A tall mountain to climb.

Byline: Curtis Anderson The Register-Guard

Nobody draws a tougher first-round opponent at the OSAA Class 3A girls basketball tournament than Junction City.

The Tigers (20-6), co-champions of the Sky-Em League this season, open the eight-team tournament at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis at 1:30 p.m. Thursday against defending state champion Burns.

The Hilanders (25-2) are led by returning starters Maria and Jessica Clemens, the younger sisters of Oregon quarterback Kellen Clemens, plus Newport transfer Katie Torland, who was named co-player of the year in the Greater Oregon League.

Burns placed second at state in 2003 before capturing the school's first girls basketball title last year.

`They've played every game you can play at Gill over the past two years, and we haven't been there,' Junction City coach Craig Lannom said. `They're so athletic, mobile and strong. We have to work hard to make sure they don't go crazy on the offensive boards and get a million second chances.'

One way for the undersized Tigers to accomplish that goal is to control the tempo.

Junction City had success this year by playing aggressive defense and showing patience and discipline on offense. The Tigers averaged just 37.5 points per game, but more importantly, limited opponents to 30.6 points.

`We have to do a good job in trying to keep the game the way we want it played, and not them,' Lannom said.

The Tigers are an interesting blend of four different classes.

Three seniors - 5-foot-10 post McKenzie Gambee, 5-9 forward Damaris Tucker and 5-2 point guard Lindsey Parker - are joined by 5-6 junior guard Christie Richards and 5-6 junior wing Mandi Wheadon in the starting lineup.

Senior Heather Walker provides depth on the perimeter, and freshmen Kayla Rauschert and Leah Mancino are among the first options off the bench, along with sophomores Katie Rear and Traci Garner.

`This is the most unusual team I've ever had,' said Lannom, who is in his 16th season as head coach. `We have kids that are contributing from four different grade levels. ... We're blending kids with two years of varsity experience with those who were in the eighth grade last year.'

Gambee, this year's Sky-Em League MVP, averages nearly 11 points and eight rebounds for the Tigers.

The youngest of 12 children, she has basketball in her blood. Her dad, John, played at Gonzaga (1961-62) and her uncle, Dave, was a 12-year veteran of the NBA and a two-time all-American during his career at Oregon State (1956-58).

`Because of the style we play, our stats aren't eye-poppers,' Lannom said. `But people that play us know how good (McKenzie) is. They spend most of their time trying to beat her up and take her away. That's why the coaches voted her player of the year. They recognized how much she did for us.'

Tucker, a first-year varsity player after skipping basketball as a junior, brings another dose of athleticism to the club. She is best known for her exploits in track and field, where she won a state title in the high jump as a sophomore, and placed second in both the high jump and long jump last year.

`She's a strong defender and rebounder. When she came out this year, that was a big lift for a team that was pretty small,' Lannom said.

When the Tigers need to shut down an opposing player on the perimeter, the call goes out to Richards, who is also one of the most clutch players in the league, and the team's second-leading scorer.

She was 5-of-6 from the free-throw line in overtime to seal Junction City's victory over Illinois Valley on Saturday to clinch a berth in the state tournament, and last year she ended Marist's historic 109-game win streak in the Sky-Em League with an 18-foot jump shot at the buzzer.

`She always draws the toughest defensive assignment for us, and she leads the team in floor burns,' Lannom said.

Parker steps into the point guard shoes vacated by her older sister, Amy, and Wheadon brings a steady hand with her ballhandling skills.

Rauschert provides an offensive spark off the bench, scoring 12, 11 and nine points in the Tigers' past three games.

Junction City will need contributions from each player on the roster if it wants to keep pace with Burns.

The Hilanders lost only two games this year - both to Ontario, a team that Junction City beat 41-29 at home in mid-December. In all, Burns split four games with Ontario, including a 44-32 win to earn the GOL's No. 1 seed.

This will be Junction City's first trip to Corvallis since 2001, when the Tigers went two-and-out.

They placed fifth at state in 1997 and second in 1996, when they lost to Marist in the championship game.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

STATE TOURNAMENT

Class 3A

Quarterfinals

THURSDAY'S GAMES

Burns vs. Junction City, 1:30 p.m.

Cascade vs. North Bend, 3:15 p.m.

Tillamook vs. Philomath, 6:30 p.m.

Ontario vs. Marist, 8:15 p.m.

CAPTION(S):

McKenzie Gambee (11), the Sky-Em League MVP, and Junction City tied for the Sky-Em title with Lori Renner (left), Rachel Copeland and Marist. Both teams open quarterfinal play at state Thursday.