Girls basketball: Columbia River 55, Ridgefield 39

Monday’s 2A Greater St. Helens League girls basketball opener was exactly the type of performance Columbia River coach Will Jones was looking for.

A balanced attack offensively, and a stellar defensive game, to boot.

Not only were the 14 steals a season-best for hisChieftains, but so were the nine made 3-pointers that led to a 55-39 victory over Ridgefield in the game that was the 2A GSHL opener for both teams at J. Hoover Gymnasium.

“It was fun,” said Jones, River’s first-year coach. “For a winter-break game, we had a lot of people in the gym.”

Liz Canton sparked the Chieftains with a pair of 3s in the second quarter. She had eight of her team-best 12 points as part of the team’s 21 second-quarter points. That’s when the Chieftains (3-3 overall, 1-0 league) gained control for good with a 21-8 scoring run.

Canton also had six rebounds and four steals.

Sydney Flores-Tucker added 11 points, including a 3-pointer near the end of the first quarter to help spark the second eight minutes. The guard also had a team-high five steals.

Starting league play 1-0 was Monday’s goal, Jones said.

“And to play well,” he added.

Katie Kolbe had 12 rebounds to go with her nine points.

Karli Oliver had 10 points to lead the Spudders, who, like River, also hit nine 3s as a team.

COLUMBIA RIVER 55, RIDGEFIELD 39

RIDGEFIELD (1-5, 0-1) — Devi Dugan 8, Alyssa Dewey 2, Karli Oliver 10, Kylie Greenwald 9, Madalyn Chapman 3, Courtney Beyer 0, Haley Olchowy 7, Hailey Braunstein 0, Emma Thulin 0. Totals 15 (9) 0-1 39.

COLUMBIA RIVER (3-3, 1-0) — Ellie Furth 5, Liz Canton 12, Lily Jonas 0, Sydney Flores-Tucker 11, Erin Baker 8, Katie Kolbe 9, Karlyn Gomez 0, Jordan Ryan 8, Ellie Christian 2. Totals 20 (9) 6-14 55.

Ridgefield 8 8 11 12–39

Col. River 7 21 13 14–55

JV — Columbia River won.