PASCO — Damen Thacker scored a game-high 27 points for Walla Walla Community College as the first-place Warriors shrugged off a slow start and crushed cellar-dwelling Columbia Basin, 103-61, in a Northwest Athletic Conference East Division men’s basketball matchup here on Wednesday.
WWCC (21-6 overall, 11-3 in the division) faced an 11-2 deficit after about four minutes of action, but dominated the rest of the night.
Brandon Porter wound up scoring another 21 points, Landon Radliff had 16, Kendall Watson 12, Forrest Smith 10.
“It took us a little while to get going,” Warriors coach Jeff Reinland said. “(Columbia Basin) played hard, real spirited, but once we got going we were fine.”
WWCC finished with 36-for-72 (50 percent) shooting from the field.
With the win, WWCC clinched a spot in the NWAC postseason tournament and maintained a one-game lead over North Idaho — the Cardinals picked up a 110-51 win at Blue Mountain on Wednesday — heading into a big East divison clash at the Dietrich Dome on Saturday at 4 p.m.
WWCC edged the Cardinals, 85-82, in Coeur d’Alene on Jan. 17.
“If we win, we win league,” Reinland said. “It’s going to be tough. They’re good.”
Warriors 103, Hawks 61
WALLA WALLA (103) — Thacker 27, Porter 21, Radliff 16, Watson 12, Smith 10, Albright 8, Kitchen 5, Tiller 2, Anderson 2.
COLUMBIA BASIN (61) — Noethe 17, James 8, Smith 7, Blaire 6, Anderson 6, Zaragoza 6, Brantley 5, Weekes 2, Williams 2, Schumack 2.
Halftime — Walla Walla, 51-36. 3-point goals — Walla Walla 13, Columbia Basin 6. Total fouls — Walla Walla 21, Columbia Basin 24. Fouled out — none. Technical fouls — none. Rebounds — Walla Walla 41, Columbia Basin 42. Turnovers — Walla Walla 2, Columbia Basin 18. Assists — Walla Walla 6, Columbia Basin 11.
Union Bulletin
