Bulldog boys finish 2016-17 year

Honorees at the boys hoop banquet included, from the left, Chase Baerlocher, Bulldog award; Austin Ring, most improved; Josh Goebel, most inspiratonal, Jared Kneale, co-captain; and Danny Robinson, most valuable player and co-captain.

Colfax boys basketball wrapped up Tuesday night with four seniors at the head table along with the three coaches. The banquet capped a season which saw the Bulldog boys roll up a strong campaign in a very competitive NE league.

Colfax finished at 17-7 on the season and came within one win of advancing to the final rounds under the state's new playoff format.

"If you told me at the start of the season we were going to finish with a 17-7 record, I wouldn't have believed it,'' coach Reece Jenkin commented.

He pointed out the team grew stronger as the season rolled along, and they picked up confidence along the way.

Some of the highlights included the overtime win over Liberty and the win over St. George's on the home court, a comeback win over Okanogan and road wins over Asotin and Springdale.

Jenkin noted Colfax competed in a league which saw NE teams collect three of the six trophies at the state finals in Spokane. Liberty placed second, Northwest Christian fourth and St. George's fifth.

Senior Danny Robinson received the most valuable teammate award, and junior Austin Ring received the most improved award. Chase Baerlocher, also a junior, received the Bulldog award, and Josh Goebel, a senior who played on the C-squad, was voted for the inspirational award. Captains awards went to Robinson and Jared Kneale, who anchored the Colfax game under the basket.

Chris Aspenwall was the other senior at the head table.

Other team members honored were Carson Cloaninger, Brett Kincaid, Caleb Berquist, Jaydon Soncarty, Bennett Gray, Brian Rubin and Kellen Becker.

Jayvee coach Ben Aune also credited his team with making a lot of progress on the way to a 12-7 season. He noted the team really put it together over its last six or seven games.

Gray, Becker, Rubin and Ring also played part time on the jayvee squad as floaters.

Other members of the jayvee team were Cole Baerlocher, Blake Holman, Mark Jacobs and Hunter Claassen.

C-squad coach Jeremy Bogle presented awards to team members Cotton Booker, Gavin Hammer, Nick Klaveano, Gunnar Aune, Dakota Hall, Connor Johnson and Goebel. Matthew Neu, who was absent, will also receive an award.