WENATCHEE — Wentachee’s Aaron Ward scored 21 points and grabbed 17 rebounds to lead his team to a 78-73 win over the Walla Walla Community College men.
“It was close the whole way,” WWCC coach Jeff Reinland said. “Wenatchee did have a 12-point lead and we cut it to two but we never had the lead. It was a tough game, they hurt us on the offensive boards and putbacks. It is a tough place to play, give them credit, they just beat us.”
Ten of Ward’s total 17 rebounds were offensive. The Knights had 17 total second-chance points on a grand total of 17 offensive rebounds.
Wenatchee also made 12-22 free throws, while the Warrior had seven attempts, sinking four.
Three Warriors were in double figures — Nate Richards with 16 points, Prince Lacey had 15, Dallas Reich scored 12 — to pace the WWCC attack.
The Warriors will play three of their last four games at home in the NWACC regular season schedule.
“We need to win three, maybe four of the final regular season games,” Reinland said, “in order to make the playoffs.”
WWCC (4-6 NWACC) plays again at home at 8 p.m. Wednesday night in tough enough to wear pink night. It is breast cancer awareness night.
Walla Walla 78, Wenatchee 73
WALLA WALLA (78) — Schetzle 3-8 1-2 7, Bravard 3-9 1-3 8, Allen 0-0 0-0 0, Underdahl 3-11 0-0 7, Sawyer 1-4 0-0 2, Reich 5-11 0-0 12, Lacey 5-16 0-0 15, Grooms 3-4 0-0 6, Richards 6-10 12-2 16, Nooner 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 29-73 4-7.
WENATCHEE (73) — Wahl 5-8 2-4 12. Jahr 4-8 4-4 14, Amsel-McGuffin 2-8 0-0 4, Reynolds 4-12 1-2 9, Van Lierop 0-1 0-2 0, Hofstad 4-9 0-0 9, Chandler 2-11 3-6 7, Dresker 1-1 0-0 2, Ward 9-17 2-4 21. Totals 31-75 12-22.
Halftime score — Wenatchee 42-36.
3-point goals — WW 11-38 (Schetzle 0-1, Bravard 1-4, Underdahl 1-6, Sawyer 0-2, Reich 2-6, Lacey 5-13, Richards 2-5), Wen 4-11 (Jahr 2-2, Reynolds 0-2, Hofstad 1-5, Ward 1-2). Total fouls — WW 10, Wen 11. Fouled out — WW (Lacey). Technical fouls — none. Rebounds — WW 42 (Bravard 8), Wen 53 (Ward 17). Assists — WW 12 (Schetzle 5), Wen 10 (Hofstad 4). Turnovers — WW 10, Wen 7.
