Defense leads Hockinson girls over Ridgefield

RIDGEFIELD — The Hockinson girls basketball team is working on a new defense.

It works. Seriously, it works.

The Hawks forced 37 turnovers Thursday night and took 45 more shots than Ridgefield in a 78-36 Class 2A Greater St. Helens League victory.

“We just brought so much havoc,” said Sydnie Cole-Vogler, who had 11 of her team’s 26 steals.

It led to a lot of offense, too.

Cole-Vogler was 11 for 21 from the floor for 25 points, and Keeley Nordberg tied a school record with six 3-pointers, scoring 20 points for the Hawks.

Hockinson (9-6, 5-3 GSHL) took some time figuring out a new lineup — the team was missing two key players — then crushed Ridgefield in the third quarter 28-4. The Spudders had 15 turnovers in that period.

“We worked on it last night during practice and it was doing pretty good,” Cole-Vogler said.

Then the Hawks unleased that new-look defense on Ridgefield (2-14, 1-7).

“We put so much pressure on them,” Cole-Vogler said.

So much, it led to Hockinson going 30 for 79 from the floor, while holding Hockinson to 13 of 34.

“We put so much pressure and havoc on them as a team we made them turn the ball over like no other,” Cole-Vogler said. “And then we passed the ball around and made our shots, made our layins. I’m really proud of my team that we picked it up in the second half.”

Cole-Vogler had 17 of her points in the second half.

“She’s the best athlete I’ve coached in my life,” Hockinson coach Damon Roche said. “She’s a warrior.”

Meghan VanderMaas added 15 points for Hockison. Hannah Neibauer had 11 points and six steals.

Hannah Farley went 4 for 5 from the floor and led Ridgefield with nine points. Sydney Hooghkirk added seven points. Abby Smithline had six assists and seven rebounds.

The Hawks are in fourth place in the 2A GSHL but Cole-Vogler said the goal is to get to second place before the district tournament. It’s possible, she said, if the Hawks can beat Washougal and Woodland.

With this new defense, the Hawks gained some confidence for the stretch run.

HOCKINSON 78, RIDGEFIELD 36

HOCKINSON — Sydnie Cole-Vogler 25, Hannah Neibauer 11, Brittany McGuire 1, Meghan VanderMaas 15, Lauren Ellensohn 0, Keeley Nordberg 20, Kaylee Harteloo 1, Hailee Neibauer 5. Totals 30-79 (7-22) 11-17 78.

RIDGEFIELD — Bailey Hooghkirk 5, Sydney Hooghkirk 7, Ashley Christensen 0, Hannah Farley 9, Bailey Smithline 4, Abbie Smithline 3, Taylor Olchowy 2, Jocelyn Knowles-Washington 6. Totals 13-34 (2-8) 8-16 36.

Hockinson 14 16 28 20—78

Ridgefield 12 11 4 9—36