In Trico opener

Columbia played its best basketball in the last 1:30 of the second quarter--during which it pulled within 25-9 by halftime--and in the third quarter.

Greg Tellez and Darnell Douglas combined for 16 of CHS's 19 third-quarter points as the Bruins trimmed the Fishermen's lead to 33-28.

Ilwaco countered Columbia's third-quarter rally, however, by scoring the first four points of the final period on a post-up move by Anthony Wirkkala and a driving layin by Matt Kaino.

The closest the Bruins got after that was seven points on two occasions: 37-30 on a putback by Thomas Jeter, and 39-32 on a bucket by Kent Shelley.

During the final eight minutes of action, the Fishermen (2-0, 3-4) led by as many as 12 points.

Ilwaco mounted a 6-0 first-quarter lead before Tellez broke the ice for CHS with a driving layin at the 1:14 mark.

CHS's second basket--by Taylor Champion--came on the opening possession of the second quarter. That scoring shot cut Ilwaco's lead to 7-4.

That was as close as CHS got. Ilwaco responded with a 16-point run that pushed its lead to 23-4 with 1:32 to go in the first half.

Wirkkala, who finished with a game-high 16 points, had 10 points in the quarter, which Ilwaco won 18-7 to build a 25-9 halftime advantage.

The third quarter, though, belonged to the Bruins. Tellez netted 10 of his team-leading 12 points and Douglas scored six of his nine to spark an 18-9 surge that cut Ilwaco's lead to five at 33-28.

But the Bruins, showing the effects of playing their third game in four nights, couldn't come all the way back.

At Columbia High 42, South Wasco County 36:

The Bruins outscored the Redsides 6-0 in overtime last Thursday to earn the sweep of the non-league season series.

Darnell Douglas scored 11 points to lead the Bruins, who trailed 18-16 at halftime and 30-25 after three quarters.

Columbia turned it around in the fourth quarter, however, tying the score at 36-all with an 11-6 run.

Still, the Redsides had two shots to win the game in the closing seconds of regulation but couldn't finish.

On the first possession, Thomas Jeter blocked a layin attempt by SWC's Michael Carter. On the second, the Redsides misfired from 15 feet with 9 seconds remaining.

In other action:

Columbia High lost for the first time this season Dec. 19, dropping a 56-51 non-league decision at Corbett, Ore.