Our girls basketball team got to the Chiles Center, where the final eight teams left would battle it out for the state championship.

Their first game was Thursday against SOC Champion North Medford. They were without their point gaurd, who got hurt in their last game so we coasted to a 71-56 win (actually was tied at the half).

The Chiles Center is the homecourt for the University of Portland Pilots, and it holds 5,000. For their first win, about 3,500 people were in attendence, which was pretty good for an opening round game. Tualatin had a lot of students there, not quite as much as Lakeridge or Southridge, but still pretty good for our poor school spirit.

Next up we got the #1 team in the state, 27-0 Southridge. They had recently cracked into the top 25 of a national poll and we steamrolling everyone by about 20 points. I went into the game fully expecting us to be their next victim, but we stayed with them the whole game, only losing by one. It was really fun. Both student sections were packed to the gill (great turnout by Tualatin fans) and it was really loud. We played great but when you're about four inches shorter in every position, it's hard to overcome.

The layout of the Chiles Center has endzone seating behind both baskets, elevated about ten feet above the hoop. Each school was designated one as their student section, and the other, obviously, went to the other school. It was really fun because the other students were far away which encouraged you to yell really loud back and forth. Also, the you could banter back and forth without fear of a fight breaking out, like most games.

Anyways, it was a really fun time. Tualatin got the shaft and had to play the #2 team in the consolation game (they were upset by another team earlier). Anyways, they were pissed, we were drained from our Southridge game just half a day ago and we lost. I didn't go to the game, was sleeping, but we ended up in fifth place.

Next year, just about everyone returns for us, so we should field a really good team yet again. I'm thinking another run at the title is in line... and if they make it back to the Chiles Center, I'll be back. Not in the student section of course, because that would be sad.