Colfax stops NWC string, loses to ACH in overtime

Ramey-Robinson duel on open court.

Cole Ramey, who led all scorers Friday, attempts to pickoff a steal from JJ Robinson who puts up a jumper after avoiding the theft attempt by the NWC senior veteran.

Colfax boys packed a weekend of high drama into the Bulldog gym Friday and Saturday. Playing before a packed crowd Friday night, the Bulldogs stopped the undefeated Northwest Christian Crusaders with a defensive lockdown in the second half to pull off a 55-47 win.

That moved Colfax out of a three-way tie for second place, a shot which carries a bye into the first round of the Bi-County playoffs next week. Northwest, which bounced back for a 44-40 over Davenport in the Saturday round, remained on top of the league.

Colfax then ran into Almira-Coulee-Hartline, one of two power clubs in the 1B Bi-County race. The ACH guests put the Bulldogs in an 11-3 hole in the first quarter. Colfax found the ignition switch in the second quarter and the two clubs battled to a 58-58 tie in regulation time. ACH took it 74-70 after a 16-12 overtime barrage from the two clubs.

Tuesday night, Colfax rolled to Liberty and posted a 54-41 win on the Lancers court. Friday, they will host Reardan in an effort to lock up that number-two slot.

Last Friday night, Northwest Christian, the state B dominators for the last four years, cruised out to a comfortable lead in the first two quarters with some extra-sharp shooting. Colfax stayed within range, cranked up the defense in the second half and roared past the Crusaders by as much as 13 points.

The Colfax ended a NWC 46 game win streak in the league, a streak which dates back years before Colfax joined the league.

“It was just a great win for us. I think the difference for us came on defense, particularly in the third quarter,” Coach Reece Jenkin said.

The Bulldogs took over the lead early in the third frame when JJ Robinson picked off a steal at mid court and won a race to the hoop for a bucket. That put Colfax in front by a point, 31-30.

Northwest never came back. In fact, they failed to score again for the balance of the quarter, and failed to hit a field goal until well into the last quarter. Colfax fans roared with the Bulldogs bagging steals and blocking shots as they pressured the NWC offense, particularly on the baseline.

Two threebie shots by Tanner Gay fueled the Colfax charge.

Northwest late in the game went to the foul route in an attempt to get possession of the ball. The Bulldogs, who rolled up toss mark in the 90 percent range the previous weekend, finished 19-26 at the toss line and missed just three shots in the last quarter.

Crusader veteran Cole Ramey, who hit a game-high 24, pulled out all stops to get his club back in gear. Ramey finished with four three-pointers, but finally fouled out.

Saturday night, hoop fortunes reversed. The Bulldogs couldn’t buy a bucket in the opening minutes while the Warriors stacked up 11 points. The guests had a 29-20 lead at the break.

Jenkin admitted the Bulldogs seemed to have a focus problem Saturday after the enormous win the night before.

Colfax took the lead in the third quarter with Robinson again getting credit for the go-ahead shot, but the Warriors declined to fade, came back in the last quarter and looked like winners in reg time with a six-point lead.

Colfax bounced back to put it into overtime, but the Warriors again had more fire power. Derek Issak hit a game high 28 points for the visitors. Robinson again led Colfax with 22.

Colfax toss shots went off the track. They hit just 1-5 on the OT while the Warriors dropped 10-14

Tuesday at Spangle, the Bulldogs out-paced the Lancers 54-41 with a strong second half. Robinson, Gay and Alex Teade each had 13 to lead the win at Spangle.

Liberty, which put up a sharp shooting game and out-boarded the Bulldogs, was led by Ross Collins to banked 12 beans.

The win put Colfax within closing range of the number-two slot in the league with Reardan coming to town for senior night Friday. The chiefs dropped Colfax 54-46 in the first round at Reardan.

Colfax 66-Northwest Christian 47: 12/17 14/12 14/1 16/17 Caleb Bravard 2 (3pt) 2-3 7, Will Hatley 1 1-3 3, Tanner Gay 3 (2-3-t) 3-3 11, James Robison 5 (3pt) 5-6 16, Justin Berarducci 1 2-2 4, Dustin Huber 2 1-3 5, Alex Teade 2 5-6 9. Total: 16 190-26 f-21 55. NWC: Cole Ramey 9 (4-3pt) 2-2 24, Jack Shanno 0 1-2 1, John William 1 01 3, Daniel Kupier 2 0-0 3, Quinn Hanson 3 2-5 6, John Winfrey 1 1-1 4, Rueben Clark 2 3-6 7. Total 18 7-14 47.

Almira Coulee Hartline 74-Colfax 70: 11/3 18/17 8/20 21/18 16/12 (OT): Cody Jess 5 (2-3pt) 6-8 18, Derek Issak 7 (3-3pt) 9-13 26, Kody Dillon 1 2-4 4, Kye Stevens 5 4-6 14. Chad Calquist 2 (3pt) 7-11 12. Total: 26 28-42 f-19 74. Colfax: Caleb Bravard 5 (4-3pt) 0-4 15, Will Hatley 2 (3pt) 0-0 5, Brandon Hoadley 1 0-0 2, Tanner Gay 2 (3pt) 0-0 5, Alex Teade 3 3-4 9, James Robinson 8 (2-3pt) 2-3 22, Justin Berarducci 4 0-3 8, Dustin Huber 1 2-3 4. Total 24 8-20 f-32 70.

Colfax 54-Liberty 41: 14/8 12/6 14/15 14/12: Bravard 1 1-1 3, Hatley 1 0-0 2, Hoadley 0 1-2 1, Gay 4 5-6 13, Teade 5 (3pt) 2-2 13, Robinson 5 3-4 13, Brandon Gfeller 1 (3pt) 0-0 3, Berarducci 3 0-0 6. Total: 20 12-15 f-18 54. Dylan Simpson 1 1-1 3, Terry Veile 1 0-0 2, Eric Hammond 2 2-3 6, Stefan Plesser 3 0-1 6, Jordan Green 2 0-3 4, Dylan Salisbury 4 0-0 8, Ross Collins 5 2-2 12. Total: 18 5-10 f-7 31.