Bulldogs open districts with wins in East Valley

COLFAX - With undefeated district records from both the Colfax Bulldogs boys and girls basketball programs, the teams earned number one overall seeds heading into the district playoff games.

All rounds of both the boys and girls 2B district playoff games will take place at West Valley high school.

Colfax boys and girls both played on the evening of Saturday, Feb. 3, where both teams took down their opponents while shorthanded.

The girls team took on the Kettle Falls Bulldogs, defeating Kettle Falls 56-37 to stay perfect in district play.

Colfax would double-up Kettle Falls in the first quarter, taking a 16-8 lead into the second. Ava Swan had five points in the first, and Brenna Gilchrist had four.

During the second quarter, Colfax were out-scored 13-17, with Kettle Falls cutting the lead to just four at halftime. Hailey Demler scored five points in the second.

Colfax would win the game due to their second half defensive effort. The Bulldogs and head coach Jordan Holmes had time to re-group and game-plan for the second half, which they dominated.

Colfax scored 12 points in the third quarter while holding Kettle Falls to five points. Lola Hennigar had six in the quarter, and Swan had the other six.

Demler would soar in the fourth, scoring nine points herself as the Bulldogs out-scored Kettle Falls 15-7, earning Colfax the 19-point victory.

Two Bulldogs finished in double-digit scoring, Swan had 18, and Demler had 17. Swan would grab four rebounds, and Demler had 19 rebounds for a double-double. Demler grabbed eight of her 19 rebounds in the second quarter.

On the boys side, the Bulldogs were short-handed, and that showed early. However, the strength and volume shooting for the Bulldogs proved too much against the Davenport Gorillas, winning 68-50.

"Proud of the kids for competing and fighting through some adversity with sick kids," said Colfax head coach Reece Jenkin.

After the first, Colfax took a 17-16 lead, with six coming from Seth Lustig, and five from Jayce Kelly.

The second quarter was deadlocked at 10 from both the Bulldogs and Gorillas. Kelly had five of those as Colfax secured a one-point lead heading into halftime.

After the break, Colfax responded with 18 points. The defense stood tall, allowing just 10 from the Gorillas as Colfax took a nine-point lead after three. Kelly had seven points, and Lustig had five.

Colfax would close the game with an incredible 23-point out-burst, holding the Gorillas to 14 to earn the 18-point victory.

Kelly finished with 25 points to lead all scorers. Lustig was close behind with 17, and Adrik Jenkin had nine.

Both the Bulldog boys and girls played their semifinal matches on Wednesday, Feb. 7, in West Valley. The boys took on the Northwest Christian (Colbert) Crusaders, and the girls took on the Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos. Winning teams in the district semifinal match Wednesday, Feb. 7, will play for the district championship on Saturday, Feb. 10. The losing teams from Wednesday, Feb. 7, will play on Friday, Feb. 9. Look for the story from the Bulldog boys and girls semifinal match on the Whitman County Gazette website following the matches.