Sports - Local Colleges

POSTED: Saturday, Nov. 29, 2008

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL:Orcas advance to Pierce Tournament championship game

Ryan Sweet's double-double on Saturday, Nov. 29, helped lift the Whatcom Community College men's basketball team to a 65-61 win over Pierce in the Pierce Tournament in Tacoma.

The Orcas advance to the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 30, where they will meet Bellevue at 3 p.m.

Sweet led all scorers with 22 points and also pulled down 15 rebounds. The sophomore post has consistently scored in the 20-point range in the Orcas' young season, but Saturday's double-double was a high-rebound game for him.

"He played really tough," Whatcom coach Chris Schrimsher said in a phone interview. "Anytime you're putting up 22 points and 15 rebounds, that comes from hard work."

Don Perconti also chipped in 16 points for the Orcas on 5 of 10 shooting, including four 3-pointers.

"He played a solid game offensively and defensively," Schrimsher said.

Whatcom was overwhelmed by Pierce's zone defense and the Orcas' shots didn't fall as they were just 5 of 22 from the 3-point arc. They had a narrow 26-21 lead at the half, and the defensive pressure didn't let up in the second half.

"We had great opportunities, we just couldn't capitalize," Schrimsher said. "Because of that, it was a close game. We just didn't take care of the ball tonight, and that's been an ongoing battle these first three games."

But Whatcom found a way to win despite 23 turnovers. The Orcas out-rebounded their host 43-37, led by Sweet's effort down low.

Whatcom shot 39 percent from the floor while Pierce was 38 percent.

Jesse Mortensen and Tyler Monroe both added seven points apiece for the Orcas, while Zac Andrus chipped in six points and five assists.

WHATCOM 65, PIERCE 61

Pierce: Semken 3-6 6-7 13; Geverola 1-3 0-0 2; Bro 3-6 4-4 12; Grove 4-5 3-6 11; James 3-11 2-6 8; Bennest 5-11 0-0 10; Love 1-5 3-4 5. Totals 20-53 18-29 61.

Whatcom: Tyler Monroe 2-3 3-5 7; Zac Andrus 3-8 0-0 6; Jeremiah Larson 1-6 0-0 3; Steve Webb 1-5 0-0 2; Pierce Shaw 1-1 0-0 2; Jesse Mortensen 3-5 1-2 7; Don Perconti 5-10 2-4 16; Ryan Sweet 6-12 10-14 22. Totals 22-56 16-25 65.

3-ptg: Pierce 3-10 (Bro 2); Whatcom 5-22 (Perconti 4). Rebounds: Pierce 37 (Grove 7); Whatcom 43 (Sweet 15). Assists: Pierce 14 (James 3); Whatcom 10 (Andrus 5). Fouls: Pierce 19; Whatcom 24. Turnovers: Pierce 21, Whatcom 23.

Half: Whatcom 26, Pierce 21