Jags Beyond the Baseline

<p>In the three losses this past weekend, all to the Grant County Redtails (12-6), Zion Bradley got the first two starts of his Jaguars career and showed out, averaging 19 PTS in the two games in Mattawa, WA. Moving forward, the Willamette Valley Jaguars (2–11) are headed on the road, flying to 4 Bears, North Dakota, to take on the 4 Bears Roar (17-1). This week, Zion breaks down the fight that went into the games versus the Grant County Redtails (12-6), highlighting the strengths and struggles the team experienced during the triple-header weekend, previews the next three weeks on the road, reflects on the season and the preparation for the postseason, grazes the suddenly sparse roster, and discusses how his relationship with Mikah Johnson Jr. has developed. To find out more information about Zion Bradley or the Willamette Valley Jaguars, check out these links below:</p><p></p><p><strong>Zion Bradley:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/hoops4jesus/">Instagram</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Willamette Valley Jaguars:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://wvjags.com">wvjags.com</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVHmi-nkpT7/?hl=en&amp;img_index=12">Instagram</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/Wvjags">Facebook</a></p>

<p>With 10 games in the books and 10 more to go, the Willamette Valley Jaguars (2–8) have reached the halfway point of their season, and despite the record, Kaden Leslie and Davion Burdette feel confident about where the team stands. This week, Kaden and Davion break down a challenging weekend against the top team in the West, the North Dakota 4 Bears Roar (17–1), highlighting what went right and what didn’t. They also preview an upcoming three-game weekend set against the Grant County Redtails (9–6), reflect on how playing for the Jags has shaped their careers, discuss Davion’s return to familiar ground at Linn-Benton Community College, and share how Kaden balances fatherhood while also playing professional basketball. To find out more information about Kaden Leslie and Davion Burdette or the Willamette Valley Jaguars, check out these links below:</p><p></p><p><strong>Kaden Leslie:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/kaden1eslie/">Instagram</a></p><p><strong>Davion Burdette:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/yungdavyy/">Instagram</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Willamette Valley Jaguars:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://wvjags.com">wvjags.com</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVHmi-nkpT7/?hl=en&amp;img_index=12">Instagram</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/Wvjags">Facebook</a></p>

<p>As the Willamette Valley Jaguars (1-4) try to turn the 2026 season around, the Jaguars brought in reinforcements in the form of Troy Mix Jr., an instrumental piece in last year's team! After appearing in 17 games for the Jaguars in 2025 and averaging 13.6 PPG and 4.5 RPG, the Willamette Valley Jaguars officially announced on Sunday that Troy Mix Jr. is returning to the team. This week, Troy breaks down how the organization has changed from last season to now, his time spent on other teams in TBL's West Conference, what went into his decision to return to Oregon, and what he's looking forward to for the rest of the season. The Willamette Valley Jaguars are back in action this weekend (4/17 &amp; 4/18) at home, coming off the bye week, with back-to-back matchups against the Grant County Redtails.</p><p>To learn more about Troy Mix Jr. or the Willamette Valley Jaguars, check out the links below:</p><p><strong>Troy Mix Jr.:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/_traww5/">Instagram</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Willamette Valley Jaguars:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://wvjags.com">wvjags.com</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVHmi-nkpT7/?hl=en&amp;img_index=12">Instagram</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/Wvjags">Facebook</a></p>

<p>With TBL's All-Star Break coming up this weekend, Team Market Owner and Head Coach Mary Stade and Community Partner Craig McPherson give us some insight about the behind the scenes in their partnership and the team. The Willamette Valley Jaguars are in their third season in the TBL, and this season is the first where they have received so much support from the community, and it all comes down to Mary Stade. This week, Mary and Craig dive into the work that went behind their own businesses and how their partnership has helped each other grow. To find out more information about Mary Stade and Craig McPherson or the Willamette Valley Jaguars or CNC Wood Cutters, check out these links below:</p><p></p><p><strong>Coach Mary Stade:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/coachmarystade_aka_hoopgirl/?hl=en">Instagram</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/mjlstade">Facebook</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Craig McPherson (CNC Wood Cutters):</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/cncwoodcutters/">Instagram</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/craig.mcpherson.75">Facebook</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Willamette Valley Jaguars:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://wvjags.com">wvjags.com</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVHmi-nkpT7/?hl=en&amp;img_index=12">Instagram</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/Wvjags">Facebook</a></p>

<p>After a home loss against the Grant County Redtails, Tayvion Johnson and Abion Khalifah still hold the belief that the team is on the brink of a winning streak and changing the narrative about this team. The Willamette Valley Jaguars (1-4) matchup against the Mesa Monsoons (0-2) next weekend has been canceled and the team now gets an additional week off to come back stronger after TBL All-Star break. This week Tayvion and Abion talk about the strengths and weaknesses of the team up to this point, how much the organization has grown since the first year, Tayvion's involvement with bringing the Jr. NBA/WNBA league to The Gate, and a fun game of "most likely to" about the team. To find out more information about Tayvion Johnson and Abion Khalifah or the Willamette Valley Jaguars, check out these links below:</p><p></p><p><strong>Tayvion Johnson:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/tayvoe/">Instagram</a></p><p><strong>Abion Khalifah:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/showboatt_/">Instagram</a></p><p></p><p><strong>Willamette Valley Jaguars:</strong></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://wvjags.com">wvjags.com</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DVHmi-nkpT7/?hl=en&amp;img_index=12">Instagram</a></p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/Wvjags">Facebook</a></p>