PORTLAND – One year after sharing the Portland Interscholastic League girls basketball title with Benson, the Jefferson Democrats are in position to claim it all for themselves.
The No. 3 Democrats opened a two-game lead over No. 6 Benson in the league standings Saturday by fending off a fourth-quarter flurry to beat the Astros 63-59 in a packed Jefferson gym.
Senior-dominated Jefferson (19-1, 11-0), which also defeated Benson (15-4, 9-2) in the first round of league play, just needs to take care of business as a prohibitive favorite in its last five league games to secure the crown.
“The seniors have been losing to Benson the last three years, so we knew that this is our year to come out with the PIL championship,” Jefferson senior point guard Abrianna Lawrence said. “That was our first goal. Now it's state.”
Senior forward Leila Nunez scored 16 points, making three three-pointers, and Lawrence scored 11 of her 14 points in the second half to lead Jefferson, which has won 16 in a row since losing to No. 2 Tualatin.
Last season, the Democrats ended Benson's 48-game league winning streak. Now they are poised to end the Astros' seven-year run of winning at least a share of the PIL title. For seventh-year coach Andre Lawrence, who went 3-29 in the PIL in his first two seasons, it would be a crowning achievement.
Lawrence said he hasn't talked with his players about the outright title, “but it means a lot to me. From where we were seven years ago, and now to have a chance to have a PIL championship on our own, that's a great thing for our program.”
Jefferson dominated the first meeting with Benson 76-60, but this time the young Astros put up more of a fight. Benson led 28-22 in the second quarter before the Democrats ended the half on a 13-0 run to go ahead 35-28.
Jefferson opened its biggest lead at 53-43 on a three-pointer by Lawrence with 7:30 left, but the Astros scored the next nine points, pulling within 53-52 on a layup by junior Samara Massey with 4:46 remaining.
Benson still was within 60-59 on a basket by freshman post Jayla Lackey with 1:12 to go, but could not take the lead. Lawrence scored on a putback to make it 62-59 with 36 seconds left, and after a miss by Lackey inside, the Astros were forced to foul.
Jefferson senior Chauncey Andersen missed two free throws with nine seconds left, but Nunez wrestled the rebound away from Lackey and was fouled, making one of two free throws for the final margin.
“We started a little slow, but we turned it up in the second half,” Andersen said. “We knew they were going to come out with high intensity. I think us just being mature, we kept our composure. In past years, I don't think we would have won that game. But we're seniors now, and that's a game we should win.”
Jefferson was able to stem Benson's momentum after the late surge.
“Basketball is a game of runs, so we knew the run was going to come,” Abrianna Lawrence said. “We were prepared for it. But we know to stick together in the end. We've been working on it these last four years, to stick together.”
Abrianna Lawrence was a steadying influence. Her putback in the final minute was crucial.
“I knew I had to get the rebound, or somebody had to get the rebound,” she said. “I'm glad it was me.”
Andre Lawrence said that Abrianna is the team's “glue” and “engine.”
“No one thinks about her, no one puts her on the game plan, no one thinks she does anything special,” he said. “For this program, she's very special. You can tell when she's not on the court.”
Andersen, who scored 31 points in the first game against Benson, was limited to eight points as the Astros focused their zone defense against her. She had one point after halftime.
“They came out full denying me on every side,” said Andersen said. “It was hard to get shots. I think I only shot twice in the second half. But it doesn't matter because we got the win. My teammates made up for what I couldn't do.”
Benson was led by its stellar freshmen, Lackey and point guard Kyoko Beasley, who scored 18 and 14 points, respectively. Beasley made four three-pointers, including two clutch shots in the fourth quarter.
“She stepped up,” Astros coach Precious Alex said. “I had a little side talk with her at halftime, and I told her, 'Just play your game, just let it come. You're a shooter. If you can shoot it, shoot it.'”
Alex liked how her players responded in the pressure environment, showing growth from the first meeting with Jefferson.
“The first game, they were freshmen, they were young, they were a little intimidated,” Alex said. “But now, we just adjusted to it. I think they came ready to play today. We might have lost by four on paper, but in my heart, we won. We totally won.”
jerryu@osaa.org
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