CCS men, women post victories at NWAACC

KENNEWICK – Erik Bell led four players in double figures with 25 points as Community Colleges of Spokane cruised past Centralia 87-72 Thursday to advance to the second round of the Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges men’s basketball tournament at the Toyota Center.

Jeremy Mangum chipped in a double-double with 16 points and 10 assists for the Sasquatch (22-7).

Ben Mitchell added 14 points for CCS, and Humberto Perez had 11. CCS made 58 percent of its field-goal attempts, including 6 of 12 from 3-point range.

Keegan Fulton scored 24, and Marcus Hinton chipped in 23 to lead the Blazers (14-15).

CCS will meet Chemeketa at 8 tonight.

Women’s basketball

Brittany O’Neal had 15 points and four assists as CCS rolled into the second round of the NWAACC tournament with a 64-48 win over Highline.

Emily Whitkopf added 10 points for the Sasquatch (20-10) and Ali Mittlestadt pulled down 13 rebounds to go with her six points. CCS outrebounded the Thunderbirds (21-9) by a 49-31 margin and held them to 29 percent field-goal shooting.

CCS used an 11-3 run to pull ahead 43-28 early in the second half. CCS will face Lane tonight at 6.