Third Colfax-Reardan clash will be for District 7 title

Rachel Robinson makes a move along the side of the paint at Mead while Republic's Tori Orestad tries a stop. Raven Elkins of Colfax and Jules Largent of Kettle are behind.

Colfax girls Monday night escaped a determined Kettle Falls team for a 49-46 win and a slot in the District 7 title game Saturday night at Mt. Spokane High School. The Bulldog girls will collide with Reardan, the top seeded team in the tournament.

Reardan dropped Northwest Christian 62-37 Monday in the other NE semi-final.

Monday’s semi wins also guarantee Colfax and Reardan tickets for next week’s regional round which offers eight slots for the three-day state show at Spokane starting March 3.

Colfax guard Misty Skelton hit Monday night’s decider, a three-point shot within the last two seconds for the 49-46 Colfax win. Skelton hit the shot from the outside after the Bulldogs took a last possession, went down to the corner and then popped it back out to Skelton.

The Bulldogs took it after Kettle’s girls hit 16 points after the half to rub out a five-point Colfax lead at the break. The semi battle booked seven lead changes and nine ties.

The last tie was 46-46 after Kettle’s Samantha Charlton hit a pair of toss shots.

Colfax Coach Corey Baerlocher credited the K club with putting up a battle. “They were the aggressor in that game; that’s for sure,” Baerlocher said.

He noted Kettle’s big move in the third quarter came after Colfax switched to a zone defense after the break. The Bulldogs were breaking the rotation in the wrong direction and Kettle was able to pick off a route along the back side.

Baerlocher said the positive point for Colfax was finding out how to battle through a competitive game.

Amelie Bruya again topped Colfax scorers, this time with 20 points.

Saturday afternoon in the battle at Mead, Colfax took out the Republic Tigers 53-34 after taking control in the third quarter. The Tigers played an independent schedule after this year’s breakup of the Panorama and had the role of the tourney’s mystery team.

“They really surprised us. They chased the ball all over the court. In the end we were able to apply enough pressure to get the win,” Baerlocher said.

After pegging a 30-21 lead at the break, Colfax held the Tigers to just three points in the third quarter to take control.

Bruya hit all five of her field goals from the three zone and finished with 17.

Colfax will face Reardan Saturday after coming within a point of derailing the chiefs’ win string in league play. In the last league round at Reardan, Liz Flowers dropped the final bucket to erase a one point Colfax lead and keep the Reardan string alive with a 43-42 win.

Winner of the Saturday’s District 7 title game will play in the first round of next week’s regional at Wenatchee. The loser of the title game will play at University High in Spokane Valley.

Brianna Brown of the Tigers looks for a lane between Shaina Simonson and Misty Skelton Saturday at Mead.

Colfax 49-Kettle Falls 46: 10/1115/9 8/16 16/10: Misty Skelton 3 (3pt) 2-2 9, Hannah Harazin 3 0-0 6, Nicole Sheer 2 1-1 5, Elizabeth Hatley 1 1-1 3, Amelie Bruya 5 (2-3pt) 8-8 20, Shaina Simonson 1 1-2 3, Raven Elkins 1 (3pt) 0-0 3. Total: 16-49 11-14 f-19 49. Kettle Falls: Samantha Charlton 2 5-7 9, Nikka Yankus 5 2-5 12, Alexys Hall 5 4-6 14, Devon Stomley 1 (3pt) 1-3 4, Jose Stanard 1 1-2 3, Kayla Eslick 1 0-0 2, Serena Pounds 1 0-0 2. Total 16-56 13-23 f-11 46.

Colfax 53-Republic 34: Misty Skelton 3 (3pt) 0-0 7, Brooke Webber 1 0-0 2, Hanna Harazin 1 1-2 3, Nicole Sheer 2 0-0 4, Rachel Robinson 5 (2-3pt) 0-0 12, Amelie Bruya 5 (all 3pt) 2-4 17, Shaina Simonson 1 2-2 4, Raven Elkins 2 0-0- 4. Total: 20-64 5-8 f-14 53. Republic: Baily Osterberg 1 0-0 2, Cheyenne Saltsman 1 0-1 2, Brianna Brown 2 3-5 7, Tori Orestad 3 (2-3pt) 1 -2 9, Jules Largent 0 2-2 2, Alyssa Stout 4 4-6 12. Total: 11-42 10-16 f-10 34.