Prep Girls Basketball Roundup: Reports and scores from The Blast Zone

Upset City — Mark Morris shocks Columbia River; and the rest of the action

A well-worn basketball rests near the baseline of a gymnasium in Southwest Washington waiting for its next chance to be put through the help while also drawing a foul for an old fashioned 3-point opportunity. / Jordan Nailon for Blast Zone Media

Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com

Monarchs upset first-place Columbia River

The Mark Morris girls basketball team gathers for a timeout during a game earlier this season at Natt Court. On Tuesday the Monarchs defeated Columbia River 46-42 at home in Bakamus Gymnasium. — Jordan Nailon / Blast Zone Media

The Mark Morris girls basketball team had some soul searching to do last week. Coming off a league loss to Ridgefield that they found to be unacceptable, the Monarchs took a good long look at themselves in the mirror and had to decide what to do next.

And then they decided to throw a left-handed monkey wrench into the gear of the 2A Greater St. Helens League, which is the only apt description for the Monarchs 46-42 win over Columbia River on Tuesday at Bakamus Gymnasium.

“(We) spent a good portion of practice (Friday) working beating teams that switch everything and being physical,” Mark Morris coach Sean Atkins said. “We have to respond to adversity and runs of a game better. We have the talent, just need to piece an entire basketball game together.”

All of that proved to be spot on foreshadowing for Tuesday’s thriller at home. But even after a few sessions of self reflection and conditioning, it was a big ask for anyone outside the home locker room to believe the Monarchs would begin their path to redemption so, um, rapidly. After all, Columbia River was not just in first place, it was undefeated in 2A GSHL play before stepping onto Natt Court.