PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Cierra Walker and Jessica Gertz scored 18 points each and Oregon City rolled to a 67-44 win over Tigard in the OSAA Class 6A girls basketball quarterfinals Wednesday night.
Toria Bradford scored 15 points for the Pioneers, who advance Friday’s semifinals against Westview at the Moda Center. The Wildcats (22-5) defeated St. Mary’s Academy 59-49 earlier Wednesday.
South Medford beat South Salem 46-35 and Beaverton downed Clackamas 40-26 to set up the other semifinal.
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The defense of Oregon City (20-6) took a toll on Tigard by forcing 21 turnovers. The Pioneers shot 24 of 49 from the floor.
Lexi Carter led Tigard (21-6) with 16 points.
Oregon City started fast and didn’t let up until the game was secure early in the second half. The Pioneers ran off nine consecutive points midway through the first quarter for a 15-6 lead. Bradford’s 3-pointer early in the second quarter triggered a 10-0 run, allowing the Pioneers to increase their lead to 32-12 with three minutes remaining in the half.
Oregon City’s largest lead was 25 points.
Jaime Nared had 33 points and 14 rebounds for Westview (22-5). The Tennessee-bound senior shook off a slow start to hit 11 of 25 shots. Ashley Scoggins added 13 points for the Wildcats.
Cece Wooten led St. Mary’s (22-5) with 19 points.
The Blues started strong, leading 16-9 early in the second quarter. But Nared, who had only two points in the first quarter, helped fuel a 10-0 run to give Westview the lead. The Wildcats led 23-19 at halftime.
Ashley Bolston scored 19 points and Keyari Sleezer added 18 for South Medford (25-3), which is attempting to reach its third consecutive state championship game. The Panthers won the 6A state title in 2012.
Bolston, who has signed at Washington State, hit 6-of-8 shots from the floor and grabbed six rebounds for the Panthers. South Medford’s aggressive defense forced 18 South Salem turnovers.
Evina Westbrook had nine points to lead South Salem (22-6).
South Medford led throughout most of the game, but didn’t take control until late in the second quarter. Leading 18-17 during the final minute of the first half, the Panthers went on a 9-0 run into the third quarter to establish a 10-point lead.
South Salem didn’t get closer than six points the remainder of the game.
Danielle Hartzog scored 13 points and Alyssa Christianson added nine points and five rebounds for the Beavers (21-6), who lost two games by double-digit margins to Clackamas during the regular season.
Beaverton’s defense was the difference Wednesday, as Clackamas (21-6) had 18 turnovers and made only 8 of 29 field goal attempts.
Erica Pagano had nine points and eight rebounds to lead Clackamas.
Beaverton got off to a fast start, leading by as many as 10 points early in the second quarter. Clackamas cut a 19-12 halftime deficit to four points early in the third quarter on a free throw by Pagano, but the Cavaliers could get no closer.
The Beavers pulled away as Hartzog scored four points during an 8-2 run to start the fourth quarter.
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