LONGVIEW, WA – The Lower Columbia men's basketball team relied on suffocating defense and dominant rebounding to secure a hard-fought 67-62 victory over the Pierce Raiders on Wednesday night. With the win, the Red Devils improved to 17-5 overall and 7-3 in conference play, protecting their home court at 1770 20th Ave.
Dynamic Duo Leads the Way
Noah Schow and Skyler Schmidt proved to be a handful for the Raiders all night. Schow led the Red Devils in scoring with 18 points, shooting 8-of-19 from the field while grabbing 7 rebounds. He was instrumental in keeping the offense moving, playing the full 40 minutes.
Meanwhile, Skyler Schmidt was a force in the paint, recording a massive double-double. Schmidt dropped 17 points on efficient 7-of-12 shooting and pulled down a game-high 15 rebounds. His impact was felt on the defensive end as well, where he tallied 3 steals and 2 blocks, anchoring a defense that held Pierce to just 34.7% shooting for the game.
Cole Chester provided a spark off the bench, draining three 3-pointers to finish with 9 points, while Shane Douma-Sanchez facilitated the offense with a game-high 6 assists to go along with his 8 points and 8 rebounds.
Controlling the Game
Lower Columbia set the tone early, taking a 33-25 lead into halftime after holding Pierce to just 31.4% shooting in the opening period. The Red Devils extended their advantage in the second half, building their largest lead of the night at 13 points with 11:46 remaining.
Despite a late surge from Pierce, who outscored LCC 37-34 in the second half, the Red Devils maintained their composure. LCC dominated the glass, out-rebounding Pierce 49-36, which proved crucial in limiting the Raiders' second-chance opportunities. The Red Devils also controlled the interior, outscoring Pierce 28-24 in the paint.
By The Numbers
- Field Goal Percentage: LCC 42.4% (28-66) vs. Pierce 34.7% (25-72)
- 3-Point Shooting: LCC 37.5% (6-16) vs. Pierce 23.3% (7-30).
- Rebounds: LCC 49, Pierce 36
- Assists: LCC 13, Pierce 13
Up Next
The Red Devils will look to build on this momentum as they hit the road for their next matchup. Lower Columbia travels to Olympia, WA, to face the South Puget Sound Community College Clippers. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 PM.
