LONGVIEW, WA. — It wasn't pretty, it wasn't easy, but in the rough-and-tumble world of NWAC West Region basketball, a win is a win.

The Lower Columbia College Red Devils survived a furious second-half rally from South Puget Sound on Saturday night, holding on for a gritty 86-84 victory at Myklebust Gymnasium. In a game defined by wild momentum swings and a nail-biting finish, it was sophomore tough-guy Dalton Stevens who delivered the decisive blow, securing a steal with seven seconds remaining to seal the game for LCC.

The victory moves the Red Devils to 12-4 overall and levels their conference record at 2-2, keeping them firmly in the hunt in the West Region standings.

The Finish

With the Devils clinging to a precarious 85-84 lead in the closing moments, the Clippers (13-6, 2-2) had possession and a chance to win. But the LCC defense, which had bent but not broken during SPSCC's 51-point second half, finally clamped down.

Stevens, who was electric off the bench all night, jumped a passing lane to pick the pocket of SPSCC's Jeremiah Lewis. Fouled immediately, Stevens split a pair of free throws to push the lead to two. The Devils' defense held firm on the final possession, ensuring the home crowd went home happy.

Red Devil Standouts

While the ending was chaotic, the foundation of the win was laid by a balanced offensive attack that saw four Red Devils score in double figures.

• Shane Douma-Sanchez was the engine for LCC, pouring in a team-high 21 points in 37 minutes. The sophomore guard was the picture of composure, shooting 6-of-11 from the floor and a perfect 7-for-7 from the free-throw line.

• Skyler Schmidt battled his way to 18 points and a team-high 7 rebounds, providing the interior muscle the Devils needed against a scrappy Clippers frontcourt.

• Dalton Stevens was the X-factor. Coming off the bench, he tallied 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. His aggression was key, as he got to the line 10 times, hitting 6.

• James Grose added 15 points and 3 assists, knocking down two crucial three-pointers to keep the offense spacing honest.

A Tale of Two Halves

For the first 20 minutes, it looked like the Devils might run away with it. LCC shot a blistering 58.6% in the first half, moving the ball beautifully to take a 42-33 lead into the locker room. The defense was stifling, holding the dangerous Clippers perimeter attack in check.

But South Puget Sound refused to go quietly. Led by Jamaal Elliott (31 points) and Jalen Hyppa (23 points), the Clippers caught fire in the second half, raining down 10 three-pointers to chip away at the lead. They briefly terrified the Myklebust faithful, turning what was once a comfortable margin into a one-possession dogfight down the stretch.

The Difference Maker: Aggression

If you look at the box score, the story of the game was written at the charity stripe. The Red Devils were the aggressors all night, relentlessly attacking the paint and drawing contact. LCC finished 24-of-33 (72.7%) from the free-throw line.

In contrast, the Clippers settled for jumpers. While they hit 15 three-pointers, they only attempted 9 free throws the entire game, making just 5. That 19-point advantage at the line was the lifeline LCC needed to withstand SPSCC's perimeter barrage.

Next Up

The Red Devils have successfully defended "The Myk" and are back to .500 in league play. They will look to build on this momentum as the West Region gauntlet continues.
LCC travels to Tacoma on Wednesday, January 21 with a 5:30 pm tip-off, followed by a trip to Highline on Saturday, January 24 with a 12:00 pm tip.

Final Score: Lower Columbia 86, South Puget Sound 84.