Lady Demos make another statement to North Portland

The Jefferson girls basketball team might have some trouble getting fellow students to show up for games, but the Demos do not have a problem winning those games.

Jefferson rolled out to an 18-3 lead over visiting South Salem Friday night, and matched its season average victory margin with a 65-31 win that sent the team to the Chiles Center for a quarterfinal meeting with West Linn Wednesday afternoon.

Senior Chauncey Andersen had 19 points, and senior Abrianna Lawrence added 15 to lead Jefferson, which had a 40-15 cushion at the half. The win boosted the team's record to 26-1 with its lone loss to Tualatin in the fourth game of the season.

South Salem got 13 points from junior Brook Tate and had it season end at 18-9.

The Democrats' program has two state titles in its history, but both were at Class 5A with the most recent one in 2012. The boys team is attached to a significant portion of North Portland's community pride having won a state title nine times and regularly drawing large crowds for home games.

This season, the Jefferson girls team has been at or near the top of the state since December, while the boys finished 9-15 and missed the playoffs.

Jefferson meets West Linn at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday - the Lions having upset Benson 43-41 Friday night.

The Demos were seeded fourth in the state last year, but lost in the quarterfinals to Willamette. This season the team is focused on more than just a state title, but to establish the program in the community as well.

‍

‍

‍

‍