West Linn High School’s girls basketball team won its first state championship on March 14, defeating South Medford 61-56 in the Oregon School Activities Association/OnPoint Community Credit Union 6A tournament final at the Chiles Center.
The victory marks a significant achievement for West Linn, which had previously reached the final only once before, finishing as runner-up in 1985. The Lions finished their season with a record of 26-3 and overcame strong competition to secure the title.
Senior point guard Reese Jordan said, “We just said, ‘We’re the only people who believe in us.’ I know that people say that we’re not going to get first, but here we are.” Junior guard Kaylor Buse led West Linn with 23 points, two rebounds, two assists and three blocks. Jordan contributed 17 points, nine rebounds and four steals while senior wing Ayla Arnold added nine points.
South Medford led for much of the second half before West Linn went on a decisive 12-0 run late in the fourth quarter. Lions coach Brooke Cates said, “We just hung with them. We know we’re in good shape, so we thought by the fourth quarter, we can take it.” Jordan highlighted the team’s improved communication down the stretch: “We picked up our communication. We knew we let some things slip away a little bit the whole game, so I think the last three minutes, we really just tightened things up and got it together.”
Buse credited teamwork for their success: “We ended up rebounding the way we wanted to, we were pushing the ball, and the shots went in.” Jordan made key baskets late in the game including a go-ahead jumper and a crucial three-pointer. She said about her shot: “I had my feet set. I was just ready to shoot. I just trusted my shot and let it fly. It was awesome. I tried to stayed composed after I hit it.” Cates called Jordan’s three-pointer “huge,” saying: “That gave us a big confidence boost. We got a little separation, and it came at the right time.”
Cates praised both Jordan and Buse for leading West Linn throughout their rise as contenders: “Amazing. She’s a tough basketball player,” Cates said of Jordan. “She was our glue. She held it together. Between her and Kaylor, they just led the team. I mean, they willed this win.”
South Medford’s Mayen Akpan finished with 14 points and 19 rebounds while Payton Andersen scored 14 points with six rebounds and two assists; Malia Taulani also added 14 points for South Medford.
Reflecting on his team’s performance after an emotional semifinal win over Tualatin on Friday night, South Medford coach Tom Cole said: “It’s obviously a different feeling from last night…I knew it was going to be a difficult task. West Linn, I give them a lot of credit. They’re a real quality team…Reese Jordan hit some big shots late in the fourth quarter. They made some big plays down the stretch. We were in some foul trouble, and momentum had shifted a little bit.”
The win ends West Linn’s long wait for its first girls basketball state title.
