PORTLAND – Tom Johnson has coached teams to 711 wins spanning 42 seasons, but no win was sweeter than what his Barlow team accomplished Saturday night at the Chiles Center.
The top-seeded Bruins fought off No. 11 Jesuit 61-55 in the final of the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 6A boys basketball tournament, not only claiming their first state championship, but delivering their longtime coach his first title.
The Barlow community turned out en masse for the game, and with the outcome decided in the final minute, chants of “Win for TJ” rang out through the crowd.
“It means the world to me to be a part of a team to bring him a 'chip,” Barlow senior guard Jalen Atkins said. “He pours so much life into me, so much life into these kids. He's more than just a coach to everybody. He's a mentor, he's a family guy, and he loves the game of basketball.”
During the trophy ceremony, Johnson reflected on his journey with the Bruins, which began in 1986 after he spent the first three seasons of his coaching career at Lebanon. His only previous trip to the final came in 1996, when Barlow lost to South Salem.
“When I moved here nearly 40 years ago, I knew that Barlow was a destination for me,” Johnson said. “I love the school, I love the community. I certainly love the kids I've had the opportunity to work with.”
The star from that 1996 team, Freddie Jones, who went on to play in the NBA, was among those in attendance Saturday. Johnson said he heard from many alumni during the week, including three-time Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser and the school's all-time leading scorer, Jesse White.
Johnson said that White sent a special message that said, “'Go win it not only for them, but for all the former Bruins, as well.' That was kind of neat.”
Barlow (27-3) split two games with Jesuit (19-11) this season. The Crusaders entered the final on a 10-game winning streak and were taking aim at their eighth state title under coach Gene Potter.
But the Bruins took the lead late in the first quarter and never trailed afterward. They got the separation they needed with a 10-0 run that spanned the third and fourth quarters, opening a 44-32 lead with 7:20 left.
Brayden Barron, a 6-foot-6 senior forward who has signed with Portland State, scored seven points during the surge. He hit a three-pointer and a deep jumper, then capped the run by scoring in transition off a turnover.
Barron finished with a team-high 17 points, nine rebounds and three assists, including a highlight follow jam in the first half. His energy and presence in the middle was the engine for Barlow.
“The effort plays, and the high motor that he's carried on from last year to this year, has been such a jump,” Atkins said of Barron. “When you've got a guy who's 6-6 and so bouncy and athletic, and have that effort, it's hard for anybody to beat a team with a guy like that.”
Barlow's top two scorers this season – Atkins and 6-6 senior forward Mason Bierbrauer – had modest games, shooting a combined 7 for 23 from the field. Atkins had 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals, making 10 of 13 free throws, and Bierbrauer had six points.
But the Bruins got key contributions from senior guard Blake Hills (12 points), who shot 4 of 7 from three-point range, and sophomore guard Maddyn Cummings (10 points).
“We've just got so many weapons,” said Bierbrauer, who had 20 points in the semifinals. “Maddyn came up big-time, Brayden came up big-time, Blake came up big-time. Everybody did what they needed to do.”
Jesuit made a concerted effort to keep the ball away from Atkins, who can score from anywhere on the court and break down defenses off the dribble.
“I knew they were going to hone in on me,” Atkins said. “So I trusted my guys and they came out and they didn't disappoint. They delivered at a high clip.”
After losing in the semifinals in 2023 and the quarterfinals last year, Barlow relished the closing moments of Saturday's win. The championship is the first boys title in a team sport for the school.
“TJ really needed this, we all really needed this,” Barron said. “We had some ups and downs this game. It was close throughout the whole game. … In the end, we got it done. I'm happy for him, and I'm happy for everybody.”
Jesuit hung tough in the fourth quarter, cutting the lead to 57-51 with one minute left on back-to-back baskets by junior guard Joe Stimpson, but Atkins made four free throws in the final minute to seal the win.
Crusaders senior point guard Pat Kilfoil was outstanding, putting up 24 points, seven rebounds and two assists before fouling out with 2:45 remaining.
“We knew that he was going to have to create shots for other people or finish at the basket himself,” Potter said. “I thought he was terrific. He was great all year doing that. We kind of had to turn him loose a little bit tonight.”
Stimpson added 13 points and six rebounds for Jesuit. The Crusaders, who made 43 three-pointers through four postseason games, struggled behind the arc Saturday, shooting 5 for 26.
“We're out-sized against Barlow, so we knew we were going to have to step up and make perimeter shots, and we didn't shoot particularly well from the outside,” Potter said. “On defense, we did about as well as we could with the match-ups.”
Potter, who is good friends with Johnson, watched from the opposite end of the court as Barlow celebrated its trophy.
“Super disappointed for my squad, super happy for Tom,” Potter said.
jerryu@osaa.org
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