CHS Boys Hoops

"The first half was pretty typical for the way we've been playing lately," Bruins Coach Scott Kasenga said. "We missed seven layups and made some poor decisions with the ball against their 3-2 halfcourt press."

Despite the shaky start, Columbia got things turned around in the second half.

The Bruins outscored the Beavers, 22-13, in the third quarter to pull within 49-38 with one period to play.

Junior guard Austin Krentz had eight of his 10 points during the surge that gave new legs to CHS's bid for its first Trico victory.

"We got better shots, got a better distribution of shots and made more shots," Kasenga said.

Juniors Thomas Jeter and Brett Rawding, and sophomore Jared McDonald each had four points in the third quarter.

But when the fourth quarter came around, the Bruins started missing the shots they'd been making, Kasenga said, and the "one last push" he expected "didn't happen."

The loss notwithstanding, CHS's coach said he was pleased with the way the Bruins played after the intermission.

"I thought we out-played them in the second half," Kasenga said. "But in this league, you can't afford to spot any team a 20-point lead and hope to have a chance of coming all the way back."

Senior Andrew Culp led the Bruins with 11 points, while Jeter and Rawding each finished with a career-high 10 points.

At La Center 47, Columbia High 36 --

The Bruins trailed, 24-16, at the half but closed within 32-29 at the end of three quarters last Thursday.

Andrew Culp scored eight of his team-high 14 points in the third quarter to spark the CHS comeback.

But the Wildcats held the Bruins off in the fourth quarter to win going away.

"That was a heartbreaker because we got good shots inside," Bruins Coach Scott Kasenga said. "We just didn't make enough of them."

The Bruins missed six of their 12 layin attempts during the game to help decide the outcome.

Ridgefield 60, at Columbia High 34 --

Andrew Culp scored the Jan 3 game's first four points but it was all Ridgefield after that.

The Spudders (1-0, 5-4) seized control of the contest with a 17-0 first-quarter run that left the Bruins playing catch-up the rest of the way.

"It got away from us early," Bruins Coach Scott Kasenga said. "We just weren't in that game at any one point."

A 20-0 Ridgefield run in the third quarter that shot its lead to 50-21 removed any doubt.

Dwayne Farr paced the Spudders with a game-high 21 points, while Craig McCuistion added 13 and Tyson Wellwood chipped in 12.

For Columbia, Culp was the only player to reach double figures. He finished with 12.

Next up:

The Bruins take on pre-season Trico favorite Hockinson in Miller Memorial Gym this Thursday, then host Stevenson next Wednesday.