Bulldogs cruise past Screaming Eagles

SPOKANE VALLEY - With four players scoring in double figures, Colfax defeated Reardan 69-58 in the NE2B Boys District Tournament at West Valley High School, Monday, Feb. 6, to advance to a semifinal matchup with Northwest Christian.

With three 3-point baskets early in the game, Logan Flaa provided the offensive punch Reardan needed as they matched Colfax bucket-for-bucket in the first quarter. Flaa's 12 first quarter points gave Reardan the lead until a last-minute shot by Colfax Junior Seth Lustig put Colfax ahead 17-16 at the break.

From then on, the Bulldogs pulled away.

In the second quarter, Colfax's defense shut Flaa down, keeping him scoreless and limiting Reardan to nine points. Lustig and Bradyn Heilsberg scored seven apiece in the quarter, allowing the Bulldogs to extend their lead to 37-25 at half time.

The third quarter belonged to sharpshooter Adrik Jenkin, who scored 12 straight points for Colfax after being skunked in the first half. Colfax led at the end of the third period 55-34.

Reardan came back strong in the final frame. Flaa scored 11 points and Jakari Singleton tossed in seven as the Screaming Eagles outscored Colfax 24-14 in the fourth quarter. Reardan's rally fell short as the Bulldogs prevailed 69-58.

Lustig played a solid game from beginning to end. He led Colfax in scoring with 19 points. Jenkin, James Wigen, Heilsberg and Gilchrist scored 14, 12, 11 and nine points, respectively. Wigen led Colfax in rebounding with seven.

"We played pretty good," Lustig said. "Our posts played well. Reardan pushed us hard at the end, but we had a big enough lead at halftime that we kept it up."

Flaa scored 23 points for Reardan, followed by Singleton and Soliday, who scored 17 and nine, respectively.

"I shot a lot of shots tonight and made some," Flaa said. "But turnovers killed us. We turned the ball over and they scored. That was the difference in the game."

Reardan head coach Brian Graham said an injury and foul trouble threw his game plan off early.

"They capitalized on a few unforced turnovers," Graham said. "Tristo's (McCrea) injury and Jakari's (Singleton) quick fouls took us out of our game, but I was proud of the boys who came in and played."

Colfax head coach Reece Jenkin was not surprised his son Adrik found his shooting touch in the second half. "He's a young kid who got a couple good looks and then got in a rhythm for us," he said.

"Reardan is tough and athletic. We went on a run in the third quarter that gave us a little gap. Thank goodness we had it because they made a good run in the fourth quarter. Every playoff win is a good win, so we'll take it."

The Bulldogs faced Northwest Christian in a semifinal matchup at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8 at West Valley High School. Reardan faced Liberty in a loser out game at 5:00 p.m.

Results were unavailable at press time.