Tualatin moves 'Steppe' closer to 3rd consecutive Oregon boys basketball state title

Colorado State signee Jaden Steppe scored 29 points to lead Tualatin into the OSAA 6A semifinals

Paul Valencia | Mar 6, 2024

PORTLAND — Here they are again, and there they go again.

Until proven otherwise, perhaps the OSAA 6A boys basketball state tournament can be renamed the Tualatin Invitation.

The Timberwolves broke free in the second half, downing Barlow in the state quarterfinals Wednesday afternoon at the University of Portland's Chiles Center. The 62-46 victory is the 13th consecutive playoff win for the two-time defending champions.

“It feels great to win, but there is nothing really to be happy about yet,” said senior Jaden Steppe, who scored 29 points. “Our goal is to get to the finals and win. That’s what we’re aiming for.”

He and the Timberwolves might not be happy yet, but they do appreciate this opportunity, this quest for three in a row.

“It’s really cool to be here again and prove them wrong,” Steppe said. “Most everybody I know had us losing to Barlow. We’re probably expected to lose the next game, too. But we’re not really listening to the noise. We’re just going to try our hardest and see what happens.”

No. 5 Tualatin will face No. 1 Central Catholic in the semifinals at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

Javier Diaz, a 6-5 junior, had 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves. This is his first season with the team.

“This is a new experience for me. I love how the team stays together and keeps each other going,” Diaz said. “People doubt us, or they don’t want us to win. I like how we stay in it. Every game is a new game. We just try to win it, do our best.”

Tualatin and Barlow played a tight contest for a half. There were seven lead changes in the first two quarters, with Tualatin taking a one-point lead to halftime. There were two more lead changes early in the third quarter before Tualatin took control.

Steppe scored seven in a row, including a three-point play. That was followed by a basket from Nolan Keeney to push the Tualatin lead to nine points.

After a couple of baskets from Barlow, it was Steppe again, this time from 3-point range.

A 3-pointer by C.J. Goodwin and two free throws by Jemai Lake gave the Timberwolves an 11-point advantage going to the fourth quarter.

There, Diaz had four of his six points, with one basket coming off an offensive rebound.

“I try to be physical, box out, get boards, try to get stops,” Diaz said of his role with the team. “Be a presence in the paint, on offense and defense.”

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He said he does not need to be the scorer for this team to succeed.

“I’m just glad the coaches trusted me, so I could have an opportunity to get those boards,” Diaz said. “I’m just glad I could help the team. I’m willing to do the small things just to get the win.”

Steppe, on the other hand, has the scorer’s mentality.

Interestingly, he missed his first six shots Wednesday, yet still finished better than 50 percent from the field. He made 12 of 23 shots, including a dunk on a fast break for his final points.

Call it an exclamation point.

“I shot terrible in my first six, eight games,” Steppe said, which included a loss to Barlow on Dec. 9. “It didn’t rattle me. For the last 10, 15 games, I haven’t shot bad. I just know it comes and goes. It’s a percentage game, so I just knew I had to keep shooting because I think I can shoot. I had to just keep going.”

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Now the Timberwolves get to keep going in the championship bracket. Steppe noted that because of injuries, he is really the only current player who played varsity basketball at Tualatin before this season.

“At the start of the year, it was a lot of helping,” he said of encouraging his teammates. “Right now, I think all the guys really got it. They all know what to do.”

The Timberwolves showed that Wednesday with a huge second half.

“We’re really excited. I’d say it’s like a calm excitement,” Steppe said.

Steppe had six rebounds and two assists. Keeney had 13 points, six rebounds and three assists.

Jalen Atkins led Barlow with 12 points. Brayden Barron added 11 points. Mason Bierbrauer had nine points, and Sentori Martino grabbed 12 rebounds for the Bruins.

“It was a tough loss. We competed,” Atkins said. “We have a great group of guys. It hurts to take a loss, but we’re going to bounce back.”

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Barlow must return to the Chiles Center on Thursday morning for a consolation game. No. 4 Barlow will take on No. 8 Jesuit in the fourth-place semifinals. The winner will play for a trophy Saturday.

“We've got to keep making goals, keep doing our best, and finish out the year strong,” Atkins said.

Meanwhile, the Timberwolves still have their goal of winning it all … again.

Tualatin will get a day off before returning to the Chiles Center for the semifinals Friday.