DES MOINES, WA — The Lower Columbia College Red Devils men's basketball team secured a decisive 79-66 road victory against the Highline Thunderbirds on Saturday afternoon at the Thunderdome at Highline College.
Five Red Devils scored in double figures, fueled by an aggressive second-half surge that saw Lower Columbia pull away from a tight 33-29 halftime lead. Lower Columbia outscored Highline 46-37 in the final 20 minutes to improve their season standing.
The Red Devils' defense proved highly disruptive throughout the game, forcing Highline into 17 turnovers, which Lower Columbia converted into 23 points. While both teams battled hard inside, the Red Devils dominated the paint, outscoring the Thunderbirds 30-22 inside the key.
Red Devils Individual Performances
Lower Columbia showcased a deep and unselfish offensive effort, recording 16 team assists and putting five different players into double digits.
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Shane Douma-Sanchez led all scorers with 20 points, sinking 8-of-9 from the free-throw line, while adding 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.
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Javares Reid was highly efficient, shooting 6-for-11 from the field for 16 points and dominating the glass with a game-high 8 rebounds.
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James Grose contributed 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists over a team-high 37 minutes on the court.
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Noah Schow played a sharp game inside the arc, scoring 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting, and pulled down 6 rebounds.
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Skyler Schmidt provided a massive spark off the bench, adding 11 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists, and a block in just 19 minutes.
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Parker Eiswald added 3 points on perfect shooting (1-1 FG, 1-1 FT).
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Chance White chipped in 2 points, a rebound, and 2 steals.
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Kenyan Jackman-Thomas anchored the defense early, securing 4 rebounds and 2 steals in his 16 minutes.
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Machaon Savedra facilitated the offense with 1 assist and 1 steal during his time on the floor.
For Highline, Dane Lewis paced the Thunderbirds with 18 points, knocking down four three-pointers, while Keaton Miller added 13 points off the bench.
By the Numbers: Team Comparison
| Statistic | Lower Columbia | Highline |
| Field Goal % | 47.5% (28-59) | 41.4% (24-58) |
| 3-Point FG % | 25.0% (4-16) | 39.3% (11-28) |
| Free Throw % | 82.6% (19-23) | 77.8% (7-9) |
| Total Rebounds | 33 | 22 |
| Assists | 16 | 14 |
| Steals | 11 | 8 |
Lower Columbia will look to carry this momentum back to Longview for their next matchup. The Red Devils will face off at home against the Grays Harbor Chokers on Wednesday, January 28, at 6:00 PM.
Don't miss a special halftime presentation this Wednesday night as we unveil the championship banner for the 2025 softball team!