KLAMATH FALLS — There will be a new state champion this year in 4A girls basketball. Sutherlin’s run of four-straight state championships came to an end Friday night when the Bulldogs lost a play-in game to Mazama 56-34 to eliminate them from post season play.
The loss broke a 17-game post season winning streak for Sutherlin that started in March of 2013 when they defeated La Grande for third place. The Lady Bulldogs then went unbeaten two straight seasons and won four straight state titles from 2014-2017.
Sutherlin led early in Friday’s game, but 5-foot-11 senior Landy Williams was able to grab easy offensive rebounds and drain put-backs over the much shorter Bulldogs to score 13 in the first period. Williams finished with 15 points to lead the Vikings and J’Enai Hall and Aspen Smith added 13 each.
Mazama (18-5, 8-2 Skyline) stretched its advantage to 15 points at the half and the Bulldogs could never get a run going.
Sophomore Kiersten Haines and freshman Paige Bailey each had eight to lead Sutherlin (11-14, 6-4 Sky-Em).
The Bulldogs lose five seniors including all-stater Harlee Baker, who was injured in December and missed the rest of the season. Also graduating are Kiersten Porter and Taylor Moser.
Moser had been out with a stress fracture on her ankle since mid-January, but was able to play a few minutes Friday night in her last game in a Sutherlin uniform. The Bulldogs also graduate Michala Carpine and Tarn Whelchel.
Looking back at almost a decade of dominance, Sutherlin finished the last seven season with six league titles, two unbeaten seasons, four straight state titles, and a second and third place finish. In those seven seasons the Sutherlin girls were 171-22.
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— 1490 The Score (@KSKRTheScore) October 24, 2024