Heartbreak for Colfax girls basketball program

COLFAX - The reigning 2B state championship girls basketball team, the Colfax Bulldogs, saw their title defense end with two-straight losses in the 2023-24 state championship tournament.

With the exit, the Bulldogs failed to claim hardware from this season's tournament, however, the team is hungry for next season.

"We are definitely disappointed in how our season ended, but do not want to lose sight of the accomplishments of our team. It would have been easy for our girl's to lose faith when we were struggling in December, most teams probably would have rolled over, but our girl's stepped up and found a way to win against two great teams in the Holiday tournament at West Valley. That was a turning point in our season and what led to our long streak of team wins in January and February. I am proud of the way that they responded, and I hope moving forward that we continue to be a program of kids who fight to compete, and are resilient through adversity," said head coach Jordan Holmes.

Colfax had their first game in the Spokane Arena on Thursday, Feb. 29, a quarterfinal match-up against the number three seeded Okanogan Bulldogs.

Colfax would lose the first three quarters before winning the fourth quarter by three points, however, the Okanogan lead was too great, and Colfax fell 37-44.

Colfax scored just five points in the first quarter, and 10 in the second to trail 23-15 at half.

Colfax made seven total shots in the first half compared to nine from Okanogan.

Colfax would shoot 72% from two in the second half to keep them in the game, but made just one three-point shot, falling by seven points.

Brynn McGaughy finished with 17 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Hailey Demler had 12 points and eight rebounds.

The next game for Colfax was a loser-out match against the Mabton Vikings. The game was played on Friday, Mar. 1.

After leading by five at half, the Vikings would out-score the Bulldogs 23-18 in the third, evening the score with eight minutes to play.

In the fourth, Mabton scored 20 points while holding Colfax to just 15, ending the Bulldogs season.

Colfax shot 41% from two in the first half, and went 8/16 from two in the second. The Bulldogs would also shoot 50% from three in the second half, but could not keep Mabton from scoring inside, when the Vikings made 10 two-point shots, and five three-point shots.

McGaughy finished with 24 points and eight rebounds. She went 7/12 from two and 2/4 from three. She also had four assists.

Demler and Brenna Gilchrist were the other double-figure scorers for Colfax. They both had 11. Demler grabbed 10 rebounds in the game as well.

Colfax said goodbye to seniors Paige Claassen, Olivia Andrus, Demler, Ashley Ring, Lauryn York, and Destiny Nelson.

For next season, the new senior trio of McGaughy, Gilchrist, and Ava Swan will have to produce for the Bulldogs to return and claim back their trophy.

Okanogan, who defeated Colfax, took second in state to Napavine.