Sports - Local Colleges

POSTED: Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008

MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL:Orcas take 2nd in Pierce Tournament

Whatcom Community College's men's basketball team fell 80-73 to Bellevue Community College Sunday, Nov. 30, to finish second in the Pierce Tournament at Pierce Community College in Tacoma.

The Orcas, who led 35-33 at the half, coughed up 23 turnovers resulting in 21 Bellevue points.

"(Bellevue) earned the game, they played better, but we shot ourselves in the foot," said Whatcom coach Chris Schrimsher in a phone interview. "If you look at the stat sheet, it's similar. We shot better than them, but the game came down to the turnovers."

Whatcom (3-1) was led by All-Tournament team selection Ryan Sweet who had 21 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Bellevue (6-0) was led by Rahiti Marere's 21-point effort.

The Orcas' coach came away pleased with his team's showing during the three-day event.

"I think we got better every game in this tournament," said Schrimsher. "If we get the mental side of the game down to go with the physical side, we'll be tough to contend with. And that's a thing we can fix. I'd rather have to be working on the mental side. We work really hard out there, now we just need the mental side to match it."

Whatcom is back at home at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5, against Quest University of Canada.

BELLEVUE CC 80, WHATCOM 73

Whatcom: Andrus 4-8, 5-6, 15; Larson 0-2, 2-2, 2; Prendergast 1-1, 0-0, 2; Webb 3-8, 4-8, 10; Ehrlich 3-10, 3-4, 10; Perconti 5-9, 0-0, 13; Sweet 5-8, 10-13, 21. Totals 21-51, 24-33, 73.

Bellevue: David Maddock 4-11, 1-1, 10; Curron Singleton 4-8, 2-2, 10; Josiah Brensdal 0-2, 1-2, 1; Rukari Austin 3-5, 1-2, 7; Sam Cartmell 4-5, 7-9, 15; Pete Harris 6-13, 2-3, 16; Rahiti Marere 7-12, 5-6, 21. Totals 28-64 19-28 80.

Halftime: Whatcom 35, Bellevue 33

3-ptg: Whatcom 7-16 (Perconti 3); Bellevue 5-20 (Harris 2). Rebounds: Whatcom 41 (Sweet 13); Bellevue 36 (Austin 6). Assists: Whatcom 10 (Andrus 4); Bellevue 10 (Harris 3). Fouls: Whatcom 23 (fouled out-Ehrlich); Bellevue 24 (fouled out-none). Turnovers: Whatcom 23, Bellevue 14.