The girls basketball team finished the season with a strong record overall (14–11) and a competitive mark (9–7) in the Portland Interscholastic League, earning a spot in the OSAA 6A state playoffs.
Late in the season, the team caught fire with a four-game win streak, getting impressive victories over Roosevelt, McDaniel, Grant, and Jefferson. Competing in Oregon’s highly competitive 6A division, the team remained in playoff contention throughout the season, showcasing impressive consistency against some of the state’s top programs.
Because of their solid overall performance and league standing at 25th in 6A, the Warriors qualified for the state playoffs in a pool of 32 teams. Reaching the playoffs is an incredible accomplishment and reflects the team’s hard work, leadership, and high level of competition.
The team was led by junior Vivian Schroedel and senior Harper Durbrow, whose leadership played a major role in the team’s success. Both captains contributed significant minutes on the court while also supporting their teammates throughout the season.
Another key player for the team this season was senior Charlotte Gardner, whose leadership, court vision, and ability to play both on and off the ball helped the team significantly.
“I’d say our team chemistry and the emotion we played with, especially in the last few games, was the key to our success. We had some big wins at home, and our crowd really brought the energy. We worked together to upset teams that beat us earlier in the season, and that showed how much we’d grown,” Gardner said.
Gardner also said the team improved its consistency throughout the season, especially by staying strong on both offense and defense.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Warriors faced Jesuit. Jesuit, the higher seed, played strong from start to finish. Despite their effort, Cleveland couldn’t keep up and lost 52–27. Ending the season here doesn’t take away from the accomplishment of reaching the state playoffs.
As a senior leader, Gardner reflected on what making the state playoffs meant to her.
“It means a lot. We made the playoffs all four years I’ve been on varsity, and that’s something I’m really proud of. It gives us a chance to compete for a second-round spot, play away from home, and embrace being the underdogs. It’s really exciting,” Gardner said.
Cleveland, led by first-year head coach Stacey Berg, also had two players earn PIL All-League honors this season. Freshman Ruby Galm was named Second Team All-League, an impressive recognition in her first year playing varsity basketball, and sophomore Arlene Barragan also earned an Honorable Mention, highlighting her contributions throughout the season.
With such incredible feats from the Warriors’ underclassman and a new head coach, the future looks bright for Cleveland girls basketball.
