Nestucca ends season for Clatkanie boys

The Clatskanie varsity boys basketball team saw its 2025-26 season come to an end last Saturday following a 60-24 loss to Nestucca. The Bobcats took advantage of 29 Clatskanie turnovers and set the tone early, jumping out to a 17-5 lead to end the first quarter. The deficit would only grow larger and more insurmountable for Clatskanie, as Nestucca outscored them 15-3 in the second to take a 32-8 lead at halftime. Nestucca would further outscore Clatskanie 28-16 in the second for the resulting 60-24 final.

The Tigers were led in scoring by senior Zach Mollenhour, who had six points. Mollenhour’s two steals and three assists were also team highs. Junior Gunner Engen also had two steals and added five points, while sophomore Will Van Voorst’s six rebounds were good for a team high. Senior Daylon Gutierrez and sophomore Landyn Winton had a block each, and senior Bode Shulda had two assists and a steal for the Tigers. Senior Ayden Blackshire had four points, and junior Michael Simpson added five points. The Tigers (18-11) bid farewell to six seniors in the form of Mollenhour, Shulda, Gutierrez, Blackshire, Braiden Roden, and Quinten Combs. This leaves underclassmen Engen, Winton, Van Voorst, and Simpson as the possible returning players for the 2026-27 season. “It was a good season for our boys,” said Head Coach Deshaun Combs. “We made our goal. I believe the seniors left it all on the floor. We have good young guys coming up for next year. [I’m] pretty excited.