Davenport boys hold off Chewelah

CHEWELAH-The Davenport boys varsity basketball team kept rolling to its fourth straight win to start the 2021 season against the Chewelah Cougars (1-3) 54-48 Tuesday, May 25.

The Gorillas were led by the players who have carried much of the scoring load all season: Tennesee Rainwater and Brenick Soliday.

Rainwater scored 20 points on 8-for-20 shooting while converting seven of his 10 two-point attempts and snaring seven rebounds, dishing out four assists and blocking two shots. Soliday scored 18 points and knocked down four three-pointers while grabbing six rebounds and getting two steals.

The second quarter was key to the Gorilla win, as Davenport outscored the Cougars 22-12 in the frame. Chewelah outscored Davenport 26-21 in the second half, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Gorillas' 11-point halftime lead.

Davenport shot 38.5% from the field, but held Chewelah to a paltry 29.5% from the field. Both teams struggled from distance (besides Soliday), as Davenport was 5-of-24 and Chewelah was 3-for-22. Davenport was outrebounded 43-34.

The Gorillas spread the ball around better than the Cougars, handing out 13 assists to Chewelah's six. Davenport coughed up 11 turnovers and forced nine.

At one point, Davenport held a 21-point lead that Chewelah whittled to a six-point lead by game's end. Chewelah went on a 13-0 second half run to make the game interesting.

The Gorillas are 4-0 and one of four undefeated NE2B teams, along with Lind-Ritzville/Sprague, St. George's and Liberty.

Davenport's next game is an important home tilt with the Colfax Bulldogs, who are 2-2 this season. Colfax will present a challenge if fully healthy...the Bulldogs were down their top two players in an ugly loss to Chewelah last Friday. Tip-off is around 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 27.