Central Catholic meets Norcross for Shootout title

LAKE OSWEGO - Central Catholic wanted to make a statement about its game to the rest of Oregon this weekend, and the Rams did with a 56-47 win over Oregon City Saturday in the semifinals of the Nike Interstate Shootout at Lake Oswego High.

Next, they get a shot at making a statement to the nation as they'll face national power Norcross, Ga., in the final Sunday at 6:30 p.m.

Norcross, pressed to perform in their first two games, pulled away from a 27-20 lead over Clackamas to 31 at the end of three quarters on the way to 82-45 their victory.

The start time got moved from 8 p.m. to accomodate the Lady Blues and their travel plans.

Diamond DeShields had 20 points and Shayla Cooper added 17 to lead Norcross.

Kailee Johnson scored 21 and Jordan Reynolds added 20 to lead Central Catholic. The Rams played in a tournament in Arizona a week ago and lost two of three games, but returned to Oregon motivated to show off what they learned in those three games.

"We definitely wanted to make a statement here," Reynolds said. "Beating Oregon City did that, now we really want to win the tournament."

In other games:
A night after tough losses, Tigard and Westview showed plenty of energy in winning at the Nike Interstate Shootout Saturday at Lake Oswego High.

Tigard held South Salem to one point in the first quater and five points in the first half on the way to a 43-18 win.

Westview, which lost a heartbreaker to Norcross, Ga., in the quarterfinals, outscored Metro League rival Beaverton 22-2 in the first quarter on the way to a convincing 50-41 victory.

Tigard and Westview will meet Sunday at 1 p.m. in the fourth-place final of the 16-team tournament.
South Salem and Beaverton, which both won their first-round games, meet at 8 p.m. in the second of Lake Oswego High's two gyms. One of the teams will wind up at 1-3 for the tournament.

The Les Schwab Bracket final pitting Hermiston against West Salem is set for 8 p.m. in the main gym.