Jefferson storms back to beat West Linn in Oregon (OSAA) high school girls basketball 6A quarterfinal

The top-seeded Jefferson Democrats face the ninth-seeded West Linn Lions at the Oregon (OSAA) high school girls basketball 6A state tournament

Jefferson faces West Linn in a 6A girls basketball state quarterfinal Wednesday at the University of Portland. / Naji Saker

The top-seeded Jefferson Democrats face the ninth-seeded West Linn Lions in an Oregon (OSAA) high school girls basketball 6A state tournament quarterfinal Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at the University of Portland's Chiles Center.

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Players to watch for Jefferson

Abrianna Lawrence, Jefferson, senior

The Democrats’ star point guard and PIL player of the year is the straw that stirs the drink at the North Portland school, averaging 12 points and nearly 10 assists per game for an offense that averages 74 points per game.

Charisma Johnson, Jefferson, senior

Johnson’s contributions — 11 points per game and tenacious defense for a team that allows just 35.7 points per game — netted her all-PIL honorable mention and don’t go unnoticed by her teammates.

Chauncey Andersen, Jefferson, senior 

The UC Santa Barbara commit leads the high-powered Democrats attack, scoring 23 points per game in earning first-team all-PIL honors.

Lelia Nunez, Jefferson, senior

Nunez committed to Long Island University in the fall and averaged 10 points per game in making the all-PIL first team. 

Players to watch for West Linn

Ayla Arnold, West Linn, junior

Arnold was a first-team all-Three Rivers League selection who averaged 7.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.2 assists per game.

Brie Balensifer, West Linn, freshman

Balensifer chipped in 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game in her first high school season, earning second-team all-Three Rivers League recognition.

Kaylor Buse, West Linn, sophomore

Buse won defensive player of the year honors in the Three Rivers League, leading the Lions in steals (3.6) and blocked shots (1.3) while averaging 15.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

Reese Jordan, West Linn, junior

The Three Rivers League player of the year led the Lions in scoring (16.4), rebounding (6.1) and assists (4.5) while getting 3.4 steals per game. 

First quarter

West Linn starting five: Ayla Arnold, Sophie Maxwell, Reese Jordan, Kaylor Buse, Brielle Balensifer

Jefferson starting five: Leila Nunez, Chauncey Andersen, Carmela Nunez, Abrianna Lawrence, Charisma Johnson

First basket of the game is a fast-break layup by West Linn's Ayla Arnold. Lions lead 2-0.

Jefferson's Charisma Johnson with a steal and layup, and West Linn calls the first timeout. Jefferson leads 9-4, 4:07 first quarter.

Reese Jordan knocks down a 3-pointer for West Linn to tie the score, and Brielle Balensifer sinks a jumper to give Lions an 11-9 lead. West Linn on a 7-0 run since the timeout.

West Linn 13, Jefferson 10, end of first quarter. Kaylor Buse has six points and six rebounds for Lions. Abrianna Lawrence has four points for Democrats.

Second quarter

Quarter starts with a West Linn basket by Ayla Arnold, a Lions steal, and then a basket by West Linn's Reese Jordan. Lions lead 17-10.

Kinley Buse with a 3-point play for West Linn, and the Lions lead 24-14 with 3:29 left in the half.

Abrianna Lawrence 3-pointer caps a 7-0 run for Jefferson, and the Democrats needed that. Now a basket by Charisma Johnson, and it's a 9-0 run. West Linn leads 28-23, late second quarter.

West Linn 30, Jefferson 23, end of second quarter. Kaylor Buse has game highs of 12 points and eight rebounds for West Linn. Chauncey Andersen leads Jefferson with nine points and seven rebounds. West Linn shooting 41 percent from the field; Jefferson shooting 28 percent.

Third quarter

West Linn leads 32-27, 4:45 third quarter. Chauncey Andersen up to 12 points for Jefferson.

Carmela Nunez with a corner 3-pointer for Jefferson — and she was fouled. It's a 4-point play, and Jefferson is within one, 32-31.

Abrianna Lawrence gives Jefferson its first lead since the first quarter. What a turnaround for Democrats, who trailed by 14. It's now Jefferson 33, West Linn 32, 3:33 third quarter.

A quick 4-0 run puts West Linn back on top, 36-33.

Two free throws by Abrianna Lawrence put Jefferson back on top, 40-38. Those came right after she stole an inbound pass and was fouled. There's 1:27 left in the third quarter.

Chauncey Andersen sinks a buzzer-beating jumper to end the quarter. She has 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Jefferson has a 43-40 lead. It's shaping up for a great finish.

Fourth quarter

Charisma Johnson scores and she's fouled, and the Jefferson fans are going wild. She misses the free throw, though. Democrats lead 47-42. They trailed by 14 in the first half.

Abrianna Lawrence gets a friendly bounce on a 3-pointer, and Jefferson leads 50-42.

Kyla Buse 3-point play for West Linn, which trails 50-46, 5:35 left.

Abrianna Lawrence is feeling it! Another 3-pointer. Jefferson up 55-48. Abrianna has a game-high 22 points.

Two free throws by Chauncey Andersen extend the Jefferson lead to 57-48. Andersen has 20 points.

West Linn not going away. A quick 4-0 run brings Lions within five at 57-52.

Piper Beall converts a nifty reverse layup to pull West Linn within five again at 61-56. About a minute to go.

FINAL SCORE: Jefferson 62, West Linn 58. Democrats erase a 14-point deficit. Abrianna Lawrence and Chauncey Andersen put up 22 points apiece for Jefferson. Kaylor Buse 19 points for Lions.

BOX SCORE

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