Gardner becomes Raymond’s all-time leading scorer in quarterfinal loss

Raymond senior passes Ronalda Dunn in 67-34 defeat to Colfax

By Ryan Sparks • March 3, 2022 11:45 pm
ERIC TRENT | THE CHRONICLE Raymond’s Kyra Gardner scores during the Seagulls’ 67-34 loss to Colfax in the 2B State quarterfinal round on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at the Spokane Arena. Gardner scored 21 points to surpass Ronalda Dunn as the school’s all-time leading scorer.
ERIC TRENT | THE CHRONICLE Raymond’s Kyra Gardner scores during the Seagulls’ 67-34 loss to Colfax in the 2B State quarterfinal round on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at the Spokane Arena. Gardner scored 21 points to surpass Ronalda Dunn as the school’s all-time leading scorer.

A record-breaking performance wasn’t enough as Raymond’s dream of a state title was cut short with a 67-34 loss to Colfax in the WIAA 2B State Girls Basketball Tournament quarterfinals on Thursday in Spokane.

Raymond senior guard Kyra Gardner scored 21 points for the Seagulls (19-3 overall) and set school history in the process.

With a 3-pointer in the latter half of the fourth quarter, Gardner scored the 1,860th point of her legendary prep career, breaking Ronalda Dunn’s mark of 1,859 set in 1990 to become the school’s all-time leading scorer.

Gardner recorded a double-double, grabbing 11 rebounds to go along with her 21 points.

But that was the only highlight of the game for the No. 4 Seagulls as third-seed Colfax and its two top stars were too much for Raymond to handle.

The Bulldogs (20-1) got 27 points and 18 rebounds from 6-foot-2 center Brynn McGaughy and 22 points from Central Washington commit Asher Cai.

Raymond trailed by just four after the first quarter, but got into a hole it couldn’t dig out of after being outscored 18-7 in each of the second and third quarters.

The Seagulls shot 12-of-54 (22.2%) from the field in the game, including 3-for-22 (13.6%) from 3-point range.

“Defensively we couldn’t contain Brynn McGaughy and Asher Cai,” Raymond head coach Jason Koski said. “And on offense we shot so poorly that we didn’t give ourselves a chance.”

Colfax outrebounded Raymond 54-37, including 21 offensive rebounds for the Bulldogs, leading to 26 second-chance points and 26 points in the paint.

Raymond will face a familiar foe in No. 8 Chief Leschi in an elimination game at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, with the winner advancing to the state fourth/sixth-place game on Saturday.

It will be the fourth meeting this season between the two Pacific League schools, with Raymond sweeping the season series, including a 68-60 victory in the District 4 championship on Feb. 19.

Raymond 11 7 7 9 — 34

Colfax 15 18 18 16 — 67

Scoring

Raymond (34) — Gardner 21, Freeman 6, Koski 4, Williams 2, Busenius 1

Colfax (67) — McGaughy 27, Cai 22, Gibb 7, Booth 4, Demler 2, Ring 2, Gilchrist 2, Swan 1

ERIC TRENT | THE CHRONICLE Raymond freshman Karsyn Freeman puts up a shot in the Seagulls’ 67-34 loss to Colfax in the 2B State quarterfinal round on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at the Spokane Arena.

ERIC TRENT | THE CHRONICLE Raymond freshman Karsyn Freeman puts up a shot in the Seagulls’ 67-34 loss to Colfax in the 2B State quarterfinal round on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at the Spokane Arena.