Colfax boys end 2024 with win in Augusta, begin 2025 with loss at Turtle Lake
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by Marlys Kruger
Sports Correspondent
The Viking boys’ basketball team went on the road to Augusta December 30 and used a strong second half to pick up a 72-60 win over the Beavers. They could not follow up with another win however, as they lost 68-48 to the Turtle Lake Lakers January 3 in Turtle Lake.
Augusta
Both teams were looking for their second win as the Beavers were 1-6 and the Vikings were 1-5. Augusta led 8-4 early on before Aiden Fischer put the Vikings ahead with a fast break layup and a three point shot. Fischer continued to sizzle the nets with back-to-back triples along with a pair of free throws for a 17-12 advantage and Russell Polkoski scored on an offensive rebound to add to the lead.
The Beavers kept pace, using a full-court press to force some Colfax turnovers but Fischer scored on another layup and Trey Larson drained a three ball for a 24-18 lead.
Augusta countered with a trey to cut the Viking lead to three before Polkoski scored on another offensive rebound, but the Beavers connected from long range again. Orion Nichols went to the charity stripe twice for Colfax, hitting 3-of-4 while Polkoski dropped a free toss in and it was 30-23 for the Vikings.
After pulling ahead 36-25 with Fischer scoring on a put back, then hitting 1-of-2 free tosses twice, and Polkoski driving to the hoop, the Beavers used a 10-3 run which included a pair of triples to get themselves back in the game and the Vikings held a slim 39-36 advantage at the break.
Polkoski started the second half with a bang, canning a triple but the Beavers came back to knot the score at 42-42.
Colfax began to put the hammer down however, as they controlled the offensive boards, resulting in three straight buckets in the paint from Polkoski, Fischer and Nichols. After a Beaver free throw, Nichols drilled a three pointer and it was all Vikings from there on out.
They eventually went up by 20 points at 69-49 on another Fischer deuce and two free tosses by Larson, and one final freebie by Charlie Charbonneau finished off the Colfax scoring for the night.
Fischer led the Vikings with 29 points, collecting seven rebounds with six steals. Polkoski pulled off a double-double with 26 points and 15 rebounds along with five steals, and Nichols finished with 11 points and seven boards. Colfax was 6-for-20 from long range and 16-for-28 at the foul line.
Bryce Buttke led the Beavers with 24 points and his team was 4-for-14 from three-point land and 8-for-10 at the charity stripe.
Turtle Lake
The Lakers had four players score in double figures with Brandon Wagner leading his team with 21 points. They connected on just 5-of-24 three-point attempts and were 7-for-9 in free throws to defeat Colfax 68-48.
No information or statistics for Colfax were available as of Monday’s printing deadline.
Colfax has a pair of home games slated for this week. The Vikings took on Bloomer in a non-conference affair last evening (Tuesday, January 7) and get back to conference play when Elmwood-Plum City comes to town this Friday, January 10. Next Monday, January 13, Eau Claire Regis comes to the Vikes’ gym.