Chief Sealth 71, River Ridge 54

By TIM BOOTHAssociated Press Writer TACOMA (AP )- Only sophomores, Chief Sealth’s Nia Jackson and Regina Rogers are already thinking beyond defending their state title next season. They’re talking three-peat. Jackson scored 23 points and Rogers added 15 as the Seahawks (27-2) won their first Class 3A state championship with a 71-54 win over River Ridge Saturday night at the Tacoma Dome. It was Chief Sealth’s 13th appearance at the state tournament. Their highest previous finish was third. “Hopefully, we’ll win it the next two years,” said Rogers, a 6-foot-4 post player. The Seahawks controlled the tempo from the start, scoring 16 of the first 18 points to easily beat River Ridge’s press. Within four minutes, all five Chief Sealth starters had scored. “Everyone got into a rhythm and it’s hard to break that rhythm,” Rogers said. It was just the second state tournament appearance for River Ridge (26-1), which failed to finish undefeated. Trailing 36-20 at halftime, the Hawks’ Chelsey White scored 10 points in the first 2:25 of the third quarter to trim the lead to 40-30. Chief Sealth responded by scoring 10 of the next 13 points to build the lead back to 17. River Ridge made one final spurt early in the fourth quarter, getting within 55-44 with 7:36 left. The Seahawks answered with a 15-1 run. Jackson and Rogers scored 12 of Sealth’s 15 points during the run. “The last two games our offense has not been in rhythm,” said Chief Sealth coach Ray Willis. “We knew at some point we would find that rhythm and it would click.” Valerie Cook added 10 points and Christina Nzekwe had eight points and 10 rebounds for Chief Sealth. Rogers, Nzekwe and Jackson were named to the all-tournament team. White led River Ridge with 25 points and Sophie Russell added 12. Cassidy Murillo from West Valley of Yakima was named the tournament MVP.