Tigers rebound from blowout loss with win

Last week opened as one to forget but closed as one to remember for the Clatskanie varsity boys basketball team. Last Wednesday, the Tigers were blown out 78-32 by the Portland Christian Royals. Committing 30 turnovers and being outscored 28-2 in transition points over the whole game, Clatskanie went into halftime down 50-19. Clatskanie was outscored by Portland Christian another 15 points in the third quarter, and a stalemate fourth had the final deficit at 46. Junior Gunner Engen led the team in scoring with nine points and pulled down four rebounds, while sophomore Will Van Voorst had four steals to lead the team. Engen and Van Voorst, along with senior Zach Mollenhour, had four rebounds each, while Senior Ayden Blackshire and Junior Michael Simpson had six points each in the loss.

The Tigers had to wait three days to make things right by beating Vernonia 48-41 on Saturday, Jan. 31. With a total of 14 transition points to zero from the Loggers, the Tigers were able to establish a lead in the first half they weren't willing to relinquish. Though Vernonia outscored them 15-11 in the fourth, Clatskanie's lead was far too great entering the final frame. Engen led the Tigers with a double-double, scoring a team-high 14 points and pulling down a team-high 10 rebounds. Engen also led the Tigers in assists with six. Mollenhour had a team-high three steals to go along with his eight points, and Simpson managed to have double-digit scoring with 10 points. Sophomore Landyn Winton rounded out the stats for the Tigers with six points and three assists.

Clatskanie (13-8) traveled to Nestucca Tuesday, Feb. 3, but the results weren't available at the time of press. The team returns home Friday, Feb. 6, to take on Aloha's Faith Bible Christian at 7:30 p.m. inside the Clatskanie High School gymnasium. The team will travel to Gaston Tuesday, Feb. 10, before returning home Friday, Feb. 13, to take on Knappa at 7:30 p.m. to close out the team's regular season.