Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Lost to St. George's and Jenkins to end 2-2 for season
Colfax's Carson Gray catches a pass while playing the Cougars.
COLFAX - The Colfax Bulldogs boys basketball team is coming out of last weekend with losses to St. George's 79-47, and Jenkins 77-48.
The young Colfax group played without both of its juniors. John Lustig strained a muscle in his back last week in practice and Damian Demler sprained his ankle.
"(The weekend) was a bit of a learning curve," said Colfax Coach Reece Jenkin. "But our kids didn't quit. They're giving what they have. Kids are getting opportunities and we're adjusting on the fly."
Colfax only had freshmen and sophomores available against the two veteran teams from the north.
As of Monday, Jenkin hoped he would have Lustig and Demler back by the end of the week.
"I've never been in anything quite like this," said Jenkin.
With its full roster, Colfax beat Kettle Falls 61-39 on May 18.
Freshman guard Seth Lustig led with 18 points, Demler had 15, and John Lustig 14. Mason Gilchrist added 4 points and 7 rebounds.
The team opened with a 67-34 win over Reardan on May 15.
Colfax has 14 players for the short season.
"These guys are fun to coach, a very young group, very hungry to learn," said Jenkin. "The energy has been awesome."
No seniors elected to play. They graduate on June 5.
"It's kind of created a youth movement for us," Jenkin said. "This year our young guys will get a lot of experience, which will pay off next year having everybody back ... We play with a little more pace this year, which fits this group. We're playing fast but we're not always playing smart."
John Lustig is the lone returning starter from last year.
A new contributor is John Lustig's brother Seth Lustig. Joining the two Lustigs in 2021 are Demler, and sophomore post players Gilchrist and Carsen Gray.
The team will play a 10-game regular season, all league games.
As for the competition, Bi-County 2B League schools with the majority of their players back include St. George's, Liberty, and Lind-Ritzville-Sprague. Turnout among seniors may be a factor.
A three-day league playoff runs June 14-18.
"It's a season of a lot of games and not a lot of practices," said Jenkin. "(It's) fun for the kids, not quite as fun for the coaches."
May 18 marked the first basketball games played in the newly remodeled Colfax High gym. One new feature is a clock in the locker room synced to the game clock so a coach knows just how much time remains of halftime.
"I love our gym," Jenkin said. "I think it looks great and the little things, the updates are really nice to have."
Colfax is set to play next at Davenport. They return home on May 28 against Liberty.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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