Bulldog boys finished year back at Spokane

Bulldog boys winning honors Monday from the left, are Caleb Berquist, Carson Cloaninger, Kelan Becker, Austin Ring, Brett Kincaid, Jaydon Soncarty and Bryan Rubin.

Speaking next to a head table with six seniors in the Colfax High library, Colfax Coach Reece Jenkin said he was just very happy to get the crew to the state show at the Spokane arena at the end of the season. It was the first time Colfax boys have made the state scene since 2013 which was before this year’s seniors had started their high school hoop campaigns.

Colfax made it by taking a string of wins in elimination games after they were bumped into the consolation bracket by NE champs St. George’s.

“They have been a lot of fun to coach,” Jenkin commented.

Colfax this year rang up a 19-7 record and finished with the number-three NE ticket to the state show.

“As the year went on we continued to improve,” the coach noted.

Among memories on the campaign included Liberty’s one-point win here with a last-second basket. Jenkin said after viewing the game video multiple times he concedes it looked like Liberty’s Jawuan Nave’s buzzer shot was valid.

On the post-season trail, he noted the win over Davenport as one of the team’s best and the loser-out game with Northwest Christian in overtime was a highlight of the West Valley district campaign.

The Bulldog run ended with a loss to Toledo in the Wednesday round to the state tournament.

Seniors finishing their careers were Austin Ring, Chase Baerlocher, Cal Gregory, Brett Kincaid, Jaydon Soncarty and Caleb Berquist.

Berquist, noted as “the one guy able to get players going,” was voted for most inspirational. Juniors Bryan Rubin and Kelan Becker tied for the most-improved award, and junior Carson Cloaninger received the team’s MVP award, an honor he also received at the all-league presentations in West Valley.

Ring was presented with the Bulldog award, and Soncarty and Kincaid received captain’s awards. Six juniors on the team receiving varsity awards were Cloaninger, Rubin, Becker, Bennett Gray, Cameron Hiatt and exchange student Lorenzo Torlia from Italy.

Jenkin noted Torlai was the first exchange student who actually favored basketball over soccer when he arrived on the scene.

Assistant Coach Cody Leander presented awards to jayvee and C squad players.