South Albany settled a score with its nemesis and sent an early message in 5A girls basketball this week.
The RedHawks, No. 2 in the OSAAtoday 5A caoches poll, turned back reigning state champion and top-ranked Crater 58-49 at home Tuesday in a rematch of last year's state final. Wyoming-bound senior guard Taylor Donaldson scored 21 points in the win.
South Albany had dropped its last three meetings against the Comets. The RedHawks fell 54-47 in the state semifinals in 2024, 69-47 in a nonleague game at Crater last season and 64-58 in overtime in the state championship game.
In the final, South Albany led by eight points with less than four minutes remaining but could not put away its first state championship.
The RedHawks again led the Comets by eight points with four minutes left Tuesday, but this time, they closed it out.
“Everybody stepped up, everybody had big plays,” Donaldson told the Albany Democrat-Herald. “We had good moments. And even if shots weren’t falling, they were good shots and good passes, and we were cutting at the right time.”
The RedHawks were eager to make a statement.
“This tells everyone to be prepared,” senior Neveah Ukaoma told the Democrat-Herald. “Because we’re ready.”
South Albany gained the early edge but Crater drew within 28-24 at half on a three-pointer by freshman Brynlee Young. The RedHawks pushed the lead to 13 points in the third quarter.
The Comets cut the lead to 50-42 on a pull-up jumper by senior point guard Taylor Young midway through the fourth quarter and had several chances to get closer, but came up empty.
South Albany regained the momentum when junior Taylor Bailey connected on an open three-pointer to extend the lead to 11. The Redhawks sealed it from there.
Senior Kaylee Cordle shook off a slow start to score 14 points and senior Maddie Angel added nine points for South Albany.
Donaldson (the school's all-time leading scorer), Cordle and senior Angel return as starters from last season. They also were members of the volleyball team that won state titles the last two seasons.
The RedHawks (2-0), who beat Grants Pass 69-52 at home in their opener Dec. 4, have become the 5A favorites after downing Crater.
“We’re the team to beat,” coach Marc Cordle told the Democrat-Herald. “We just have to embrace that the best way we can.”
Taylor Young scored 26 points and Brynlee Young, her sister, added nine points on three three-pointers to lead Crater (3-1). The Comets, who went 28-1 last season, suffered their first loss to an Oregon team since falling to Silverton in the 2024 state final.
Crane adjusting after injury
If Crane is going to win its third consecutive 1A title this season, the Mustangs will have to do it without their best player.
Junior wing Kaitlyn Siegner, the 1A co-player of the year last season, suffered a torn ACL during volleyball and is out for the year. The 5-foot-10 Siegner averaged team highs of 19.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 5.2 steals last season.
“We've got to step up and figure out who's going to do the things that she did,” Crane coach Tomika Doman said. “It doesn't have to be one person to do it all. We've got to stay strong as a team.”
Siegner had knee surgery during volleyball season. She had planned to put off surgery for a torn labrum until after basketball season, but underwent shoulder surgery Monday.
Crane, No. 2 in the OSAAtoday 1A coaches poll behind North Clackamas Christian, still has the pieces to contend even without Siegner, Three other starters are back in senior Ava Bowen (8.6 points, 2.5 steals last season) and juniors Emily Clark (11.0 points, 3.0 steals) and Kamryn Dunten (9.1 points, 6.2 rebounds).
The Mustangs are counting on the 5-11 Dunten to help make up for the loss of Siegner's interior presence.
“We don't have a lot of big girls, so we're going to have to block out and rebound,” Doman said. “We're going to have to run the floor, play tough defense.”
Crane won its first two games, beating Grant Union 67-38 at home Dec. 5 and Lakeview 50-22 on the road Thursday. In the opener, Bowen scored 21 points and Dunten and Clark added 18 and 14 points, respectively. In the second game, Dunten poured in 22 points and Clark had 16 points.
The Mustangs are getting solid contributions from its two new starters – junior guard Kendal Nichols and junior wing Anita Peila – and from a bench that includes junior Claire Grant.
“Other girls who haven't played a lot of varsity have really stepped up and shined,” Doman said. “We're looking like we'll have a little bit of a bench. So we'll be all right.”
Crane's volleyball team overcame the loss of Siegner, the 2024 state player of the year, to win its third state title in a row. Bowen was named the state player of the year and Dunten, Nichols and Clark joined her on the first team.
Now the basketball team will try to follow suit.
“We've had more time to think about it,” Doman said. “For them, it was thrown at them. All of the sudden, Kaitlyn was out.”
Crane plays host to No. 6 Union (4-0) in a nonleague game Friday.
Tualatin opens with victory
Reigning 6A champion and top-ranked Tualatin opened its season with a 65-45 win at No. 9 West Salem on Thursday night.
Timberwolves sophomore point guard Love Lei Best led the way with 28 points and nine steals. Sophomore wing Kendall Dawkins was plagued by foul trouble but contributed 16 points and 14 rebounds in the win.
As the last 6A team to start the season, the Timberwolves had to shake off some rust, according to coach Wes Pappas.
“We had some first-game issues with turnovers and fouls,” Pappas said. “But we took care of the ball better in the second half.”
Tualatin forced the Titans into 30 turnovers, 20 in the second half. Senior Emma Zuniga scored 14 points to lead West Salem (1-1).
Lions start 2-0
No. 2 West Linn, a 6A quarterfinalist last season, is off to an impressive start. The Lions went on the road to beat Clackamas 74-43 on Dec. 5 and dominated 5A No. 5 Wilsonville 80-45 at home on Tuesday.
Kinley Buse, a 5-11 sophomore post, scored a team-high 16 points to go with five rebounds and three steals against Clackamas. Junior guard Kaylor Buse (14 points, five assists, four steals), senior guard Reese Jordan (12 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, two steals) and senior wing Sophie Maxwell (12 points) also scored in double figures.
Kaylor Buse led the way against Wilsonville with 27 points, five assists, two steals and two blocks. She made 10 of 12 shots from the field, including 4 of 5 from three-point range.
Jordan added 18 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals for the Lions, who had assists on 23 of their 32 field goals.
jerryu@osaa.org
Subscribe
