Sherwood 5th grade girls Crimson basketball team wins state tournament
It was a historic back-to-back championship win for the young team
The Sherwood Crimson fifth-grade girls basketball team captured the Oregon State Basketball Championship in Salem on March 1, 2026, marking a historic back-to-back win for the Sherwood School District.
The Crimson team is the top-level girls squad in the Sherwood School District, drawing players from multiple elementary schools as well as local private and charter schools, such as St. Francis. The team battled through a competitive three-day bracket before winning the championship game against Hermiston and securing the title, capping off a strong season.
The team battled through a competitive three-day bracket before winning the championship game against Hermiston and securing the title, capping off a strong season.
The team went into the State Championship Tournament ranked third, beating Crater (47-4), South Albany (43-11), Grants Pass (33-8), and Crescent Valley (43-16), which advanced them to the final game against Hermiston (47-44).
The players competed in tournaments nearly every weekend throughout the season before advancing to the state championship in Salem, building the skills and teamwork that led to their state title.
The team’s season record was 34 wins and 4 losses. They scored a combined 1,483 points this season, while allowing 569.
Preston Griffin, the team’s coach, is a parent and substitute teacher.
Griffin said this victory is particularly historic, marking the first time in 12 years that a Sherwood girls’ basketball team won a state championship at these grade levels — and the first to achieve back-to-back championship wins.
“Championships start in fourth grade. We were the fourth grade team last year, and we did win it last year … no one has ever won back to back championships, so it is an anomaly,” Griffin said. “As the scores reflect, we did really well leading up to the championship game. Hermiston provided great competition and an opportunity for our girls to really apply their dedication and skills.”
The championship game itself was a close battle against a competitive team from Hermiston.
“Two things I remember most about the championship game were the intensity that came from it being such a close game, and the moment the final buzzer went off and seeing the girls all jumping up and down, smiling, and hugging as they secured the state win,” Griffin said.
Griffin said he would credit the win to an entire season of mental, physical, and emotional preparation that really helped the players focus and prepare.
“There were a few emotional times during the tournament, from hard fouls to physical injury to overall increasing intensity. These girls were able to dig deep and overcome through mentally resetting and remembering that they worked hard to get to this point,” Griffin said. “This game in particular provided an opportunity for the team to show an extreme amount of resilience, more than I've seen in my 15 years of coaching boys and girls from elementary age through high school.”
He said the emotions are exciting and then a little confusing, because they were winning and then losing, and won by one last possession.
“When the final buzzer sounded, the girls just jumped up and ran onto the court,” Griffin said.
Beyond the victory, the season taught valuable lessons about commitment, consistency, and hard work.
“(I hope) they remember that the most important play of a game is the next play. When they make a mistake or struggle during a game or practice, the path to success is being able to mentally reset and immediately focus on the next play,” Griffin said. “Knowing that mistakes happen, being positive with each other, having positive individual attitudes, and a sense of team mentality is where true confidence comes from, win or lose.”
The team’s hard work and dedication were evident not only on the court but also in the excitement and pride of families and the community. After the win, the team received medals, and cut down the net to keep.
“I think the parents just want to see the joy, and it was very, very evident that those smiles are not fake smiles. It's a joy that you can't just produce, you can't just say be happy — it is a joy like nothing else,” Griffin said. “In a fifth grader's mind, this is the biggest thing in their life, so it's such a great, great memory.”
Additionally, Maelee Griffin won state player of the year, Kam Fanene won 1st team all state, Mya Brock won honorable mention, and Preston Griffin won state coach of the year.
"I give credit to the girls, saying they won it for me," Griffin said.
