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2/8 EDITORIAL

Prep teams having impressive winter

February 07, 2012

High school sports teams in Polk County are entering the stretch run of their regular season campaigns and several are gearing up for what is hoped to be deep and successful runs in the postseason.

If you haven't been caught up in the excitement at your local high school, here's a few things to take note of:

* Central's boys basketball team is ranked No. 1 in the OSAA Class 4A state power rankings and is coming off a surprisingly easy and lopsided 59-22 win against state-ranked Newport Friday. The Panthers, 16-1 overall, have emerged as contenders for the 4A state championship.

* The Dallas boys basketball team is enjoying its best season since 2000-01, when the Dragons last qualified for the state playoffs. Coach Jim Boutin has a hardworking group that seems to be surging at just the right time. The Dragons have two tough home games during the next week -- Friday against league-leading Corvallis and Tuesday against second-place Silverton -- but given what they have accomplished, don't be surprised to see this team give these conference rivals a run for their money and possibly pull off an upset.

* Dallas High's wrestling team hosts Lebanon Thursday evening in the final dual meet of the league season. The matchup is for the dual meet title in the Mid-Willamette Conference -- both teams are unbeaten in league action. The Dragons are currently ranked No. 1 in Class 5A in Oregon and are primed for a run at a state title.

* This weekend marks the district meets for the Dallas and Central swimming teams, all of whom have individuals chasing berths to the upcoming Class 5A and Class 4A-3A-2A-1A state meets.

* Perrydale's girls basketball team likely will be facing a tiebreaker playoff with rial St. Paul for the Casco League championship next weekend. Each team has one loss -- to one another -- and the Class 1A state playoffs are less than two weeks away. And the Perrydale boys basketball squad is one of the hottest among the 1A ranks, having won seven of its last eight games entering Tuesday's contest against C.S. Lewis of Newberg.

If you haven't had an opportunity, take time to get out and support these and the other winter prep sports teams in Polk County.

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