Oregon City Pioneers Defeat Jesuit Crusaders in 6A Quarterfinal

The third-seeded Pioneers advance to the 6A state semifinals after a hard-fought victory over the sixth-seeded Crusaders.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 1:20am

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The Oregon City Pioneers defeated the Jesuit Crusaders 65-58 in a thrilling 6A state tournament quarterfinal matchup at the University of Portland's Chiles Center. The third-seeded Pioneers, led by senior guard Ethan Nguyen's 22 points, overcame a tough challenge from the sixth-seeded Crusaders to secure their spot in the semifinals.

Why it matters

This victory keeps the Pioneers' state championship hopes alive as they continue their quest for the 6A title. The win also marks a significant milestone for the program, which has not reached the semifinals since 2018.

The details

The Pioneers jumped out to an early lead, but the Crusaders fought back to make it a close game throughout. In the end, Oregon City's balanced scoring attack and stifling defense proved to be too much for Jesuit to overcome. Nguyen was the standout performer, but the Pioneers also received key contributions from junior forward Liam Daniels and sophomore guard Avery Thompson.

  • The game was played on Wednesday, March 12, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
  • This was a quarterfinal matchup in the 6A state tournament.

The players

Ethan Nguyen

A senior guard for the Oregon City Pioneers who led the team with 22 points in the victory.

Liam Daniels

A junior forward for the Oregon City Pioneers who provided key contributions to the team's win.

Avery Thompson

A sophomore guard for the Oregon City Pioneers who played a crucial role in the team's quarterfinal victory.

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What they’re saying

“Our team showed a lot of heart and determination tonight. We knew Jesuit would be a tough opponent, but we were able to execute our game plan and come out on top.”

— Ethan Nguyen, Senior Guard, Oregon City Pioneers (oregonlive.com)

“It's always disappointing to have your season end, but I'm proud of the way our guys competed. Oregon City is a very talented team, and they deserved the win tonight.”

— Mike Boyce, Head Coach, Jesuit Crusaders (oregonlive.com)

What’s next

The Oregon City Pioneers will face the winner of the Clackamas vs. West Linn quarterfinal in the 6A state semifinals on Friday, March 14, 2026.

The takeaway

The Oregon City Pioneers have proven themselves to be one of the top teams in the 6A state tournament, and their quarterfinal victory over the Jesuit Crusaders has set them up for a chance to compete for the state championship. The team's balanced scoring attack and stifling defense have been the keys to their success so far, and they will look to continue that momentum as they advance to the semifinals.