James O’Donnell went absolutely bonkers last night at the Rainbow Classic, racking up 29 points and a staggering 20 rebounds as Portland annihilated Bethesda (CA) 130-56. Twenty boards! That’s a performance we haven’t seen from a Portland player since 1979, making this a straight-up historic night for the Pilots.
O’Donnell’s Historic Night Fuels Dominant Win
From the jump, this game was all Portland. They grabbed the lead just 13 seconds into the contest and never looked back. O’Donnell was a force of nature, especially in that first half, pouring in 23 points as the Pilots stormed to a 60-30 lead at halftime. He wasn’t just scoring, he was owning the glass, setting a bar that hasn’t been touched in over four decades for the program. Talk about a statement game!
Pilots’ Offense Erupts, Flames Can’t Keep Up
The Pilots’ offense wasn’t just a one-man show. Jaxon Olvera chipped in with 18 points, hitting 5 of 10 from the field, including a couple of threes, and was perfect from the line, going 6 of 6. Henry Sewell also came up huge, dropping 14 points on an efficient 6 of 7 shooting from the field, adding 2 of 3 from the charity stripe. Sewell even led the team in scoring in the second half. Portland kept their foot on the gas in the second, stretching their lead to 80-35 thanks to a ridiculous 18-2 scoring run. Bethesda, a National Christian College Athletic Association member, had Jaden Peters trying to keep them in it with 21 points, six rebounds, and two blocks. Shane Sands added 16 points and Kenji Cooper put up 10, but it just wasn’t enough against the Pilots’ onslaught.
Portland is now sitting at a solid 2-1 on the season, and if O’Donnell keeps putting up numbers like this, they’re going to be a tough out. This kind of dominant performance, especially with that historical rebounding mark, is exactly the momentum a team wants early in the season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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