Benson moves PIL forward

Benson's girls talk during the first half of Wednesday's win.

Photo by Cliff Pfenning, Oregonsports.com

PORTLAND - In a tight game from start to finish, Benson sophomore Tayler Lyday got a crucial steal with 16 seconds left and finished the scoring with a pair of free throws to boost Benson to a 32-28 victory over No. 2 Tigard Wednesday in the Class 6A girls basketball state tournament at the Chiles Center.

The win moved the Portland Interscholatic League champions to the semifinals and a game against No. 3 Beaverton - the second consecutive year a team from the PIL has reached the semifinals.

A team from the league has not won the title since 1982 and has not played in the final since 1991.

Lyday finished with 15 points - nine at the free-throw line, 10 rebounds and three steals.

Delaney Leavitt led Tigard with 10 points. The Tigers hit just 11 of 21 free throws.

CLASS 6A GIRLS

No. 1 Southridge trailed by 10 points in the first quarter and was tied at 27-all late in the third quarter, but dominated the fourth quarter and beat No. 9 Clackamas 57-42.

No. 4 West Linn beat No. 5 North Medford 42-32, and Beaverton handled No. 6 Sheldon 60-45.

CLASS 5A BOYS

Eighth-seeded Churchill edged No. 1 Silverton 53-51 in the biggest upset of the quarterfinals so far.

No. 4 Wilsonville beat Springfield 67-51, No. 3 Thurston advanced with a 70-58 win over Mountain View, and No. 2 Crater beat South Albany 65-54.