South Medford shoots past Benson
The Panthers run wild in the second quarter and hold on for title victory
PORTLAND - South Medford used a 14-3 run in the second quarter to build a 17-point lead in the third quarter, then staved off a comeback bid on the way to a 48-38 victory over Benson in the title game of the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union Class 6A girls basketball state tournament.
The Panthers, who lost in the final to Clackamas last year, led 8-7 at the end of the first quarter, but steadily pulled away to a 29-12 lead at 2:!5 of the third. Benson got within six points midway through the fourth quarter, but no closer.
Taylor Young and Sara Schmerback scored 15 points each to lead South, the top-seeded team in the playoffs.
The title was the second for the program, which also won in 2012.
Benson missed its attempt to win a second title in five years.
Eboni Clay scored 16 points to lead Benson, which gave up 11 offensive rebounds and had 17 turnovers.
Cliff Pfenning
Cliff is a lifelong resident of Oregon and has four decades of experience as a writer, photographer, videographer, broadcaster and now producer. He's a grad of Benson High and the University of Oregon.
Latest Posts
Are "boys" and "girls" next?