Crusaders dominate in clash of the undefeateds

Northwest Christian boys arrived in Colfax Tuesday night with a familiar cast and proved up on their claim to the top league spot with an undefeated league record. Cole Ramey, Kwinn Hanson, Reuben Clark and Co. played up to form in front of a big Colfax crowd for a 77-51 win in a match which featured the battle of the undefeated league teams.

The Crusader rolled to Colfax after a 68-35 crunch of the Ritzville Broncos in the home gym at Colbert Saturday night. That put their league mark at 8-0.

Colfax Bulldog Rick Scholz has the situation totally covered as he muscles a rebound from a St. George's player Saturday at Colfax. Waiting for the outcome, from the left, are Lincoln Clark of St. Georges, Jay Hart of Colfax and Corey Spalding of St. Georges.

Colfax hosted Tuesday after moving their league mark to 7-0 with wins at Ritzville Friday and over St. George’s on the home boards Saturday.

Northwest Tuesday moved to a 36-21 lead at half-time and never gave up ground for the balance. Topped by 19 points from senior guard Ramey, the veteran Colbert club played a patient game on offense and dominated most phases. Ramey hit six shots from the field, including a pair of threes.

The Crusader crew shot more than 50 percent, 31-59 with 57 percent mark in the first half. Northwest out-boarded Colfax 45-28 with Kwinn Hanson pulling down 14.

“You have to credit Northwest Christian. They are just an awfully potent team,” Colfax Coach Reece Jenkin said.

NWC’s 17 rebound edge took a big toll. The Bulldogs went into the game with the aim of keeping the board battle close, but it didn’t happen.

Colfax finished with a 16-51 shooting night against the Crusaders’ extended zone defense.

The guests had a 69-42 lead with 3:18 left when both coaches called in the reserves to finish it out.

The league loss leaves the Bulldogs with a 7-1 mark.

Saturday on the home boards, the Bulldog boys ran into a contentious St. George team in the first quarter. The fast-moving Dragons cracked a 17-16 lead after the first quarter, but Colfax, led by JJ Robinson, charged in the second quarter and had a 39-24 lead at the break.

Robinson finished with 24 points, including three shots outside the three-point arch.

Colfax finished with just under 50 percent shooting from the field at 24-50, and the Bulldogs out-boarded the smaller Dragon team 32-23 and had a 26-17 edge on turnovers.

Friday at Ritzville, the Bulldogs also kicked it into gear in the second half at the Broncos’ gym. The hosts led 24-23 at the break, but the Bulldogs held them to four points in the third quarter to take over the lead and then stacked a 12-point edge in the last frame for the 55-39 win.

Robinson hit 20 against the Broncos, and Brandon Gfeller hit 17 with a pair of three-pointers.

This weekend, Colfax starts a run of four home league games with the Lind-Ritzville-Sprague Broncos in town Friday and the Kettle Falls team in town Saturday. Reardan will visit Colfax Tuesday.

Northwest Christian 77-Colfax 51: 11/5 25/16 23/16 18/14: Jon Williams 3 0-0 6, Cole Ramey 6 (2-3 pt) 5-5 19, Austin Friedly 3-3 0-2 6 Jack Shannon 1 (3pt ) 1-2 4, Matthew Kerschinar 1 0-0 2, Kwinn Hanson 7 3-5 17, Tyler Stephens 2 0-0 4, Reuben Clark 4 2-4 10. Total: 31-59 12-18 f-17 77. Colfax: Brandon Gfeller 4 (3pt) 5-5 14, Kyle Johnson 1 (3pt) 0-0 3, Alex Teade 3 (3pt) 0—0 7, Jay Hart 1 2-4 4, JJ Robinson 3 6-9 12, Andrew Scholz 3 3-3 8, Kellen Morgan 1(3pt) o-1 3. Total: 16-51 15-21 f-20 51.

Colfax 65-St. George’s 39; 16/17 23/7 12/6 14/9: Gfeller 6 (3-3pt) 0-0 15, Johnson 2 (3p[t) 0-0 5, Teade 4 (3pt) 4-4 13, Hart 0 2-2 2, Robinson 10 (3-3pt) 1-1 24, Andrew Scholz 2 2-4 6. Total: 24-50 9-11 f-18 65. St. George’s: Mark Kenney 1 -0-2. 2, Karl Muelheims 2 2-4 6, Erick Muelheims 7 (3pt) 2-2 17, Corey Spalding 1(3pt) 0-0 3, Lincoln Clark 0 1-2 1, Dexter Sienko 4 2-3 10. Total: 15-38 7-14 f-15 39.

Colfax 55-Lind/Ritzville/ Sprague 39: 12/9 11/15 9/4 23/11: Gfeller 4 (2-3pt) 7-9 17, Hart 3 3-4 9, Robinson 6 (3pt) 7-9 20, Andy Scholz 0 2-3 2, Teade 0 1-3 1, Kellen Morgan 2 2-2 6. Total: 15 22-29 55. Broncos: Dylan Hartz 3 (3pt) 2-3 9, Jesse Miller 1 (3pt) 0-0 3, Brent Stromberger 1 0-2 2, Bryce Hilzer 1 1-2 3, Jake Eichner 3 (3pt) 2-2 9, Steinmetz 1 0-0 2, Steven Steinberger 1 1-2 3, Hartz 4 0-0 8.