EPHRATA - Three Tigers scored in double figures Monday night to propel the Ephrata girls basketball team to a 57-40 win over Ellensburg in the opening round of the 2A District 5/6 playoffs.

Heidi Burchert lead the offensive attack for the Tigers with 17 points. Kelsey Yenny added 13, and Julia Weaver finished with 10 points.

"Overall, I thought we played really well," coach Aaron Ross said. "We played solid defense, started executing our offense and had a balanced scoring attack."

Ephrata jumped out to a 14-9 lead at the end of the first quarter and was up 24-20 at the half. The Tigers came out with a vengeance in the third quarter with a 20-9 run to put the Bulldogs in a hole they were unable to dig themselves out of as Ephrata took a commanding 34-29 lead.

Ellensburg fought back and nearly matched the Tigers point wise (13-11) in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late as Ephrata won going away in front of an enthusiastic home crowd.

The win advances the Tigers to a second round match up on the road Friday against the Wapato Wolves.

"Wapato is a good talented team, so we are going to have to play our best ball," Ross said. "They are fast up and down the court, so we are going to have to figure out a way to slow them down."