CCS men advance to semifinals

KENNEWICK – Erik Bell hit the game-winning jumper just inside the 3-point line as time expired, and Community Colleges of Spokane rallied from a 20-point deficit with 5 minutes left in the second half to edge Chemeketa 84-82 Friday night at the NWAACC tournament at the Toyota Center.

Bell scored the final six points for the Sasquatch (23-7) to cap an offensive flurry in which CCS outscored Chemeketa 34-12 over the final 5 minutes.

Bell finished with a game-high 32 points on 11-of-22 field goal shooting. Three other players notched double-digit scoring for the Sasquatch. Jeremy Mangum recorded his second straight double-double in the tournament with 18 points and 10 assists. Joel Ryman and Humberto Perez each added 12 points.

CCS held a 15-6 advantage in second-chance points and forced 22 Chemeketa turnovers while only committing 15.

Riley Luettgerodt led the Storm (20-9) with 28 points and 15 rebounds. Zach Tatman chipped in 17 points and Steven Davis had 11.

CCS plays tournament favorite Lower Columbia (30-1) in the semifinals today.

Women

Lane held off CCS 68-62 in the second round of the tournament.

Lane capitalized on 22 CCS turnovers to grab a 20-5 edge in points off turnovers. The Titans (31-1) also pulled down 20 offensive rebounds and put up 15 second-chance points, compared to just two for CCS (20-11).

Emily Wittkopf scored 16 to lead the Sasquatch. Ali Middlestadt added 15 points, and Sarah Scates had 10 for CCS, which got only nine points from its bench.

Dominique King paced Lane with 18 points, and Cora McVey added 11 points and nine rebounds.

CCS faces Bellevue today. The winner moves to the fourth-place game.