Portland CC 72, Bellevue 67
NWAC Sweet 16, Saturday, March 10
The 6pm Sweet 16 showdown at the NWAC Men’s Basketball Championship Tournament was a barn burner! The #1 seed from the South Region Portland Community College Panthers, took on the #4 seed from the North, the Bellevue Bulldogs.
In a dramatic come back, the Panthers, after trailing by 17 with 13 minutes left in the 2nd half, went on a torrid run to win 72-67.
The Bulldogs who shot 48% in the first half built a 10 point lead 34-24 by holding the Panthers to 10 made shots and forcing 10 turnovers.
The Panthers came out early in the second half and cut the lead to 4 only to see Bellevue push the lead up to 17 points.
Around the 13 minute mark, the resilient Panthers mounted a charge that forced 13 second half turnovers by the Bulldogs.
Cameron Retherford led the Panthers in scoring with 18 points, followed by super sixth man, Terrell Hicks Jr. with 13 and Brendan Ritschard with 12.
The Bulldogs were led by Ting-Jhao Jian with 21 points and Yonathan Michael with 18 points.
The Panthers move on tomorrow to play the Community Colleges of Spokane in the Elite 8 at 6pm.
– story by NWAC Sports Information
Box Score – Portland CC 72, BC 67
Sweet 16 Photos – by Tracy Swisher, NWAC Sports Information
Last Updated March 11, 2018
