Sasquatch Fight Back, Win Finale
The Community Colleges of Spokane men’s basketball team, deprived of its veteran guards by injury at the start of the NWAACC season, wrapped up its schedule by defeating Big Bend 76-69 Thursday night at Spokane Falls CC.
Strong defensive pressure and some exceptional individual performances left veteran coach Sam Brasch busting his buttons.
The Sasquatch (8-19, 2-10) held the long-bombing Vikings to 34 percent shooting from the field, including 11 for 38 from 3-point range. CCS confined most of its activity to closerange shots, shooting 47 percent.
Forward Kurt Long, hitting 10 of 14 field-goal tries, had his best game, scoring 20 points and collecting 11 rebounds. The other forward, Cedric Day, scored 15 points, and guard Bob Strahl combined six points, six rebounds and five assists.
“This team, through the adversity, never quit and played hard through the season,” Brasch said. “I’m so proud of them for that.”
WOMEN
Long Beach St. 83, Idaho 74
With a showdown against in-state rival Boise State awaiting them on Sunday, the Vandals (11-12, 6-5) forgot to take care of business against the 49ers (9-14, 6-6), who shot their way to a Big West Conference victory at Long Beach, Calif.
Big West player of the week Alli Nieman led Idaho with 24 points and nine rebounds.
CC Spokane 82, Big Bend 57
Five teammates scored 12 points apiece as the Sasquatch took command early and rolled on to an easy victory over the visiting Vikings.
Kelli Pilkington, Alana Carlander, Shelley Massingale, Tauni Marchand and Collee Lawler each recorded a dozen points for CCS (19-9, 7-5).
Second-place Spokane, which was wrapping up its regular season, will begin divisional playoffs one week from today, facing third-place Wenatchee. Blue Mountain and Columbia Basin will meet in the other game. Losers will be eliminated.
, DataTimes MEMO: Changed from the Idaho edition.