The Southridge girls basketball team is experiencing a season that is unfolding just as they envisioned it.
The Skyhawks are putting in the effort.
Their skills are improving.
While their roster has a fresh look this season, the team is bonding well together and enjoying the journey.
“We’re getting better,” said Southridge coach Michael Bergmann following the Skyhawks’ decisive 60-29 victory against Westview on Tuesday at Westview High School. “It’s a different group this year. We’ve got some younger kids, and they’re starting to jell together pretty well.”
“It’s been going really well. I really love playing with this team, and we’ve made significant progress from our very first game to this game tonight,” remarked Southridge junior forward/center Addison White. “Our overall play as a team has improved. We have a lot of new players, but we’ve effectively executed our strategy, played cohesively, and enhanced our overall game.”
Such improvements are crucial for the Southridge squad as they aim high this season.
One of their key aspirations is clinching the Metro League championship.
Last season, the Skyhawks shared the league title with Jesuit and Beaverton, with all three teams finishing with a 10-2 record in Metro contests.
This year, Southridge is determined to secure that title outright.
“It would mean a lot. It’s our goal,” said standout junior point guard Sara Mangan. “All of these other teams are really good, of course, but we need to take it one quarter at a time.”
Focusing on each quarter appears to be a common theme for the Skyhawks, who ensure they don’t overlook any opponent.
“We need to concentrate on winning the next quarter and the next game, and put in hard work during practice,” stated White.
“We’ve got to win our next game first, but that would mean a lot,” said Bergmann about clinching the Metro League championship. “That was our first goal.”
With their commanding win over Westview on Tuesday, their sixth consecutive victory, the Skyhawks improved their Metro League-leading record to 6-1 (14-7 overall). This places them ahead of Beaverton, Jesuit, and Mountainside, who are all 4-2 in league play leading into Friday’s scheduled matchups.
While pursuing the league title, Southridge takes pleasure in the competition.
“It’s really fun,” Mangan expressed. “Jesuit came and watched us play Beaverton, and we watched them play Mountainside. It’s a great rivalry.”
Mangan, who was selected for the first team all-Metro League and received honorable mention for Class 6A all-state as a sophomore, has been a key player for the Skyhawks in these intense league rivalries. She averaged 20 points, eight rebounds, and four assists per game, hitting seven 3-pointers in back-to-back wins against Jesuit (59-51) and Beaverton (69-58), which propelled the Skyhawks to the top of the standings.
“Sara is amazing to play with,” White said. “She’s an outstanding facilitator. She opens up avenues for everyone on the floor, always encouraging her teammates and bringing out the best in those around her.”
“It’s been great,” said Mangan, who leads the team with an average of over 18 points per game. “My teammates have been incredible and immensely supportive.”
White, another critical player for the Skyhawks, noted her commitment to enhancing her performance this season.
“This year, I’ve focused on developing my outside shot, so I could pose a threat both in the paint and beyond the arc,” she explained. “I think I’ve made significant progress in that area.”
Her efforts were evident during the match against Westview, as the 6-foot-1 White hit two 3-pointers on her way to scoring 13 points, tying her for the game’s highest total.
Other returning players include seniors Brinley Lyden and Faye Scott (the only two seniors on the squad) along with junior Alex Lytchani. On Tuesday, Scott and Lytchani both started.
The Skyhawks also featured freshman standout Camryn Herzberg in the starting lineup.
“She’s made a significant impact. Her athleticism stands out,” Mangan noted about Herzberg. “She handles the challenging roles and simplifies a lot of situations for everyone else.”
Herzberg quickly established herself within the team, contributing an impressive 22 points and seven rebounds in a crucial matchup.
“It’s been good, with all the support my teammates have given me, including me and bringing me into the community,” Herzberg shared.
She is also quick to acknowledge her teammates for aiding in her impressive start to her high school basketball journey.
“I struggled with my confidence a lot last year, but with my teammates uplifting me consistently, they’ve really made a difference,” Herzberg stated. “I’m having so much fun just bonding with my teammates both on and off the court — team dinners, team brunches, everything.”
Other new faces on the varsity roster include junior Olivia Jones, sophomores Evie Steele, Katrina Janowski, and Lydia Strayer, along with freshman Bailey Griffin.
The returning players had the opportunity to compete in the Class 6A state tournament last year. Hence, it’s understandable that one of the squad’s main objectives remains clear.
“It would mean a lot,” Mangan said about the prospect of returning to the state tournament. “We lost six seniors (from last season), but we’ve truly meshed as a unit. I believe that experience has transferred to our current efforts, and we aim to get back there.”
“I think it made them hungry to get back there. They’re working hard, but we still have a long road ahead before we start considering that,” Bergmann remarked. “Absolutely, it’s motivation. It’s always exciting to get there. But dwelling on that too much can lead you to lose a game you should win.”
It certainly appears that the Skyhawks are eager to commit themselves to the hard work needed to make a tournament return.
“The experience was fantastic, observing how other teams play and understanding our goals,” White commented. “As a team, it has truly ignited our motivation this season to push even further than before. We’re committed to working hard — at every practice, every game. It would mean so much to us to qualify again.”
The Skyhawks also feature a driven freshman eager for her debut in the state tournament.
“It would mean a lot to me, especially with this team, in my first year,” Herzberg expressed. “It would be a special achievement.”
With this motivation in mind, Southridge approached Tuesday’s game against the youthful Wildcats not just hoping to secure a win but also looking to seize the chance to improve.
“We want to focus on enhancing areas where we still need development. We aim to elevate each other’s game and function cohesively,” Mangan explained. “It went really well. I believe we performed strongly as a team. We moved the ball effectively and executed our practice drills.”
“We’ve faced some challenges with rebounding this season, so we’ve been diligent in addressing it every game,” White mentioned. “We want to be more aggressive and physical.”
“It went really well,” Herzberg added. “As a team, we played well and moved the ball. The energy was fantastic.”
Mangan, despite logging less than half of the game, recorded 11 points with an impressive 5-for-6 shooting performance, which included one three-pointer, alongside four rebounds, two assists, and a steal. White contributed 13 points and seven rebounds, along with a steal. Herzberg managed to score 13 points as well, making two three-pointers and contributing four rebounds, three assists, and two steals in limited playing minutes.
Griffin chipped in with six points, while Scott added four points, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
Southridge successfully made 23 of 53 attempts from the field, including five three-pointers, and shot 9 of 11 from the free-throw line. The Skyhawks forced Westview into an 11-for-43 shooting night from the field, leading to 23 turnovers. Southridge also dominated the boards, out-rebounding the Wildcats 30-21.
“We’ve been focusing on enhancing our rebounding efforts and getting stronger,” Bergmann noted. “I think we still have improvements to make defensively, but we have moments where it’s really working.”
Spencer McLagan, one of six freshmen on the Westview varsity team, was the leading scorer with 11 points. Junior Avery Nelson contributed eight.
Ranked No. 9 in the latest Class 6A coaches poll, the Skyhawks will not see action again until February 21, when they will face Sunset in a league matchup. Their regular-season finale includes significant Metro League contests against Jesuit and at Mountainside.
Regardless of what lies ahead, you can be assured that the Skyhawks will strive to extend their season for as long as possible.
“It’s been so much fun, and I love this team dearly,” Mangan expressed. “Playing together has just been a joy.”
“This season has been incredible,” White added. “I adore this team, playing alongside each one of them, and I believe everyone feels the same way.”
