Whits climb to No. 2 in D3 poll

Whitworth University keeps winning … and poll climbing.

The Pirates, who ran their record to 17-0 in the best start in school history with two victories last weekend, moved up one spot to No. 2 in the D3hoops.com men’s Top 25 basketball poll Monday.

Whitworth, which garnered three first-place votes and trails No. 1 Wooster (18-0) by 36 points, enjoys its highest ranking as an NCAA Division III school. The Pirates spent the previous two weeks at No. 3.

The Pirates entertain Linfield on Friday and Lewis & Clark, which debuted at No. 24 in the poll this week, on Saturday.

Girls basketball

Almira/Coulee-Hartline 59, Columbia 51 (OT): The visiting third-ranked 1B Warriors (14-2) saw an 11-point lead disappear in the fourth quarter of the non-league game, and needed Kodi Noggles’ basket with 10 seconds to go to force overtime, but regained control in the extra session to hand the second-ranked Lions (17-1) their first loss.

Madeline Isaak and Nikki Osborne, who combined to make 16 of 22 free throws, scored 21 apiece for ACH. Krista Colvin led Columbia with 16.

St. Maries 49, Kootenai 12: The Lumberjacks’ pressure defense created havoc for the Warriors (0-10). Tia Asbury scored five of her 17 points in the first quarter and added seven steals for St. Maries (5-10).

Boys basketball

Almira/Coulee-Hartline 65, Cusick 41: Derek Isaak had 20 points, five assists and six rebounds to lead the top-ranked 1B Warriors (16-0) to the non-league road win. Tyler Edwards led Cusick (12-5) with 13 points.