Riverside, Colville see title hopes end

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. – After a near-miss in 2014 against Zillah in the State 1A regional round, Riverside coach K.C. Ahrens was sure he had the recipe in 2015 to knock off the top-ranked and defending state champion Leopards and earn the Rams first state trip since 2006.

But that recipe for success was going to need a large dose of point guard Tyler Axtell. 

That didn’t happen Saturday as Zillah’s physical guard play stifled Axtell, limiting him to 9 points on 2-of-12 shooting, making sure Ahrens’ recipe didn’t come together and the Leopards defeated the Rams, 76-49 at Sunnyside High School.

The loss ends Riverside’s season at 18-7 – one game short of Yakima for the second straight season.

“They mauled us,” Ahrens said. “We simply didn’t respond to what they did.”

Ahrens noted that Zillah didn’t do anything he hadn’t seen on film, the Leopards were simply able to exert their will on his team.

After an even first period, Zillah closed out the first half on a 10-2 run over the final 3:39 and went into halftime with a 28-16 lead.

Jared Ellis, Justin Dinsmore and Trey Delp hit early 3-pointers for Zillah in the second half and suddenly Riverside was facing a 43-20 deficit and without answers.

Andrew Kramer led Riverside with 23 points.

Girls

Zillah 41, Colville 37: Abbie Myers scored just one basket for Zillah, but her three-point play with 1:25 left in the game propelled the Leopards past the Indians and to the state quarterfinals.

The Indians finish the season at 14-11.

Colville struggled to get any semblance of an offense going in the opening half, turning the ball over 19 times and scoring just six points.

Colville coach Greg Mace admitted afterwards that his guards were flustered by Zillah’s pressure and that the Leopard post players were able to move 6-foot-1 senior Megan Lee well outside where he wanted her to set up.

Colville’s offense came alive in the third period thanks to enhanced inside presence by Lee and Sam Hines in closing to 25-19.

Colville hit 12 of 18 free throws in the final period, at one point cutting Zillah’s lead to 33-30. But Myers responded with her crucial play just seconds later and the Indians couldn’t get any closer.