The Columbia River boys basketball team played a near flawless second half and opened the Class 3A Greater St. Helens League season with another win.
Chad Pedigo had 15 of his 19 points in the second half, Joey Bean added 16 points, and the Chieftains (10-3, 1-0 GSHL) won their 23rd consecutive league game — dating back to 2012 — with a 64-53 win over Prairie.
“I’m glad we got it started,” Pedigo said. “All of our out-of-league stuff got us prepared for this. We played really well as a team.”
A low-scoring game in the first half turned into an offensive showcase, with the Chieftains making 17 of 25 shots and turning the ball over twice in the second half.
Prairie’s Jacob Davidson made three consecutive 3-pointers — one toward the end of the third quarter and two to start the fourth — to pull the Falcons (5-8, 0-1) within a point at 43-42.
Andrew Vickers took over from there for River. Struggling with his shot all night, Vickers got behind the Prairie zone defense for a lay-up to get himself started. He then made back-to-back 3-pointers. He finished with 10 points, all in the fourth quarter, to push the Chieftains to the win.
Pedigo made three 3-pointers in a 13-point third quarter.
“One of my old coaches used to say, ‘Once you hit one, keep shooting.’ If I hit one, I’m going to keep shooting,” said Pedigo, who finished 8 of 11 from the floor, including 3 of 6 from 3-point range.
Freshman Jacob Hjort converted a three-point play and then beat the third-quarter horn for a 3-pointer, giving River a 43-36 advantage.
Davidson’s 3-pointers to open the fourth made it a one-point game again. The game was tied once in the second half and Prairie pulled within one or two points on five occasions but never took the lead.
Bean scored 10 points in the first half. He was the only player who found much success shooting in the first two quarters. Columbia River led 19-17 at the break.
Columbia River coach David Long told his players at the break that it was likely Prairie would find its shooting touch in the second half, so the Chieftains better get going, too.
“We know they can shoot,” Columbia River coach David Long said. “They didn’t shoot well in the first half, either.”
Pedigo said the intensity and the strategy changed in the second half. The Chieftains attacked the inside, then passed outside to the open man. Once the shots started falling, it got contagious.
The passing, too. Nathan Hawthorne had six assists, and Vickers finished with five assists.
Michael Stockbridge led Prairie with 13 points. He was 8 for 8 from the line. Greg Bernash and Davidson each scored nine points for the Falcons.
Columbia River won its last two league games of 2012, and then went 10-0 in each of the past two league seasons. The 3A GSHL is a four-team league now. This was the first of six league games this season.
COLUMBIA RIVER 64, PRAIRIE 53
PRAIRIE — Palmer Goecke 7, Michael Stockbridge 13, Seth Hall 7, Dwayne Stewart 8, Greg Bernash 9, Jacob Davidson 9, Ethan Rouse 0, Walker Hausherr 0, Koy Osborn 0. Totals 17-38 (6-14) 13-15 53.
COLUMBIA RIVER — Nathan Hawthorne 5, Joey Bean 16, Andrew Vickers 10, Spencer Long 6, Chad Pedigo 19, Christian Stromme 0, Jacob Hjort 6, Jordan Hall 2, Grant Turner 0, Tyler Hellman 0, Drew Moore 0. Totals 25-48 (9-24) 5-9 64.
Prairie 6 11 19 17—53
Col. River 13 6 24 21—64
