Dragons' visit will ignite NE league launch Friday

Colfax boys started the new hoop season with some new team rough spots, but picked up steam over the three games. The Bulldogs finished the three game run with a 2-1 record with a comeback win at St. John Friday, a loss to LaSalle in the SunDome at Yakima and a big win over Waitsburg Tuesday in the home opener.

Zach Hollingsworth gets ready to collect two points off an Eagle break Friday at St. John. Robert Staples and Sam Raynor are back of Hollingsworth.

The Bulldogs will start a big home weekend with the St. George Dragons, the league favorites, in town Friday and the Lakeside Eagles visiting for a non-leaguer on Saturday.

St. Georges over the first weekend bagged Newport 66-34 and Chewelah 61-51.

Colfax last Friday launched their hoop season in hostile territory when a veteran SJE Eagles team staked an early lead and made it stick during the first half. Coach Scott Hollingsworth has six seniors on the squad this year, and they blasted off with a fast paced lead over the Bulldogs.

The Eagles’ team game contrasted with the Bulldogs who were trying out a new lineup after graduating some of the power cogs in last year’s 2B championship game.

The Eagles, who kicked in the fast break against the Bulldogs, had a six-point lead at the halftime break. Kaleb Simon kicked in a three-point down the middle to finish out the fast SJE half at 31-25.

The game turned around when Colfax senior Brandon Gfeller loaded up the three point shots after the break.

Sophomore Kasey Johnson broke the first Colfax lead with 3:59 left in the third quarter with a short hook shot.

Gfeller followed with the first of four threebie shots during the quarter. The frame ended with the Bulldogs up 53-43.

St. John remained in the hunt in the fourth quarter and closed to eight points before the Colfax win went down at 67-58 for the Bulldogs.

Saturday the Bulldogs traveled all the way to the SunDome and played the evening rounds at the dome’s tipoff classic.

Tuesday, the Bulldogs ripped to a 17-0 win over the Cardinals and finished with a 68-32 win in their home opener.

Many of the Cardinal players arrived short on practice time after taking another football season into the semi-final round of the state playoffs.

Brandon Gfeller, who missed the trip to Yakima because of illness, finished with 22 points in the first half and added three more for the game as Coach Reece Jenkin played the roster when the clock went to quick time.

The Bulldogs ignited their transition game with steals in the early going and finished with eight for the game. They also booked more than twice the rebound total logged by the Cardinals.

Colfax 68-Waitsburg/Prescott 32: 19/3 20/9 21/10 8/10:Brandon Gfeller 8 (3-3pt) 6-6 25, Brady Ellis 5 (3-3pt) 0-0 13, Bryce Kramslich 1 0-0 2, Keith Gfeller 0 2-2 2, Kasey Johnson 4 1-1 9, Skylar Simonson 5 2-4 12, Brent Becker 1 3-3 5. Total 24 14-16 68. Waitsburg/Prescott: Eastman 1 (3p-t) 0-0 3, Estes 1 0-0 2, Deal 1 (3pt) 0-0- 3, Acevedo 3 0-0 6, K. Dozier 0 1-2 1, Lanning 3 (2-3pt) 0-0 8, Leroe 1 (3pt) 0-0 3, L Dozier 2 2-6 6. Total: 12 3-10 32.

Colfax 67-SJE 58 12/14 13/17 28/12 14/15: Brandon Gfeller 11(7-3pt) 2-3 32; Brady Ellis 3 0-0 9; Bryce Kramlich 1 (3pt) 0-0 3; Keith Gfeller 1 0-0 2; Kasey Johnson 3 (3pt) 2-3 9; Skylar Simonson 5 2-2 12. Totals 24 7-11 67. SJE : Zach Hollingsworth 6 3-4 16; Kaleb Simon 5 (3pt) 1-2 14; Sam Raynor 2 1-2 5; Robert Staples 1 2-3 4; Dakota White 5 7-9 19.

LaSale 47-Colfax 38: 8/2 9/11 13/17 17/8: Thambard 4, Lighty 7, Bonny 11, Garrettch 2, Maki 5, Garza 2, Oldham 16. Colfax: Ellils 6, Webber 2, Gfeller 7, Johnson 18, Simonson 5.