MILWAUKIE — In the Ashland girls basketball team’s long-awaited return to the postseason Friday, the Grizzlies were only able hold on for so long before the state’s second-ranked and reigning Class 5A champions used its high-powered offense to seize control.

The 15th-seeded Grizzlies were unable to absorb the incredible performance of La Salle Prep’s Addison Wedin, who scored 41 points and fueled the host Falcons to a 97-41 victory in the opening round of the Class 5A state playoffs.

Ashland (14-11), which captured its first playoff berth since the 2009-10 season by finishing fourth in the Midwestern League, had its work cut out for it against a Falcons team that had scored 80 points or more six times during the regular season.

“We had a great team effort tonight but this was just a really good team we faced,” said Grizzlies coach Antione Perry.

Ashland was down but not out facing a 22-9 deficit in the final seconds of the first quarter until La Salle Prep dropped in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Falcons a 16-point cushion.

The Falcons (23-3) then put up 35 points in the second quarter to take a commanding 60-23 halftime lead.

“We really came out and competed this season,” said Perry. “I’m very proud of them and this was a big stepping stone for our program this year. It was a big step and next time we’ll know what we need to do to get here again.”

Senior guard Nina Munson paced the Grizzlies with 13 points, eight rebounds and five assists while junior forward Jayd Sollinger went for 10 points, six boards, one steal and one blocked shot.

Wedin had five of the Falcons’ 15 3-pointers and Emily Niebergall made six from long distance en route to 24 points. La Salle Prep advances to take on Corvallis in the quarterfinals Tuesday.

ASHLAND (41): Moran 5, Sollinger 10, Barnes 0, Baldwin 2, Munson 13, Losinski 2, Cooper 2, Abel 7. Totals: 19 2-8 .

LA SALLE PREP (97): Shackleton 3, Niebergall 24, A. Wedin 41, Drango 4, Buerk 0, Sisul 4, Buchanan 2, Collins 4, Mogel 7, E. Wedin 8. Totals: 35 12-14 .

Ashland914126— 41

La Salle Prep25352213— 97

3-point goals — Ashland 1 (Moran 1), La Salle Prep 15 (Niebergall 6, A. Wedin 5, Shackleton 1, Drango 1, E. Wedin 2).