Gregg carries Whits closer to Division III tourney

Bo Gregg has been a part of the show all year, content to stay in the background and do all the little things that so often go unappreciated in college basketball.

But on Thursday night, Whitworth University’s senior forward took on a much more visible role and seemed completely comfortable in the glare of the spotlight, leading the Pirates on an 89-65 romp past visiting Lewis & Clark in the semifinals of the Northwest Conference Tournament.

Gregg, a 6-foot-5 wing and former standout at Lewiston High School and Community Colleges of Spokane, scored a game-high 21 points to lead another balanced attack as the fifth-ranked Bucs (24-2) extended their school-record winning streak to 23 games in front of a Whitworth Fieldhouse crowd of 1,420.

The victory moved the Pirates, who breezed to a 16-0 conference record during the regular season, into Saturday night’s championship game against George Fox, a 76-66 winner over Linfield in the night’s other semifinal.

The title game, which will determine the NWC’s automatic berth in the NCAA Division III tournament, tips off at 7 at the Whitworth Fieldhouse. Those who decide to take it in should not expect the Pirates to ease off the accelerator.

“We definitely know we’ve still got some digging to do,” said Gregg, who made 8 of 10 field goals, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range, to lead a trio of double-figure scorers for the Bucs. “The coaches have done a good job of keeping us motivated.

“But the big thing for us now is that nobody (in the NWC) has ever gone 16-0 and then won the conference tournament, too, so that’s what we’re looking at. We’re still plenty hungry.”

That hunger showed against Lewis & Clark (10-15) about midway through first half when the Pirates ramped up the defensive effort – while continuing to make nearly every open shot – and blew away the Pioneers.

Senior center Nate Montgomery, who was named the NWC’s player of the year earlier in the day, finished with 19 points and 11 rebounds, while Jack Loofburrow, a backup junior forward, added 14. Junior David Riley and senior Eric Beal, who were also first-team all-NWC selections, scored only seven points apiece, but Gregg’s offensive outburst more than compensated.

“Tonight he scored, and that makes him more visible,” Bucs coach Jim Hayford said of Gregg, who also grabbed four rebounds, handed out three assists and came up with two steals. “But it’s the other things he does during the course of the season that makes him so valuable.

“I know he only made honorable mention this year, but if he played on any other team in our league, he’d probably be first-team all-conference, too.”

Gregg said he doesn’t mind his role as the Pirates’ blue-collar guy.

“I just love winning, so as long as somebody is hitting, I’m fine with that,” he said. “We have so many weapons it’s amazing, but if I’m open and feeling good, I’m still going to take the shot.

“Tonight, I felt good. I got some open looks early and they went in – which, for a shooter, is always nice. I got open on some cuts and slashes, and my teammates found me. It was fun.”

The Bucs shot 55.7 percent (34 for 61) and made 13 of 30 attempts from 3-point range. Lewis & Clark, which got 20 points from Kelly Edwards, shot just 32.8 percent (20 for 61) and made only 8 of 34 3-pointers after starting 4 for 9 from long range.

Whitworth 89, Lewis & Clark 65

Lewis & Clark (10-15)- Meeuwsen 4-7 4-5 12, Tsukazaki 3-9 0-0 9, Kollasch 2-13 1-2 5, Hollins 2-7 7-7 11, Edwards 6-14 4-4 20, Robinson 0-0 0-0 0, Taylor 1-7 0-0 3, Pisapia 0-0 0-0 0, Brickley 0-1 0-0 0, McCollough 2-3 1-2 5. Totals 20-61 17-20 65.

Whitworth (24-2)- Gregg 8-10 1-3 21, Tiley 2-6 3-3 7, Montgomery 8-13 2-2 19, Beal 2-6 0-0 4, C.Gebbers 3-8 0-0 7, Iddins 0-0 0-1 0, W.Gebbers 3-3 0-0 8, Ramey 1-3 0-0 3, Odland 2-3 0-0 4, Larkin 0-0 2-2 2, Friedt 0-0 0-0 0, Loofburrow 5-9 0-0 14. Totals 34-61 8-11 89.

Halftime—Whitworth 42, Lewis & Clark 28. 3-Point Goals—Lewis & Clark 8-34 (Meeuwsen 0-1, Tsukazaki 3-8, Kollasch 0-7, Hollins 0-4, Edwards 4-7, Taylor 1-6, Brickley 0-1), Whitworth 13-30 (Gregg 4-5, Riley 0-2, Montgomery 1-2, Beal 0-4, C.Gebbers 1-5, W.Gebbers 2-2, Ramey 1-2, Loofburrow 4-8). Fouled Out—C.Gebbers, Friedt. Rebounds—Lewis & Clark 36 (Hollins 12), Whitworth 37 (Montgomery 11). Assists—Lewis & Clark 10 (Kollasch 3), Whitworth 19 (Beal 5). Total Fouls—Lewis & Clark 16, Whitworth 16. A—1,420.