Whits Open League Play With Win
The Whitworth College men’s basketball team got a sneak peek of Northwest Conference play Saturday night and were able to survive Whitman College 79-73 at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.
“It was a typical conference game early in the year,” said Whitworth coach Warren Friedrichs, whose team improved to 5-1, 1-0. “Everyone is going to put a focus on a 40-minute effort. And close games can only help you.”
It was close and anyone’s victory, until Whitworth junior forward Ben Heimerman put the Pirates ahead for good at 71-70 on a layup with 2:29 to play.
Less than 10 seconds later, junior guard Sean Weston stole an inbounds pass and quickly got the ball to junior forward Jeff Mix. Mix dished to Heimerman, who scored again.
Heimerman, a 1992 Gonzaga Prep grad and first-year Pirate, had a game-high 20 points and 17 rebounds. He was 10 of 14 from the free-throw line, sinking 4 of 4 in the last 40 seconds.
“In the second half, my confidence got going and the rim began to look bigger,” said Heimerman, who played at Clackamas (Ore.) Community College last year.
It appeared that the Pirates were on their way to a win after building a 48-38 lead with 15:10 left. But the Missionaries (2-2, 0-1) went on a 3-point binge, sinking five straight 3-pointers to cut the lead to 54-53. They were 10 of 33 from 3-point range.
Whitman took a 70-69 lead with 2:54 remaining on Todd Wyatt’s 15-foot jumper. Whitworth senior guard Nate Williams, who missed Wednesday’s game because of a knee injury, returned and chipped in 13 points. Weston also scored 13 and had five assists.
Whitworth 79, Whitman 73
Whitman (2-2) - Lloyd 2-11 0-7 4, Schilling 2-6 0-3 3, Rough 7-22 5-11 19, Ev. Jones 7-15 0-0 16, Preppernau 3-11 3-9 11, Van Divot 2-3 0-0 4, Keyser 3-4 2-3 8, Wyatt 3-4 0-0 7. Totals 26-76, 10-33 73.
Whitworth (5-1) - Weston 4-8 2-5 13, Mix 5-12 0-0 12, Williams 5-8 3-5 13, Schultz 2=4 0-0 4, Ga. Jones 3-8 2-5 8, Vargas 1-2, 0-1 2, Heimerman 5-9 0-0 20, Jordan 0-1, 0-1, 0, Gr. Jones 2-4 0-2 7.Totals 27-56, 7-19, 79.
Halftime - Whitworth 37, Whitman 32. 3-point goals - Whitman 10-33 (Lloyd 0-7, Schilling 0-3, Rough 5-11, Preppernau 3-9, Keyer 2-3). Whitworth 7-19 (Weston 2-5, Williams 3-5, Ga. Jones 2-5, Vargas 0-1, Jordan 0-1, Gr. Jones 0-2). Fouled out - Ev. Jones. Rebounds - Whitman 38 (CWyatt 8). Whitworth 44 (Heimerman 17. Assists - Whitman 16 (Rough 7, Huff 7). Whitworth 15 (Weston 5) Turnovers - Whitman 6, Whitworth 11. Totals foul - Whitman 22, Whitworth 15. Technical fouls - none.
, DataTimes