The Lower Columbia Red Devils controlled the pace of play and executed efficiently on both ends of the court to secure a 76-66 victory over the Centralia Trailblazers.
Led by a dominant performance from
Kap Laila, who finished with a game-high 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including a perfect 3-for-3 from beyond the arc, the Red Devils built their lead early and never looked back. Laila also added seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals in a well-rounded effort.
Malik Brown provided another strong scoring output for Lower Columbia, contributing 19 points while going 3-of-4 from three-point range and 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. Brown also tallied five rebounds, three assists, and one steal in 36 minutes of action.
David Young added 13 points, knocking down two three-pointers and swatting two blocks to anchor the defensive side.
The Red Devils' defensive intensity forced Centralia into 13 turnovers, while their offensive efficiency led to 17 assists on 26 made field goals.
As a team, Lower Columbia shot an impressive 45.6% from the field, including a sharp 47.6% from deep, making 10 of their 21 three-point attempts. They capitalized on their opportunities in the paint, scoring 26 points inside while also getting to the free-throw line 21 times, converting 66.7% of their attempts.Â
For the Trailblazers, Shay Brannon led the way with 17 points and seven rebounds while also recording three steals. Kevin Williams put together a strong all-around performance with 15 points, 13 assists, and two steals, demonstrating his playmaking ability. Despite their best efforts, Centralia was unable to close the gap, as they shot just 29.4% from beyond the arc and struggled from the free-throw line, making only 56.3% of their attempts.
The Red Devils' ability to maintain control throughout the game was evident, as they held their largest lead of 13 points late in the second half. With this win, Lower Columbia improved to 6-2 on the season, continuing to assert themselves as a top contender in NWAC play.
LCC Men are back on the home court this Saturday (2/8/25) for a big west region match-up vs the 7-1 Green River Gators. A Devils win will put LCC and Green River tied for second in the west behind South Puget Sound.Â
Tip is set for 7:00 pm.Â
