The Southwestern Oregon Community College men’s basketball team suffered its second loss of the season at the Skagit Valley crossover tournament on Thursday, but bounced back to win its next two games in exciting fashion. South Puget Sound beat the Lakers 78-64 in the opener of the event. Logan Deal had 14 points, Colby Whicker 11 and Luke Fotheringham nine in the loss.
The Lakers edged Skagit Valley, the team ranked No. 2 in the NWAC coaches poll, 65- 63 on Saturday. SWOCC took the lead on a layup by Fotheringham with 2:50 to go in the game.
Deal had 15 points to lead the Lakers. Whicker added 13, Fotheringham 10 and Cole Roberts eight. Deal also had eight rebounds.
On Saturday, the Lakers edged Wenatchee Valley by an even narrower margin, 76-75. The Lakers erased a late four-point deficit on a 3-pointer by Whicker and a pair of layups by Fotheringham. Fotheringham finished with 21 points, while Kelby Jessen had 12, Connor Wilson 11 and Whicker 10.
SWOCC finished the preseason with an 11-2 record despite playing just one home game, the only other loss a 79-67 setback to No. 4 Lower Columbia in the Lower Columbia tournament. The Lakers, who are ranked No.
6, now are off until opening NWAC South Region play Jan. 4 at Clackamas. The Lakers are at Chemeketa on Jan.
11 before hosting Umpqua on Jan. 15 and Portland on Jan. 18.
SWOCC’s women hosted their crossover over the weekend. On Friday, Treasure Valley beat the Lakers 80-54. Helen Wolfe had 19 points and Kali Hibbert 14 i.
