Colfax girls wrap up hoop trophy year

Seniors and award winners honored at Tuesday's basketball banquet included, from the left, Katelyn Scholz, Piper Cai, Kylie Gronning, Olivia Mellor, Carmen Gfeller, Sidney Sheer, Taylor Garcia and Ashtyn Aune.

Colfax girls Tuesday wrapped up the basketball season with a lot of memories, special honors and a farewell to five seniors who led the campaign all the way to a sixth place finish in the 2B show at Spokane. Coach Corey Baerlocher recounted some of the highlights and achievements along with some of the fun shared as the season unfolded.

Baerlocher noted he was proud of the sixth-place finish and felt the team had a more competitive edge this year as they scrambled through the state playoff.

He commented on the Wahkiakum explosion at the start of the state run and the final battle against Toutle Lake, the same team Colfax has faced in its last three final games at Spokane.

Seniors marking their last official basketball chapter were Katelyn Scholz, Ashtyn Aune, Olivia Mellor, Sidney Sheer and Kylie Gronning.

Aune, who made a conversion this year from shooting guard to point guard, was recognized for her all-state game selection. Gronning was recognized for a string of foul shots, one of the quiet statistics that went unmentioned as it built during the season. Gronning ran the string to 19 for 19 before her first miss. She finished 23 for 27.

Captain awards were presented to Gronning and Sidney Sheer. Baerlocher noted Sheer went through all the grades at Steptoe while he has been on the faculty there.

Mellor, noted for her leadership skills, received the inspirational award, and Piper Cai, who picked up key court time as a sophomore, was named most-improved player.

Carmen Gfeller, who led the team scoring as a sophomore, received the MVP award, and Taylor Garcia, a junior, received the team hustle trophy.

Other varsity awards went to Faith Markley, Greta Geier, Abbie Miller and Lexie Smith.

Jayvee coach Joel Warwick presented certificates to Brooklyn Nickerson, Maddie Cox, Taylre Sakamoto-Howell, Sarah Kraut, Kasey Fulfs, Alexis Maki, McKenna Roberts, Brooklyn Smith, Josie Riebold, Parker Warwick and Goldie Akesson.