Last weekend's post-Christmas holiday tournament in Woodland bore no gifts for Columbia High.
The Bruins remained winless on the season, at 0-6, after dropping games to Montesano, 41-32, last Friday, and to Washougal, 59-39, last Saturday.
"We're still struggling to put the ball in the basket," said Bruins Coach Steve Larsen. "We're averaging 42 points a game, and that's not enough. We need two or three other players to step up their offensive games if we want to compete" in the last two-thirds of CHS's schedule.
Columbia lost to Washougal for the third time this season.
The score at halftime was 29-24, Washougal. The Panthers extended their lead to 44-35 at the end of the third quarter.
In the fourth, the Bruins' offense went flat. They were outscored 15-4.
"Two and a half minutes into the fourth quarter, the lead went from nine to 15," Larsen said. "We weren't able to make the three or four defensive stops in a row we needed to give ourselves a chance to get back into the game."
On the day, Columbia shot 30 percent from the floor (14 of 47) and 64 percent from the line (9 of 14). In the second half, the Bruins went 0 for 6 from 3-point range.
Washougal finished 7 of 21 from beyond the arc to account for the final margin of victory.
Senior Adam Neff scored 13 points and senior Cory Lampe had 12 for the Bruins. Lampe also grabbed eight rebounds, Neff six, the lead CHS to a 31-25 edge on the boards.
Against Montesano, Columbia battled all the way. But the ball didn't fall through the net often enough to help it pull out the win.
"I was pleased with our defensive effort, but our shooting was substandard," Larsen said.
The Bruins netted 12 baskets in 49 attempts (24 percent) and got to the free-throw line just four times, where they made 5 of 8.
"It was a close game throughout; we just couldn't get any offensive continuity going," Larsen noted. "We got good shots, but we struggled to hit them."
Montesano finally pulled away in the fourth quarter, increasing a six-point lead to the final score by outscoring CHS 15-12.
Neff was the top scorer for the Bruins with seven points. Lampe and senior Tom Shrum each added six points. On the boards, Lampe led with 10 rebounds. Shrum took down six.
Next up:
Columbia hosts Wahtonka this Friday in its return to action, and travels to Ridgefield on Jan. 6 for its Trico Division opener.
A 53-30 win last Saturday over the Hockinson frosh earned CHS's jayvee a split record in a holiday tournament at Washougal.
Freshmen Andrew Culp and Whitney Butler scored 18 points apiece for the Junior Bruins, who improved to 2-4.
On Friday, they lost their tourney opener to Woodland's jayvee, 67-21.
Butler's nine points led the Junior Bruins. Culp and sophomore Will Brasuell each added five points.
The Junior Bruins recorded their first victory on Dec. 19, trouncing Wahtonka's jayvee, 60-28, in The Dalles, Ore.
Butler scored 18 points and Culp had 13 for CHS, which also got six points from both Brasuell and junior Andy Belvin.
An earlier meeting with Washougal, on Dec. 17, saw the Junior Bruins drop a 60-28 decision.
Culp put in nine points and Butler tallied eight for CHS, which trailed 35-13 at the half and 46-23 after three quarters of play.
Glenwood held on last Saturday to beat Country Christian, 63-46, in the consolation championship of the South Wasco Christmas Tournament in Maupin, Ore.
Sophomores Bron Tomeo and Mitch Wheelhouse paced the Eagles to their third victory of the season (against three losses).
Tomeo had 27 points and 10 rebounds, and Wheelhouse finished with 12 points and 10 boards. Senior Jeremy Beeks added 10 points.
Host South Wasco County sent Glenwood to the consolation bracket stinging from a 78-54 defeat.
Tomeo was high-point man for the Eagles with 26 points. Freshman Justin Holly added 14.
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