CHS boys still seeking first Trico win

WHITE SALMON — The Columbia High Bruins dropped three WIAA Class 1A Trico League boys basketball games last week, extending their losing streak to five.

Following the Christmas holiday season break, the Bruins (0-5 Trico, 2-9 overall) played their first game in 19 days in a Jan. 6 league road match at the La Center High Wildcats (5-0 Trico, 8-4 overall) and they lost 78-57. The Bruins then followed with a 65-45 loss on the road to the Seton Catholic High Cougars (2-3 Trico, 5-5 overall) Jan. 8 in Vancouver.

The Bruins, guided by Coach Brady Trullinger, then faced the league-leading No. 15-ranked Fort Vancouver High Trappers (5-0 Trico, 8-3 overall) Jan. 10 at home. Despite losing 72-59, the Bruins showed much improvement as they played one of their best games of the season.

“They [the Trappers] are a very good and a well-organized team, and they’ve been blowing out most of their opponents,” said Trullinger. “I’m happy with the way that we played against them.”

The Bruins were playing remarkably well early, and they led 24-14 versus the Trappers in the second quarter. Starters Hunter Wang and Caleb Reynolds then both got into foul trouble and were unavailable to play much in the second half.

“We came out fighting and we were real close in the fourth quarter, and we were behind by just four points midway through the quarter,” said Trullinger. “Then we had more foul trouble, and with just a little amount of time remaining, it’s really hard to make a comeback.”

The Trappers have won several league games by lopsided margins. The bested Seton 85-43. They won 95-36 over the Stevenson High Bulldogs (1-4 Trico, 3-7 overall) and they beat the Castle Rock High Rockets (0-5 Trico, 3-7 overall) by 34 points.

“We stepped up to the challenge against the best team in our league and we gave them a good fight,” said Trullinger. “We’re right on the cusp of becoming a great team. The guys are committed to the program and they’re ready to start winning games. The league is balanced and every team is pretty good, so each game is going to be a dogfight. … We’ve had a tough stretch but I’m sure we’re going to bounce back.”

The Bruins were seeking to snap their losing streak in a Jan. 13 game versus Castle Rock at Columbia High School in White Salmon. The Bruins play three games in five days this week, including a 5:30 p.m. Gorge rivalry home game Jan. 15 against Stevenson. They’ll follow with a 7 p.m. road game Jan. 17 against the King’s Way Christian High Knights (4-1 Trico, 9-3 overall) in Vancouver