Chukars lose opening game at NWAACC tournament
By Argus Observer Sports Staff
Friday, February 29, 2008 10:43 AM PST
Kennewick, Wash. — In what has been a reoccurring theme at all levels of post-season play, foul trouble ruled the day in playoff basketball.
Thursday’s victim —Treasure Valley Community College men’s basketball team.
The Chukars were whistled for 30 fouls and Peninsula connected on 33-of-48 from the free-throw line in its 88-70 win over the Chukars in first round action at the Northwest Athletic Association of Community College playoffs Thursday in Kennewick, Wash.
No. 1 seeded Peninsula, on the other hand, was whistled for 18 fouls, and the Chukars were sent to the line 15 times. If you do the math, the Pirates earned more than three times as many trips to the charity stripe as the Chukars.
“I think it surprised me they called it so close,” TVCC head coach Drake Wallick said. “All we want is equal opportunity on our side. Their kids were shoving our hips and getting away with some things. We don’t want anybody to bail us out, but it was definitely lop-sided.”
Even with the foul difficulties, the Chukars shot 18-of-34 from the field in the opening stanza and at one point, had as much as a 16-point first half lead.
The Pirates were able to whittle away at the deficit, and even though they shot 36 percent in the first half, Peninsula was down 44-39 at the break.
What helped in the Pirate comeback was the foul trouble of TVCC’s leading scorer Shane Miller. Miller picked up a couple of fouls and sat for the final six minutes of the opening frame.
In the second half, the Chukars went ice cold from the field, connecting on 8-of-37 from the field, while Peninsula made good on 14-of-34 and went 17-of-25 from the line.
Dominick Lozano scored 23 points and Clay Greenland added 17 points and nine rebounds for the Pirates, who had 10 different players hit the scoresheet.
Miller finished with a game-high 27 points and reserve Mychal Harris added 11 points to lead the Chukars. Kyle Hart added nine points and Jason Mumm chipped in seven points in a losing cause.
“We couldn’t get past the way the game was being called,” Wallick said. “We couldn’t come up with an answer. I don’t know if it was just that we were a foot slow or what. Robert Moss was under the weather, and Josh Smith wasn’t as polished in his return from his shoulder injury. It’s the championship round and we need support from the entire cast of characters. When we don’t have solid performance by everybody that hurts.”
The Chukars (9-18 overall) played Highline in the consolation bracket at 8 a.m. today. See Sunday’s Argus for a game recap.
