1B girls basketball: Colton girls throw wrench into league top

Garth Meyer, Gazette Reporter | Feb 06, 20200

count

Saige Smith of Touchet and Kara Bloomberg of Garfield/Palouse collide under the basket.

The Colton girls dropped more doubt over the top of the Southeast 1B basketball standings last weekend with a 52-45 win over Oakesdale – the team that just beat undefeated league leaders Pomeroy the week before.

Pomeroy's hold on the league fell, then Oakesdale's claim was marred by Colton, the team which has won league for the past 12 years in a row.

The Wildcats had lost once already this year to Oakesdale and twice to Pomeroy by decisive margins (including 48-29 Jan. 11 at Oakesdale).

Colton (13-6, 6-3 league) now has one league game remaining, at Touchet Feb. 7 while Oakesdale plays St. John/Endicott/LaCrosse at home Friday and goes to fourth-place Garfield/Palouse (12-5, 4-4) Saturday. Pomeroy (17-1, 8-1) finishes the regular season at Gar/Pal Friday.

Four teams will advance to the district playoffs, vying for two slots into regionals.

Colton 52

Oakesdale 45

Colton delivered at home as Rylee Vining and Taylor Thomas each scored 17 points, avenging the earlier loss to the Nighthawks (12-5, 6-2). Josie Schultheis had seven points and 13 rebounds. Colton never trailed.

Lizzy Perry led Oakesdale with 14 points while Jessie Reed got 11 in the loss.

Garfield/Palouse 47

Lakeside 37

The Gar/Pal girls picked up a non-league win over Lakeside of Nine Mile Falls Feb. 1 at home. Kenzi Pedersen scored 14 points with 11 rebounds to lead the Vikings. Madi Cloninger scored 12 points while Paige Collier had 11 points and six assists. Maci Brantner got eight points and 15 rebounds.

Colton 65

St. John/Endicott/ LaCrosse 51

At St. John Jan. 31, senior post Taylor Thomas led Colton with 20 points while Rylee Vining scored 17 and Josie Schultheis 16. For SJEL, Brooklyn Bailey and Drew Curtis-Brewer each had 14 points in the loss.

Garfield/Palouse 41

Touchet 25

Playing at home in Palouse Jan. 31, the Vikings' Pederson had 18 points and seven rebounds in the league win. Paige Collier and Maci Brantner each scored eight points.