The Lower Columbia men's basketball team came out fired up.
 
The Devils got another shot at South Puget Sound on Wednesday February 12^th when they played the Clippers at their temporary home at Evergreen State in Olympia. 
 
It turned out to be no contest.
 
The first meeting in Longview was an incredible game where it came down to a final shot by Cacoa Chatman just before the buzzer.  It allowed the Clippers to take control of first place.  But LCC's 89-68 win in Olympia has tied things up in the division with both teams on top at 9-1.
 
Lower Columbia jumped out to a 40-27 lead at halftime and then never allowed the Clippers to get back into the game. The normally red-hot Clips shot just 34 percent as the Devil defense played outstanding.  Ben Janssan, who killed the Devils with a myriad of tough shots in Longview, went just 1-11 from the floor in the re-match.
 
Martis Johnson had another great game as the sophomore scored 19 points with 10 rebounds. Speaking of double-doubles, West MVP candidate Samaad Hector had 12 points and 13 rebounds. He is now third on the LCC All-Time single season rebounding list.
 
Point guard Cody Young had 17 points before fouling out late in the game.  Louden Wardius scored the first five points of the game and went on to contribute big with 12 points and five rebounds.
 
Travis Patrick led the Devil bench with eight points and six rebounds.  Taylor Pomeroy also scored eight points and made both of his three-point attempts. The Devil bench outscored the Clipper reserves 24 to 11.
 
The only negative was LCC's 11-24 performance at the free throw line (46%).  The Devils shot 52 percent from the floor and 33 percent from distance.
 
With a share of first, the Devils try and keep it going as they go back on the road Saturday February 15^th.  The game with the Grays Harbor Chokers begins at 4 pm in the on-campus gym in Aberdeen.  The game will be broadcast of FM 100.7 KLOG in the Longview-Kelso area. It's also on the internet at klog.com.