Colfax boys win two to build league margin

Colfax boys added two wins over the weekend to build a solid second-place notch in the Bi-County league. The Bulldogs are now 7-1 in the league race with their lone loss sustained at hands of Northwest Christian. The Crusaders posted heavy wins Friday over Kettle Falls and Tuesday over Liberty to remain undefeated on the season at 14-0.

Colfax Friday battled the St. George’s Dragons for three quarters and then pulled out a 24-point fourth quarter for a 59-44 final score.

Justin Berarducci again led the Bulldogs with 23 points, hitting 10-16 from the field. Berarducci also pulled down 18 rebounds, a personal record, Friday.

Jay Hart, who missed the NWC battle last week because of sickness added 12 points with a 6-7 mark from the field.

Coach Reece Jenkin said part of the fourth quarter charge came after the Bulldogs switched the screening assignments on offense. The Dragons were slow to switch off and Colfax picked up open shots.

Hart picked up a key layup and Brady Ellis hit, one of his two three-point buckets for a big boost during the stretch run.

Colfax wound up hitting over 53 percent from the field against the Dragons who were led by guard Mark Kenney with 12, including eight points off the toss line.

Saturday at Springdale, the Bulldogs dominated a Charger team which has sustained a shakeup in their lineup. Colfax had a 38-19 lead at the break with Coach Reece Jenkin calling out the reserves for court time.

Kyle Johnson led the Colfax scoring with 19 points, including three of the seven 3-pointers dropped by the Bulldogs. Brady Ellis finished with 13 and also hit three 3-pointers for the night.

Colfax finished with a 7-21 on the 3-point shots and hit over 43 percent from the floor.

Colfax will depart Friday for a long trip to Kettle Falls, take a break on Saturday, and then start a run of four games over six days. The packed schedule evolved from the late football season when the Bulldogs reset the first -round St. George’s game for next Monday.

After hosting the Dragons, the Bulldogs will host Liberty the next night, travel to Reardan to play the Indians on Friday and be back in the home gym to Saturday to host Lind/Ritzville/Sprague.

“It’s going to be a test. At least we’re going to play three of the four games on our home court,” Jenkin noted. He added the court time logged by the Bulldog bench will also be a plus for the crowded schedule for the coming week. .

Colfax 59 -St. George’s 44: 10/13 14/12 11/9 24/10: Brandon Gfeller 1 3-4 5, Kyle Johnson 3 (3-3pt) 0-0 9, Brady Ellis 2 (both 3pt) 2-2 8, Jay Hart 6 0-0 12, Justin Berarducci 10 3-7 23. Total: 23-43 8-13 f-16 59. St. George’s: Mark Kenney 2 8-11 12, Bruce Culbertson 2 0-0 4, Karl Muelheims 4 3-7 11, Erik Muelheims 4 2-2 10, Will Tender 3 (3pt) 0-0 7. Total: 15-48 13-20 f-14 44.

Colfax 69-Springdale 38: 22/9 16/10 18/8 13/11: Brandon Gfeller 4 4-7 12, Kyle Johnson 7 (3-3pt) 2-2 19, Tyler Stevenson 2 2-4 6, Brady Ellis 5 (3-3pt) 0-1 13, Kasey Johnson 3 (3pt) 0-2 7, Justin Berarducci 5 2-2 12. Total: 26-60 10-21 f-13 69. Springdale: Bryan Sulgrove 1 0-0 2, Isiah Wynecoop 2 (3pt) 0-0 5, Dakota McQuain 0 2-2 2, Callan Ward 3 (3pt) 0-0 7, Chase Fitzgerald 4 2-2 10, Autsin Prouty 1 (3pt) 0-0 3, Joey Beckman 1 0-0 2. Total: 14-43 5-8 f-14 38.