After opening the season with a two-possession loss to Kelso High School, the Ridgefield Spudders boys basketball team gained a winning advantage with victories over La Center and W.F. West high schools on back-to-back nights last week.
The Spudders lit up the scoreboard in the second half of a 71-57 victory over the La Center Wildcats on Wednesday, Dec. 3, and then a dominant 68-42 win against the W.F. West Bearcats occurred the next night on Thursday, Dec. 4.
The Spuds went into the locker room with just a three-point lead over the Wildcats on Dec. 3 with a 40-37 lead.
“I’m not sure I’ve ever been so disappointed in a half scoring 40 points before,” Spudders head coach Jason Buffum said. “But the offense did some great things. We took 21 first-half threes, which is mind boggling, but you know, we were open. I wasn’t loving the halftime going in, giving up 37 and feeling like they hadn’t had to earn it very much.”
But the Spuds turned up the effort on both ends of the floor to shut down La Center with a 31-20 second half.
“So, in the second half, defensively we were a little better,” Buffum said. “We were a little more patient. Obviously if [Jamison] McCann gets going, he’s pretty damn good. Gavin Perry battles his tail off for us. His maturity and growth this year is huge. Tallon Hood came in early and stuck some threes. So, you know, it’s the second game in, we’ve got a lot to work on and we’re just glad we got a win.”
In the win over La Center, Ridgefield was led with 36 points from McCann and 15 points from Hood.
Buffum said the loss of key seniors last season and star Talon Sosky going to Central Catholic in Portland made the identity of this Spudder group unknown right away.
“We weren’t sure where some of these guys were going to fall in their roles and it could be different every night,” Buffum said. “I mean, we have to attack the hoop. We have to score in transition because we’re not very big.”
Buffum added that the team will be creative in scoring this season. With a lot of seniors this year, many players have waited a long time for their moment, Buffum said.
The Spudders next played Fort Vancouver High School on Monday, Dec. 8, but results were unavailable at press time. They next take Interstate 5 north to Woodland High School on Wednesday, Dec. 10, for a game at 7:30 p.m.
The La Center Wildcats next played Hudson’s Bay High School on Friday, Dec. 5, resulting in a 69-52 win. The Wildcats will next host Tenino High School on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m.
