TACOMA, Wash. - It was a night of
celebration for the sixth-ranked Puget Sound Loggers as they
clinched the 2008-09 Northwest Conference Championship with an
81-71 win over the visiting Whitworth Pirates, 81-71, in a NWC
men's basketball game on Friday evening in Tacoma, Wash.
With the student section a sea of white, the two teams battled for
much of the first half. The Loggers used a 14-0 run from the 9:52
mark to the 6:27 mark to pull ahead by 14, 32-18, but the Pirates
quickly fought back to pull back within seven, 32-25. Puget Sound
was able to use another late push to take a 38-27 halftime
lead.
It was the same kind of story in the second half, as the Loggers
reached a 14-point lead again with 15:10 to play. Whitworth was
able to fight back, getting within five points with 8:16 to play
and four points with 3:34 left. With the crowd roaring, the Loggers
stopped the Pirates right there, collecting the 81-71 victory to
win the NWC title.
By virtue of Linfield's win at Lewis & Clark on Friday night,
the Loggers have clinched not only an outright title but also
home-court advantage throughout the NWC tournament.
The Loggers were led in scoring by senior Robert Krauel (Phoenix,
Ariz./North Canyon), who finished with 19 points on the night.
Fellow senior Jason Foster (Spanaway, Wash./Henry Foss) had a
career game, putting up 16 points, 14 rebounds and nine blocks to
fall just short of the triple-double. Antwan Williams (Portland,
Ore./Madison) added 10 points with three assists and three steals
in the winning effort.
Whitworth was led by 19 points from Time Sellereit, who connected
on seven-of-eight free throws for the Bucs. Calvin Jurich added 17
points while Nate Montgomery and David Riley finished with 14 and
12 respectively.
The Loggers will return to the hardwood on Saturday evening when
they play host to Whitman. Tip-off with the Missionaries is set for
6:00 p.m. at Memorial Fieldhouse in Tacoma, Wash.
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