restore it. Ultimately, around 50 per cent of the original craft was lost and had to be replaced.

Alengthy ownership battleensued after Mr Smith claimed part-ownership because of the work he and his Bluebird Project team had carried out.

He relinquished his claim and the vessel returned to Coniston in March 2024 and was installed at the Ruskin Museum.

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Gina Campbell, the daughter of Donald, said her father “would be delighted and pleased” by this week’s festival.

“I have no doubt that Bluebird K7 will lift up her skirts and perform for the public,” she said.

For the festival, the craft has been given special dispensation to exceed the lake’s 10mph speed limit in place since the 1970s.

For a record to be achieved, the craft will have to go a kilometre out into the water and then back through speed traps, with the average speed used to calculate the record.

Campbell, who reached 315mph on the way out, recorded an average speed of 297.6mph.

On the return journey, with his own record already seemingly torn up, Campbell continued to fight to beat the 300mph, but crashed as he reached 328mph.

After his body was recovered and buried in a local cemetery, an inquest in 2002 recorded a verdict of accidental death. The coroner concluded it was likely that Bluebird was unbalanced by factors, including the speed of travel and rough water.

Since its reconstruction, the Bluebird has had one outing, at Loch Fad in Scotland in 2018.

Even now, despite the festival running between May 11 and 17, there’s a possibility the craft won’t ever take to the water.

Poor weather will make a run across the water too dangerous, and while rain is forecast across the week, it is the predicted wind that is understood to be the main concern.

As well as making for choppier waters, the wind can unsettle the balance of the craft and increase headwinds, ultimately causing it to flip.

Organisers were constrained on dates to hold the event after the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) demanded it take place during term-time to minimise the number of tourists.

The Bluebird K3, which set three world water-speed records when it was piloted by Campbell’s father, Sir Malcolm Campbell, in the 1930s, will also be running.

Jeff Carroll, the chair of the Ruskin Museum’s trustees, told a LDNPA committee meeting last year that the Bluebird K7 represented the UK’s post-war “engineering prowess”.

He said it was “a possibly one-time-only event to inspire a new generation” and that “Campbell’s death was a day that shook the world”.

“Four of Bluebird’s seven world water-speed records were set on Coniston Water. That would have been five had fate not intervened.”

byCosmopolite

in

May 11, 2026

Bluebird’s back at Coniston, but on a go slow

Credit: TheBluebirdProject / YouTube Almost 60 years ago,Donald Campbellwas killed on Coniston Water as he raced to break 300mph. ...

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Who is the Eugene area's best girls basketball player ever? Vote now!

Who is the greatest girls basketball player from the Eugene-Springfield area?

Let the debate begin.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports will celebrate the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. Alongside that national recognition, the USA TODAY Network will spotlight the roots of the country’s sports culture: the high school athletes and sports figures who shaped communities and defined their states.

Earlier this spring, The Register-Guard recognized Lane County'sgreatest-ever football stars.

Next up, we're honoring the stars of the hardwood. Here are The Register-Guard's selections for the girls basketball players who defined the Eugene-Springfield area. While accomplishments at the college and professional level undoubtedly influenced which standouts cracked the top-10 list, we are primarily looking to highlight those who starred at the high school level and dominated local headlines.

As part of this effort, we invite our readers to vote in polls that accompany the stories, or submit a name they think should be included if they don't see it on our list. Print readers can find the polls with the stories online at www.registerguard.com/sports/.

Without further ado, here are The Register-Guard's 10 girls basketball players (listed in alphabetical order) who defined the Eugene-Springfield area.

Kristina Andersen, Marist

During Marist's run of dominance in the 1990's, no player racked up more individual accolades for the Spartans than Kristina Andersen.

A three-time Class 3A first-team all-state selection, the star forward led Marist to titles in 1996 and 1997. Following her senior season in '97, Andersen was named the 3A player of the year. In 1996, she was tabbed by both USA Today and Street & Smith's as an All-American.

Anderson went on to have a strong four-year career at the University of Utah. As a senior in 2000-01, she was the second-leading scorer for a Utes squad that went 28-4 and reached the Sweet 16.

Lexi Bando, Willamette

One of the top sharpshooters of the Pac-12 era, Lexi Bando was a four-year starter at the University ofOregonwho ended her career as the Ducks' all-time leader in 3-pointers and 3-point percentage.

Before that, though, she was a superstar at Willamette High who led the Wolverines to state championships in both 2013 and 2014.

Bando was a three-time Class 5A first-team all-state selection and was the 2014 5A player of the year. She averaged 20.5 points per game as a senior.

Only 28 players in state history have scored more points than Bando, who tallied 1,975 points during her time with the Wolverines.

