Nighthawk boys rout Colton

OAKESDALE - The Oakesdale Nighthawks basketball are cooking early this season, with their latest foe being the Colton Wildcats.

The two teams met in Oakesdale on Tuesday, Dec. 19, where the Nighthawks defeated the Wildcats 61-13.

The first quarter saw Oakesdale soar to an 8-0 lead before Colton called a timeout. Oakesdale did not let off the gas in the first quarter, dominating on the offensive glass, and used persistent pressure on defense to take a 23-0 lead heading into the second quarter.

Colton did not score in the game until there were six minutes left in the second, when Dakota Cook drilled a three, putting Colton on the board, but saw themselves behind 30-3.

Colton would take another timeout in the quarter trailing 34-5, with Tanner Baerlocher scoring a basket for Colton. The half ended with Oakesdale up 39-6.

The third quarter saw a 41-8 lead before a timeout was called in the game. The quarter would end with Colton facing a 48-10 deficit. Baerlocher scored all four points in the quarter for Colton.

With Oakesdale in complete control of the game, they seemingly cruised after the first quarter, they finished the game with a 48-point victory, their largest of the season.

With the win, Oakesdale moved to 5-3 on the season. At this point in 2022, the Nighthawks had a 6-2 record before losing their ninth game, then going on a four-game winning streak.

For Colton, the 48-point loss was their second-largest loss of the season, bringing their overall record to 2-5. Through seven games last season, the Wildcats were 1-6.

The next game for Oakesdale will be played on Friday, Jan. 5, when the Nighthawks travel to take on the St. John-Endicott/LaCrosse Eagles. The game will be played in St. John, and is set to start at 7:30 p.m.

For the Wildcats, they will host a Christmas tournament, with games on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, Dec. 27-29. Their next conference game will be played on Wednesday, Jan. 3, as the Wildcats take on the Tekoa-Rosalia Timberwolves. The game will be played in Rosalia, and is set to start at 7:30 p.m.