Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Davenport sophomore Brenick Soliday rises up for a three-pointer against Northwest Christian.
DAVENPORT-It wasn't an easy fight, but the Gorillas were able to snare a win in their first game of the season against the Northwest Christian (Colbert) Crusaders 70-65 Tuesday, May 18.
Sharp-shooting point guard Brenick Soliday and high-flying wing Tennesee Rainwater scored 24 big points apiece for Davenport. Soliday knocked down five key three-pointers on 10 attempts and hit three important free-throws down the stretch after Rainwater fouled out with three minutes left in the game.
"We just had to step it up and play better defense...everyone did," Soliday said. "And we had to stop fouling."
Soliday's long-distance efforts helped Davenport go 7-for-19 from deep, while NWC was just 2-for-8. That 15-point difference proved key in Davenport's five-point victory.
"I was just feeling it," Soliday said. "People gave me good passes, and I caught it in rhythm."
The game was nip-and-tuck all first half, with the score tied 15-15 after one quarter and 31-31 at halftime. Rainwater knocked down a three from the top of the key as time wound down in the second frame to even the score heading to the locker room.
Davenport outscored NWC 23-17 in the third quarter, which proved to be the difference.
The lead changed hands 13 times throughout the game and was tied six times. Davenport never led by more than eight points, while NWC's largest lead was four points. Neither team managed more than a 7-0 scoring spurt.
The officials were happy to call fouls both ways in the physical matchup. Davenport shot 15-of-27 from the charity stripe, while NWC was 19-for-32. Both Rainwater and senior Ethan Douse fouled out for the Gorillas.
Freshman Jaeger Jacobsen came up with eight big rebounds off the bench for Davenport.
Davenport heads to Reardan to take on the Indians in its next matchup. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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