RIDGEFIELD — The Washougal Panthers sure making winning a league title — or in their case, repeating again for the fourth straight year — easy.
The Panthers clinched at least a share of the 2A Greater St. Helens League title in girls basketball following Tuesday’s 62-21 win at Ridgefield to remain unbeaten in league with three regular-season games remaining. Washougal (13-4, 9-0) can clinch the league title outright as early as Thursday when it hosts second-place Woodland.
Beyonce Bea scored a game-high 24 points, including 18 in the second half when the Panthers found their groove offensively in the third quarter, going on a 10-1 scoring run in a 3-minute stretch to push their lead to 46-14 entering the final eight minutes. She also added seven rebounds and four steals.
Washougal led by as many as 42 points.
“When we win and win playing together, that’s what’s fun,” said McKinley Stotts, who had eight points. “Those are the fun games is when we play together.”
And together, they did.
Tuesday, the Panthers checked off one of their boxes of lofty goals by at least sharing the league title every year since 2015-16. And did so by holding a Ridgefield team still battling for playoff positioning to a season low in points and to two second-half field goals. Next is keeping the momentum they’ve sustained by reaching the district title game. Washougal’s placed third in districts the past three years.
That has players like veteran and four-year starter Bea, an Idaho signee, feeling confident. Especially with the Panthers’ two wins this season over 2A Evergreen Conference foes Black Hills and W.F. West, the defending 2A state champion.
“I think we definitely have the potential to do that,” the senior said.
Bea was instrumental in the Panthers’ second-half scoring spree fueled by transition points off turnovers. After shooting 1 of 10 in the first half, she hit three of her four second-half 3s in the third quarter. She finished 7 of 20 shooting and 7 of 10 from the line.
Jaiden Bea added nine points for the Panthers and Savea Mansfield had seven — all in the first four minutes of the game.
Washougal’s won seven in a row and last dropped a game during its four-game tournament in Las Vegas over winter break. Five of those seven league wins have come by at least 26 points.
At this stage of the season, Washougal is pushing themselves with game-by-game goals and holding themselves to higher standards since they know tough games will be on the horizon.
“We know once we get to state,” Bea said, “It’s going to be different. We’re not going to be able to cruise through every game … we have to push ourselves.”
Devi Dugan and Grace Goode had five points each to lead the Spudders. Sophomore center Allie Andrew posted 14 rebounds.
