Area Sports by Michael Dashiell
The NWAACC Men's tournament: A breakdown
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The posters say it all: "4 days. 52 games. 1 Men's Champion. 1 Women's Champion."
And in the mix as one of the favorites is Peninsula College's men's ball club, the No. 1 seed from the North Division, taking on the best junior college ball clubs at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community College's tournament in Kennewick Feb. 28-March 2.
But the road to the championship isn't easy, as the Pirates have found in previous years. After winning the NWAACC title in 1970 behind Bernie Fryer (now an retired NBA referee) Peninsula College dropped sports altogether in 1980-81 and revived them in 1997-98.
In 2002-03, coach Peter Stewart's first year, Peninsula finished in last place at 3-21. Since then, the Pirates have qualified for the tourney each year. In 2004, P.C. finished third after a 20-6 regular season; in 2005, Peninsula took seventh overall; a year later, the Pirates lost two of three tourney games and did not place.
Last season, Peninsula lost their first tournament contest and then reeled off three wins in a row to take fifth place behind strong play from Jake Gonzales and Divaldo Mbunga.
On Thursday, the Pirates open their title run with a 2 p.m. contest against a Treasure Valley (Ore.) club that finished fourth in the NWAACC South Division.
Here are the tournament entries and their respective records:
First seeds:
Peninsula (North division champion)
Mascot: Pirates
Record: 13-3, 22-7
Top players: Clay Greenland (20.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg), Dominick Lozano (17.8 ppg), Jesse Bean (8.3 ppg, 3.2 apg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 3-1, fifth place
Spokane (East division champion)
Mascot: Sasquatch
Record: 14-0, 27-1
Top players: Jordan Gregg (11.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Bo Gregg (12.8 ppg), Eric Beal (11.3 ppg, 4.9 apg)
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify
Lower Columbia (West division champion)
Mascot: Red Devils
Record: 14-2, 21-7
Top players: Alex King (13.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg), Michael Hallin (12.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg), Marice Tolliver (10.6 ppg, 4.3 apg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 0-2, did not place
Umpqua (South division champion)
Mascot: Riverhawks
Record: 12-2, 22-6
Top players: Edwin Richardson (19.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg), Kenan Dizdareavic (17.9 ppg), Tyler Barnes (15.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Jarrad Childs (14.5 ppg, 3.0 spg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 1-2, did not place
Second seeds:
Whatcom
Mascot: Orcas
Record: 12-4, 20-8
Top players: Mike Bagby (12.6 ppg), Ryan Christensen (11.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg), Zach Henifin (12.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 1-2, did not place
Big Bend (East)
Mascot: Vikings
Record: 10-4, 21-6
Top players: Daley Landon (22.9 ppg), Brett Vriesman (13.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg), Will Winn (10.4 ppg, 3.4 spg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 2-2, eighth place
Highline (West)
Mascot: Thunderbirds
Record: 12-4, 17-11
Top players: Coby Gibler (10.8 ppg), Cody Thueringer (13.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Shedrick Nelson (10.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 2-2, seventh place
Clackamas (South)
Mascot: Cougars
Record: 9-5, 17-12
Top players: JC Cook (21.7 ppg), Austin Dunn (18.9 ppg), Adam Brickley (14.0 ppg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 4-0, first place
Third seeds:
Bellevue
Mascot: Bulldogs
Record: 12-4, 20-8
Top players: Josh Monagle (16.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Michael Duty (11.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg), Steve Wiseley (11.0 ppg, 4.6 apg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 3-1, second place
Yakima Valley (East)
Mascot: Yaks
Record: 9-5, 21-7
Top players: Anthony Johnson (24.4 ppg, 2.0 spg), Jody Johnson (10.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg), Ben Wilson (10.7 ppg)
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify
South Puget Sound (West)
Mascot: Clippers
Record: 9-7, 14-13
Top players: Jonny Saryaz (14.7 ppg), Nigel Moore (13.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg), Chris Scott (12.9 ppg, 9.3 apg)
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify
SW Oregon (South)
Mascot: Lakers
Record: 9-5, 20-9
Top players: Joseph Foster (21.8 ppg), Emmanual Olekaibe (17.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg), Bobby Watkins (8.8 ppg, 8.1 apg)
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify
Fourth seeds:
Everett (North)
Mascot: Trojans
Record: 12-4, 20-8
Top players: Chris Grounds (16.5 ppg, 5.8 apg, 2.9 spg), Jon Moe (21.9 ppg), Dirk Snel (12.9 ppg)
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify
Treasure Valley (East)
Mascot: Chukars
Record: 6-8, 9-17
Top players: Shane Miller (18.9 ppg), Ryan Goodwin (10.6 ppg), Kyle Hart (7.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify
Lane (South)
Mascot: Titans
Record: 7-7, 16-13
Top players: Dominique Watson (18.4 ppg, 2.7 spg), Brent Jones (10.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Kyle Winkler (12.1 ppg)
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify
Clark or Grays Harbor (West)
Mascots: Chokers (Grays Harbor); Penguins (Clark)
Record: 8-8, 17-10 (Grays Harbor) and 15-13 (Clark)
Top players: Quillar Marion (21.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Courtney Beach (10.3 ppg, 2.1 spg), Brad Hodge (14.4 ppg) from Grays Harbor; Orlandor Westbrooks (16.6 ppg), Bryan Martin (12.2 ppg), Demetrick White (10.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg) from Clark
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify (either team)
* - Note: Clark and Grays Harbor were scheduled to play Feb. 25 for the West Division's fourth and final tournament seed. Results were unavailable at press time.
