Whitman County Gazette - Serving Whitman County since 1877

COLFAX - Colfax's John Lustig sealed a 68-63 win with a rebound and two free throws in the NE2B boys basketball league championship game on June 18, over the Davenport Gorillas.

The Bulldogs created a 10-point lead just before halftime on their home court and kept it until late in the fourth quarter. That's when Davenport exploded to take a 1-point lead with 2:30 left.

Lustig then scored in the lane for Colfax. Seth Lustig, John Lustig's younger brother, hit two free throws. John Lustig got the last rebound after a series of Gorilla misses on their last possession.

Early in the game, the score was tied after 8 minutes.

John Lustig broke open the game for a 29-21 lead and capped off the half with a pass to Damian Demler, who put Colfax up 32-22.

Starting the fourth quarter, Davenport cut the lead to 6, then 4. The Gorillas cut the margin to 1 point after Seth Lustig received a charging call with 2:51 left. They took the lead, 60-59, on an outside shot.

Garth Meyer | Whitman County Gazette

Colfax's Carson Gray drives past a Davenport player.

John Lustig then followed his own shot to put Colfax back up by one.

A Davenport travel ended the next possession and John Lustig drove for a foul and another score.

Davenport answered, cutting the lead back to 1 point again before Seth Lustig made two free throws and the Gorillas had one last possession to tie.

With 15 seconds left, Davenport missed several shots and John Lustig came down with the final rebound.

The Bulldogs entered the championship as the No. 3 district seed and Davenport was No. 4.

Colfax upset St. George's to make the championship earlier this week. At the same time, Davenport ended the top-ranked Liberty (Spangle) Lancers' season.