Columbia River girls fall to unbeaten Auburn Riverside

TACOMA — The Columbia River Chieftains knew they were in for a challenge Saturday in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A bi-district girls basketball tournament.

Still, they were hoping to fare better against the undefeated Auburn Riverside Ravens.

Instead, the Ravens jumped out to a 15-point lead after the first quarter and kept the pressure all game in a 57-26 victory.

Columbia River (12-10) drops to the consolation bracket and must win two in a row in order to advance to the state regional round of 16. The Chieftains play Tuesday against Kennedy (11-11) in the first of the elimination games.

McKenzi Williams used her speed to dazzle for the Ravens (22-0), scoring 17 points and setting up her teammates with drives and passes for easy buckets. Olivia Denton made four 3-pointers and scored 15 for the Ravens.

Kate Kraft made two 3-pointers in the first half and led Columbia River with six points. She was in foul trouble most of the game.

None of the Ravens were in foul trouble — the Chieftains did not shoot a free throw in the contest.

Maddy Kessi, Teaghan Cowles, and Gabrielle Collins each scored four points for River.

“As always, I told them I was happy with the effort,” Columbia River coach Carl Click said. “They made a strong attempt at executing the stuff we told them to do to be competitive.”

River found plenty of open looks in the first quarter and again in the second half, but the shots weren’t falling.

“We make a few of those wide-open shots, it’s a 15-point game,” Click said. “And we didn’t. That’s just inexperience in this type of tournament.”

AUBURN RIVERSIDE 57, COLUMBIA RIVER 26

COLUMBIA RIVER — Ellie Furth 2, Maddy Kessi 4, Kate Kraft 6, Teaghan Cowles 4, Erin Baker 0, Gabrielle Collins 4, Katie Kolbe 2, Anna Klundt 0, Claire Pardue 2, Yaiydenn Lopez-Perez 0, Emma Fisk 2. Totals 12 (2) 0-0 26.

AUBURN RIVERSIDE — Autumn Lee 6, Olivia Denton 15, McKenzi Williams 17, Faith Turner 11, Iyana Galarza 8. Kiana Drumheller 0, Olivia Bethea 0, Brooke Dye 0, Jhordin Prescott 0, Katelyn Brown 0, Brooklyn Forte 0. Totals 19 (8) 11-21 57.

Columbia River 5 11 8 2–26

Auburn Riv. 20 14 15 8–57