FOREST GROVE — Down 18 points in the third quarter, Sutherlin could have accepted that its 4A girls basketball dynasty might be coming to an end.
That’s not what these Bulldogs are about, though.
Behind 24 points from Taylor Stricklin, fifth-seeded Sutherlin finished on a 33-9 run and captured its fourth consecutive state championship, beating No. 2 Banks 49-43 at Forest Grove High School.
“Surprising, stunning, all of the above,” Sutherlin coach Josh Grotting said to describe the unlikely comeback. “It’s a real credit to our kids. Some of them come from humble backgrounds and this is one place where they can be equal with everyone. We tell them that if you want to get out of a situation, it starts with hard work.”
Stricklin made of 6 of 7 three-pointers in her final high school game. Of the Bulldogs’ 14 field goals, 10 came from behind the arc.
“I knew I had to pick it up,” she said. “It was late enough in the game and we were down by enough that it wasn’t going to work if I didn’t.”
Banks started the second half with a 12-0 run and led 34-16 with 3:52 left in the third quarter, but the Bulldogs started to chip away from there. A 14-0 run to end the third made it 34-30 through three and Banks, a first-time state finalist, suddenly looked out of sorts after dominating for two-and-a-half quarters.
“I wasn’t really looking at the score,” said Stricklin, a senior who is one of three returning starters from last year’s title team. “We were forcing some turnovers and getting easy points and I look up and we’re down four. Then I knew we could do it.”
The turnaround was shocking, with Banks looking like it would cruise to its first girls basketball championship.
“We weren’t doing anything,” Grotting said. “We challenged our kids and told them they’re the only ones who could solve this problem.”
Sutherlin went to a pressing defense, a look it hadn’t used all season, and forced Banks to rush its offense. Then, the Bulldogs’ normally deliberate offense turned more aggressive.
“We’re known for ball control and being conservative, but we couldn’t do that anymore,” Grotting said. “We had to drive and kick.”
Banks pulled back ahead 40-34 with 3:53 left, but the Bulldogs again responded with a run. Stricklin’s sixth three-pointer — a 4A tournament record — tied the score 41-41. After two free throws put Banks back up by two, Stricklin and Eliza Sorenson hit consecutive baskets in the lane to give Sutherlin the lead for good. Four free throws sealed the win.
“It’s not easy, we’ve worked every day from November to today,” Stricklin said. “It’s a lot of work and patience, but it’s fun.”
Sutherlin (23-5) wasn’t as dominant this year as it had been over the past three seasons — which included an 84-game winning streak against Oregon opponents — but the Bulldogs showed their experience Saturday.
Banks (22-3) has a bright future with sophomore guard Aspen Slifka, who had 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists in the final. Senior Anna Klein had 12 points and 11 rebound in her last high school game.
Banks and Sutherlin played in last year’s quarterfinals, with Sutherlin winning 37-29 on the way to a third straight state championship.