MIDDLETON - Senior Kelly Madsen missed out on the Timberlake Tigers' runner-up finish in last year's state 3A girls basketball tournament.

This season, she's right in the middle of it.

Madsen scored a game-high 22 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the floor to lead the Tigers past the Salmon Savages in the opening round of the state tournament Thursday at Middleton High.

Timberlake (14-10) will play Snake River (18-5) in the semifinals today at 5:15 p.m. PST in Middleton. Snake beat Weiser 32-25.

"We came out with lots of energy in the first quarter," Timberlake coach Matt Miller said. "On the first play of the game, Taylor Mason dove on the floor for a loose ball. From that point, we just did whatever it took to win."

Madsen scored 7 of the team's first 13 points, and finished the first half with nine points. Madsen returned to the program after sitting out last year to focus on volleyball.

“Kara (Wenstrom) made me come back this year,” Madsen said. “I’m going to play (volleyball) at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, but she’s my best friend. I’m really glad she made me play this season.”

Wenstrom, also a senior, added 19 points and five rebounds for Timberlake.

“It just felt like we had it going today,” Wenstrom said. “We really had a feeling that we needed to make up for finishing second in districts.”

Timberlake jumped out to a 16-5 lead after the first quarter, using a full-court press to force 16 turnovers for the game.

Madsen and Wenstrom hit 3-pointers midway through the third quarter to put the Tigers in front 43-26.

“They’ve been doing it all season,” said Miller of the senior duo. “We really look to them to have great games — and they were both tremendous.”

Jessica Norlander had seven first-half points and six rebounds off the bench for Timberlake.

“(Jessica) Norlander was just outstanding in the first half,” Miller said. “It seemed like we were always on the attack in the first half. Our whole talk this season is to get better each game. Tonight, we probably played our best basketball of the season. We’re making big improvements from the start of the season.”

Salmon (13-9) led by Kelsey Hansen with 16 points and eight rebounds. The Savages won the District 6 championship a year after going 1-18.

“Timberlake shot the ball really well,” Salmon coach Eric Bender said. “They penetrated and dished the ball well. I thought we did a good job of defending inside, but they hit some shots. We got a little nervous in the first quarter and it was definitely a factor. Timberlake played hard and we just couldn’t knock down the shots we needed the rest of the way.”

Timberlake 16 16 21 6 — 59

Salmon 5 15 10 11 — 41

TIMBERLAKE — Wenstrom 19, George 0, Malloy 5, Mason 0, Hoffman 3, Madsen 22, Posch 3, Fitzmorris 0, Hardy 0, Norlander 7, Gibson 0, Owen 0. Totals 22-59 9-11 59.

SALMON — Keller 0, Beyeler 6, Phillips 0, Olson 15, Overacker 0, Schroeder 2, McClenahan 0, Taylor 2, Hansen 16. Totals 18-48 4-8 41.