FEDERAL WAY — Coming in, coach Corey Alexander called this a learning game.

And in the end, his young Beamer girls basketball team was schooled by tradition-rich Oregon City Thursday night, 67-54.

The Pioneers (6-0) are ranked No. 14 in the nation by USA Today and feature three seniors with Division I scholarships — including 6-foot Jo Paine, a Santa Clara recruit who put together 24 points, 12 rebounds and six steals.

They built a 10-point lead in the opening quarter and kept a double-digit differential most of the way against a Beamer team that starts three freshmen, a sophomore and a junior. It was the first loss for the Titans (7-1).

"It's a good learning experience for us," Alexander said. "They're a well-coached team."

A team with a long history of success, too. Oregon City, just south of Portland, was named USA Today's national champion three years in a row in the late 1990s. The Pioneers have won 11 Oregon state titles in Class 6A, the largest classification, and taken home 28 consecutive top-six trophies.

Beamer has never sent a girls basketball team to state, but Alexander believes this group has that kind of potential. Oregon City coach Kurt Guelsdorf was impressed.

"They did a good job," he said. "They have some athletic kids who can get to the rim. ... I was happy we pulled it out."

Megan Huff, Beamer's leading scorer, got in early foul trouble and scored just four points in the first half. She finished with 13. Freshman Nia Alexander, the coach's daughter, scored 11 of her 13 in the second half. Quinessa Caylao-Do, another frosh, chipped in 12 points.

Oregon City forced 15 first-half turnovers and led 26-11 early in the second quarter. Every time Beamer rallied, the Pioneers responded.

The Titans never backed down, though, and Alexander said this game would not shake their confidence.

"It's going to make them stronger and hungrier," he said.

Oregon City plays unbeaten Wilson of Tacoma Friday night. The Rams are ranked No. 1 in Class 3A. Oregon City returns to the area in January to face Mount Rainier, top-ranked in Class 4A.