By Al Camp
The Chronicle

     YAKIMA – The Okanogan High School girls basketball team won its state-opener 61-25 over Cedar Park Christian in the class 1A tournament Wednesday, March 3, in the Yakima SunDome.
     The Bulldogs advance in the winners bracket to the quarter-finals and will play Connell, which upset No. 1 ranked Seattle Christian, 33-27. Seattle Christian was the class 1A defending state champion.
     Okanogan and Connell play in the SunDome at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 4.
     Okanogan’s defense limited Eagles to seven points or less per quarter the entire opening game.
     On offense, two Okanogan girls outscored the entire Eagles team – Kara Staggs put up 18 points and Morgan Kerr added 11.
     The Bulldogs also out-rebounded the Eagles 37-27 and caused 27 turnovers in the victory.
     Cedar Park went 9-of-41 from the field, or 22 percent. Okanogan was 25-of-48, or 52 percent, from the field.
     In other morning action, Granger knocked off Vashon Island.
     Granger shares the No. 3 ranking with Freeman High School.
     Games still to come today include Lakeside vs. Toledo, Chelan vs. Bellevue Christian, Lynden Christian vs. Rainier, Zillah vs. Freeman and Onalaska vs. Nooksack Valley.