In an OSAA first round girls basketball game, the West Linn Lions (11-13, 5-5 Three Rivers League) defeated the Grants Pass Cavers (10-13, 5-7 Southern Oregon Conference), 60-52 behind 21 points and 8 rebounds from Genna Hughes, junior.
Hughes’ hot hand led the Lions in the first half, scoring 16 of her 21 in the first half. When the halftime buzzer sounded, the Lions held a six point lead, 36-30.
In the second half, the Lions were led by Julia Boyd-Helm, senior, who scored 10 of her 14 points in the second half.
“That was my last home game of my high school career, so I wanted to give it my all and get our team to the second round,” Boyd-Helm said.
the leading scorer for the Cavers was Kayla Bice, senior, who poured in 18 points in a losing effort. This was the Cavers third consecutive first round loss.
The Lions will play the Westview Wildcats (19-4, 9-1 Metro League) and Jaime Nared, junior, who is regarded as one of the top players in the country for the 2014 class. The Wildcats knocked the Lions out of last year’s playoffs in the semifinals. The game will take place this Saturday at 7 p.m. at Westview high School, with the winner moving on the the Rose Garden.