The Jesuit Women’s Basketball team has come into the 2021-22 season firing on all cylinders. The OSAA statewide #2 ranked team is currently 17-2 overall and 6-1 in league play. Much of their success up until this point can be attributed to strong performances by the team’s upperclassmen. 

“We have good girls, we have a talented group of upperclassmen who have put a lot of work into their craft and into our program,” head coach Jason Lowery said. 

“We have a strong foundation built,” junior Avery Edwards added. 

The team faced adversity in their 7th game of the season versus Clackamas after winning the first 6, losing 32-55 away from home. 

“That was a turning point…it was eye opening,” senior captain McKenzie Pettit said. 

“We needed the Clackamas game to grow as a team and and come together to know what we want for the season,” Edwards added. 

And a turning point it proved to be. The Crusaders went on a 10-game winning streak, beating a highly touted South Medford side. They won off of a buzzer-beater floater by junior guard Emma Sixta. 

This hot run of form allowed the Saders to march to a 5-0 start in Metro League play before meeting current OSAA #1 team, Beaverton. The Beavers were ahead for much of the matchup, with Sixta closing the game to 31-35 with a little over 6 minutes left. Unfortunately those were the Crusaders last points of the game, as Beaverton used a stalling tactic. 

“It showed that every time we have to give it our all, and that’s for all 32 minutes,” Pettit said, with Edwards adding that, “We plan to use it as a learning opportunity.” 

The Crusaders have since rebounded, beating Sunset and Westview before facing their remaining 5 league games, culminating with a rematch pitting Jesuit versus Beaverton. This matchup will give a possible State Championship matchup and could decide who wins Metro League. 

“If we just concentrate on the process, then the outcome will take care of itself,” coach Lowery said.