Colfax girls book split in hoop openers

Colfax girls, who return to the hoops campaign with four senior grads off last year’s team, will host Reardan Friday in the league opener on the Bulldogs court. Colfax will host the league launch after booking a split last weekend with a loss against a strong Pomeroy club on the Piraters’ court Friday and a win over Lakeside on the home boards Saturday.

Coach Corey Baerlocher starts the season with a core of players who just finished a title run on the volleyball court and converted overnight into hoops mode.

Carmen Gfeller, Abbie Miller, Greta Geier and Piper Cai are back as seniors. Rachel Brown, Taylre Sakamoto-Howell and Madi Cox are also recruits from the V-net action.

Four seniors graduated from the Colfax team which rolled to the state finals, but failed to bag a trophy.

Grads off last year’s team were Taylor Garcia a power on the inside, and speedsters Parker Warwick, Alexie Smith, and Sarah Kraut.

Saturday at Pomerpy, the Bulldogs could not get untracked against a strong Pirate defense. Colfax trailed 11-18 at the half and didn’t start to take points off the Pirates’ lead until the last quarter.

Pomeroy’s Sydney Smith hit 21 points to lead the 51-45 win by the Pirates in their home opener.

The Pirates also snagged 27 rebounds for the duration.

Gfeller led Colfax with 21 points.

Friday against Lakeside, Colfax kept pace with a 13-13 tie in the first quarter and led 31-22 at the half.

Lakeside gained ground after the break, but Colfax finished with the 57-47 win. Geier led Colfax with 19 points against the Eagles .

Colfax also picked off 26 turnovers.

Colfax 57-Lakeside 47: 13/13, 18/9 13/17 13/8: Skylre Sakamoto-Howell 5, Shyah Antoine 2, Piper Cai 6, Taylre Sakamoto-Howell 4, Josie Riebold 1, Carmen Gfeller 12, Greta Geier 18, Rachel Brown 8. Lakeside: Reed 2, Boykin 1, Mahiwald 8, Rehwalt 3, Martinez 4, Swannack 12, Gay 6, Jacobson 4.

Pomeroy 51-Colfax 45: 8/3 10/8 14/12 19/22: Gingrich 4, Watko 3, Smith 21, Dixon 9, Severs7, Halverson 4, Heytfelt 3,

Colfax: S. Sakamoto-Howell 1, Cai 11, Miller 6, T. Sakamoto-Howell 2, Gfeller 21, Geier 4.