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REDEMPTION: Stifling defense, Romero-Ah Sam take down familiar foe Crescent Valley
CORVALLIS – The Springfield High School girls basketball team wasn’t surprised to find itself facing Crescent Valley in the 5A state championship game – the same matchup as last year. In fact, the Millers were driven all season by a sense of revenge.
Top-ranked Springfield, which completed its conference schedule without a loss, used its stifling defense to shut down No. 6 Crescent Valley 44-29 on Friday night in Gill Coliseum to earn its first state title in girls basketball since 2012.
“This is the redemption. This is our redemption,” said Danaeja Romero-Ah Sam, star junior for Springfield and reigning Class 5A State Player of the Year. “We were talking about this all year, because we knew we were gonna match up with them eventually.”
For Williamson, he knew his team wanted this title rematch on the biggest stage.
“I know our girls wanted to play Crescent Valley,” Williamson said. “They wanted that chance again. We just wanted a chance to show that we could beat them and win a state title.”
The craving even infected players who didn’t play in last year’s game. Springfield standout sophomore JB Robinson, who transferred to Springfield this year from Georgia, knew what was at stake.
“I saw the whole thing go down last year and I know how personal this game was for (the team),” Robinson said.
For head coach Joe Williamson, it was a night of firsts.
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