Another fourth-place finish!

It would have been easy for the Corvallis High girls basketball team to let the disappointment of losing in the quarterfinals be their defining moment.

For a team that wanted so badly to play for a state title, the frustration that comes with an early loss, like the 40-35 loss to North Eugene on Thursday in the OSAA 5A tournament, could have been enough to break their spirits.

But not this team.

The Spartans rebounded with a convincing 68-39 win over Hillsboro on Friday, then came out and knocked off Summit 53-39 on Saturday to capture fourth place at the Chiles Center.

"They had two choices to make and that was an early exit or we're going to show that we should have been in that championship game," CHS coach Joe Williamson said. "I think with the scores and how we dominated the last two games, we think we should be (in the championship game). But that's the way state tournament basketball games go. We did as much as we could after that loss."

Junior Katie Schrock hit four 3-pointers and finished with 15 points, and Gabe Johnson finished her career with 14 more points as the Spartans won their second straight fourth-place trophy.

"It's a big accomplishment," senior McKenzie Redberg said. "Fourth isn't exactly bad but it's not what we wanted. I mean, after the first game it's the best we could have done."

It was the culmination of two seasons of success for the Spartans, who finish this year at 23-4. Over the past two seasons, the Spartans posted a 44-11 record and won six playoff games.

Corvallis used a 10-0 run that stretched over the first and second quarters to take control on Saturday morning. Schrock hit the first of her four threes and Syree Gerner had five points in the run. Johnson's steal and layup at the buzzer helped CHS to a 17-8 lead.

The game was still within reach for Summit just before the half, but Redberg took an inbounds pass with 0.8 seconds left and banked in a three at the buzzer to put CHS up 30-15 at the break.

"I don't if it was just that shot, but we had a confidence about us that we were up, we've got this so let's just finish the game," Redberg said. "That 3-pointer was disgusting but whatever."

The shot was initially ruled a two-pointer but changed to a three.

Johnson had four points and Kayla Laney two to start the third to cap what was a 13-0 run that put CHS up 36-15.

It was the final game for the five seniors -- Johnson, Redberg, Kayla Laney, Karly Laney and Leah Seitz -- who came off the floor with a minute left.

"There was not a dry eye on the bench," Kayla Laney said. "But yeah, to go from where we were sophomore year with the same group of girls to we could have been state champions."

Added Williamson: "They are a great group of kids and they work hard and are a great example. I'm going to miss them."

Corvallis 53, Summit 39
CORVALLIS 17 13 9 14 -- 53
SUMMIT 8 7 6 18 -- 39
Corvallis: Katie Schrock 15, Johnson 14, Kayla Laney 9, M. Redberg 6, Gerner 5, Kar. Laney 2, Adams 2, Seitz, Hendrickson, McGowan, W. Redberg, Clark

Summit: Jesse Luersen 15, Cindy Mosier 15, Haynes 5, Defoe, Parr, Mondry