Red Devil Roundup: Catching up with LCC athletics
NWAC Seasons — Volleyball reaches the end as basketball begins
NWAC Volleyball
Red Devils reach the end of the line at Regionals
The Lower Columbia volleyball team saw its season come to an end over the weekend with losses to Bellevue and Clackamas in the Regional rounds of the NWAC Championships at Columbia Basin College in Pasco.
The Red Devils entered the tournament as hot as they’d been all season only to be swept in their opener against Bellevue by scores of 25-19, 25-18 and 25-23. Samantha Farland led the LCC offense with11 kills and three digs, while Madi Noel posted 17 digs to anchor the defense.
Kenny Collins contributed seven kills along with eight digs, and Allison Orantes dished 14 assists to with five digs.
Bellevue was led by Jessie Mahler, who posted 11 kills and 10 digs. Jocie Snyder added 18 digs and Mandi Nottingham handed out 26 assists.
The Bulldogs went on to sweep Clackamas in order to advance to the Elite Eight.
Fighting to Survive
With their season on the line, the Red Devils dropped down to play Clackamas and proved unable to recover in time to advance. Lower Columba dropped the first set by 17 points and ultimately lost the match by scores of 25-8, 23-25, 25-21 and 25-20.
Kenny Collins led Lower Columbia with 16 kills, 15 digs and three blocks, while Allison Orantes posted 21 assists and 15 digs.
On the other end, Clackamas was led by Shalyn Bliss’ 17 kills and three digs. Stalla Pollack added 16 kills and two digs, while Abbigayle Bailey notched 10 kills and 10 digs for the Cougars.
In the season’s final throes, Samantha Farland contributed 14 kills and four digs for the Red Devils, and Madi Noel tallied a dozen digs. Charissa Schierman contributed 13 assists and three kills in the loss.
Award SZN
The Red Devils had Noel named to the All-West Region first team. Farland and Collins were each selected for the second team, and Morgan Harrison was picked for the third team. Paige Miller of Centralia was named the MVP, and Chris Littleman of Highline was voted Coach of the Year.
Lower Columbia finished the season with an overall record of 11-17 and a third place finish in the NWAC West region in Troy Shorey’s first year as head coach.
All-West Region Volleyball
Most Valuable Player
Paige Miller, Fr, OH, Centralia
Coach of the Year
Chris Littleman, Highline
First Team
Madison Mamizuka, Highline
Halle Garrity, Highline
Aspen Olsen, Highline
Avery Starr, Centralia
Madi Noel, Lower Columbia
Katelyn White, South Puget Sound
Second Team
Sonya Fa'amalele, Highline
Cadence Gumanas, Centralia
Analiese Martin, Centralia
Samantha Farland, Lower Columbia
Kenny Collins, Lower Columbia
Caelyn Marshall, South Puget Sound
Third Team
Queen Matlyn, Highline
Morgan Rogerson, Centralia
Morgan Garrison, Lower Columbia
Brooklynn Thesenvits, South Puget Sound
Abigayle Skultety, Pierce
Leilah Lemalu, Tacoma
Kristen Carstens, Green River
NWAC Women’s Basketball
LCC opens season on the road
The Lower Columbia women’s basketball team racked up a thousand miles on the odometer and picked up a pair of wins in the season’s opening jaunt, with two games in Pasco at the Columbia Basin Tipoff and another at Blue Mountain College in Idaho at the end of last week.
The Red Devils opened that slate with a 65-52 loss to Walla Walla on Thursday, then defeated the hosts from Columbia Basin in overtime on Friday. Lower Columbia then packed up and drove east to collect a win in the gem state.
Against the Warriors it looked like LCC might be able to find some breathing room after holding Walla Walla to nine points in the second quarter and taking a 29-24 lead into the half. But the Red Devils scored just six points themselves in the third quarter and were never able to regain the upper hand.
Karlee VonMoos led LCC with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Brielle Magnuson posted a game-high 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Warriors. Jaisha Gibb added 18 points and five steals for Walla Walla.
Reigha Niemeyer posted a team-high 13 points, and Mogan Hamilton contributed 10 points in the loss. Dylan Mann added four points and five rebounds for the Red devils.
Ungracious Guests
The Red Devils appreciated the hospitality at Columbia Basin but didn’t let their gratitude get in the way of a 57-55 overtime victory over the Hawks in their second try in The Tipoff.
Lower Columbia likely could have won in regulation if not for a six-point second quarter, before edging the hosts by two points in the extra period. Morgan Hamilton sank a jump shot with five seconds left on the clock to give the visitors the win.
Hamilton finished the game with nine points, five points, three steals and two assists. Niemeyer led the Red Devils offense with 19 points to go with five rebounds.
VonMoos posted another double-double with 10 points and 20 rebounds
“She’s an even better defensive rebounder than she is on the offensive end,” LCC coach Lucas Myers said. “She rarely lets an opponent get a second chance.”
Getaway Game
A long drive home was made more enjoyable thanks to a 79-66 win at Blue mountain. Niemeyer led the Red Devils with 19 points, four rebounds and three steals.
Lower Columbia led by just two points at halftime but pulled away with the help of 25 points in the fourth quarter.
Ella Stewart led Blue Mountain with 16 points and seven rebounds.
VonMoos added 17 points and nine rebounds for LCC. Lisa Lorenz Conrotto and Lauren Katyryniuk scored 12 and eight points off the bench, respectively, in the win.
Familiar Faces
The 2024-24 Lower Columbia College women’s basketball team will feature several names that Blast Area fans should remember from their prep days.
Reigha Niemeyer is a sophomore guard with the Red Devils after a sterling high school career at Wahkiakum. Lauren Katyryniuk is another sophomore guard, but from the other side of KM Mountain, hailing from Naselle.
For fans from the north end, Karlee VonMoos is a sophomore post from Adna, and Morgan Hamilton is a sophomore guard from Napavine.
What’s Next?
Lower Columbia (2-1) will host Peninsula at 3 p.m., Saturday, at Myklebust Gymnasium.
NWAC Men’s Basketball
Red Devils open with win at Chemeketa
The Lower Columbia men’s basketball team started hot and nearly set the nets on fire before the end of a 92-68 win at Chemeketa College, Sunday.
The Red Devils doubled up the Storm 42-21 in the first half, and then apparently abandoned defense in pursuit of triple digits in their first time on the court in the 2024-25 season.
Kap Laila led LCC with a double-double that consisted of 19 points and 13 rebounds. Camryn Berry added 11 points off the bench in the win.
No other Red Devils reached double digits, but 11 players reached the scoring column with at least four points.
Malik Brown scored nine points with five rebounds and three assists, while Keshawn Lewis notched nine points with four assists and two steals. Kelso’s Hayden Yore tallied six points in his debut for the Red Devils.
Lower Columbia (1-0) will host Portland at 7 p.m., Wednesday, at Myklebust Gymnasium, before bringing Pacific University (Forest Grove) to The Bust on Saturday for a noon tipoff.