Crusader veterans hit town with 10-0 string on the line

It will be another mid-winter “game on” Friday when the Northwest Christian Crusaders bring their hoop heavyweights to the Colfax gym with the NE league’s top slot on the line. The Crusaders will arrive with a 10-0 mark and at least of the two of the players who fueled their 1B power run last year. They are 6-0 in the league.

Colfax, which dropped two games at the SunDome shootout last week in their sojourn to Yakima, will host with a 5-0 NE league record. The Bulldogs rolled past Davenport 63-55 in the Tuesday league round. They are a win notch back of NWC because of a re-booking of one of their pre-holiday league games.

In Tuesday’s league resumption at Davenport, Justin Berrarducci hit 19 and Kyle Johnson hit 17 for the Bulldogs. The Gorillas, who hosted the Bulldogs after taking the trophy at the Rosalia tournament last Thursday, spiked an early lead, but the Bulldog offense let out the clutch for 21 points in the second quarter to take the lead.

Johnson again rattled the defense with three zaps from outside threebie range. Four other Bulldogs hit long shots.

Davenport’s Joey Gunning, who had a big run at Rosalia, again led all players with 22 points. Gunning hit four buckets from outside of the perimeter.

NWC’s Kwinn Hanson, who averaged just under 19 points per game as a junior, again tops the chart for Colfax defense. Hansen Tuesday hit a game-high 18 against Springdale in Tuesday’s league round. NWC took a 89-34 win over the visiting Chargers.

Also needing no introduction before the league leaders pair off Friday at Colfax will be Reuben Clark, the Crusaders’ 6-6 inside power player.

The Colfax season win streak ended at six Thursday at the dome when they were edged by Columbia of Burbank in the first round 38-35.

The SunDome adventure didn’t get any better on the second day when the Colfax boys were hammered by the Ridgefield Spudders 76-51. Colfax overall record now stands at 7-2.

Other results of the NE league round Tuesday saw the LRS Broncos drop Liberty 60-46 and Reardan top St. George’s 65-51.

Colfax 63-Davenport 55: 10/16 21/8 13/18 19/13: Brandon Gfeller 6 (3pt) 2-3 15, Kyle Johinson 5 (3-3pt) 4-4 17, Tyler Stevenson 2 (3pt) 5, Brady Ellis 1 (3pt) 0-0 3, Jay Hart 2 0-0 4, Justin Berarducci 8 (3pt) 2-2 19. Total: 24 8-11 f-10 63. Davenport: Ryan Zeller 3 (3pt) 1-2 8, Shane Hopkins 1 0-0 2, Austin Telford 2 0-0 4, Conner VanPecanage 2 (both 3pt) 0-0 6, Travis Steadman 1 0-0 2, Wyatt Ebers 3 0-0 6, Joey Gunning 8 (4-3pt) 2-2 22, Cole Ebbers 2 1-4 5. Total: 22 4-8 f-13 55.

Ridgefield 76-Colfax 51: 18./ 8 28/21 9/9 21/13:Kyle Johnson 17, Seveneon 2, Rick Scholz 4, Hart 5, Kasey Johnson 2, Berarducci 17, Simonson 4. Ridgefield: Segundo 6, Ballantyne 14, Potter 21, Landerholme 23, Williams 6, Morris 6.

Columbia of Burbank 38-Colfax 35: 12/11 8/7 10/12 9/4: Kyle Johnson 9, Rick Schkolz 3, Hart 5, Bryce Kramlich 1, Kasey Johnson 4, Berarducci 13. . Columbia: McBride 4, Hanshew 2, Lawrence 3, N. Roberts 12, Chambers 3, Miller 6, J. Romm 4, C. Romm 4.