Old Rivals Reunite in Final Four

Oklahoma’s Danielle Robinson and Stanford’s Jeanette Pohlen met in the 2007 California State Championship, and will again face each other Sunday in the Final Four.

Thursday, May 26th 2011, 11:37 am

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Apr 3, 2010 10:24 PM CDT

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Stephany Speck
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

SAN ANTONIO -- Oklahoma (27-10) and Stanford (35-1) will tip off Sunday in the NCAA Final Four, and while the two teams haven’t played each other this season, they won’t be complete strangers.

Danielle Robinson helped lead her Archbishop Mitty high School basketball team to the 2007 California State Championships, where she faced Brea-Olinda High School, led by Jeanette Pohlen, who now plays for the Cardinal.

“It’s very interesting that we’re playing each other in the Final Four after playing each other in the state title,” Pohlen said.

Robinson and Pohlen battled for the state title, Robinson taking the win, and the competitiveness will continue Sunday as they again face each other.

“The state championship game, we were also the underdog coming in,” Robinson said. “Nobody expected us to win that game. Everyone is already talking about the Stanford-UConn matchup.

“No one is picking us to win. I think it’s a pretty similar situation.”

The two were rivals in high school, but developed a friendship in college, both playing for the USA National team, which won gold medal this past summer.

It will be Stanford’s size verses the Sooners’ speed. Pohlen, who made a clutch shot against Xavier to advance to the Final Four, verse Robinson, who was named All-American Saturday.

The friendship will have to be placed on the back burner Sunday, as only one team can advance to the NCAA Championship game.

“We’re friends off the court, we’ll be enemies tomorrow,” Robinson said.