The Lower Columbia College Red Devils showcased their dominance on Wednesday, cruising to a massive 106-64 victory over Tacoma at Myklebust Gymnasium. With their postseason ticket already punched, the Red Devils flexed their depth and offensive firepower in front of 354 fans.
Lower Columbia (19-5, 9-3) took control early and never looked back, heading into the locker room with a commanding 54-34 halftime lead. The Red Devils shot an incredibly efficient 68.97% from the field in the first half to build their cushion. Tacoma (6-19, 1-11) struggled to keep pace against Lower Columbia's relentless inside game and deep bench.
The Red Devils dominated the interior, outscoring Tacoma 50-42 in the paint, and their second unit provided a massive spark by contributing 37 bench points compared to Tacoma's 14. Lower Columbia continued to pour it on in the second half, outscoring the visitors 52-30 and stretching their lead to a game-high 45 points late in the period.
Key Player Performances
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Skyler Schmidt (LCC): Led the Red Devils with a powerful double-double, recording 21 points and 13 rebounds while adding 6 assists.
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Noah Schow (LCC): Poured in 20 points on a highly efficient 9-of-12 shooting, alongside 6 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals.
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Shane Douma-Sanchez (LCC): Orchestrated the offense with a game-high 7 assists and chipped in 10 points.
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Cole Chester & Lonnie Brown Jr. (LCC): Both players provided a major lift off the bench, scoring 11 points apiece.
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Jakoi Lide (Tacoma): The bright spot for Tacoma, leading all scorers with 25 points to go along with 5 assists and 3 rebounds.
Team Statistics Summary
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Field Goal Shooting: Lower Columbia was red-hot, shooting 63.1% (41-65) from the field, while Tacoma was held to just 39.4% (26-66).
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Three-Point Shooting: The Red Devils knocked down half their shots from beyond the arc (12-24, 50.0%), sharply contrasting Tacoma's struggles from deep (3-20, 15.0%).
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Rebounding: Lower Columbia controlled the glass with 41 total rebounds compared to Tacoma's 24.
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Ball Movement: The Red Devils shared the ball exceptionally well, racking up 31 team assists to Tacoma's 14.
Looking Ahead
The Red Devils have officially clinched their spot in this year's NWAC Championship tournament, but they still have business to take care of to close out the regular season. They have two games remaining:
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Saturday, Feb 21: At home versus the Highline Thunderbirds.
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Wednesday, Feb 25: On the road against the Grays Harbor Chokers in Aberdeen, WA.
