Wolves defend 6A title with stunning performance

Tualatin beat rival West Linn at the perfect time - in the state title game

PORTLAND - A packed house at the University of Portland's Chiles Center were witness to an epic upset in the finale of the OSAA/U.S. Bank boys basketball tournament as Tualatin beat West Linn 60-47 in the fourth meeting of the seasons between the teams.

The win gave Tualatin its second straight state championship, and denied West Linn a fitting end to a season in which it played its way to the top ranking - in the nation. West Linn's ranking came with three previous wins over their Three Rivers League rival.

Saturday, the Timberwolves scored off the opening tip and never trailed, holding the Lions scoreless for six minutes and leading by as much as 19 at halftime.

Josiah Lake led Tualatin with 20 points - 12 of them at the free-throw line. Jaden Steppe added 19 points and 10 rebounds.

West Linn got 24 points and six rebounds from University of Oregon-bound Jackson Shelstad, but the other four starters for the Lions combined for just 12 points and the team collectively hit just two of 19 three-point attempts.

It was a perfect scenario for the Wolves, who finished with a 37-21 rebounding advantage, and 26-11 in free-throw attempts.

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Indoor

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.

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