BATTLE GROUND — New settings and surroundings have become an all-too-familiar story for Ridgefield High’s girls basketball team this season. So, too, are achieving more milestones and accomplishments.
Add one more to the list: Friday’s 59-46 victory team following its Class 2A girls Opening Round win over Kingston. Like so many big victories this season, the Spudders saved their biggest team celebration to date — advancing to the Hardwood Classic round of 12 at the Yakima Valley SunDome next Wednesday — for the team lockerroom postgame Friday.
“I’m excited to see all the smiles and the laughter that’ll go on for our trip to Yakima,” senior forward Morgan Goode said.
Goode, who finished with 11 points Friday, was one of four Spudders to score in double figures against a Kingston (14-10) squad that kept pace against Ridgefield (20-3) for much of Friday in a 9 vs. 16 loser-out matchup. Ridgefield led 26-23 at halftime, and the Buccaneers were within striking distance, thanks to Tati Fontes-Lawrence’s 13 first-half points. In fact, it took until the 2-minute, 43-second mark of the third quarter before the Spudders grabbed their first double-digit lead at 40-30.
Creating separation from Kingston started on the defensive end, coach Lauren Hefflin said. A 7-0 run by Ridgefield to start the fourth quarter pushed its lead to 51-33.
“They just worked hard,” the coach said, “and they continue to take the challenges I was giving them.”
Elizabeth Swift led a balanced scoring attack by Ridgefield with 12 points. Janessa Chatman added 11 and Jalise Chatman had 10.
Friday also was another milestone. It’s the program’s first state win since 2007 — the last year the program qualified for state.
Ridgefield’s first-round opponent Wednesday in Yakima happens to be a familiar one: league-rival Columbia River. Of Ridgefield’s three losses this season, two are to the Rapids.
A victory Wednesday over Columbia River goes a long way in determining whether the Spudders come home from Yakima with its first state trophy in the sport since 1989 when the program placed eight in Class A.
Columbia River fell 69-25 to reigning state champion Ellensburg in its 2A Opening Round game Friday.
Goode said playing a familiar team for a third time more a stake than a league game will make for an exciting game at 2 p.m. Wednesday.
“This time going in,” she said, “take our time, play our game and just settling down and do what we know, I think we can pull our the win.”
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RIDGEFIELD 59, KINGSTON 46
KINGSTON — Harmony Tyson 3, Jayla Moon 9, Khi Tall Bull 13, Tati Fontes-Lawrence 17, Taizah Franklin 4. Totals 17 (5) 7-12 46.
RIDGEFIELD — Abigail Vance 1, Savannah Chanda 9, Madison Ingham 3, Jalise Chatman 10, Elizabeth Swift 12, Morgan Goode 11, Kaylen Wingerd 2, Janessa Chatman 11. Totals 24 (3) 9-17 59.
King 16 7 10 13 – 46
Ridge 17 9 18 15 – 59
