Whitworth’s George Valle earns NWC weekly award

Whitworth senior forward George Valle was named Northwest Conference men’s basketball student-athlete of the week after leading the Pirates to a season-opening win over La Verne (California) last Friday, the conference announced Tuesday.

Valle scored 29 points, hitting 12 of 18 field goals and 5 of 7 from the free-throw line, as the Pirates defeated the Leopards 87-80. His point total was one off his career high.

Valle added 10 rebounds, three assists and one blocked shot for the NCAA Division III third-ranked Pirates.

Valle has won the award three times.

Whitworth will host Caltech at 7 p.m. Friday.