Keani Christianson, North Eugene

One of the more prolific scorers to ever come through the Eugene-Springfield area, Keani Christianson was a three-time all-state forward at North Eugene who earned first-team recognition in the state's highest classification in 1998. She finished her high school career with 1,609 points.

A heralded recruit, she spent two seasons at North Carolina State. Chamberlin played her final two years at Pepperdine, where she averaged 9.4 points and 5.2 rebounds as a senior in 2002-03.

Wendy Gabbe, South Eugene

A leader on one of the greatest basketball teams in the history of Lane County, Wendy Gabbe helped South Eugene reach the pinnacle of Oregon high school basketball in the late 1990's.

Gabbe was the lone first-team all-state selection for South's 1999 Class 4A state championship team, which finished 24-1. That season, she averaged 14.5 points and six rebounds per game.

Gabbe went on to play four years at the University of California, Irvine. During her senior season with the Anteaters, she averaged 13.1 points while shooting 39% from 3-point range.

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Sonja 'Sunny' Greinacher, Willamette

There aren't many local basketball players — or local stars of any sport, for that matter — who have reached the professional heights that "Sunny" Greinacher has.

A Germany native who spent her senior season at Willamette, Greinacher was a three-time all-West Coast Conference forward at Gonzaga who averaged 14.1 points and 6.2 rebounds per game as a senior. After college, her career continued to flourish. Greinacher helped Germany's 3x3 team to a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

During her lone year at Willamette, Greinacher was the Class 5A co-player of the year along with teammate A.J. Smith. The star duo led the Wolverines to a perfect 27-0 season and a 5A state title in 2008-09.

Sarah Hedgepeth, Springfield

Springfield standout Sarah Hedgepeth was a three-time Class 4A all-state selection while leading the Millers to a trio of dominant seasons from 1998-2000.

Once her high school career concluded, Hedgepeth was a two-time all-Big-Sky forward for Portland State. As a senior, she averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game before going on to enjoy a four-year professional career that included stops in Portugal, Puerto Rico, Hungary and Finland.

Hedgepeth recently concluded her 17th year as an assistant coach at Willamette University,

Elise Niemela, North Eugene

Elise Niemela was a Class 4A first-team all-state standout at North Eugene during her senior season in 1993 who is still making a major impact in the sport more than 30 years later.

She went on to have a stellar career at the University of Washington, averaging 8.3 points and 2.9 assists per game as a senior.

Now Elise Woodward, she is an Emmy-nominated sports broadcasterwho was recently announcedas the voice of the WNBA's Portland Fire.

Mercedes Russell, Springfield

Springfield superstar Mercedes Russell wasn't just one of the best players to come through Lane County. She is one of the more dominant basketball players in the history of the state, full-stop.

The 2013 Gatorade National Player of the Year, Russell was a three-time Class 5A player of the year. She led the Millers to state titles in 2011 and 2012 and a championship game appearance in 2013. During her senior season, Russell averaged 25.1 points, 12.3 rebounds and 5.5 blocks per game. She is the state's all-time leader in rebounds (1,642) and blocked shots (562) and ranks 10th in points (2,273).

The No. 1 recruit in the nation according to multiple publications, Russell went on to enjoy a five-year career at Tennessee and was selected to the all-SEC first team in 2017-18.

The No. 22 overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft, Russell has played eight years in the league. That includes stints with the New York Liberty, Seattle Storm and Los Angeles Sparks. In November 2025, shesigned with Athletes Unlimited Pro Basketball.

Brynn Smith, Willamette

By far the most recent player on this list, Willamette 2025 graduate Brynn Smith left a lasting legacy at the prep level and is now in the early stages of a bright college career.

A four-time all-state selection for the Wolverines, Smith earned Class 5A first-team recognition as a freshman. She earned honorable mention honors as a sophomore once Willamette moved up to the 6A level, and she was a second-team pick during both her junior and senior seasons. With 2,029 career points, Smith ranks 21st on the state's list of all-time scorers. Springfield's Mercedes Russell is the only player from a Lane County school who racked up more points than Smith.

As a true freshman at Portland last season, Smith played in all 35 games for a Pilots squad that reached the Women's National Invitational Tournament.

Chelsea Wagner, Springfield

The 2001 Class 4A state player of the year, Springfield standout Chelsea Wagner averaged  21.1 points and 8.2 rebounds per game as a senior while leading the Millers to a third-place finish at the state tournament.

She went on to flourish at the college level. After earning a starting role as a true freshman at Hawaii, Wagner transferred to the University of Oregon and went on to carve out a bright career with the Ducks. As a senior in 2005-06, she shot at a 43% clip from downtown and was the program's second-leading scorer at 9.3 points per game.

Jarrid Denney is a sports reporter for The Register-Guard. He can be reached atjdenney@registerguard.comor on X@jarrid_denney

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard:Who is the Eugene area's best girls basketball player ever? Vote now!

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May 11, 2026

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