Sasquatch Win With Plenty Of Help From Bench

Men’s basketball

There’s nothing like winning a big game, especially when the key plays come from unexpected sources.

Just ask Community Colleges of Spokane coach Sam Brasch, whose Sasquatch defeated Centralia 78-75 in a quarterfinal matchup at the men’s NWAACC tournament Thursday in Longview, Wash.

“Some kids off the bench really contributed,” Brasch said. “It really was a good team effort.”

Reserve Chad Sheeley, with CCS leading 74-73 with 23 seconds, hit two free throws for a three-point lead.

After Centralia made it a one-point game again, Chris Allen hit two free throws with 9 seconds to go for a 78-75 Sasquatch lead.

In addition to Sheeley’s important free throws, Brasch pointed to the play of reserves Nick Bemis and Phil Renz. Bemis had hit a jumper to give CCS its biggest lead, 69-60.

In today’s semifinals, CCS will play Southwest Oregon at 7 p.m. Olympic plays Wenatchee Valley in this evening’s other semifinal.

CC Spokane 78, Centralia 75

Centralia-Cox 4-10 0-0 9, McCroskey 0-1 0-0 0, Rose 0-2 0-0 0, Jeans 6-9 2-2 15, Alexander 8-18 2-2 20, Hays 4-9 1-2 9, Grant 9-14 3-4 22. Totals 31-63 8-10 75.

CC Spokane-Allen 4-8 6-6 16, Bemis 2-5 0-0 5, Sheeley 1-2 3-4 5, Anderson 6-10 2-4 15, Kiger 3-11 2-2 8, Whitman 0-0 0-0 0, Renz 3-6 0-3 6, Chamberlain 5-7 1-2 11, Ervin 6-14 0-0 12. Totals 30-63 14-21 78.

Halftime-CC Spokane 45, Centralia 41. 3-point goals- Centralia 5-14 (Cox 1-4, McCroskey 0-1, Jeans 1-3, Alexander 2-3, Grant 1-3), CC Spokane 4-15 (Allen 2-4, Bemis 1-4, Anderson 1-4, Kiger 0-3). Fouled out-None. Rebounds-Centralia 35 (Hays, Alexander 11), CC Spokane 35 (Renz, Ervin 8). Assists-Centralia 18 (Jeans 7), CC Spokane 18 (Allen, Sheeley, Anderson 4). Total fouls-Centralia 17, CC Spokane 16. Technicals-Jeans. A-850.