Raiders take down Oroville, Liberty Bell for 6-0 record

The Lake Roosevelt Raiders basketball team defeated both Oroville and Liberty Bell this past week to continue their undefeated status, now with a win-loss record of 6-0.

The Raiders defeated the Hornets in Oroville Dec. 14 by 20 points, 67-47.

The Raiders led 34-22 at the half before closing out the game, scoring 37 more in the second half to the Hornet's 25. 

Chase Marchand led the Raiders with 20 points, followed by Brandon Pino with 18 and Alonzo Adams with 17.

Defensively, Chase Clark pulled down eight rebounds while Marchand had four steals which is "on par for that kid," according to Head Coach Jeremy Crollard who suspects the sophomore Marchand would hold the steals record by the time he is a senior if the league kept track of that.

The two Chases, Clark and Marchand "have really stepped up," Crollard said, while Pino "kept us held together in the second half." 

Adams "has been a constant, steady scorer throughout our games, averaging 16 points a game right now," Crollard said.

In Coulee Dam Thursday, the Raiders led the Liberty Bell Mountain Lions 25-20 at the half before defeating them 52-44. 

"They definitely had some size," Crollard said, noting their 6-5 sophomore Kyler Mitchell. "Their boys were pretty physical," he said, calling it "the most physical game we've had all year."

"It was nice to come out on top," he added. 

Adams led the team with 13 points, with Chase Clark adding 11, Pino scoring 10, and Tanner Kiser and Chase Marchand each scoring eight.

The victory put the Raiders at a six-game undefeated start to the season, with the team ranked third in the state out of 2B teams by the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association.

"I told the boys that doesn't mean anything right now," Crollard said. "All that matters is the end of the season."

With only two teams from the league going into the postseason, the Raiders still need to beat Okanogan and Brewster, whom they'll play in Coulee Dam Jan. 7 and 11 respectively.

Okanogan, ranked second by the WIAA, is also undefeated. Brewster has a 3-3 win-loss record.

Crollard, speaking about the rest of the season, noted Tanner Whitelaw as the Raiders' "motor guy," who has "been pushing the boys in practice, working really hard."

He said Chase Clark is standing out as a leader, as well. 

"I don't think he realizes his potential yet," Crollard said. "When he forces the issue, he can jump out of the gym, and not many guys can guard him and his athleticism."

Crollard said the Raiders still have "an ace in the hole" not yet unleashed this season, and he looks forward to using it in January. 

On a break for the holidays, the Raiders don't play another game until Jan. 4 when they are scheduled to play a road game with Almira-Coulee-Hartline at 7:30 p.m.