For two-and-a-half quarters Tuesday, Heritage and R.A. Long had the look of two teams trying to recalibrate to the speed of a live game.
Offense was hard to come by. The fouls and turnovers were frequent. Neither side led by more than four points through the first half.
Then, the visiting Lumberjills took control. During a pivotal stretch of the third quarter, R.A. Long went on a 12-0 run, before scoring another 11 unanswered points in the final two minutes. The margin helped R.A. Long claim a 56-42 win to open the 2021-22 girls basketball season, led by Miranda Lomax’s 20 points. Jadyn Terry (13 points) and Bryelle Box (10 points) also reached double figures.
Keanna Salavea had a game-high 21 points and four blocks for Heritage, while singlehandedly leading the Timberwolves on a 6-0 run in response to Heritage’s 12 unanswered points in the third.
But after a Salavea layup brought Heritage within 33-31, R.A. Long got several open looks in transition off of turnovers and took a commanding 48-32 lead into the fourth quarter.
Madalynn Thun added nine points for the Timberwolves.
Girls basketball
KELSO 54, ABERDEEN 34 — Natalie Fraley scored 17 points, Evermore Kaiser added 14 and the Hilanders opened their season with a home win.
Kaiser had 11 points in the first half as Kelso built a 29-12 lead.
UNION 49, COLUMBIA RIVER 36 — Grace Burchett scored 14 points as the Titans overcame a slow start for a season-opening home win.
Hanna Summers added 11 points for Union, which scored 17 of its 23 first-half points in the second quarter.
Teagan Benke scored 11 points to lead the Rapids.
WOODLAND 74, EVERGREEN 17 — Emily Hughes opened the season with a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds, plus seven steals, in the Beavers’ win.
Riley Stading added 13 points, Kenzi Bunder 12 and Sydney George 10. Lucy Sams had six assists.
Cheyenne Morales had seven points for Evergreen.
RIDGEFIELD 45, LA CENTER 37 — Kelli Krsul scored 13 points and Avery Wilson led a solid defensive effort by the Spudders.
Trailing 16-7 after the first quarter, Ridgefield outscored La Center 29-12 over the next two quarters.
Gianna D’Emilio had 12 points and eight rebounds for the Wildcats. Alyse Webberley added 11 points.
Boys basketball
R.A. LONG 87, HERITAGE 55 — The Lumberjacks started their season with a 34-point first quarter and showed why they’re a favorite in the 2A Greater St. Helens League.
R.A. Long stretched the lead to 54-14 in the second quarter and 58-25 at halftime.
MORTON/WHITE PASS 72, LA CENTER 54 — Boston Walker scored 16 points and Colby Hylton added 10 as the Wildcats opened their season with a road loss on Monday.
Gary Dotson scored 24 points for the Timberwolves, who pulled away by outscoring La Center 17-8 in the fourth quarter.
