The debate is heating up: Who is the greatest girls basketball player ever to come out of the Eugene-Springfield area? We're putting the question to you, and we want your vote now!
As the United States gears up for its 250th anniversary, USA TODAY Sports is celebrating the 250 greatest American sports figures of all time. As part of that national tribute, the USA TODAY Network is shining a spotlight on the grassroots of our sports culture—the high school athletes and local legends who shaped their communities and defined their states. Earlier this spring, we honored Lane County's all-time football greats. Now, it's time to turn our attention to the hardwood.
We're recognizing the girls basketball players who truly defined the Eugene-Springfield area. While college and professional achievements certainly played a role in shaping our top-10 list, our primary focus is on those who shined brightest at the high school level and dominated local headlines. These are the players who packed gyms, broke records, and inspired the next generation.
We invite you to cast your vote in the polls accompanying this story. Don't see a name you think should be included? Let us know! Print readers can find the polls online at www.registerguard.com/sports/.
Without further ado, here are The Register-Guard's 10 girls basketball players (listed in alphabetical order) who defined the Eugene-Springfield area.
During Marist's golden era of dominance in the 1990s, no player racked up more individual accolades than Kristina Andersen. A three-time Class 3A first-team all-state selection, the star forward led the Spartans to state titles in 1996 and 1997. After her senior season in 1997, she was named the 3A Player of the Year. In 1996, both USA Today and Street & Smith's named her an All-American. Andersen went on to a strong four-year career at the University of Utah, where as a senior in 2000-01, she was the second-leading scorer for a Utes squad that went 28-4 and reached the Sweet 16.
One of the top sharpshooters of the Pac-12 era, Lexi Bando was a four-year starter at the University of Oregon, where she helped elevate the Ducks to national prominence. But before her college heroics, Bando was a standout at Willamette High School, where she was a two-time Midwestern League Player of the Year and led the Wolverines to a state championship in 2013.