With the 2025-26 Oregon high school basketball season past the midway point, we’re taking a position-by-position look at some of the best girls players in the state.
We continue our look at the top forwards in 6A. Part 2 of the list focuses on the best forwards and wings in the Three Rivers League, Central Valley Conference and Southwest Conference. (Part 1 of the list featured the standout forwards from the PIL, Metro League, Pacific Conference and Mt. Hood Conference.)
We asked every 6A coach in the state to tell us about their star players through the first half of the season. These lists were compiled based on the information provided by the coaches who chose to respond.
Think you belong on this list? Encourage your coach to respond to requests for information about the team! We will continue to add to these lists throughout the month.
All statistics are as of mid-January. Check back soon for the poll in which we’ll ask fans to vote for which of these forwards is the best of the best. If you have a photo of a player you would like to share, email jhumburg@advancelocal.com.
BEST FORWARDS IN 6A OREGON GIRLS BASKETBALL
Payton Andersen, jr., South Medford
Panthers coach Tom Cole refers to Andersen as the team’s Swiss Army knife. “While she is not the statistical leader in any one category, she is impactful in all of them,” Cole said. “She is a multi-dimensional scorer who can stretch the floor or be a post presence. She is a very talented passer and behind Mayen Akpan is our second-leading rebounder.” Andersen, who received all-Southwest Conference honorable mention as a sophomore, is averaging 8.3 points and seven rebounds per game this season. She has led the team in scoring some games and in rebounds other games, and she has flirted with multiple triple-doubles. “Payton is often lost behind the group of talented seniors on our team, but she is a critical piece of the chemistry,” Cole said. She’s also known for her intelligence — on and off the court. “She possesses a tremendous basketball IQ as a player and is a 4.0 student in the classroom,” Cole said. “Off the floor, she is just as unselfish with her time as she is as a player. Payton loves to assist coaching and mentoring younger players in our feeder program.”
Ayla Arnold, sr., West Linn
Arnold has started the majority of varsity games since her freshman season. “Ayla is long, very athletic and an excellent leaper,” Lions coach Brooke Cates said. “She excels on defense and is a very good rebounder.” Arnold made the all-Three Rivers League first team as a junior. She committed to play college basketball for South Dakota School of Mines.
Emma Burlison, sr., South Salem
Saxons coach Adrian Lewis calls Burlison “the glue” of the team. “She is so dedicated to the game of basketball and to this team,” Lewis said. “She connects with teammates and loves the game.” As a player, she made the all-Central Valley Conference first team as a junior. This season, she’s averaging 15 points and 5.5 rebounds per game, and she’s shooting 48 percent from the field. Next season, she’ll be playing for George Fox. “She can score at all three levels,” Lewis said. “She is a constant force for us.”
Allie Carns, sr., Oregon City
Carns is averaging 7.7 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.4 steals per game. “Allie is a very coachable player that does a little bit of everything,” Pioneers coach Kevin Baumbach said. “Despite being very undersized, she has selflessly played out of position as our post player throughout the season and has thrived in that role.” Carns received all-Three Rivers League honorable mention as a junior.
Ginny Coleman, jr., Tigard
Coleman is one of the Tigers’ top scorers and rebounders. “We know when Ginny gets the ball, she will look to do all — she’s prepared to shoot, attack and find her teammates,” Tigard coach Anna Johnson said. Coleman has a 25-point game this season. “She is able to attack the basket from any spot,” Johnson said. “When Ginny gets into attack mode, it gets the rest of the team amped up and confident to get attacking as well.”
Vi French, sr., Lakeridge
Pacers coach Jason Brown describes French as the consummate teammate. “Vi is an amazing teammate who gives us everything she’s got every night,” Brown said. “She works extremely hard every day to be the best teammate she can be and push her teammates to do the same.” As a player, she provides strong defense and a spark on offense. “She’s very aggressive defensively every night — we can always count on her to be physical and make a play for us,” Brown said. “Vi attacks the paint to consistently put pressure on the defense.”
Samantha Griffin, sr., West Salem
Griffin is averaging 12 points, seven rebounds and three steals per game. “Sami runs the court as well as anyone in the state and uses her length to disrupt defenses and create multiple deflections and steals every game,” Titans coach Justin Duke said. Griffin made the all-Central Valley Conference second team as a junior.
Hayden Kearney, sr., Sheldon
Kearney, who received honorable mention all-Southwest Conference as a junior, is averaging eight points and four rebounds per game this season. “She is able to play around the basket but has also proven to be able to stretch the floor and knock down perimeter shots, shooting just above 35 percent from 3-point range for us this season,” Irish coach Paxton Miller said. “She is a willing defender who can guard two through five despite being a little bit undersized for her position.” The coach said Kearney really excels at her role as team captain. “She has a relentless competitive spirit and is someone we can rely on for consistent effort and energy,” Miller said. “She is a selfless player and a great teammate who truly puts team first.”
