Whitworth men secure sixth straight NWC basketball championship

George Valle converted a three-point play with 2.7 seconds left, and No. 19 Whitworth claimed its sixth straight Northwest Conference regular-season championship with a 66-63 win over Puget Sound on Saturday in Tacoma.

Valle finished with a team-high 13 points, while Kenny Love scored 12.

Nick Holden had 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Loggers (12-12, 7-9).

The Pirates (22-3, 15-1) will play host to Willamette on Thursday in the NWC tournament semifinals.

Columbia Basin 113, CC Spokane 106 (OT): Brandon Oswalt had 24 points and 10 rebounds and Michael Joseph added 22 points and 10 boards as the Hawks (16-10, 9-3) edged the Sasquatch (17-10, 7-5) in a Northwest Athletic Conference game in Pasco.

CCS’ Jake Love had 23 points and eight rebounds and Dean Richey added 19 points, 10 boards and five assists.

Salt Lake 82, North Idaho 78: LaBrian Shiflet hit 5 of 6 3-pointers and scored 21 points, and the Bruins (25-4, 13-2) held off the Cardinals’ (21-7, 9-6) in SWAC play in Taylorsville, Utah.

Jamaal Robateau scored 18 to lead NIC.