Colton boys making improvements

COLTON — Led by second-year head coach Brad Jenkins, the Colton Wildcats boys basketball team will try to pounce the competition this season.

The Wildcats finished last season with a 2-17 record, but had multiple players nominated for all-league.

This year, Colton has a lone senior in forward Ryan Impson. Expected contributors include Ivan Michel, Jake Moehrle, Silas Nollmeyer, Xavier Druffel and Brennan Schlee. The total roster number is 16 players this year.

“Most teams have their sights on the state tournament or making it to the postseason,” Jenkins said. “The boys are focused on daily improvements and making each other better every day.”

Jenkins said his team’s strengths include work ethic, coachability and teamwork. Something to work on throughout the season will be the inexperience of underclassmen. Jenkins is assisted this year by Roland Robinson.

This season, the league will look different due to redistricting and Jenkins said that should make for an interesting year.

“With the redistricting this year, it should be an exciting and competitive year for the district and league,” Jenkins said.”

Colton began the season with an overtime loss against the Bulldogs of Genesee, Idaho, on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

The Wildcats leaped to a 17-8 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 23-17 at halftime. The Bulldogs began to close the gap in the third quarter and trailed Colton, 34-31, to start the final frame.

At the end of regulation the score was tied, 44-44. For the overtime period, Colton gained one point and Genesee scored six, making a final score of 51-45 in favor of the Bulldogs.

The Wildcats were led by Wyatt Baysinger with 14 points and Tanner Baerlocher with 13 points. Genesee was led by Jackson Banks with 16 points and Noah Bollman with 14 points.

Colton shot 25% from the 3-point line and 40% for two-point field goals. The Wildcats finished with a 29% free-throw percentage.

Genesee also shot 25% from the 3-point line and made 27% for two-point field throws. The Bulldogs sank 48% from the free-throw line.

The Wildcats will next take on the Garfield-Palouse Vikings in an away game at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6. The team was scheduled to head back home against the Oakesdale Nighthawks at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, but the game was moved to Monday, Dec. 16, due to referee availability.