By Paul Valencia, Columbian
High School Sports Reporter
Published: December 2, 2015, 11:08pm
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The slow start did not last too long for the Ridgefield boys basketball team.
Just a little more than six minutes.
The rest of the game, well, there was nothing slow about the Spudders.
Travis Gottsch scored 10 of his 12 points in the first half as Ridgefield built a big lead Wednesday night, leading the Spudders to a 22-point win at Heritage.
Louden Wardius added 12 points, and Cameron Short scored 10 as the Spudders topped the Timberwolves 60-38 in a non-league game.
Ridgefield, trailing by seven late in the first quarter, would score the next 16 points to take command.
“This will give us a spark, some confidence for the season coming up,” Gottsch said.
Ridgefield improved to 1-1.
This was Heritage’s first game under first-year head coach Drew Preuninger.
“The biggest thing is I felt we got outplayed,” Preuninger said. “They played with more heart than us. It didn’t help that we didn’t shoot well.”
Preuninger, though, knows it is a long season, and there is potential for growth.
“I tell the guys every single day the goal is to get better,” Preuninger said.
Ridgefield’s offense looked strong against Heritage, especially during that pivotal stretch at the end of the first quarter extending into the second.
“We’re trying to move the ball as much as we can, make the defense work,” Gottsch said. “Tire the defense out and burn them.”
Tim Radosevich’s 3-pointer in the final minute of the first half and a free throw with a second to go gave the Spudders a 31-17 lead at the break.
Ridgefield’s defense then held Heritage to five third-quarter points — consecutive periods holding the Timberwolves to five points — to take a 20-point lead.
Spencer Andersen added seven points and seven rebounds for the Spudders. Auston DeHaan grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds.
Jander Cline led Heritage with 11 points. Tanner Lundberg added 10 points.
RIDGEFIELD 60, HERITAGE 38
RIDGEFIELD — Tim Radosevich 4, Travis Gottsch 12, Drew Williams 7, Cameron Short 10, Logan Moses 2, Auston DeHaan 6, Louden Wardius 12, Spencer Andersen 7, Jack Vance 0. Totals 23 (7) 7-16 60.
HERITAGE — Tony Dean 0, Kalani Umiamaka 1, Michael Cabrera 6, Collin Hayden 0, Keoni Peneueta 2, Nick Morse 8, Jander Cline 11, Lafitagn Sosene 0, Tanner Lunberg 10. Totals 12 (6) 8-20 38
Ridgefield 10 21 11 18–60
Heritage 12 5 5 16–38
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