JV Report

"The jayvees won but it wasn't easy," Bales noted. "Four games in five days, the final game resulting in a four-hour bus trip, would tax even the NBA."

Columbia played its 2007-08 season finale without three players but succeeded in putting together a solid first half and posting a 31-26 lead at the halftime intermission.

The third quarter belonged to Rochester, however. The Warriors jayvee outscored the Junior Bruins, 13-3, after the break to take a 39-34 lead into the final eight minutes of regulation.

Unfortunately for Rochester, though, Columbia rediscovered its scoring touch in those final eight minutes and won the quarter 22-13 to finish with a perfect 10-0 record against its Trico competition.

"We were about as flat as a team could be, but we managed to pull out a victory," Bales said.

Felix Torres led the Junior Bruins with 22 points, Mark Lovrin scored 17, Dylan Rabinowitz and Caleb Huth each tallied seven and Jordon Barnedt had three.

At Columbia JV 58, Stevenson JV 54:

A big second half propelled the Junior Bruins to the homecourt victory over the Bulldogs jayvee last Wednesday.

Columbia outscored Stevenson, 35-27, in the last two quarters of the Feb. 6 make-up game to remain unbeaten against SWW 1A Trico Division competition.

Mark Lovrin scored 26 points, Dylan Rabinowitz had 13 and Felix Torres added 11 for the Junior Bruins, who trailed 27-23 at halftime.

Jordon Barnedt chipped in four, Bruno Maya tallied three and Caleb Huth netted two in a game Columbia knotted at 41-all by the end of the third quarter.

"We didn't play our best but I'm sure the intensity that Stevenson plays with had a great deal to do with that," Jr. Bruins Coach Joe Bales noted and added, "We fought hard to stay in the game and had enough energy at the end to get a big win."

The loss was just the second in league play for the Stevenson jayvee, which lost to Columbia, 61-44, on Jan. 3.

"I felt bad we didn't play everybody but this was a game that meant a great deal to us with an undefeated league season and an unofficial league championship on the line," Bales said.

He added: "What was especially pleasing to me was that we weren't dominant in league; I don't believe we were the best team, but we found ways to win in spite of that. It truly was a great achievement on their part."

At Columbia JV 55, La Center JV 35:

The Junior Bruins turned a close game on Feb. 5 into a one-sided affair with an 18-0 second quarter against the Wildcats jayvee.

Columbia's second 18-point quarter of the first half left it in front, 36-17, at halftime.

The Junior Bruins gave some of their lead back in the third quarter (43-30) but secured the win in the fourth with a 12-5 finish.

"Finally we ran into a team that plays zone and a soft man [defense], and we excelled," Jr. Bruins Coach Joe Bales said. "We had good ball movement and good player movement--things we've lacked at times."

Mark Lovrin and Felix Torres set the tone for CHS at the offensive end, combining for nine 3-point baskets against La Center's zone defense. That success from the outside, said Bales, opened up the inside for easier scoring opportunities.

Lovrin led all scorers with 25 points and Felix Torres finished with 15.

Also getting points for CHS were: Neal LaGrander 8, Caleb Huth 3, Dylan Rabinowitz 3 and Joshua Mayer 1.