Claremont rematch staggering opportunity for Jurich, Whits

It may be a learned trait, the convenient forgetfulness that consoles athletes in the hours and days following a defeat.

Dwelling on the past isn’t an ideal way to move forward in a college basketball season of 25 games or more. Time simply doesn’t allow for it. Players must begin the process of forgetting a setback – even before the sweat has dried on their brow after the game – and finish it before the next contest tips off.

Whitworth senior Calvin Jurich didn’t think he’d have to relive the emotions of a five-point loss to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps in December, the first defeat his team had suffered this year. When the NCAA Division III national tournament bracket was announced early Monday, however, Jurich saw the past was revisiting him.

“We didn’t know we were going to play Claremont again, so it was something we could forget about,” Jurich said of the Pirates’ first-round opponent on Thursday. “Now we have to face Claremont, and we have to face those feelings. I remember what it felt like in that locker room.”

The Stags (21-6) edged Whitworth 73-68 on a neutral floor in the Lee Fulmer Classic in Redlands, Calif., on Dec. 5. The Pirates will enjoy a home-court advantage in the rematch, though, with the game at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

“We hosted a (national tournament) game last year for the first time in Whitworth history, and it was a great honor and opportunity for the university and Spokane as a whole,” Jurich said. “It’s great to do it this year at a small school north of Gonzaga – yes, there are two college teams in Spokane – with a great tradition in basketball and competes at a high level.”

Whitworth coach Jim Hayford described Claremont, which combines its athletics program with Harvey Mudd and Scripps colleges, as a perennial contender for the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. The Stags have won 13 SCIAC titles, including this year’s.

“When we did play Claremont, we were in an 18-day period where we spent 15 days on the road and (traveled) 8,000 miles,” Hayford said. “What I remember is we had really tired legs. We were five games into the season – and replacing two all-conference players from last year – and trying to form our identity.”

The Pirates seem to have discovered that identity, and it begins with a balanced offense. Six players have led Whitworth in scoring in the past seven games. Four players average more than 11 points a game, led by sharpshooter David Riley’s 16.2.

Nate Montgomery, a 6-foot-8 junior, regained his early-season form during the Northwest Conference tournament. The team’s second-leading scorer with 14.1 points a game, Montgomery overpowered Linfield and regular-season champ Puget Sound in the semifinals and title game, respectively.

Montgomery poured in 31 points and grabbed 14 rebounds against Linfield.

He followed that with 18 points and 18 rebounds against UPS, the third-ranked team in the nation.

“It definitely makes us harder to guard if Nate or I are getting off inside,” said Jurich, a 6-6 power forward. “With the great shooting on this team, we can open up the outside, and that makes it much more difficult for (opponents).”

Jurich said he’d like to see Montgomery continue to play with that aggressive brand of inspired basketball.

“Nate’s a different kind of player because he’s a really quiet guy, and it’s hard to know if he’s motivated or not because he doesn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve,” Jurich said. “It was really fun to see him get excited in the Puget Sound game. You could see that intensity.”

Jurich said the victory at UPS gave the Pirates added confidence headed into the tournament.

He added that he believes Whitworth has continued to improve through the season and has yet to peak.

“I’m just looking forward to winning some games and seeing how far we can go,” Jurich said. “I want to make an extra effort to leave nothing left in the tank and to soak up all the sights and sounds.”