Jesuit topples boys, girls title hurdles

Jean Parker scored 17 points for Jesuit Friday.

Photo by Cliff Pfenning, oregonsports.com

The Jesuit Crusaders won their first girls basketball state title with a late scoring burst and outstanding overall play from first-team all-tournament selections Rachel Mendelsohn and Elizabeth Brenner.

With the game tied at 36, Brenner hit a jump shot and later added a free throw and Mendelsohn hit three free throws for the Crusaders' remaining points. Clackamas, which trailed by 13 at halftime, had two shots to tie in the final 10 seconds, but missed both.

Brenner finished with 17 points, while Mendelsohn added 15.

Jen Reese had 10 points and seven rebounds for Clackamas, which was also seeking its first title.

JESUIT 60, WESTVIEW 46

The Crusaders rallied from a halftime deficit with 41 second-half points and easily won their third straight boys title, becoming the first school to win three straight boys titles at the highest classification.

Four Jesuit players reached double figures led by Jordan Akwenuke with 14 points. Kyle Wiltjer added 13 points and five rebounds.

Austin Kuemper led Westview with 15 points and seven rebounds. The Wildcats, seeking their first title, lost to Jesuit in the final last year as well.

JESUIT FRIDAY

Top-ranked Jesuit avoided the pressure of an anticipated dogfight with Oregon City by shooting its way to a solid 72-61 win in the semifinals of the Class 6A girls basketball state tournament Friday at the Rose Garden.

Elizabeth Brenner made 7-of-8 shots from the field and scored 23 points, Jean Parker hit four 3-point shots and the Crusaders made 21 of 36 free throws to reach the final for the fourth time.

Jesuit will attempt to win its first title Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Aly Holterhoff led Oregon City with 17 points.

THURSDAY

A day after the top-ranked boys basketball team from Jesuit pounded Roseburg of the Southern Oregon Conference, the girls basketball team from Jesuit pounded South Medford of the Southern Oregon Conference to join the boys in the semifinals of the Class 6A state tournament at the Rose Garden.

Jesuit beat South 57-35 to advance to the semis for the second straight year.

The Crusaers will play in the semifinals Friday at 1:30 p.m., with the Jesuit boys playing their semifinal with Central Catholic in the following game tentatively set to start at 3:15 p.m.