Jazzy Davidson vs. Mahogany Chandler-Roberts 6A semifinal showdown as good as it gets in Oregon girls basketball

Two superstars of Oregon high school girls basketball took the court Thursday night at the University of Portland’s Chiles Center. 

One looks to burnish her legacy as one of the state’s all-time greats this week.

The other finally gets her turn on the biggest stage to establish her legacy.

And now, Clackamas junior Jazzy Davidson and Benson senior Mahogany Chandler-Roberts will lead their teams Friday night in a semifinal clash at the OSAA Class 6A state tournament, with a spot in Saturday’s final on the line.

The teams met at the POA Holiday Classic in late December, with the Cavaliers pulling out a 69-64 win — their only single-digit victory this season against an in-state opponent.

Friday’s game will have much more at stake — the Cavaliers seeking to defend the state championship they won for the first time in program history last March, while the Techsters look to return to the final for the first time since winning the school’s only title five years ago.

“Tomorrow’s game is going to be a statement game, for sure,” Chandler-Roberts said. “I’m always up for the challenge.” 

Davidson had another bravura performance in the Cavaliers’ 61-34 quarterfinal victory Thursday night against Jesuit, finishing with a game-high 27 points, six rebounds and four blocks.

What was more noteworthy was the defense she played against Crusaders senior post Kendra Hicks, battling with one of the state’s best interior players and holding her to four points on 1-of-5 shooting.

“That just speaks to the versatility that Jazzy has,” said Clackamas coach Korey Landolt. “She’s just an all-around basketball player, and she takes a ton of pride in her defense.” 

It was an area of Davidson’s game she worked on during the summer with her Cal Stars club team.

“This summer was a huge defensive growth season for me, just being able to guard one through five consistently and effectively,” said the 6-foot-1 wing, a two-time Gatorade state player of the year who is No. 2 in ESPN HoopGurlz Super 60 recruiting rankings for the class of 2025.

Davidson first arrived at the Chiles Center two years ago as part of a talented freshman class at Clackamas that teamed with several top juniors to get the Cavaliers back to the state tournament for the first time since 2018.

After placing third that season, the Cavaliers returned last season, hungry to win the program’s first title, and while Davidson was in foul trouble during the championship game, Clackamas pulled out a 56-46 victory over South Medford to take home the blue trophy.

Now, they’re back, looking to join an elite list of girls basketball programs — Hillsboro, Marshall, St. Mary’s Academy, Oregon City, South Salem and Southridge — that have won back-to-back titles. 

“It’s definitely exciting,” Davidson said. “To get back to the Chiles, to be here again and in this environment, knowing it’s tournament time, it’s the best feeling. Our team thrives under pressure. And we definitely want to bring another title back to our school. Our community has been so supportive, and we want to do that for them.

“But, like, in the moment, we’re not really thinking about it. It’s just kind of like, ‘OK, we got this game done. It’s time to move on to the next one.’ And it’s a really hard thing to do, because obviously we do want to win another title.”

While Davidson was wowing the crowds at the state tournament two years ago, Chandler-Roberts came to the Chiles Center on crutches, having suffered an ankle injury during practice the day before the Techsters’ quarterfinal against South Medford, costing her the chance to play in the tournament.

Then, last March, Benson fell short of returning to the tournament, falling to Barlow in the Round of 16.

Thus, Thursday’s 51-30 quarterfinal victory over Grants Pass marked her Chiles Center debut, and the University of Central Florida signee acknowledged feeling the nerves.

“I tried not to put pressure on myself, but I know I do have pressure, just from the community to make it because that’s what’s expected,” Chandler-Roberts said.

“I wasn’t able to play two years ago, and I think that really ruined me so much. I was just mentally kind of down, because I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m not going to be there for my team. This is one of the biggest moments of my high school career, and I’m sitting on the bench watching,’ so it was very hard for me.

“But I knew eventually my time was going to come, and this is my time.” 

Techsters coach Eric Knox acknowledges her sophomore injury and the team’s ouster before the tournament last year limited Chandler-Roberts’ exposure on the state’s landscape.

“But you want me to keep it 100%? I think girls in the city, especially Black girls in the city, get overlooked,” he explained. “I think there’s been so much buzz around the Donovyn Hunters, the Jazzy Davidsons, and they’re great players in their own right. But what gets lost is the greatness of a kid that comes from the city.

“At the end of the day, you know, we understand that we represent a community that is under-represented, and she represents a community that doesn’t get the clicks like the other kids do. Mahogany’s underappreciated, but we know who she is. And I think she’s putting it all together.”

On consecutive possessions in the third quarter Thursday, Chandler-Roberts showed off the complete game Knox raved about. On one, the 6-foot-2 post pinned her defender on the right block for an easy layup. The next, she floated to the left baseline and swished a 15-foot jumper. 

Finally, she collected a pass in the left block, then kicked out of the double team to a wide-open Mauriana Hashemian-Orr for a three-pointer that pushed the lead to 42-22 with a minute remaining.

She exited after hitting two free throws with 58.9 seconds left, putting a bow on a stellar state tournament debut — 20 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and a commemorative coin as the Techsters’ player of the game.

And Knox thinks it’s just the beginning for Chandler-Roberts — recently named PIL player of the year for the third time — this weekend.

“I think she’s going to have a great tournament,” he said. “I think she’s making a case to be player of the year, not just in the (PIL) but in the state. She’s my girl. I love her.”

Tournament preview | Players to watch | Top storylines | Our predictions | Bracket

COMPLETE PLAYOFF COVERAGE

Photos by Naji Saker