5A girls basketball state championship game ... in the quarterfinals? Crater ousts champion Springfield in battle of superpowers
McMINNVILLE — On paper, Thursday’s main event between Crater and Springfield appeared more like a championship game than a quarterfinal.
The second-seeded Comets hadn’t lost since Dec. 9 and entered with notable victories over 5A tournament teams Redmond, Corvallis and Springfield (twice). No. 7 Springfield — the defending state champion — pushed Crater to the brink in the second meeting and proved it could defeat tournament-caliber teams by banking wins against Silverton and Jesuit.
A quarterfinal matchup between the two Midwestern League powers felt a round or two early, but the third showdown of the season was bound to happen at some point during the 5A state tournament. And just like the previous two, Crater rode its frantic, full-court playstyle to victory at Ted Wilson Gymnasium.
The Comets recorded 20 steals and held Springfield to 13 field goals, pulling away for a 55-39 quarterfinal victory.
“To have a matchup like that in the first round, wow,” Crater head coach Scott Dippel said. “Very well-coached, fantastic players. Not to take anything away from what we did tonight, but Springfield played hard, they played great, and they’ve got tough, tough players. I think we executed a game plan really well and made some really good adjustments.”
The Millers (18-9) defeated Crater (25-1) three times a season ago en route to the program’s first state title since 2012. With all five starters back, the Comets were eager to return the favor.
“This was a really important game to us,” Crater junior guard Sage Winslow said. “These are our biggest rivals, and this just means everything to us because it really shows how mature we’ve gotten since last year. They beat us three times last year, and we were able to get the third win when it mattered the most. So, this really was a huge game for us, but we need to go and finish the rest.”
Winslow almost recorded a triple-double, shaking off a slow offensive start to finish with 14 points, eight rebounds, eight steals and four assists. Her older sister — Abigail Winslow — added 17 points and six steals, and center Lydia Traore came up big with 12 points, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks.
“Abby’s play in the first half and Sage’s play in the second half really anchored us on the offensive end,” Dippel said. “I think we schemed really well defensively. We were able to vary pressure, and they were pretty disciplined in it.”
Both attacking defenses were dialed in from the opening tip.
Springfield turned it over six times before attempting a shot, and the Comets started 0 for 13 from the field. Samantha Gish, a Crater reserve, hit a buzzer-beating jumper to make it a 5-5 tie after a hectic first period with 21 combined turnovers and two field goals.
“That first quarter was rough; that’s probably the worst we’ve ever played against them,” Sage Winslow said. “For us, it was about staying together as a team. The game was so up and down, it was a rollercoaster, and we were able to stay together. … None of these teams have the chemistry we do, in my opinion.”
Crater finally knocked the lid off the rim in the second, getting two 3-pointers by Abigail Winslow and another from Gish for a 16-8 lead.
With Sage Winslow, Addison Dippel and Traore sitting out portions of the second quarter because of foul trouble, the Comets cruised to the locker room up 26-15.
“Like we have all year, we got some really big contributions from kids coming off the bench,” coach Dippel said. “Sam Gish hit two big shots when we needed them the most, and I think the engagement of everybody was fantastic.”
Springfield got within five at 30-25 on Diamond Wright's transition layup, but Sage Winslow answered with a big 3-pointer to end the rally. Crater led 37-30 after three quarters and was never seriously threatened in the fourth.
Millers senior guard Danaeja Romero-Ah Sam, the reigning two-time 5A player of the year, faced near-constant traps and double teams and was held to 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and three steals. Crater summoned wave after wave of pressure upon Romero-Ah Sam, who did the best she could under the assault.
“We really focus on defense, anticipation and going for the passes,” Sage Winslow said. “Our defensive intensity is what fires our offense, and just playing as a team and pushing the ball. A lot of these teams are more into half-court sets, but we’re not like that. We’re trying to push the ball and get as many steals as we can.”
When asked to describe his team’s style of play, coach Dippel said “a little bit frenzied” with a smile.
“There’s a method to the madness, but it is very frenzied at times,” he added. “That pace, along with how you vary the pressure and where you put the pressure, is very difficult for teams to deal with.”
It certainly was for the Millers, who have faced Crater more than anyone the past two seasons.
“We know each other as teams so well,” Sage Winslow said. “But it worked out, and we did great.”
Earlier in the day, No. 6 South Albany advanced to the state semifinals for the first time with a 48-38 victory over Mid-Willamette Conference rival Corvallis.
Sophomore Taylor Donaldson controlled the action at both ends of the court with 17 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Maddie Angel added 11 points and six rebounds for the RedHawks (21-6), who improved to 3-0 against Corvallis (21-6) this season.
Marlee Hammer led the sixth-seeded Spartans with 13 points and five rebounds.
Crater and South Albany will face off at 8:15 p.m. Friday for a championship game berth.
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Photos by Leon Neuschwander
