Boys basketball: Union 69, Fort Vancouver 53

School may be out for winter break, but the Fort Vancouver boys basketball team hoped to learn a few lessons on Tuesday.

The Trappers fell short against Class 4A power Union 69-53. But it wasn’t just wins or losses Fort coach James Ensley was focused upon.

“The whole reason we play a great team like Union is to get better,” Ensley said. “Things you get away with against non-fundamentally sound teams, you can’ get away with against a playoff-caliber team like that.”

Ethan Smith scored 17 points, making 5 of 10 from 3-point range, as Union improved to 6-2. Tyler Combs added 14 points, Alishawuan Taylor had 12 and Jason Franklin Jr. had 11 for last year’s state runner-up.

Fort Vancouver (4-3) hopes to reach the Class 3A bi-district tournament for a second straight season and perhaps go beyond. Ensley said games like Tuesday’s highlight what the Trappers need to shore up, especially turnovers and shot selection. Fort shot 35 percent from the field to 52 percent for Union.

“Last year, we got beat in the playoffs because we didn’t do the little things,” he said. “It’s a lot better to fix those things now than 21 games in.”

James Husband Jr. scored 21 points and Johnny Green added 14 for the Trappers.

UNION 69, FORT VANCOUVER 53

UNION (6-2) — Coby Weatherspoon 4, Houston Combs 7, Tyler Combs 14, Quinn Lamey 4, Dustin Nettles 0, Alishawuan Taylor 12, Ethan Smith 17, Aiden Nellor 0, Jason Franklin 11, Josh Reznick 0. Totals 26 (7) 10-13 69.

FORT VANCOUVER (4-3) — Dakota Jones 5, James Husband Jr. 21, Johnny Green 14, Travis Huffman 5, Jameel Morton 5, Vinnie Bennett 3, Ezekiel Block 0, Myron Lawrence 0. Totals 19 (7) 8-14 53.

Union 23 14 19 13–69

Fort 13 15 12 13–53

JV — Union won. C — Fort won.