Bruin Girls Basketball Prevails in Battle of Unbeatens in the Les Schwab ‘Game of the Week’

January 31, 2026

Coming off an overwhelming win against the North Valley Lady Knights in Grants Pass Tuesday evening, the 4-0 Bruin girls varsity basketball team hosted the 4-0 Cascade Christian Lady Challengers in an the eventual meeting of two teams at the top of the OSAA 3A-7 Southern Oregon Conference standings.

*Senior, Ella Reneau, #5, taking the shot off the offensive rebound.*

Two well matched teams took to the hardwood Friday evening as the two league leaders faced off at Bruins Arena in a game that both teams believed they needed to take win, as the season progresses.

*Sophomore, Kaiya Evans, #24, hitting for 2 of her 19 points, to lead all scorers in the game.*

The Lady Challengers appeared energetic and confident at gametime after making the trip from Medford, but a high energy Bruin girls team established the pace early, pressuring the Lady Challengers on the in bound plays creating chaos and Lady Challenger miscues with the Bruin girls taking an early 7-4 lead before taking a 16-8 lead at the end of the first period.

*Sophomore, Sawyer Adams, #10, driving into the paint, had 4 points in the game.*

In the second period both teams exchanged baskets early in the period with neither team making progress against the other with the Bruins leading 21-14 midway through the second period. Both teams continued to pressing and trapping the other defensively and running for fast-break opportunities as both teams put up 11 points in the period.

*Iris Powers-Schmitz, #25, scoring in the key, for 2 of her 8 points on the night.*

The Bruin girls came out of the break determined to maintain their 8 point lead, making adjustments inside, with the forwards working low in block and using their height advantage to control the boards inside the paint. But the Lady Challengers would continue to keep pace as both teams hit for double digits and the Bruin girls leading 36-29 going into the final period.

*Sophomore, Claire Pieper, #1, hitting one of her two 3 point shots, had 6 points on the game.*

In the fourth period, the Bruin girls continued to battle in the paint as the Lady Challengers began to overplay and take more chances as time became their enemy and play became more physical. Even though the Lady Challengers would outscore the Bruin girls in the fourth, it wouldn’t be enough as the Bruin girl would hold on to record the 44-38 win, and remain undefeated.

*Sophomore, Ella Christensen, #23, scoring in the paint.*

The now 5-0 Bruin girls will take their record on the road next week, traveling to Medford to take on the 2-3 St. Mary’s Lady Crusaders next Tuesday, at 5:30pm.