‘Not a lot of people get this opportunity.’ Oregon girls savor the moment, put up valiant fight against loaded Washington roster at WAVOR all-star game
By René Ferrán | Photo by Ken Waz
With all the changes that took place for this year’s 26th edition of the WAVOR Games, one thing remained the same.
Washington’s all-stars are pretty darn good.
That was no shock to the 11 girls who comprised the Oregon roster for Sunday’s all-star game pitting the state’s best seniors against their crossriver rivals at Liberty High School in Hillsboro.
They knew the Washington team, as usual, was stacked — featuring seven Division I signees, including SBLive Washington state player of the year Tatum Thompson of Woodinville, headed to Boise State after leading the Falcons to the 4A state title.
The Oregonians were no slouches, with four D-1 signees of their own. And for 18 minutes, they more than held their own, but in the end, they suffered their fifth consecutive loss in the series, falling 126-91.
“I mean, obviously, they have a lot of high-level D1 players, super-athletic and tall, and they made some really good shots, some really tough shots,” said Wells guard Charlotte Richman, an Army West Point commit who had nine points.
MORE: Photos from Sunday's game
Washington has won 11 of the past 13 games and enjoys a 17-9 advantage all-time in the series, which resumed after a two-year hiatus with a new name (it was previously known as the Northwest Shootout) and new sponsors (the Sport Oregon Foundation and the Maurice Lucas Foundation).
But the final score was hardly the point of Sunday’s game.
“I just felt really honored to play in this game,” said Mountainside post Lindsey Wilson, who had 10 points and four rebounds. “Not a lot of people get this opportunity, and it felt really special that I was able to get the opportunity for everyone who got me to this place — my coaches, my teammates. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”
The weekend became a family reunion of sorts, as long-lost club teammates gathered for one last weekend of high school ball.
“I played with every single girl on that team at some point since middle school, so it was kind of fun to just get to reunite with them and play one last time before we head off to college,” said Philomath guard Sage Kramer, who led the Oregon All-Stars with 20 points and six rebounds. “I was running around and saying hi to everyone, catching up with them.”
Richman found out about her selection just days after her Guardians lost to Barlow in the first round of the Class 6A playoffs. It was bittersweet news at the time, “but it was nice to hear that I was going to get to play again,” she said. “I liked being part of a team with so many of my old club teammates, to just have fun and play together to end on a high note for my high school career.”
They held an informal practice Saturday, with more of the time spent handing out gear and holding shooting competitions than forming a game plan.
“We were just trying to have the most fun with it as we could,” said Milwaukie guard Cali Denson. “It would have been nice to win, but you know, you don’t always win. We knew they would be really good competition from playing with them and against them in the past, so we already knew what they would bring to the table.”
And yet, with two minutes left in the first half, Cottage Grove’s Gracie Arnold converted a layup that drew Oregon within 53-47, overcoming Washington’s blazing start in which it made 11 of its first 13 shots and built a double-digit lead.
Washington ended the half on a 9-2 run to push the lead to 62-49. The lead never fell below 12 again, the last time at 74-62 on Wilson’s layup with 16:17 to play. Washington then went on a 17-0 run to blow the game open.
Washington shot 55 percent from the field and had seven players in double figures, led by Washington State signee Kyra Gardner with 24 points. Game MVP Lauren Glazier of Mount Si, who will join Gardner at WSU in the fall, added 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists.
“They wouldn’t miss a shot,” Kramer said. “Just like that, it was all of a sudden a 30-point game. They hit some amazing shots. I was really impressed by them, and I’m excited to see how they do in college.”
Washington 126, Oregon 91
WASHINGTON — Kyra Gardner 24, Lauren Glazier 20, Veronica Sheffey 12, Tatum Thompson 17, Meagan Karstetter 4, Keira Marsh 9, Natalie Sumrok 2, Ella Gallatin 11, Libby Stump 13, Camille Jentzsch 14. Totals 52-94 12-16 126.
OREGON — Sage Kramer 20, Reese Erickson 11, Lindsey Wilson 10, Brooklyn Strandy 6, Sarah Lamet 8, Charlotte Richman 9, Abby Graham 7, Elka Prechtel 9, Gracia Arnold 4, Cali Denson 7, Alison Kantor 0. Totals 31-80 13-16 91.
Halftime—Washington 62, Oregon 49. Three-point goals— Washington 10-29 (Gardner 4, Glazier 2, Thompson, Marsh, Gallatin, Stump), Oregon 16-42 (Erickson 3, Richman 3, Prechtel 3, Lament 2, Strandy 2, Denson, Graham, Kramer). Rebounds—Washington 56 (Glazier 9, Gardner 8), Oregon 39 (Kramer 6, Arnold 6). Assists—Washington 37 (Sheffey 9, Stump 7), Oregon 20 (Erickson 9). Turnovers—Washington 9, Oregon 18. Fouls—Washington 14, Oregon 10.
