Clatskanie splits wins and losses once again

The Clatskanie Tigers boys basketball team has shown a trend of either rebounding from a loss with a win or following up a drought with a winning streak and vice versa. Last Tuesday, Feb. 3, Clatskanie saw its two-game win streak snapped at Nestucca. The Bobcats jumped out to a 15-7 lead to end the first quarter and extended the lead a point by halftime. Nestucca outscored Clatskanie 17-14 in the third to extend the lead to double digits. Though the Tigers outscored the Bobcats by six in the final quarter, they still came up six points shy in the 52-46 loss. The game proved to be pretty evenly matched in several offensive and defensive categories. Despite forcing 21 turnovers against Clatskanie, Nestucca gave up 20 of its own. The second-chance points were 4-3 in favor of Nestucca, but the transition points were 5-4 in favor of Clatskanie. Junior Gunner Engen led the Tigers in scoring with 21 points and led in rebounds with 14 to complete the double-double. Senior Zach Mollenhour also had double-digit scoring with 12 points and, along with senior Bode Shulda, co-led the team in assists with four each. Shulda also led the team in steals with three, while junior Michael Simpson led the team in blocks with three.

Clatskanie rebounded from their tough loss against Nestucca with a comfortable win against Aloha's Faith Bible Christian on Saturday, Feb. 7. With the two squads knotted at 13 apiece entering the second quarter, the Tigers, thanks to a 22-point second, took a 12-point lead into halftime. Faith Bible Christian "hung around" during the third quarter, matching Clatskanie's 16 points, but the 12-point deficit would prove too great to overcome in a single quarter, as Clatskanie hung on for the 60-49 victory. The Tigers had 12 second-chance points to Faith Bible Christian's seven. Clatskanie had six transition points compared to zero for Faith Bible Christian.

Engen led all scorers with 20 points to go along with his nine rebounds. Senior Ayden Blackshire, along with Simpson, co-led the Tigers with 10 rebounds each. Blackshire added six points, while Simpson pitched in five of his own. Sophomore Landyn Winton had five assists to lead Clatskanie, while Shulda and Mollenhour co-led the team in steals with two apiece. Mollenhour also added 15 points, coming in second to Engen.

Clatskanie (16-9) took on Gaston Tuesday, Feb. 10, but the results were not available at the time of press. Closing out the regular season, the Tigers will take on Knappa at home Friday, Feb. 13, to take on Knappa at 7:30 p.m. inside the Clatskanie High School gym.