The Columbia River Rapids and Coach Tee Anderson, shown here earlier in the season, have advanced to the state quarterfinals. Photo by Paul Valencia

Rapids top Ridgefield in Class 2A round of 12 matchup in Yakim

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

The Columbia River Rapids are headed to the state quarterfinals, and they got there by topping a familiar opponent.

In a round-of-12 matchup between two Greater St. Helens League squads, the Rapids took the lead for good in the second quarter Wednesday, then held off Ridgefield’s late rally for a 51-47 victory in the Class 2A girls basketball state tournament in Yakima.

Columbia River, the 2A GSHL champion, beat Ridgefield for the third time this season.

This one was an elimination game.

The Rapids, the 8-seed in this tournament, will face No. 2 Lynden at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Yakima Valley SunDome.

Ridgefield’s season came to an end.

The Spudders, who trailed by 10 entering the fourth quarter, pulled to within one point with 16 seconds to play on Jalise Chatman’s two free throws.

The Rapids, who had trouble securing the ball in the closing seconds, did get the ball into the front court and into the hands of Paige Johnson, who was fouled. She calmly swished both of her shots to give the Rapids a three-point lead. The Rapids would get a steal and another free throw with 2 seconds left to clinch the game.

Emma Iniguez had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Columbia River. Peyton Dukes added 11 points, and Camy Drake scored 10 points and was true on two 3-pointers. Marly Myers had seven points, four assists, and four steals for the Rapids.

Savannah Chanda had 14 of her game-high 16 points in the second half, leading Ridgefield’s comeback attempt. Jalise Chatman had eight points and four assists. Elizabeth Swift also had eight points.

Iniguez had 11 points in the first half when River took a six-point lead. A bucket from Myers late in the third quarter gave the Rapids an 11-point advantage, the largest lead of the game.

Tee Anderson, a Union High School graduate and a standout with the Titans back in her playing days, took over as head coach for Columbia River this past offseason. In her first year, she has the Rapids in the quarterfinals for the first time since 1998.