PORTLAND – It took an almost entirely new team to make it happen, but Benson got its payback against South Medford on Saturday at Franklin High School.
The No. 8 Astros, who suffered a devastating loss to South Medford in the 6A girls basketball final last season, fought back from a 12-point deficit in the second half to stun the No. 2 Panthers 55-49 in a Platinum bracket semifinal at the POA Holiday Classic.
Junior forward Samara Massey was the only main rotation player from the state championship game to return this season for Benson, which graduated all five starters from the 48-38 loss to South Medford.
“It was not only a get-back game for me, but I feel like it was a get-back game for my seniors last year,” Massey said. “I really wanted to go out with a bang for them and get them a ring, but we came up a little short. This one was for them.”
Junior wing Kelyn Johnson led Benson with 17 points, shooting 6 of 12 from the field, including 5 of 7 from three-point range. Johnson's three-pointer with 2:06 left put the Astros (4-1) ahead to stay 49-46.
Johnson, who swung between varsity and JV last season, was on the bench for the 6A final.
“Seeing how the girls felt after losing last year, and us being able to prove to everybody that's talked a little bit bad about us this year, it means a lot to us,” Johnson said.
The Astros not only have a new lineup this season, but a new coach in Precious Alex, who was promoted from assistant after Eric Knox resigned.
“For me, last year being an assistant coach, this game was so important,” Alex said. “But I know I have a new group of girls, so I had to just tell them, 'It's personal for me, but it's fun for you guys. Just play your game, and play with urgency, and play with joy and have fun.' But I really wanted it bad.”
South Medford coach Tom Cole credited Benson for rising to the occasion.
“They played really hard. They weren't afraid of the moment,” Cole said. “They made really big buckets at critical times and we couldn't respond. It felt like Benson was much more motivated to win this game than we were. … That's a really good young team. Very good win for them.”
Benson advances to Monday's Platinum final to play No. 3 Tualatin (7-0). But first, the Astros will face No. 7 Jesuit on Sunday in a consolation game, a quirk in the bracket created when Garfield (Wash.) pulled out its first-round game with Benson.
South Medford (7-2), which returned three starters and two other rotation players from last year's state final, opened a 40-28 lead in the the third quarter Saturday. But Benson refused to fold, getting back-to-back three-pointers from Johnson and freshman guard Kyoko Beasley and a steal and basket by junior Jaiden Young to tie 42-42 early in the fourth quarter.
“We didn't finish it,” Cole said. “We gave them plenty of opportunities to get back in the game, and they took them. They used the momentum in that fourth quarter to finish us.”
The score was tied two more times before Johnson hit the go-ahead three-pointer.
“I was looking for it. I was trying to get us some energy,” Johnson said of the shot.
The shot seemed to lift the Astros over a mental hurdle.
“When she came in and hit that three, it was game over right there,” Massey said.
Alex said of Johnson: “That's her role. Kelyn knows her role, and she is comfortable with her role. She is willing to go out there and shoot the ball at all times and all costs, and just be ready to shoot. She knows what she's there to do.”
Beasley fed senior Taliya McKelvey for a basket to make it 51-48, then came up with a steal and made two free throws for a 53-48 lead with 1:05 remaining. Freshman post Jayla Lackey added an inside basket for a 55-48 edge with 16 seconds left.
It was Benson's third consecutive win since a 70-53 loss at No. 9 Beaverton.
“That kind of brought us down, but now we're getting back up,” Johnson said. “Defensively, we didn't play our best against Beaverton. We were missing rotations. We just had bad energy that game, so we just had to pick it up. … This brings a lot of confidence to our team.”
Massey had 12 points, six rebounds and three assists and Lackey added 11 points and five rebounds for Benson, which won despite disadvantages in turnovers (27-21) and rebounds (37-30).
Massey said Benson “can be amazing” this season.
“A lot of people don't believe it, but I like that they don't believe it,” Massey said. “We're going to come out, we're going to shock everybody, and we're going to get the last laugh.”
South Medford senior point guard Sara Schmerbach was outstanding with 20 points, 12 rebounds and six steals, but the Panthers shot an uncharacteristic 35.0 percent from the field (21 for 60), including 1 of 14 on three-pointers. It hurt that they were missing one of their top shooters in senior wing Maddy Warberg, who was ill.
Junior center Mayen Akpan, coming off a career-high 29-point, 15-rebound performance in a first-round win over Jesuit, had 13 points and seven rebounds.
South Medford, which traveled to Salem to play in the Capitol City Classic last week, played its fifth game in nine days. The Panthers not only are dealing with fatigue, but a round of illness.
“We're not the only team that's doing that. That's not an excuse,” Cole said. “I just think we weren't prepared today. Our energy level is something that has to be a lot better in order for us to compete.”
Notes: Also Saturday, Tualatin advanced to the Platinum final with a 66-29 win over Bishop O'Dowd (Calif.). Freshman point guard Love Lei Best led the way with 21 points and five steals. Junior post Jordyn Smith had 13 points and six rebounds and freshman Bella Amens added 12 points and three steals. Tualatin trailed 16-12 after one quarter but outscored Bishop O'Dowd 38-5 to lead 50-21 entering the fourth quarter. ... No. 1 Clackamas and Faith Family (Texas) will play in the final of the Diamond bracket at 8 p.m. Monday at Franklin. Clackamas led wire-to-wire in defeating AC Davis (Wash.) 73-62 behind Jazzy Davidson, who had 27 points and 13 rebounds. Sara Barhoum and Allie Roden added 18 and 14 points, respectively. ... Faith Family beat No. 5 Willamette 47-32, getting 17 points from Amayah Garcia. Diamond Wright had 11 points and eight rebounds for Willamette, which shot 19.6 percent (10 for 51), including 3 of 27 from three-point range.
jerryu@osaa.org
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