Skyview’s Kazz Parks knows her team will lean on her a lot this season. With the graduation of fellow all-league selection Remingtin Riley, the senior becomes the Storm’s go-to scorer.
On Friday, when the Storm needed it the most, Parks showed her killer instinct en route to 14 points and a 49-34 victory over rival Columbia River in the Storm Cellar. Twelve of her points came in response to consecutive Chieftain baskets.
“My dad always says if we’re not scoring in a couple minutes, I need to step up and score,” Parks said. “Honestly, I really wanted to beat them. It’s my last rival game. I wanted to get at it.”
After the Storm opened up a 10-1 lead in the first quarter, courtesy of a stifling fullcourt defense, Columbia River tried to rally. A pair of Jordan Ryan assists cut into the Storm lead. Parks, in transition, pulled up from long-range, hitting the second of her four 3s. She did the same in the third quarter in response to a pair of Ryan scores, this time out of a set play.
In the fourth quarter, Columbia River cut the Skyview lead to just eight with less than 4 minutes to play. Parks responded with a running floater and 3-pointer on back-to-back possessions to extend the lead back to 13, virtually sealing the victory.
“She’s a leader. She’s been here for three years on varsity,” coach Brett Johnson said. “I’ve told her, ‘You’ve got to be that person.’ I’m trying to find some more people to step up but right now, it’s going to be her right now.”
Addison McPherson and Madeline Hendricks added eight points each for the Storm (3-1).
For Columbia River, it was the Jordan Ryan show. The 6-foot senior guard scored 22 points and was the catalyst for most of the Chieftain offense, when they could break through the Skyview press.
Ryan dished a handful of assists and scored 19 of her points in the second half, including 14 in the fourth quarter as she finally got loose against the Skyview defense.
“Ava (Harman) is our stopper,” Johnson said. “So we put Ava on (Ryan) as a box-and-1, basically, and everyone is supposed to help off her.”
The Chieftains (3-1) also got five points from Noelle Young and a strong rebounding outing from Ellie Christian. Columbia River hosts Seton Catholic on Tuesday.
Skyview travels to Milwaukie, Ore. for a non-league contest on Tuesday.
“I’m feeling pretty good about it,” Parks said. “This game opened my mind to: ‘Hey Kazz, you need to score. You need to be a leader.’”
SKYVIEW 49, COLUMBIA RIVER 34
COLUMBIA RIVER — Grace Trickett 0, Dejah Wilson 1, Sami Myers 2, Lily Jonas 0, Bailey Gatten 1, Noelle Young 5, Ari Kuschner 0, Jordan Ryan 22, Ellie Christian 4, Emalee Place 0. Totals 10 (2) 13-20 34.
SKYVIEW — Kazz Parks 14, Emily Norton 3, Mikelle Anthony 4, Madeline Hendricks 8, Skylar Groesbeck 5, Addison MacPherson 8, Jordan Hallett 0, Avery Wilson 1, Ava Harman 2, Alexis Perez 0, Tanariea Deloney 4. Totals 19 (6) 7-10 49.
Col. River 1 8 8 18—34
Skyview 10 10 13 16—49
JV — Skyview 49-29.
