Big effort by Howell goes unrewarded after South Medford falls in state quarterfinals
Published 10:34 pm Wednesday, March 12, 2025
South Medford junior Dyllyn Howell, front, boxes out for a rebound during Wednesday's Class 6A state quarterfinal game against Tualatin. (Timothy Healy / for the Oregonian via TNS)
South Medford sophomore Payton Anderson is fouled by Tualatin's Maaya Lucas as each go for a loose ball during Wednesday's Class 6A state quarterfinal game at the Chiles Center in Portland. (Timothy Healy / for the Oregonian via TNS)
South Medford junior Mayen Akpan, left, battles in the paint with Tualatin's Jordyn Smith during Wednesday's Class 6A state quarterfinal game at the Chiles Center in Portland. (Timothy Healy / for the Oregonian via TNS)
Tualatin freshman Love Lei Best pulls up for a jumper against South Medford during Wednesday's Class 6A state quarterfinal game at the Chiles Center in Portland. (Timothy Healy / for the Oregonian via TNS)
Tualatin senior Jordyn Smith shoots over South Medford senior Maddy Warberg during Wednesday's Class 6A state quarterfinal game at the Chiles Center in Portland. (Timothy Healy / for the Oregonian via TNS)
Junior standout scores 19 points but No. 6-seeded Panthers struggle to find rhythm against No. 3 Tualatin in 6A tourney opener
A year ago, South Medford’s Dyllyn Howell was beset by illness for the Class 6A girls basketball state tournament in Portland.
Howell fell ill and missed the quarterfinal game, gutted out 14 minutes in the semifinals and then 10 minutes in the finals — finishing 0-for-3 from the field but still earning the only thing that mattered to her in a state championship earned by the Panthers.
This time around as a junior, a healthy Howell made the most of her time on the court — scoring a game-high 19 points for No. 6 South Medford in a 47-37 quarterfinal setback to No. 3 Tualatin at the Chiles Center.
When all else seemed to fail, Howell provided a bright spot in keeping some hope for the Panthers (22-5) as they battled to keep hope alive for a second straight state title.
Howell scored 10 of her team’s 12 points in the first half — going 4-for-6 from the field as her teammates were a combined 1-for-13 — and shot 7-for-13 overall (3-for-6 beyond the arc) with two assists, two rebounds and one blocked shot.
South Medford sophomore Payton Anderson is fouled by Tualatin’s Maaya Lucas as each go for a loose ball during Friday’s Class 6A state quarterfinal game at the Chiles Center in Portland. (Timothy Healy / for the Oregonian via TNS)
“Dyllyn Howell was incredible tonight,” said South Medford head coach Tom Cole. “She kind of really carried us offensively for long portions of the game tonight.”
Unfortunately, the loss to injury of senior floor leader Sara Schmerbach seemed to catch up for the Panthers against Tualatin’s zone defense, which led the state in allowing only 27.5 points per game.
South Medford committed 12 turnovers in the first half and 19 overall, routinely putting the ball in spots favored by the trapping Timberwolves (24-2).
“Our backcourt had some problems tonight,” said Cole. “The absence of Sara, somebody confident with the ball like that as a senior, really showed tonight.”
The teams seemed destined to go into halftime with not much separation before Tualatin was able to generate a closing 8-2 run over the final 81 seconds — including a layup at the buzzer by senior post Jordyn Smith on a setup by freshman point guard Love Lei Best that could’ve gone either way.
The effort left Tualatin ahead 21-12 by intermission, and the closest South Medford would get from there was five points after a 3-pointer by junior point guard Jordan Barlow on an assist from Howell with 58 seconds to go in the third quarter.
Even then, Best was able to get the basket back in nine seconds on a long assist to Ries Miadich, who was left alone under the basket. South Medford senior Maddy Warberg fell to 0-for-5 from 3-point range in a quick hope to answer, and Best later stepped through the defense for another basket with three seconds remaining in the frame.
“I thought we did a pretty good job in the second half, and we went on some good runs,” said Cole, “but we never really could close that nine-point gap. We dug ourselves a hole that we just couldn’t get out of.”
South Medford junior Mayen Akpan, left, battles in the paint with Tualatin’s Jordyn Smith during Friday’s Class 6A state quarterfinal game at the Chiles Center in Portland. (Timothy Healy / for the Oregonian via TNS)
Tualatin managed only a three-bounce 3-pointer on the rim by freshman Kendall Dawkins in the final 5 ½ minutes of play, but South Medford couldn’t find enough of an offensive rhythm to put together quick runs down the stretch.
Junior post Mayen Akpan scored six of her 10 points in the final four minutes of the fourth quarter despite playing with four fouls, and finished with 10 rebounds for the Panthers. She missed the final 2:17 of the first quarter after sustaining a cut to the forehead after scrambling for a loose ball and the final three minutes of the second quarter after picking up her third foul, and was held to 4-for-14 shooting overall.
Payton Anderson, a sophomore, came off the bench to pull in seven rebounds and connected on her only shot — a 3-pointer that made it 31-23 with 1:47 to go in the third quarter — to go with one assist and one steal in 19 minutes.
South Medford’s starting backcourt finished 2-for-14 from the field with a combined 11 turnovers.
Best led Tualatin — ranked No. 2 in the final 6A coaches poll to Clackamas — with 15 points and five assists, and Smith had 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.
“In spite of all the things we didn’t do right, the kids continued to battle and at least kept competing,” said Cole. “Against a team like Tualatin — they’re so big and so long — when those shots don’t go in, it’s hard to get a rhythm defensively.”
Tualatin freshman Love Lei Best pulls up for a jumper against South Medford during Friday’s Class 6A state quarterfinal game at the Chiles Center in Portland. (Timothy Healy / for the Oregonian via TNS)
The Panthers will face a quick turnaround in an elimination contest at 10:45 a.m. Thursday against No. 7-seeded Southridge, which gave Willamette all it wanted in the first half before the senior-driven Wolverines surged in the second half for a 66-42 quarterfinal win.
Southridge (19-8) was sent to the consolation bracket last year by South Medford in a 56-25 quarterfinal loss, and then lost to Jefferson in the consolation semifinals to miss out on a state trophy. The Skyhawks had won 11 straight before Friday’s loss.
“Let’s hope that (Thursday) provides another opportunity for our kids to take a step in their growth and maturity and compete again here,” said Cole. “It doesn’t get easier.”
SOUTH MEDFORD (37): Taulani 2, Warberg 0, Barlow 3, Howell 19, Akpan 10, Andersen 3. Totals: 14-42 4-6 37.
TUALATIN (47): Best 15, Smith 14, Miadich 5, Lucas 3, Dawkins 8, Amens 0, Padilla 2. Totals: 17-46 9-12 47.
South Medford 10 2 14 11 — 37
Tualatin 11 10 14 12 — 47
3-point goals — South Medford 5-15 (Howell 3, Barlow 1, Andersen 1), Tualatin 4-13 (Best 1, Miadich 1, Lucas 1, Dawkins 1).
Reach sports editor Kris Henry at khenry@rv-times.com or 458-488-2035
