Girls basketball: Ridgefield 55, La Center 51

After trailing big early in the second quarter, Ridgefield limited its turnovers, locked down its oppenent and crawled back to claim a narrow win over La Center on Friday night.

Taylor Stephens helped La Center up to a 20-5 lead after a quarter, which grew to 23-5 early in the second.

Then Karli Oliver keyed in on Stephens defensively. Ridgefield outscored the Wildcats by 12 in the third to take a two-point lead. In the fourth, that lead grew.

Freshman Kelli Krsul hit a long two with 45 seconds left to put the Spudders up six — and the game on ice.

Krsul finished with six steals, four assists and her coach’s praise.

“Ice in her veins,” Ridgefield coach Tom Klutz said of her last shot. “Wide open. Didn’t hesitate. Didn’t look to the bench, didn’t look to her parents.”

Stepehens, a returning all-region selection, finished with 18 points, but didn’t score a field goal in the final quarter.

Allie Andrew had 14 points, 25 rebounds and five blocks for Ridgefield.

“She played great,” Klutz added. “We had just a really good team effort.”

RIDGEFIELD 55, LA CENTER 51

LA CENTER (0-1) — Sierra Frasier 2, Natasha Lewis 2, Kylie Ballard, Lauren Fox 10, Kylee Stephens 9, Mia Edwards 10, Taylor Stephens 18. Totals 18 (7) 5-11 51.

RIDGEFIELD (1-0) — Devi Dugan 8, Karli Oliver 12, Kylie Greenwald 9, Madalyn Chapman 0, Courtney Beyer 4, Haley Olchowy, Grace Goode 0, Mackenzie Dewey 2, Allie Andrew 14, Kelli Krsul 6, Morgan Harter 0. Totals 21 (7) 6-12 55.

La Center 20 10 10 11–51

Ridgefield 5 15 22 13–55

JV — Ridgefield 55-8.

JV2 — Ridgefield 34, Columbia River 21.