BY GERARDO BOLONG
Contributing Writer

No. 1 Seamount League seed Kennedy Catholic woke up the echoes after a slow start to turn away No. 3 Greater St. Helens League Columbia River (Vancouver) 46-36 at Kennedy High School in a first round game of the 2015 West Central III/Southwest Washington IV bi-district girls 3A basketball tournament on Wed., Feb. 11.

The Lancers (17-4) moved on to a Feb. 13, 6 p.m. showdown rematch against Narrows League Lincoln of Tacoma (13-5). The Abes hosted Kennedy in the season opener and took advantage of the Lancers in the third quarter for a 61-42 victory. Columbia River (14-8) has a Feb. 13 loser-out date with Enumclaw (11-10) at Washington High School.

Ariell Garnett was involved in the Kennedy Catholic 7-2 scoring burst that opened the second half and enhanced the Lancer lead to 27-18. Sandwiched around her 3-pointer was a Garnett steal and lay up plus an assist to Jasmine Moore.

As the proceedings developed, the Lancer speed wore down the hard fighting Vancouverites on both ends of the court. Kelsey Abrejera, Nikki Miller and Garnett later fired up the Lancers in an increased pace that increased the lead that grew to 36-22 after three quarters.

"They got off to a slow start shooting," River head coach Carl Click recalled. "But then their shooters got hot. We couldn't defend three different girls who were throwing up 3-pointers and making them."
The margin reached a game-high 16 points at 43-27 with just less than four minutes left in the fourth quarter, although the Chieftains made dents in the margin until the final whistle.

"The girls looked hesitant, early," said Kennedy Catholic head coach Greg Caldwell. "They just didn't want to make a mistake. We knew they would pack it (the zone defense) in. Once we made a couple of shots, they just had to believe in themselves. We also started moving the ball better."

Columbia River established an opening beach head by passing the ball well and getting inside shots to lead 8-0.

With 2:47 remaining in the quarter, Garnett got the Lancers on the scoreboard with a lay up. Another Garnett basket followed by a Moore put back had Kennedy Catholic within 8-6 after one quarter.
After the River posted four consecutive second quarter points, Kennedy's Nikki Miller broke out of early poor shooting bury a 3-pointer midway through the quarter before following up Miyu Miyashita's outside goal with a face-up trey for a 14-12 Lancer lead. Marion Lily faked out a defender to tie the score for Chieftains, but Miller hit another 3-point goal from the corner for Kennedy.

Two converted free throws ahead of a pair of missed Columbia River free shots left CR behind 17-16.
Being the beneficiary of snappy Lancer passing, Garnett was open to bury a 3-pointer that sent Kennedy Catholic into the break with a 20-16 lead.

Garnett ran and jumped for 17 Lancer points while Miller joined her in double figures scoring with 12.
Marion Lilly fought hard for her 13 Chieftain points and Megan Bloom had 10 rebounds.