Colfax Bulldogs sweep District Championship games

COLFAX - After a season in 2022-23 where the Colfax Bulldog girls went undefeated on their way to a state championship, the 2023-24 season started out with questions after a string of early losses.

The girls team did nothing but dominate their district games, going undefeated in district play, including a district championship after an extraordinary overtime victory against the Davenport Gorillas on Saturday, Feb. 10, in West Valley.

In the game, Colfax found themselves trailing for three-and-a-half quarters before taking their first lead with around three minutes left in the fourth quarter.

After trailing by two with two seconds left, the Gorillas were fouled on a three-point shot. Davenport would make two of them after a lane violation was called on Colfax, sending the game into overtime.

Colfax would not be denied in overtime, out-scoring the Gorillas 11-7 as Colfax captured their third-straight district championship with a 59-55 victory.

"Winning the district championship last weekend was a special accomplishment for our team. This year our league is very talented and challenged us in a lot of different ways than in the past. I think the championship game proved that to be true," said Head Coach Jordan Holmes.

The first quarter of play saw the Bulldogs trail 8-12. Paige Claassen and Brynn McGaughy each had three points in the quarter.

After the conclusion of the second quarter, Colfax was out-scored 11-14, trailing by seven at halftime.

"Davenport gave us a heck of a game, they pushed us for 36 minutes. We made a lot of mistakes on Saturday, but pulling out a win is a big deal for our kids. We had different kid's step up and give us momentum, Destiny Nelson was a big part of that. What she did in the minutes that she got, changed the game," said Holmes.

During the third quarter, Colfax scored a game-high 16 points, allowing 13 from Davenport to cut the lead to four with a quarter to play.

Brynn McGaughy scored seven in the quarter to kick-start her stellar day, which would improve as each quarter went on.

"Obviously Brynn gave us huge numbers, and I was proud of how we pulled together to gut it out," Holmes said.

Colfax scored 13 points in the fourth quarter, nine of which came from McGaughy. Davenport scored nine points in the fourth, including two free throws as time expired to push the game to overtime.

Although Davenport played exceptional throughout the game, they failed to stop Mcgaughy when it mattered. McGaughy scored eight points in overtime as Colfax won the district championship by four points.

"They had to be mentally tough, and find a way. We haven't always been a team that can do that, and Saturday's game reminds us that we are capable of being that kind of team," said Holmes.

McGaughy finished with a monster double-double, she had 37 points and 24 rebounds for Colfax. She also blocked six shots, and made 14 free throws.

Hailey Demler finished with seven points and five rebounds, and Brenna Gilchrist finished with five points and two rebounds.

The Colfax boys team are one of three undefeated teams in 2B, and finished their district playoffs with a district championship. The victory is the first time Colfax has come away with the district championship in well over 18 years.

The 2023-24 championship game was played in West Valley on Saturday, Feb. 10, against St. George's.

The Bulldogs trailed by three at halftime, then exploded with a 10-point third quarter advantage as Colfax defeated St. George's 48-40.

Colfax would trail by one after the first quarter of play as St. George's out-scored the Bulldogs 11-10.

Colfax scored just seven points in the second quarter, but held St. George's to just nine as the Bulldogs went to the halftime locker room trailing 17-20.

After the break, Head Coach Reece Jenkin gave his team a much needed talk, and the team responded with a 20-point third quarter, led by 11 from Adrik Jenkin. St. George's would score 10 in the quarter, and Colfax took a 37-30 lead to the final quarter.

During the fourth, Colfax scored 11 points, six of which came from Jenkin as St. George's scored 10, giving the Bulldogs their eight-point district championship victory.

Jenkin finished the game with 20 points and five steals. Seth Lustig added 12 points, six rebounds, and four assists, and Jayce Kelly had nine points and nine rebounds.

"I was proud of the grit these guys showed over the district tournament. They are a competitive group that love to play together," said Jenkin.

Both the Bulldogs boys and girls teams will play in a winner-to-state match on Saturday, Feb. 10, at 4 and 5:30 p.m.

The girls will take on Liberty Bell, and the boys will take on Manson.