Friends become champions

Sami Anderson and Haley Briggs bounced back from their first lost set in stunning fashion.

The two Washougal High School seniors beat Ridgefield’s Sarah Kaufman and Sophie Bird 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 for the 2A sub-district doubles championship Saturday, in Longview.

“We’ve been friends forever,” Anderson said. “And now we have this championship to remember forever.”

Briggs and Anderson are on their way to the district tournament Friday, in Olympia.

“It’s time to let loose. Not play cautiously or defensively,” Briggs said. “We want to show everybody why we got first at subs. If we do that, I think we will be successful.”

Coach Linda Balholm was proud of the way the two Panthers fought from behind in all three sets.

“This was the plan when we put these two together,” Balholm said. “I hope they take that mental toughness they had in the last match on to the court at districts. They have the athleticism and talent, they just have to work through the mental game.”

Anderson and Briggs finished 9-0 in league, and they are 4-0 so far in the playoffs.

Washougal senior Maddie Gregory settled for sixth place in the singles bracket at sub-districts.