Sam James hit four 3-pointers in the first quarter to lead the Columbia River boys basketball team to a 50-46 win over Hudson’s Bay in a 2A Greater St. Helens League game Monday.
Coach David Long has a very inexperienced team, but he’s been impressed by how hard his players have worked to get better in a short period of time.
River lost to Bay 63-39 in a non-league game on May 10.
“If we run things very well, we can play,” Long said. “We played (Bay) a week ago, and they handed it to us.”
James’ hot shooting gave River a 17-11 lead after one, and the Rapids’ defense helped stretch that lead to 30-15 by halftime.
“And then it was ‘hang on!’ ” Long said. “That was our best shooting half of the season. That really helped us.”
Max Sturtevant added 10 points and seven rebounds. James also added seven rebounds.
FORT VANCOUVER 59, HOCKINSON 40 — Tre Cannon scored 24 points and the Trappers rode a strong defensive effort to a 2A GSHL win.
Fort allowed just one point in the second quarter and led 27-8 at halftime.
R.A. LONG 47, RIDGEFIELD 43 — Jamond Harris scored 20 points and Calvin Holden added 15 as the Lumberjacks used a third-quarter surge to push past the Spudders.
“We took some time coming out of halftime to kick it into gear,” Ridgefield coach Jason Buffum said. “And they took it us, grabbed the lead and didn’t reliquish it.”
Ridgefield led 24-20 at halftime, but R.A. Long surged ahead 34-32 after three quarters.
Henry Hughes paced the Spudders with 15 points.
HERITAGE 79, SETON CATHOLIC 76 — Lem Adams scored 21 points to lead Heritage in a non-league game that got scheduled after Seton’s Trico League game with Goldendale was canceled.
