FINAL BUZZER
The Loggers made the postseason for yet another season but their season came to an end on Saturday in the NWC Championship game in Spokane.
The Loggers vs. Willamette
Draining 13 from long-range, the Puget Sound Loggers advanced to the Northwest Conference Championship Game with a 87-82 win over the Willamette Bearcats in the Semifinal of the NWC Men's Basketball Tournament on Thursday night at Memorial Fieldhouse in Tacoma, Wash. With the win, the Loggers will travel to Spokane to take on Whitworth on Saturday for the NWC Tournament Championship.
The Bearcats (11-15) came out strong and held a 10-point lead over the Loggers (19-6) with 13:28 remaining in the first period but the Loggers quickly erased that, going on a 11-0 run in just 89 seconds to pull ahead by one point. The Loggers pushed their lead to 12 points on a pair of free throw by Robert Krauel (Phoenix, Ariz./North Canyon) before the Bearcats posted a mini-comeback to cut the Logger lead to just four, 45-41, heading into halftime.
In the second half, Willamette tried to get back in it but everything they got close, the Loggers shut the door in their face. Puget Sound made 12-of-13 free throws in the second half to ice the victory. The Loggers also took advantage of Willamette turnovers, scoring 35 second-half points off Bearcats miscues.
The Loggers were led by 17 points from junior Jason Foster (Tacoma, Wash./Foss). Antwan Williams (Portland, Ore./Madison) added 16 while Austin Boyce (Kent, Wash./Kentwood) came off the bench to score 14. Taylor Marsh (Lynnwood, Wash./Meadowdale) finished the Loggers in double-digit scoring, putting up 13 points, including three from behind the arc.
Willamette was led by 23 points from Corey Constantino. Mike Smith chipped in 17 points and Kyler McLary added 13 in the loss. Cameron Mitchell came off the bench to record the double-double, finishing with 12 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. The Bearcats out-rebounded the Loggers, 45-27, but turned the ball over 30 times.
The Loggers vs. Whitworth
For the second time in three seasons, the Puget Sound Loggers made an appearance in the Northwest Conference Men's Basketball Tournament Championship game. Unfortunately for the Loggers, this appearance ended in a loss as the Puget Sound Loggers fell to the Whitworth Pirates, 96-69, on Saturday night at Whitworth Fieldhouse in Spokane.
In the first half, Jason Foster (Tacoma, Wash./Foss) hit a three-pointer 1:20 into the game to give the Loggers a 3-0 lead before the Pirates scored their way to a 10-point lead with 13:41 remaining. UPS retook the lead on a layup by Weston Wood (Spokane, Wash./Riverside) with 2:34 remaining but the Pirates finished the first half on a 9-0 run to take a 41-34 lead into the break.
In the second half, the Pirates quickly pulled ahead, building a 21-point lead with 11:32 remaining. The Loggers briefly got the deficit below 20 but the Pirates continued to hit whatever they put up to earn the 96-69 victory. The Loggers shot just 26.3% in the second half, making 10-of-38 attempts, including just one-of-16 behind the arc.
The Loggers were led by 19 points from junior Antwan Williams (Portland, Ore./Madison). Taylor Marsh (Lynnwood, Wash./Meadowdale) added 18 while Robert Krauel (Phoenix, Ariz./North Canyon) chipped in 12 points. Foster finished the night with 10 points and nine rebounds.
Whitworth was led by 33 points from NWC Player of the Year Ryan Symes. David Riley added 18 points while Calvin Jurich recorded the double-double with 17 points and 10 boards. The Pirates made 47.4% from behind the arc, sinking nine-of-19 attempts.
All-NWC Selections
After leading the Puget Sound Loggers to a second place finish in a competitive Northwest Conference, juniors Jason Foster (Tacoma, Wash./Foss) and Antwan Williams (Portland, Ore./Madison) were named to the First Team All-NWC.
For Foster, this marks the second straight season he has been named a First Team All-NWC selection after averaging 18.7 ppg for the Loggers. Williams, who was an Honorable Mention honoree last season, averaged 17.3 ppg for the Loggers while also averaging 5.71 assists per game and 2.96 steals per game.
Junior forward Robert Krauel (Phoenix, Ariz./North Canyon) was named Honorable Mention All-NWC after leading the Logger bench with 14.7 ppg and 6.0 rebounds per game.
Whitworth senior Ryan Symes was named NWC Player of the Year while the Pirates' Jim Hayford was named NWC Coach of the Year.
Statistically Speaking
The Loggers wrapped up the 2007-08 regular season on top of several statistical categories in the Northwest Conference. Puget Sound was tops in scoring offense (94.5 ppg), field goal percentage (.493), steals (12.88 spg), and turnover margin (+6.79). Individually, Antwan Williams led the NWC in steals per game at 2.96.
Nationally, the Loggers are third in scoring offense, seventh in steals per game and 21st in field goal percentage. Williams is 11th nationally in steals per game and 17th nationally in assists (5.7 apg)
The Coach
Justin Lunt concludes his second season as head coach of the Logger men's basketball program. A graduate of Pacific Lutheran, Lunt is a native of San Diego, Calif. Heading into this weekend, Lunt now has a career record of 37-14, including 22-10 in the Northwest Conference.
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