Pirates Facing Big Hurdles Coming Off Two Losses, Whitworth Men Need To Regroup To Stay In Title Hunt

The Whitworth men’s basketball team has hit the portion of its season that has jumped out since the schedule makers put it all together. But the Pirates hadn’t planned on entering its weekend games against ranked opponents on a rare two-game losing streak.

“A championship-contending team has to learn how to handle the road,” said coach Warren Friedrichs, whose Pirates are 11-3, 4-2 in the Northwest Conference after weekend losses at Pacific Lutheran and Puget Sound.

Tonight at 8, Whitworth will test its tenacity at home against No. 2 Lewis & Clark (12-2, 4-2). Saturday at 8, the Pirates play host to the conference’s surprise team, No. 12 Pacific (10-2, 6-0). Whitworth had been ranked No. 11 in the NAIA Division II poll, but dropped to No. 16.

Monday, first-place Pacific beat L&C 95-84. Whitworth, L&C and PLU are tied for second. The league champion will host the conference tournament, which the Pirates did last season before earning a berth into the NAIA national championship in Nampa, Idaho.

The Pioneers, who also qualified for nationals last year, feature 6-foot guard Brooks Meek, who is second in the conference in scoring (19.5 points per game). Whitney Brake (6-7 junior forward) and Jeff Flowers (6-7 center) form a powerful inside combination, averaging 15.8 ppg and 13.3 ppg while grabbing 9.2 and 8.7 rebounds per game, respectively.

Pacific is led by the early favorite for conference player of the year, Brett Jefferies. The 6-7 forward from Australia leads the NCIC in scoring (20.2 ppg) and rebounding (10.5 rpg.)

Whitworth, meanwhile, continues to suffer through bumps and bruises. Senior guard Nate Williams (14.3 ppg), who has been slowed by a bad knee all season, sprained his ankle in the PLU game and is not at full strength. Junior guard Jeff Mix (14.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg) has missed practice because of tendinitis in his ankle.

“We still haven’t played our best ball,” Friedrichs said.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Talented company Lewis & Clark (Brooks Meek, No. 2, 19.5 points per game) and Pacific (Brett Jefferies, No. 1, 20.2) bring to town the top two scorers in the Northwest Conference.