Columbia River rolls past Kelso for 3A GSHL boys basketball championship

KELSO — The Columbia River Chieftains said they were angry.

Kelso found out the Chieftains are not very fun when they’re angry.

Columbia River avenged its only league loss of the season and won their fourth consecutive Class 3A Greater St. Helens League boys basketball title Thursday night, getting defensive against Kelso.

The Chieftains held the Hilanders to eight first-half points and cruised to a 48-35 victory. Columbia River, as the top seed from the 3A GSHL, will host a bi-district first-round playoff game next week.

Spencer Long scored 13 points, including five in a row in the fourth quarter to end any hopes of a Kelso comeback, and Joey Bean added 11 points for the Chieftains.

This game, though, was all about the defense.

Andrew Vickers and Nathan Hawthorne combined to shut down one of Kelso’s top players. Blake Hampton finished with four points, all from the free throw line. Chad Pedigo, meanwhile, had two blocked shots and seven rebounds.

Columbia River held Kelso to 16 percent shooting in the first half, limiting the Hilanders to four points in each of the first two quarters.

Every team knows the feeling of being in “The Zone” on offense. Columbia River had that on defense.

“It’s a feeling of determination,” Pedigo said of the defensive effort. “You just feel your guy is not going to score. There is an extra energy inside of you, and then it starts getting to your teammates, too.”

Vickers said the last game against Kelso was still on everybody’s minds.

“We knew we had to come out and play defense,” said Vickers, who also had eight points and five assists. “Last time, we didn’t do a good job.”

Columbia River coach David Long described the last time a bit differently. He called it the worst defensive effort of the season.

“We were so much more prepared this time around,” David Long said. “Defense won this game.”

Columbia River led by as many as 18 early in the second half, but Kelso cut the deficit to nine points in the third quarter, and then made it a seven-point game with less than three minutes to play in the fourth.

The Chieftains broke the press, leading to a three-point play from Spencer Long. He scored on River’s next possession, too, sealing the deal.

Nate Solomon kept Kelso within striking distance for much of the night. He finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds. The rest of the Hilanders were 6 of 30 from the floor, though.

River’s defense was too tough this night, giving the Chieftains another league title.

“We got a lot of seniors on this team,” said Vickers, a junior. “For them, all they know is winning. It was important for us to help them out.”

COLUMBIA RIVER 48, KELSO 35

COLUMBIA RIVER — Nathan Hawthorne 9, Joey Bean 11, Andrew Vickers 8, Spencer Long 13, Chad Pedigo 7, Jacob Hjort 0, Grant Turner 0, Jordan Hall 0. Totals 19-44 (3-15) 7-12 48.

KELSO — Mike Pierce 3, Blake Hampton 4, Xavier Parker-Mendez 2, Nate Solomon 17, Jared Bowlby 9, Quinton McDaniel 0, Zak Schueller 0, Hunter Hartley 0, Zach Groves 0. Totals 13-46 (1-12) 8-13 35.

Col. River 12 10 14 12—48

Kelso 4 4 17 10—35