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Vol lime XLIV
‘City ö/Roses’
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Number 12
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• March 19, 2014
Established in 1970
Committed to Cultural Diversity
PHOTO BY LENNIE EDWARDS
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t ne Jenerson Democrats boys team celebrate winning their second basketball title in only a year. Their 69-64 win on March 15 was highlighted by
the 6-man roster the Demos were left to play with, after six players were suspended Just hours before tipoff against Churchill.
Jefferson Wins Back-to-Back Titles!
B y D onovan M. S mith
T he P ortland O bserver
I he Jefferson Democrats are once again sitting on the
throne, as state champions. The 5A boys team was able
to claim victory against Churchill, outscoring them 69-64.
The Democrats win came at the heels of the suspen
sion of six players that same-day for w hat’s being
reported as “conduct detrimental to the team’’ by
Jefferson coach Pat Strickland. Only one of the sus-
pended athletes was a starter for the Demos.
The unplanned handicap left Jefferson with a roster
of only six players on the March 15th game at Eugene,
O regon’s Matthew Knight Arena.
Not only did Saturday’s win make for Jefferson
High School’s second Oregon School Activities Asso
ciation title in a year, it also marks their fifth in 7 years.
Despite C hurchill’s best efforts, led by Malik
M organ’s 21-points, they were unable to out-net the
north Portland school’s scarce bench.
Jefferson senior Silas Melson who is also set to head
to Gonzaga in the Fall led the Democrats’ scoring
efforts with his 24-points.
The squad that led the north Portland school to
victory is now being hailed as the “M ighty 6’’.
Saturday’s players were the afformentioned Melson,
Dario Papa-Vicente, Kadeem Strickland, Geno West,
D a’Vaunte Paschal, and Quintus Hall Jr.