WHITE SALMON — The Columbia High Bruins captured a second straight non-league win in WIAA boys basketball with a 67-44 home victory over the Class 2A Hockinson High Hawks (1-7) Dec. 15.
The Bruins then opened their 14-game Class 1A Trico League schedule by facing two of the top league contenders last week at home, and they lost both games. The Bruins (0-2 Trico, 2-6 overall), guided by Coach Brady Trullinger, fell 68-59 to the King’s Way Christian High Knights (2-0 Trico, 6-1 overall) on Dec. 16, followed by a 76-69 loss to the Kalama High Chinooks (2-0 Trico, 6-1 overall) on Dec. 18.
“We’re not doing too well in regards to our record right now,” said Trullinger. “We did play a really, good close game against Kalama, though. I really do believe in these guys, they’ve all stepped up and are doing great work. They’ve all bought into the culture of our program, and they’re willing to do everything we need to help us get to the district playoffs and hopefully move on to the state playoffs, as well.”
Columbia senior Hunter Wang (2025 Trico League first team pick) scored a career-high 29 points and had 13 rebounds, seven assists and two steals against Kalama. Senior Hector Orozco had 14 points and sophomore Levi Connell scored nine points.
“In the game with Kalama, Hunter was definitely our best player,” said Trullinger. “We also have a couple of other players with Hector and senior Jordan MacCormack, [four steals per game average], who aren’t particularly the best scorers, but they provide a lot of stuff other than scoring. Levi has been playing really well, too, this year.”
After playing three home games in four days, the Bruins will enjoy the Christmas break with 18 days off prior to resuming their schedule.
“I do think that we’ll have a very good chance of going to the district playoffs again this year,” said Trullinger. “We have a young team this year in terms of varsity experience. We have five players who returned from last year’s squad, along with five players who moved up from the junior varsity and are in their first year on the varsity team.”
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