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Grant and Jefferson boys, Benson girls chase titles at state basketball tournaments
3/5/2019A boys basketball rivalry that has been a high point of not just the Portland Interscholastic League, but statewide, for three years comes to a conclusion Wednesday on the opening day of the Class 6A state tournament at the Chiles Center. Jefferson and Grant will play at 6:30 p.m. in the opening round.
Boys tournament play starts Wednesday, and the girls tournament – which includes PIL champion Benson – opens Thursday at the University of Portland’s arena.
Grant and Jefferson, both led by key seniors who have been in their programs for three or four years, will play for the third time this season after splitting their league games. On Jan. 5, Grant won 83-82 at its home gym, Marshall High School, as senior Aaron Deloney scored 30 points and made a free throw with 6.9 seconds remaining for the Generals.
The Democrats avenged the defeat on Jan. 31 with a 73-66 home win in which they overcame a seven-point third-quarter deficit behind senior Trevon Richmond, who scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half. Jefferson and Grant shared the PIL title.
The two teams will meet for the 11th time in three years, and the third year in a row in the state tournament. Jefferson won all four meetings in 2016-17, then won the first three by close margins in 2017-18, but Grant won the final meeting, in the 6A final, 63-62, to capture its fifth state championship.
Girls basketball: Benson, which last year made the state tournament for the first time since 1996, will return to the Chiles Center after comfortably winning its two 6A playoff games last week, defeating Lakeridge 79-44 and beating Century 88-46. The Techsters, who won the PIL title by going 16-0 in league games, open the state tournament Thursday at 6:30 p.m. against Jesuit.
Last year, Benson reached the championship game, where it lost to Southridge 46-27. Techsters could meet the two-time defending champion Skyhawks in the championship game again, and for the second time this season, if they can win their opening two games. Southridge beat Benson 55-50 in a tight game at Pacific Office Automation Holiday Classic on Dec. 29.
All-City teams announced: The PIL announced its all-league basketball teams, as selected by a ballot of coaches. For the boys, Grant’s Deloney was voted Player of the Year, and Franklin’s Scott Aker the Coach of the Year. On the girls side, Benson senior Ciera Ellington was voted Player of the Year, and Wilson’s Anthony Levrets the Coach of the Year.
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