(Longview, WA) – To a man, the Lower Columbia men's basketball team was disappointed when they noticed Pierce star Michael Ajayi dressed in crocs and street clothes prior to their home game on Saturday February 18
th.
The Raiders star was not available for the game. It may not have mattered. The Devils got off to an 11-0 start and cruised to an 89-61 victory.
LCC shot 53 percent from the floor and out-rebounded the Raiders 52-35 in a dominating performance. With the victory, the Devils clinched an NWAC Championship tournament berth and stayed in first place in the NWAC West.
The Lower Columbia big men had their way.
Jonah Zeller had 15 points and 10 rebounds. He also blocked three shots.
Ashton Harvey was a rebound shy of joining Zeller for a double-double. Harvey had 15 points and nine boards.
All 10 Red Devils scored at least four points.
Kaden Horn had 10 points, three steals and two assists.
Emanuel Steward had nine points.
Four LCC players scored eight points including
Sherman Royal III,
Cameron Holden,
Mekhi Morris and
Jake Leitz. Leitz added seven rebounds and Royal collected six rebounds.
Carter McCoy had four points and seven caroms.
Cole Hardy had four points and six rebounds.
Will Green scored 15 to lead Pierce.
LCC upped its league record to 10-1 and 20-5 overall. The victory punched the Devils ticket to Pasco for the NWAC Championships in March. Lower Columbia has qualified for the tournament for the 42
nd time, seven more than Bellevue.
The Devils will travel to Centralia to take on the Trailblazers on Wednesday February 22
nd. Game time is 6 pm.
The game can be heard live on FM 100.7 KLOG and on klog.com.
