‘We’re just playing basketball.’ Freshmen help lead girls basketball renaissance at Jefferson as Democrats trounce Bend for 1st playoff win since 2010
By Alex Tam | Photos by Leon Neuschwander
PORTLAND — The Jefferson Democrats have heard all the talk about them. They know how young they are every time they step on the court.
Four freshmen, plus one sophomore, in the starting lineup. Seven freshmen on the roster.
While one might expect a lot of growing pains and expectations of being one or two years away, don’t tell the Democrats any of that.
“Instead of getting mad at people saying we’re just freshmen, we take it into the game (to prove something),” Jefferson freshman Abrianna Lawrence said. “So, it don’t matter how old we are; we’re just playing basketball.”
Jefferson dominated from start to finish en route to a 54-20 victory over Bend on Wednesday in the first round of the OSAA Class 6A girls basketball state playoffs at Jefferson High School.
More than just any win, it was a monumental sign of how far the Democrats have come. Two years ago, the program had a 2-22 record and went winless in 16 league games. Eleven years had passed since Jefferson last played a state playoff game.
The win marked the Democrats’ first playoff triumph since the 2010 squad won the Class 5A state championship — back when the current freshmen were around 2 years old.
“It’s exciting and it’s history,” Lawrence said.
Jefferson coach Andre Lawrence called it a “wonderful” thing to see the program return to winning in the postseason for the first time in 12 years.
“The program back then had great players, had great coaches,” Lawrence said. “We took a little dip, a little dive. No one focused on the program, but I'm happy that all eyes are on these young ladies. They deserve it. The ladies deserve some focus, and for it to be women’s history month right now and the girls to be successful, it’s a beautiful thing.”
There’s also a little extra incentive for the players to chase their goal of a state championship. The trophy is nice, but Abrianna Lawrence joked that there’s a bit more at stake, too.
“Every step we take, we say it’s the next step to Disneyland,” she said, smiling. “So, if we win state, we’re going to Disneyland.”
If the Democrats play like they did Wednesday, that trip to the happiest place on Earth could be coming sooner than later.
The 20 points allowed were the fewest to an opponent all season and marked their third consecutive game giving up fewer than 30 points. They forced 27 turnovers. They held Bend to two points in each of the second and fourth quarters, and they limited the Lava Bears to 21.9 percent shooting (7 of 32).
“It feels good because we’ve been putting in all the hard work to get to where we are now,” said Jefferson freshman Charisma Johnson, who scored a team-high 16 points. “And all that hard work is paying off.”
Sophomore Brooklyn Chatman scored 12 points, freshman Chauncy Andersen added nine points, and Abrianna Lawrence had eight.
The Democrats held a 28-8 lead at halftime, and things continued to snowball as they extended the advantage to 43-18 through three quarters. The margin grew to 35 points late in the game.
Bend coach Allison Gardner knew her team had a big challenge.
“They are super athletic,” Gardner said. “They do a great job taking you out of what you want to do. We watched film and we knew what we were coming into. So, we hoped to have played better than we did, but they’re great athletes and outhustle you to everything, so I commend them. They did a great job.”
Senior Peyton Gardner led the Lava Bears with nine points. Sophomore Chloe LeLuge and senior Ellie Kowalski each had four points.
It was the final high school game for three Bend seniors: Gardner, Kowalski and Lena Zahniser. The Lava Bears finished with a 14-9 record.
“(The seniors) have been playing together since they were in third grade,” Allison Gardner said. “Bend’s not a really big town, so they’ve been on the same team and committed to this program for so many years.
“They’re going to go on and do wonderful things in college, so the years they gave us meant a huge deal. They set the tone for the younger kids, and I appreciate that so much as a coach.”
For the Democrats, time will tell how far they go this season. But the next three years will be ones to watch from a current freshman group consisting of Lawrence, Charisma Johnson, Keymorah Johnson, Carmela Nunez, Lelia Nunez, Sekora Richey and Chancy Andersen.
That core has played together since fifth grade and created a true family atmosphere within the program.
“Our families love each other, parents love each other,” Andre Lawrence said. “Like, we don’t have any bad seeds. Everybody loves everybody. No one cares if they don’t get off the bench or they don’t get shots. They don't care.”
The Democrats have won nine in a row and next face PIL rival Benson in the second round Saturday with a state tournament berth at the Chiles Center on the line.
“It feels refreshing,” Andre Lawrence said. “It feels really good for them because they put in a lot of hard work. From fifth grade on until now, they’ve put in a lot of work and I demand a lot from them. For them to make it this far, it’s a hell of a feeling.”
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Jefferson 54, Bend 20
Bend -- 6 -- 2 -- 10 -- 2 — 20
Jefferson -- 11 -- 17 -- 15 -- 11 — 54
Bend — Peyton Gardner 9, LeLuge 4, Kowalski 4, Spikerman 2, Zahniser 1, Karpstein, Nye, Cook, Pendergast, Vanderford
Jefferson — Charisma Johnson 16, Brooklyn Chatman 12, Andersen 9, Lawrence 8, Nunez 5, Webb 4, Jones, Richey, Dunn, K. Johnson
Field goals: Bend 7-32 (.219), Jefferson 21-52 (.404). Free throws: Bend 3-8 (.375), Jefferson 6-12 (.500). Rebounds: Bend 20, Jefferson 30. Turnovers: Bend 27, Jefferson 12.
