Top High School Basketball Seniors Highlight WAVOR All-Star Showcase April 2 — Sport Oregon Voices

Washington and Oregon rosters set for region’s only event of its kind at Liberty High School

As the region’s only interstate high school all-star basketball showcase, the 2023 edition of WAVOR The Game will take place Sunday, April 2, at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.

Formerly known as the Northwest Shootout, WAVOR The Game annually features the top girls and boys high school basketball players from Oregon and Washington in a battle for bragging rights and state pride, something the refreshed branding of the event reflects. After all, it’s always been about Washington vs. Oregon in this all-star doubleheader.

The 27th-annual event is hosted annually in Oregon. As part of the last year’s rebrand, WAVOR has become bigger than the game, though. As was the case in 2022, net proceeds from this year’s event will benefit the Maurice Lucas Foundation, whose mission is to teach life lessons through education and sport, and the Sport Oregon Foundation, which provides grants to support youth sports activities, with an emphasis on both underserved youth and increased physical activity.

WAVOR organizers, including those at Sport Oregon, are excited about this year’s games and the impact the event can have on these important initiatives.

“We’ve worked hard to really elevate the game, and we expect two competitive games with both states featuring talented rosters filled with the top graduating seniors from Oregon and Washington,” said Maika Janat-Vennemann, COO of Sport Oregon. “We are very excited to have had a full year of planning with no COVID restrictions, so we’re looking forward to a terrific event this year.”

Tipoff for the girls game is slated for 1 p.m., while the boys game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. Admission is free, with a suggested donation to benefit the Maurice Lucas Foundation and the Sport Oregon Foundation.

The recently announced rosters from the boys and girls teams from both states are a who’s who of top graduating seniors on the basketball court.

The Oregon boys team, led by head coach Larry Doty and assistant coach Dominic Doty, includes: Kavon Bradford (Benson), Malik Brown (Tigard), Kalim Brown (Tigard), Jalen Childs (Beaverton), Jackson Cooper (Cleveland), Josiah Lake II (Tualatin), Evan Otten (Redmond), Esyah Pippa-White (Gresham), Malachi Seely-Roberts (Lincoln) and Moroni Seely-Roberts (Lincoln).

The Oregon girls team, led by head coach Larry K. Benson and Robert Wismer, includes: Sofia Bell (Jesuit), Zoe Borter (Beaverton), Donovyn Hunter (South Medford), Rhyan Mogel (Clackamas), Madison Naro (Beaverton), Olivia Poulivaati (Tualatin), Kennedie Shuler (Sam Barlow), Emma Sixta (Jesuit), Lainey Spear (Beaverton), Ella Anne Wedin (La Salle Catholic College Prep).

Between the Oregon boys and girls teams, six players thus far are set to further their playing careers at Oregon schools, including commitments to the University of Portland, Oregon, Oregon State and Oregon Tech.

In 2022, Washington completed a clean WAVOR sweep over Oregon. The Washington girls earned a 126-91 victory, while the Washington boys defeated Oregon, 127-98.

The Washington girls team, led by head coach Brady Bomber and assistant coach Rob Adams, includes: Vivienne Lee Berrett (Stanwood), Annalee Coronado (Othello), Hope Hassmann (Tahoma), Adria Lincoln (Monroe), Imbie Jones (Garfield), Lucy Lynn (Gonzaga Prep), Claire O’Connor (Lakeside), Ava Schmidt (Eastlake), Isabel Sullivan (Eastside Catholic) and Jenna Villa (Arlington). 

This year’s Washington boys team, led by head coach Tim Kelly and assistant coaches Bobby Moorehead and Chad Rasmussen, includes: Andrew Collins (Tumwater), Kelson Gebbers (Brewster), Parker Gerrits (Olympia), Brooklyn Hicks (Timberline), Kobe Parlin (Mark Morris), Tyce Paulsen (Curtis), Maverick Sanders (Mt. Spokane), Vaughn Weems (Federal Way), Mason Williams (O’Dea) and Sylas Williams (Jackson).

If You’re Going
This year’s WAVOR will take place at Liberty High School in Hillsboro on Sunday, April 2. The girls game tips off at 1 p.m. and will be followed by the boys game at 3 p.m. Admission is free, with a suggested donation to benefit the Maurice Lucas Foundation and the Sport Oregon Foundation.

To Get Involved
Sport Oregon offers a host of sponsorship opportunities to businesses and groups wanting to get involved with WAVOR. Please contact Sport Oregon at info@sportoregon.org for more information.

Sport Oregon Foundation
To learn more about the Sport Oregon Foundation and the SHE FLIES initiative, click here.

Maurice Lucas Foundation
For more information about the Maurice Lucas Foundation and the work it does to benefit kids, click here.