(Longview, WA) – The Lower Columbia men's basketball team went for defense in trying to snap a two-game losing streak after starting the season 6-0.
 
Holding a high-scoring Blue Mountain team to 21 points below its scoring average did the trick as the Devils defeated the Timberwolves 87-70 on Sunday December 11^th at Myklebust Gym.
 
Blue Mountain came into the game averaging 91.7 points per game including a 99-76 victory over Portland the night before.  Portland snapped the Devils 11 game home win streak last Wednesday.
 
LCC came out aggressive and ready.  The Devils jumped out to a 19-4 lead and were able to stem any Blue Mountain rallies the rest of the way.
 
It was a great team effort for LCC.  Five players scored in double figures and LCC had just nine turnovers in the game, five in the final 10 minutes when the Devils were comfortably ahead.
 
Emanuel Steward had 17 points, six assists and four steals.  LCC had nine steals in the game as they played solid team defense.
 
Kaden Horn was great off the bench with 14 points.
 
Cole Hardy went 3 for 3 from three-point range and hit two big ones when the T-Wolves were showing signs of getting back into the game.  Hardy had 13 points, six boards and three assists.
 
Cameron Holden had a solid game with eight points and five assists.
 
Playing against some of his old AAU teammates from Florida, Sherman Royal III got it going in the second half and ended up with 11 points and seven rebounds.
 
One of his old Florida friends had a great game for Blue U.  Chad Napoleon had 33 points including 4 for 4 from three-point range.
 
Also in double figures for LCC was Ashton Harvey with 10 points and five rebounds.
 
Jonah Zeller played great interior defense and had five points and six caroms.  Jake Leitz also had five points.
 
The Devils get back on the winning side as they prepare to play in the Linn Benton Cross Over tournament starting Thursday December 15^th in Albany Oregon.  LCC will play Skagit Valley at 5 pm Thursday, Columbia Basin at 4 pm Friday and the host Linn Benton team Saturday at 4 pm.