Led by Marcus McKone’s 28 points off the bench, Walla Walla Community College’s men shot 56 percent (33 of 59) from the floor en route to a 98-49 Northwest Athletic Conference East Region basketball win over Blue Mountain Saturday in the WWCC Dietrich Dome.
The Warriors took a 42-18 halftime lead, and turned the Timberwolves’ trapping and pressing defense into scoring opportunities.
“They started double-teaming and pressing,” WWCC coach Jeff Reinland said. “We ended up getting some open looks because of that.”
McKone went off on BMCC’s defense, hitting 8-of-11 from three-point range and 9-of-13 from the field overall.
Landon Radliff scored 20 points for WWCC, shooting seven-of-nine from the floor including six-for-eight from behind the three-point line. Radliff also had nine rebounds, second to teammate Jake Albright’s game-high 11 boards.
Brandon Porter and reserve Gary Engstrom tallied 15 points apiece for the Warriors, with Engstrom also securing a half-dozen rebounds.
“Engstrom had a nice game for us inside,” Reinland said.
Since a one-point loss to Wenatchee Valley on Jan. 10, the East Region-leading Warriors have won four straight and are 5-1 in the East and 15-4 overall. WWCC plays a 7 p.m. game this Wednesday against Treasure Valley in Ontario, Oregon. TVCC is 7-10 overall and 3-3 in the East Region after Saturday’s 77-71 win at Wenatchee Valley,
“I thought they would win the league this year,” Reinland said of Wednesday’s opponent.
WWCC 98. Blue Mountain 49
BLUE MOUNTAIN (49) — McAllister 10, Landeros 10, Seme 9, Kaden 4, Hillard 2, Lonebear 3, Lowe-Ash 3, Moran 8. Totals 17-80 14-21 49.
WWCC (98) — Porter 15, Thacker 3, Radliff 20, Watson 7, Albright, Tiller 1, Smith, Anderson 8, Kitchen, Ramos 1, Engstrom 15, McKone 28. Totals 33-59 12-16 98.
Halftime — WWCC, 42-18. 3-point goals — BMCC 1, WWCC 20. Total fouls — BMCC 17. WWCC 18. Fouled out — Landeros, Kaden (BMCC). Technical fouls — none. Rebounds — BMCC 39, WWCC 56. Turnovers — BMCC 9, WWCC 19. Assists — BMCC 5, WWCC 18.
Union Bulletin
