Colfax boys finish tough NE run at 2-1

Colfax boys battled to a 50-45 win Tuesday on their home court against a talented LRS Bronco team to finish with a 2-1 mark over the last three games. The not-so-pretty win over the Broncos finished a streak of battles against some of the top teams in the NE race this year.

After Tuesday’s win over the Broncos, the Bulldogs stand at 3-2 in the NE league with a holiday break until they compete in the new Holiday tournament at Lewiston and Clarkston at the end of next week.

Over the weekend, the Bulldogs set the pace early for a 64-37 win over Reardan and then dropped a three-point loss at Colbert in an all-out battle with Northwest Christian.

Friday on the home court against Reardan, Colfax senior Brady Ellis scored 22 points with five three pointers. Colfax broke out a 12-2 lead over the Indians with 3:36 left in the first quarter after Ellis hit three straight treys.

Reardan, led by Skylar Peone, weathered the early Ellis storm, but trailed for the duration.

Saturday at Colbert against a tough NWC club in the first collision since the 2B title game, the Bulldogs again had another explosive start with Brandon Gfeller hitting the early three-pointers. He finished with six of the long shots and 21 points.

Colfax early in the game led by 14 points, but the Crusaders came back with balanced scoring and made up points over the next two quarters. They out-paced the Bulldogs by 10 in the third frame.

Colfax recovered the pace in the last quarter and had a final-seconds chance to tie the game with a three-pointer, but it didn’t happen.

Saturday’s road loss to the Crusaders put Colfax at 2-2 before Tuesday’s home clash with the Broncos.

Lind/Ritzville posted a strong lead early in the Tuesday home game, but the Bulldogs came back with 17 in the second frame with Brandon Gfeller hitting 10, and the Bulldogs took a 26-20 lead at the break. The Broncos, who arrived in town with a win over the same NWC club that stopped Colfax at Colbert, sustained a big setback when senior Dylan Hart was sidelined with an injury.

The Bulldogs and Broncos played it even for most of the second half in a game which became a little ragged at the finish.

Colfax 64-Readan 37:19/4 22/18 16/7 7/8: Brandon Gfeller 7 (3pt), 1-1 16, ‘Brady Ellis 7 (5-3pt) 3-5 22, Bryce Kramlich 4 (3pt) 0-0 9, Keith Gfeller 2 (3pt) 0-0 5, Kasey Johnson 1 0-0 2, John Mellor 1 0-0 2, Skylar Simonson 3 0-0 6, Brent Becker 1 0-0 2. Total:26 (7-3pt) 5-9 f-17 64. Reardan: Daniel Peone : 3 2-4 8, Skylar Peone 4 (3-3pt) 12, Mick Brockman 6 0-0 12, William Alsept 0 2-4 2. Total: 14 (4-3pt0 5-11 f-13 47.

Northwest Christian 63-Colfax 60: 13/22 21/16 20/10 9/12: Brandon Gfeller 7 (6-3pt) 1-1 21, Brady Ellis 2 (3pt) 0-0- 5, Keith Gfeller 3 (3pt) 2-2 9, Kasey Johnson 3 (3pt) 8-9 15, Skylar Simonson 4 2-2 10. Total: 19 (9-3pt)13-14 f-14 60. NWC: Cody Kilpartrick 1 0-0 2, Jonathan Morris 5 (3pt ) 2 -2 13, Austin Friedly 5 2-5 12, Nick Kiourkas 6 (3pt) 0-0 13, Matt Kershnar 4 (3pt) 1-3 10, Kobie Hanson 3 1-2 7, Tyler Stephens 3 0-0 6. Total: 27 ( (3-3pt) 6-14 f-17 63.

Colfax 50-Lind Ritzville Sprague 45: 9/16 17/4 14/13 10/12: Brandon Gfeller 8 (5 -3pt) 3-4 24, Brady Ellis 4 (2-3pt) 0-0 10, Bryce Kramlich 1 0-0 3, Keith Gfeller 1 0-0 2, Kasey Johnson 3 3-5 9, Skylar Simonsxon 1 0-0 2. Total 18 6-11 f-15 50. Ritzville: Conner O’Neill 2 (3pt) 0-0 5, Dylan Hartz 5 (2-3pt) 0-0 12, Cort Ruzicka 1 2-2 4, Colby Starring 4 (2-3pt) 0-0 10, Ryan Whitmore 3 3-3 9, Tyler Frederick 2 1-1 5. Total: 17 6-10 f-15 45.

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