And in the mix as one of the favorites is Peninsula College's men's ball club, the No. 1 seed from the North Division, taking on the best junior college ball clubs at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community College's tournament in Kennewick Feb. 28-March 2.
But the road to the championship isn't easy, as the Pirates have found in previous years. After winning the NWAACC title in 1970 behind Bernie Fryer (now an retired NBA referee) Peninsula College dropped sports altogether in 1980-81 and revived them in 1997-98.
In 2002-03, coach Peter Stewart's first year, Peninsula finished in last place at 3-21. Since then, the Pirates have qualified for the tourney each year. In 2004, P.C. finished third after a 20-6 regular season; in 2005, Peninsula took seventh overall; a year later, the Pirates lost two of three tourney games and did not place.
Last season, Peninsula lost their first tournament contest and then reeled off three wins in a row to take fifth place behind strong play from Jake Gonzales and Divaldo Mbunga.
On Thursday, the Pirates open their title run with a 2 p.m. contest against a Treasure Valley (Ore.) club that finished fourth in the NWAACC South Division.
Here are the tournament entries and their respective records:
First seeds:
Peninsula (North division champion)
Mascot: Pirates
Record: 13-3, 22-7
Top players: Clay Greenland (20.0 ppg, 8.3 rpg), Dominick Lozano (17.8 ppg), Jesse Bean (8.3 ppg, 3.2 apg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 3-1, fifth place
Spokane (East division champion)
Mascot: Sasquatch
Record: 14-0, 27-1
Top players: Jordan Gregg (11.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg), Bo Gregg (12.8 ppg), Eric Beal (11.3 ppg, 4.9 apg)
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify
Lower Columbia (West division champion)
Mascot: Red Devils
Record: 14-2, 21-7
Top players: Alex King (13.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg), Michael Hallin (12.1 ppg, 6.8 rpg), Marice Tolliver (10.6 ppg, 4.3 apg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 0-2, did not place
Umpqua (South division champion)
Mascot: Riverhawks
Record: 12-2, 22-6
Top players: Edwin Richardson (19.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg), Kenan Dizdareavic (17.9 ppg), Tyler Barnes (15.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Jarrad Childs (14.5 ppg, 3.0 spg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 1-2, did not place
Second seeds:
Whatcom
Mascot: Orcas
Record: 12-4, 20-8
Top players: Mike Bagby (12.6 ppg), Ryan Christensen (11.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg), Zach Henifin (12.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 1-2, did not place
Big Bend (East)
Mascot: Vikings
Record: 10-4, 21-6
Top players: Daley Landon (22.9 ppg), Brett Vriesman (13.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg), Will Winn (10.4 ppg, 3.4 spg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 2-2, eighth place
Highline (West)
Mascot: Thunderbirds
Record: 12-4, 17-11
Top players: Coby Gibler (10.8 ppg), Cody Thueringer (13.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Shedrick Nelson (10.7 ppg, 5.2 rpg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 2-2, seventh place
Clackamas (South)
Mascot: Cougars
Record: 9-5, 17-12
Top players: JC Cook (21.7 ppg), Austin Dunn (18.9 ppg), Adam Brickley (14.0 ppg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 4-0, first place
Third seeds:
Bellevue
Mascot: Bulldogs
Record: 12-4, 20-8
Top players: Josh Monagle (16.7 ppg, 7.1 rpg), Michael Duty (11.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg), Steve Wiseley (11.0 ppg, 4.6 apg)
2006-07 tourney finish: 3-1, second place
Yakima Valley (East)
Mascot: Yaks
Record: 9-5, 21-7
Top players: Anthony Johnson (24.4 ppg, 2.0 spg), Jody Johnson (10.3 ppg, 8.1 rpg), Ben Wilson (10.7 ppg)
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify
South Puget Sound (West)
Mascot: Clippers
Record: 9-7, 14-13
Top players: Jonny Saryaz (14.7 ppg), Nigel Moore (13.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg), Chris Scott (12.9 ppg, 9.3 apg)
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify
SW Oregon (South)
Mascot: Lakers
Record: 9-5, 20-9
Top players: Joseph Foster (21.8 ppg), Emmanual Olekaibe (17.2 ppg, 7.2 rpg), Bobby Watkins (8.8 ppg, 8.1 apg)
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify
Fourth seeds:
Everett (North)
Mascot: Trojans
Record: 12-4, 20-8
Top players: Chris Grounds (16.5 ppg, 5.8 apg, 2.9 spg), Jon Moe (21.9 ppg), Dirk Snel (12.9 ppg)
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify
Treasure Valley (East)
Mascot: Chukars
Record: 6-8, 9-17
Top players: Shane Miller (18.9 ppg), Ryan Goodwin (10.6 ppg), Kyle Hart (7.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg)
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify
Lane (South)
Mascot: Titans
Record: 7-7, 16-13
Top players: Dominique Watson (18.4 ppg, 2.7 spg), Brent Jones (10.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg), Kyle Winkler (12.1 ppg)
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify
Clark or Grays Harbor (West)
Mascots: Chokers (Grays Harbor); Penguins (Clark)
Record: 8-8, 17-10 (Grays Harbor) and 15-13 (Clark)
Top players: Quillar Marion (21.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Courtney Beach (10.3 ppg, 2.1 spg), Brad Hodge (14.4 ppg) from Grays Harbor; Orlandor Westbrooks (16.6 ppg), Bryan Martin (12.2 ppg), Demetrick White (10.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg) from Clark
2006-07 tourney finish: Did not qualify (either team)
* - Note: Clark and Grays Harbor were scheduled to play Feb. 25 for the West Division's fourth and final tournament seed. Results were unavailable at press time.
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