By Jeremy Mcdonald

Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

TURNER, Ore.– With 3.3 seconds left in the game and walking to the line, Perrydale’s Elena Porter had the pressure on her to execute.  Crosshill Christian had just turned an 31-20 deficit to a awfully close 39-37 game.

In a must-game for both teams looking for  third-place going into the Casco League District Playoffs, the game was physical.  Defense created opportunities, but neither could put that exclamation point on a run until the Pirates third quarter answer.  Only to see Crosshill Christian surge back.

“We knew at the beginning of the game…we had a mindset that we can’t lose this game. We can’t lose it and by halftime it was like ‘oh wow, we’re in this and we got this’ and we got into it,” Crosshill’s Allie Rowzee said. “We just got into it.”

Rowzee scored all seven of her points int the fourth quarter.  Skylar Schaffield led the Eagles with 19.

For a stretch after one of Rowzee’s two three’s that cut the deficit to 33-30, between the 7:15 and 5:10 mark, both squads went on an intense drought that was only snapped when Porter scored two-straight baskets to push their lead to 37-30.  Of the seven Pirates points in the fourth, Porter owned five of them with Jayel Meyer scoring the other two with Perrydale once more turning to their defense to spark the short-lived run.

“Oh it was awesome Ellie (Vincent) and Ivy (Janesofsky) with the Triangle-and-two was really helpful and won us the game,” Elana Porter said. “We needed to win and hopefully move forward in districts. We knew that going into this and played our hardest.”

Once more Crosshill answered.  A 7-2 run had them knocking on the lead.  Rowzee had a cruical steal with 22 seconds left down 39-37, but couldn’t capitalize on the possession with Porter going to the line with three seconds left moments later.

She splits the two free throws to ice the 40-37 win.

“I knew I needed to make one because they’ll needed a three and luckily I got one, but I was hoping for two,” laughed Porter. “

Porter finished with a game-high 22 points as they travel to North Clackamas Christian Monday before finishing Casc9 League play Tuesday versus C.S. Lewis/Veritas.  

The Eagles are at Oregon School For The Deaf Tuesday for a non-league matchup.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald