Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Last year started with seven losses. The year before started with four. The 2018-19 season for the Colton boys began with a 14-point comeback win against Logos.
A core of three seniors return from a team which finished third in the Southeast 1B league last year, their season ending in a fight in Walla Walla with favored Garfield/Palouse for the last spot to advance.
Gar/Pal won, but not before a series of nervous moments against the Wildcats.
This year, Colton All-league, three-year starter, post player Reece Chadwick is back along with guard Parker Druffel, also All-league, and point guard Luke Vining, another two-year starter. A twist for this year’s offense is the 6’2” Chadwick plays more of a shooting guard while 6’1” Druffel moves to post. Vining will again run the point, after missing more than half of last season with a leg injury from football.
“In my mind, he’s the best point guard in the league,” said coach Nick Simons, in his third year at Colton.
Joining the three seniors are Kian Anderson, a junior guard, who played significant varsity time last year while Vining recovered. Sophomore post Trent Druffel rounds out Colton’s starting five. Other players expected to contribute on varsity this year are junior posts Jon Bean and Jackson Meyer, along with Chris Wolf, a junior guard.
“It’s been great,” Simons said. “I feel like we’re so much farther ahead at this point than last year. Things are just clicking. I think a year ago we would’ve lost that game to Logos by 10 points.”
The team graduated one starter from 2017-18; All-league point guard Matt Wolf.
The Southeast 1B league this year is again expected to be lead by Garfield/Palouse and Oakesdale, while last year’s champion and third-in-state finisher Pomeroy graduated five starters.
Colton will start league play Saturday at home against Touchet. They host Orofino on Friday. Both games start at 6:30 p.m.
Simons will again be assisted by Nick Dickinson.
Colton 50, Logos 39
Reece Chadwick led the Wildcats with 21 points as Colton beat Logos of Moscow 50-39 to open their season Nov. 30 in Colton.
Parker Druffel scored 13 points and Luke Vining delivered nine assists. Colton trailed by 14 points at halftime. Nate Miller led Logos with 11 points.
Colfax 58, Oakesdale 32
Kieron Anderson led the Nighthawks with 15 points in the season-opening loss at 2B Colfax Dec. 1. Kit Hockett added seven points.
Potlatch 59, Garfield/Palouse 29
Opening the 2018-19 season across the border in Potlatch, Gar/Pal went down as the Loggers’ Brayden Hadaller scored 25 points while Dacota Hadaller added 12 points and 11 rebounds. Ely Hawkins led the Vikings with 9 points.
Tekoa/Rosalia 48, Garfield/Palouse 35
Gar/Pal dropped to 0-3 to start the season, losing at Garfield Tuesday night. Craig Mueller led the Timberwolves with 16 points while Garret Naught added 13 points. Austin Jones led Garfield/Palouse with 14 points while Ely Hawkins had nine.
Gar/Pal also lost to Lakeside Dec. 1.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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