No. 5 Pirates Derailed On Road

Small-college men

The Whitworth Pirates men’s basketball team hit a road block Saturday night in McMinnville, Ore.

The Pirates, ranked No. 5 in NAIA Division II and leading the NCIC coming in, were defeated by Linfield 102-98 in overtime.

The loss, combined with George Fox’s victory at Lewis & Clark, leaves the Pirates tied for first with the Bruins. Both teams are 10-3.

With a week at home and a week on the road remaining in the regular season, Whitworth’s three home games this week may be crucial. The Pirates get Whitman on Tuesday, Pacific Lutheran on Friday and Lewis & Clark on Saturday at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

Against Linfield (7-12, 5-8), Whitworth had a 3-point lead in the final minute of regulation, but by the time Linfield tied it at the buzzer, the writing may have been on the wall.

“We had that thing won three or four times,” Whitworth coach Warren Friedrichs said. “Any one play would have done it. But you cannot make it a one-play game on the road.”

Sean Weston, who hit some key baskets late in regulation, scored 17 points to lead Whitworth. Jeff Mix, Ben Heimerman and Tyler Jordan scored 16 apiece.

Three players fouled out of the foul-filled game.

“I’ve never seen so many fouls called,” Friedrichs said. “You name it, there could have been 20 more. It was ugly from a purist’s standpoint.”

Rob Emerson led Linfield with 25 points. Travis Olson added 18, Matt Kaiser 14, Scott Turner 13 and Chris Iceman 11.

Linfield 102, Whitworth 98

Whitworth (14-5, 10-3) - Mix 6-9 4-5 16, Weston 3-4 11-11 17, Schulz 2-2 0-1 4, Nakanishi 1-1 1-1 3, Nelson 2-5 4-5 10, Heimerman 4-7 7-9 16, McDaniel 0-0 0-0 0, Jordan 5-8 2-5 16, Jones 4-9 5-8 13, Ruebel 0-2 3-5 3. Totals 27-47 37-50 98.

Linfield (7-12, 5-8) - Ebright 1-2 0-0 3, Wilson 2-2 1-2 7, Turner 5-10 2-4 13, Olson 5-14 6-8 18, Berkey 0-1 0-0 0, Boyce 0-0 0-0 0, Emerson 5-9 12-12 25, Gunderson 0-0 0-0 0, Kaiser 6-12 2-3 14, Cahill 0-2 2-2 2, Bohlander 3-6 3-3 9, Iceman 4-6 3-5 11. Totals 31-64 31-39 102.

Halftime - Whitworth 39, Linfield 34. 3-point goals - Whitworth 7-15 (Weston 0-1, Nelson 2-5, Heimerman 1-2, Jordan 4-5, Jones 0-1, Ruebel 0-1), Linfield 9-18 (Ebright 1-1, Wilson 2-2, Turner 1-4, Olson 2-5, Emerson 3-5, Cahill 0-1). Fouled out - Weston, Cahill, Iceman. Rebounds - Whitworth 19 (Nelson, Heimerman, Jones 3), Linfield 36 (Olson 11). Assists - Whitworth 13 (Nakanishi, Jordan 3), Linfield 26 (Olson, Emerson 7). Total fouls - Whitworth 32, Linfield 10. Technicals - None.

Wenatchee Valley 64, CC Spokane 61

Cedrick Day scored 20 points in a losing effort to lead Spokane.

Wenatchee - Boettcher 1-2 0-0 8, Gish 1-4 0-0 2, Berry 1-1 0-0 2, Zrar 2-5 0-0 4, -7 1-2 9, Primm 1-1 0-0 2, Evers 3-6 1-1 7, Ward 2-3 4-4 11. Totals 17-31 9-11 64.

CC Spokane - Cardwell 0-2 0-0 3, Huston 0-1 0-0 0, Darnold 1-3 2-2 7, Spencer 0-1 2-2 8, Murbach 1-3 0-0 2, Mostek 1-1 0-0 8, Ahrens 0-0 0-0 0, Day 9-13 2-3 20, Schulz 1-2 0-2 2, Long 2-4 2-2 6, Gordon 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 16-32 8-11 61.

Halftime - Wenatchee 35, Spokane 27. 3-point goals - Wenatchee 7-18 (Boettcher 2-2, Knell 3-5, Hunter 1-2, Ward 1-3), Spokane 7-21 (Cardwell 1-1, Huston 1-4, Darnold 1-1, Spencer 2-4, Mostek 2-5). Fouled out - None. Rebounds - Wenatchee 25 (Ward 6), Spokane 18 (Day 6). Assists - Wenatchee 17 (Boettcher, Carlson 4), Spokane 14 (Mostek 4). Total fouls - Wenatchee 13, Spokane 11. Technicals - None.

, DataTimes