YVCC men’s basketball team earns a trophy for fifth straight year
March 6, 2012 by YH-R Sports
KENNEWICK, Wash. — Coming off Sunday’s tough quarterfinal loss and facing an opponent it had lost to three times this season, the Yakima Valley men’s basketball team needed to step up to extend its trophy streak at the NWAACC Tournament.
And step up the Yaks did.
Building a nine-point halftime lead and fighting off a pesky Spokane squad, YVCC finally pulled away from the Sasquatch for an 84-72 victory Monday afternoon in the consolation bracket to wrap up its fifth straight trophy.
The size of that trophy will be determined at noon today when the Yaks face Mount Hood for fifth and sixth places at the Toyota Center.
“When you lose and the shot at the championship is gone, it’s always a measure of your toughness (how you respond),” YVCC coach Ray Funk said. “The guys really wanted to extend their season.”
Amir Royal scored 22 points and Dabrail Henton and Cameron Jensen each had 13 for the Yaks (19-11), who overcame Preston Wynne’s game-high 35 points.
“I’m proud we had an answer down the stretch, we maintained our poise,” Funk said.
YVCC shot a robust 84 percent (26 of 31) from the free-throw line keyed by Royal’s 10-for-12 effort. Henton and Jensen were both 4 of 4 from the stripe.
The Yaks also held a 42-32 advantage on the boards with Dallin Molina leading the way with nine rebounds.
YAKIMA VALLEY — Diggs 2-6 2-2 6, DeShawn Battle 4-8 3-4 11, Amir Royal 5-12 10-12 22, Martinez 2-2 0-0 4, Bagby 0-0 0-0 0, Molina 4-11 0-1 8, Dabrail Henton 4-11 4-4 13, Cameron Jensen 4-10 4-4 13, Flowers 2-5 3-4 7. Totals 27-65 26-31 84.
SPOKANE — Edwards 1-11 0-0 3, Preston Wynne 10-20 9-11 35, Harvey 0-0 0-0 0, Holbrook 2-5 0-0 4, Pettersen 0-1 0-0 0, Brady Bagby 2-12 5-7 10, Frisbie 0-0 0-0 0, Luke Evans 5-7 0-0 10, Marlowe Brim 4-7 2-2 10. Totals 24-63 16-20 72.
Halftime — Yakima Valley 46, Spokane 37. 3-point goals — Yakima Valley 4-15 (Royal 2-4, Jensen 1-3, Henton 1-5, Diggs 0-1, Battle 0-2), Spokane 8-31 (Wynne 6-11, Bagby 1-7, Edwards 1-10, Holbrook 0-3). Fouled out — Pettersen. Rebounds — Yakima Valley 42 (Molina 9), Spokane 32 (Bagby, Brim 6). Assists — Yakima Valley 8 (Battle, Royal 2), Spokane 15 (Holbrook 4). Turnovers — Yakima Valley 8, Spokane 11. Total fouls — Yakima Valley 17, Spokane 22.
Filed under All, YVCC Basketball (M)
