Colton downs Oakesdale, takes season title

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Feb 08, 20170

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Colton vs. Oakesdale girls

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Colton vs. Oakesdale girls

Colton sophomore Jordyn Moehrle scores Feb. 4 as the Wildcats avenge their January loss to Oakesdale.

Oakesdale’s Emma Perry pushes the ball up the sideline against Colton’s Dakota Patchen.

Colton took the regular-season Southeast 1B league championship with a win over Oakesdale last Saturday night.

The Wildcats' 52-34 win made for a regular season split for the two teams. Colton takes the title because Oakesdale lost once to Pomeroy. Now all is settled for the District Nine tournament, which began Wednesday with league teams vying for two spots to advance toward state.

First-round district games will be held at home sites around the league with Colton opening play Friday against the winner of Garfield/Palouse vs. Touchet. Oakesdale opens Friday against the winner of Pomeroy and Waitsburg. The championship game will be in Colfax at 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17. The second-place game will be the next day at 5 p.m.

Colton 52

Oakesdale 34

The showdown for the league title ensued in Oakesdale Feb. 5, and it was tight for a quarter until the eight-time defending state champions re-took control of the Southeast 1B league. Up 15-14 starting the second quarter, Colton burst ahead with three-pointers by Maggi Pluid, Emily Schultheis and Dakota Patchen to build a 10-point halftime lead.

In the second half, the Wildcats defense held Oakesdale to just two field goals, both in the fourth quarter.

Schultheis came off the bench to lead Colton with a game-high 15 points while Georgia Meyer had 10 rebounds and Abby Kelly seven. Patchen scored 11 points.

Colton 53

Gar/Pal 33

Playing at home Feb. 3, Dakota Patchen led Colton with 17 points as the Wildcats beat the Vikings.

Colton led 25-16 at halftime and kept it up, forcing 24 turnovers in the game to its own six. Payson Griner led Garfield/Palouse with 17 points and 14 rebounds while Katie Arrasmith scored 10 points with 13 rebounds.

Oakesdale 51

SJE 25

Jacey Johnson's 29 points paced the Nighthawks in a rout over the Eagles Feb. 3. Riley Lamb led St. John/Endicott with 11 points as her team finished in seventh place in league for the season.