Kyle Roach scores 28 points to guide Whitworth rally

Graduating George Valle, a National Association of Basketball Coaches third-team All-American and Northwest Conference Player of the Year, was undoubtedly a big loss for the Whitworth Pirates.

And while he’s doing it with his own style, sophomore wing Kyle Roach is doing his best to fill that void.

Roach scored 28 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in the Pirates’ 95-87 win Friday over Texas Lutheran in the first game of the Whit Classic at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

“For the last four years, we’ve relied on George Valle’s versatility, and that’s made us pretty dynamic offensively,” Whitworth head coach Matt Logie said. “Kyle has been able to step into some of that void, in a different way, albeit, but equally as successfully.”

Scoring in bunches is nothing new for Roach. The Marinwood, California, native averaged 36.8 points his senior year at Marin Academy, including a 53-point performance in the North Coast Section Division V playoffs. And in his second season he’s off to a torrid pace, setting career highs in back-to-back games – he scored 20 in the Pirates’ season opener against St. Olaf.

“He’s such an aggressive player and plays with such energy that even when things don’t start out his way he can get things going,” Logie said. “He’s shooting the ball really well and playing with a lot of confidence.

“I think the sky is the limit for him.”

With the Pirates down seven with 4 minutes, 44 seconds to play, senior forward Christian Jurlina converted a four-point play after he was fouled on his made 3-pointer in the corner. Kenny Love then drilled a transition 3 off an assist from Roach to tie the game.

Love hit a pair of free throws and a layup, and Roach drilled a 3-pointer to complete a 14-0 run and build a seven-point lead.

The swing in momentum was built on getting stops on the defensive end.

“We didn’t work as hard or execute as well as we should have on defense,” Roach said, “but in the last five minutes, when our backs were against the wall, we were really able to execute and work hard and get stops.”

Seven-footer Drew Sears made a layup and Love and Roach hit a pair of free throws to ice the game for Whitworth.

Roach made his first five shots (four of which were 3-pointers) to pace the Pirates early on.

But once Roach cooled off – he missed his next two shots badly, the Pirates’ offense also went ice cold. Texas Lutheran went on an 18-0 run to break open a 10-point lead with 7:36 to play in the half.

The Pirates chipped away and TLU led 39-37 at the break.