Springfield coming of age at 5A girls basketball state tournament, takes down Putnam in semifinal; Millers to face No. 9 Crescent Valley for championship after Raiders knock off Ridgeview

By Bob Lundeberg | Photo by Leon Neuschwander 

Joe Williamson and the Springfield girls basketball program expected to end their season at the 5A state tournament.

The second-year head coach knew his underclassmen-heavy roster had the talent to reach Gill Coliseum, but Williamson figured the team was probably a year away from making a true championship push. 

The veteran coach has never been happier to be wrong.

For the second time in two nights, the seventh-seeded Millers showcased their defensive prowess, this time taking down No. 11 Putnam, 41-34, in a 5A state tournament semifinal.

Springfield will face another youth-led team — No. 9 Crescent Valley — in Saturday night’s final. Tipoff is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. at Gill Coliseum. 

“We’re in (the locker room) and I’m just thinking, ‘Man, we’re a year ahead of schedule,’” said Williamson, whose previous coaching stops include Corvallis, Lake Oswego and Lebanon. “Which is great; let’s just do it now.” 

The Millers won back-to-back titles in 2011-12 with Mercedes Russell and have made four other final appearances, most recently in 2019.

Williamson added: “They have that bracket up there (in our gym) with the state championship banner and we’re like, ‘That’s our goal. Let’s just go do it and get another bracket up in the gym.’ But Crescent Valley is going to make it (tough). They’re a good team.” 

After holding Silverton to 20 points on 5-of-41 shooting in the quarterfinals, Springfield (21-7) turned in another strong defensive performance against Putnam (20-7).

The Kingsmen shot 1 of 13 in the opening quarter and finished 14 of 53 overall (2 of 26 on three-pointers). Springfield began the game in a 1-3-1 zone, switched to a 2-3 for the bulk of play and returned to the 1-3-1 late for a stop on a key possession. 

“We just watch film and we study the teams and see how they play,” sophomore guard Danaeja Romero-Ah Sam said of Springfield’s defensive tactics. “They are obviously going to see their open shots, but today we shut down (Maddie Olma) from getting her open shots.”

Olma still finished with 16 points and seven rebounds but was just 2 of 12 from long range (7 of 16 overall). Sharpshooter Emma McDonald, who torched Crook County for 18 points in the quarterfinals, was 0 of 8 from three-point land Friday.

“It was a tough battle,” Putnam head coach Max d’Auvergne said. “We weren’t hitting shots like we were yesterday, so we were looking for other ways to score, getting some midrange jumpers. We finally started to get some momentum there in the third, but it wasn’t quite enough to claw out.” 

Romero-Ah Sam opened the second half with a three-pointer to put the Millers up double figures at 20-9, but Putnam found its offensive footing in the third quarter. Olma knocked down a three-pointer and then fired a baseball pass to Riley Greenleaf for a fast-break layup to make it 30-25 heading to the fourth. 

The Kingsmen twice cut the deficit to three in the final period, but Springfield made 6 of its last 8 free throws to close it out. Romero-Ah Sam went 3 of 4 at the line late and led the Millers with 16 points, six rebounds, four assists and two steals. 

“I have to remember, and people who watch have to remember, that she’s just a sophomore who is dealing with all of that on her shoulders,” Williamson said. “Early in the season, there were a lot of games where we had some learning lessons. We had Crater down both times in the fourth quarter and gave it away with some turnovers. We had Willamette beat at home and had some turnovers. So, I think what we’ve seen this tournament is growth from her and our whole team; we’re not just giving the ball back and giving it away. 

“What you saw tonight is not what you would’ve seen the first month of the season. She’s pretty unflappable.” 

Freshman Juju Henderson tallied 14 points and eight rebounds for Springfield, and junior Alexi Morgan added seven points, four rebounds, four blocks and three steals.

Rylee Lemen (seven points, nine rebounds) and Greenleaf (six points, eight rebounds, three blocks) had strong nights for the Kingsmen, who will take on Ridgeview at 6:45 p.m. Saturday in the tournament’s third-place game. Putnam hasn’t placed third since 1981. 

“We want to end the season on a win,” d’Auvergne said. “This is a resilient group, so I’m sure they’re going to come back super hard tomorrow and finish out the way we want to.”

The Millers will get a chance to avenge a 54-46 late-December loss at Crescent Valley.

“We just all had a bad game that day,” Romero-Ah Sam said. “I definitely feel like we’re ready for this.”

In the first semifinal, Crescent Valley pulled away from fourth-seeded Ridgeview late to earn its first state final berth since 1995.

The Raiders outscored the Panthers 18-4 in the fourth quarter en route to a 51-34 victory.

Junior guard Gabby Bland had 23 points, three assists and three rebounds for Crescent Valley (21-7), and freshman center Taelyn Bentley added 14 points, nine boards and three blocks. The Raiders were 4 of 7 from three-point range and made all 13 free throws.

Crescent Valley won its lone state title in 1978.

Kyrah Daniels, a junior forward, had 12 points, three rebounds and six assists to lead the Ravens (20-7), who were 0 of 8 from long range and 4 of 9 from the line.