Eva Lindahl, so., Grants Pass
Lindahl had multiple 20-point games as a freshman en route to all-Southwest Conference honorable mention. She’s averaging 10 points, seven rebounds and two assists per game this season. “Eva has great footwork down low and great touch around the rim,” Cavers coach Ethan Lackey said. “Eva can also step outside and has a great shot from 3.” The coach added that Lindahl is quickly improving as a defender as she works toward her goal of playing Division I college basketball. “Eva is a great athlete and is learning to be a leader as just a sophomore on a very young team,” Lackey added.
Peyton Lowe, sr., Lakeridge
“Peyton is a natural leader and communicator, and she’s a great teammate,” Pacers coach Jason Brown said. “She always brings us back together when it’s needed. She’s a positive influence always on the whole group, all while staying highly competitive.” Lowe is the team’s leading rebounder at seven per game. “She works hard every day in practice, in every drill and every competition,” Brown said.
Sophie Maxwell, sr., West Linn
Maxwell is a four-year starter for the Lions. She received honorable mention all-Three Rivers League as a junior. “Sophie is a multi-dimensional player as she gets out and runs in transition, often scoring at the rim,” West Linn coach Brooke Cates said. “She can put the ball on the deck and attack the basket with strong finishing skills and is a confident 3-ball shooter.”
Jayden Mayernik, sr., Sheldon
Mayernik is averaging six points and three rebounds per game. She really shines on defense — she’s averaging six deflections and three steals per contest. “She is one of, if not our most impactful player, because of her defensive mindset and effort,” Irish coach Paxton Miller said. “She is typically tasked with guarding who we think is our opponent’s best player or playmaker. She has great instincts and active hands, and she is someone who is always willing to give multiple efforts — whether it be rotations, loose balls or rebounding. Jayden has a motor that you simply cannot teach.” She’s also a team captain and leader. “Her energy and effort are contagious and often provide a spark for our team,” Miller said.
Diarra Mboup, so., St. Mary’s Academy
Mboup received all-Three Rivers League honorable mention as a freshman. She’s averaging 10.5 points, eight rebounds and two steals per game this season. “Extremely athletic, smooth, fiery performer,” Blues coach Art Rojas said. Mboup’s other passion is dancing.
Alex Padilla, sr., Tualatin
Padilla, who received all-Three Rivers League honorable mention as a junior, is averaging 5.5 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.2 steals and 2.5 assists per game. She especially shines on defense, and Timberwolves coach Wes Pappas isn’t shy about stating where he thinks Padilla ranks among her peers. “Alex is the best defender in the state, in my opinion,” Pappas said. “She is extremely versatile and can be used in a variety of spots to wreck opposing offenses. She also has become a tremendous passer.” Padilla committed to play college basketball for Portland State.
Autumn Palmer, fr., South Salem
Palmer plays a key role for the Saxons as a ninth-grader, coming off the bench and averaging seven points and four rebounds per game. “She is coming into form and is going to be a force to be reckoned with,” South Salem coach Adrian Lewis said. “She is strong and can use her body to get to her spots but also can stretch the floor with her 3-point-shooting ability.”
Addie Sale, sr., Lake Oswego
Sale is a team captain who does a little of everything for the Lakers. “Addie is a versatile player who can really fill any role on the floor,” Lake Oswego coach Kate Jackson said. “She has the highest assist-to-turnover ratio on the team.” Sale, who made the all-Three Rivers League second team as a junior, is planning to play college basketball for Grinnell College in Iowa.
Brook Tate, sr., South Salem
Saxons coach Adrian Lewis said Tate is the most versatile player on the team. “She can really play all five positions and knows how to do all of them,” Lewis said. “She has a brilliant mind for the game of basketball and is very instinctive.” Tate, a returning first-team all-Central Valley Conference player, is averaging 13.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, two assists and two steals per game. “She is getting some interest from colleges,” Lewis said.
Addy Wallin, jr., South Eugene
Axe coach Steve Eastburn describes Wallin as a “consistent and relentless effort player who does all the things that make her team and fellow players better.” She shows the same traits away from basketball. “She is outstanding in the classroom and has a bright future ahead of her in life,” Eastburn said. “She tackles everything asked of her with great passion.”
Emma Zuniga, sr., West Salem
Zuniga is a two-time Central Valley Conference player of the year. She received honorable mention all-state as a junior. “Emma can score from all three levels on the court and commands the attention of every team we face,” Titans coach Justin Duke said. Zuniga is averaging more than 15 points and eight rebounds per game. She committed to play college basketball for Portland State.
For complete coverage of Oregon high school sports, including schedules, scores, recruiting news and additional player spotlights, visit OregonLive’s high school sports section throughout the season.
