Skip to navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Bellevue Big Bend Blue Mountain Centralia Chemeketa Clackamas Clark Columbia Basin Columbia Gorge Douglas Edmonds Everett CC Gray Harbor Green River Highline Klamath Lane Linn Benton LCC MHCC Olympic Peninsula Pierce Portland Rogue Shoreline Skagit Valley South Puget Sound SW Oregon Spokane Tacoma Treasure Valley Umpqua Walla Walla Wenatchee Valley Whatcom Yakima Valley
The Official Website of the Northwest Athletic Conference
Lakers Continue Incredible Run Into NWAC Final with 76-60 Win Vs SPSCC in Final Four
Posted: Mar 16, 2025

Lakers Continue Incredible Run Into NWAC Final with 76-60 Win Vs SPSCC in Final Four

Box Score
Game Leaders
S4 SW Oregon
Pts: Luke Fotheringham - 17
Reb: Colby Whicker - 7
Ast: Luke Fotheringham - 9
W2 S. Puget Sound
Pts: Nehemiah Pollard - 15
Reb: Jeremiah Lewis - 12
Ast: Caleb Bowden - 3
Team Stats
Full stats

PASCO, Wash. - The Southwestern Oregon Lakers clinched their spot in the NWAC Final for the first time in program history, defeating South Puget Sound 76-60 in the Final Four of the 2025 NWAC Men's Basketball Championship presented by Golf Universe, on Saturday at Columbia Basin College.

The Lakers continued their incredible run from No. 4 seed in the tournament to the final game on Sunday where they will face Lower Columbia. SWOCC will be making its first appearance in the championship game in the NWAC, previously appearing in the finals six times with two titles as members of the Oregon Community Colleges Athletic Association (OCCAA). The OCCAA merged with the then NWAACC after the 1983 season. They will make their first championship appearance since then, under head coach Riley Grandinetti.

The Lakers continued to play their fast-paced, team oriented style in the semifinals against SPSCC, posting a 17-10 advantage in assists on the game.

SWOCC featured several standout players as all five started reached double-digit scoring. Luke Fotheringham led the team with 17 points and dished out nine assists with five rebounds. Colby Whicker contributed significantly by scoring 16 points and hitting four 3-pointers. Kam DuPaix also had a notable performance with 10 points, adding two steals to his defensive efforts. Quincy Hills and Kelby Jessen each had 10 points as well.

With the game tied 15-15 with 11:48 to play in the first half, SWOCC pulled ahead with a 12-0 run, ending the half with a 33-25 lead.

The second half of the game saw Southwestern Oregon extend their lead with efficient scoring and defense. Jessen started the quarter strong for the Lakers with a layup at 19:33, followed by a jumper at 19:03, increasing their lead to 37-27. Fotheringham continued to be a key player, contributing multiple layups, including ones at 18:21 and 17:05, and a 3-pointer at 7:12. The Lakers went ahead by as many as 24 with 5:29 to play, proving to be an insurmountable deficit for the Clippers.

Nehemiah Pollard led the Clippers in scoring with 15 points, making three 3-point shots and four free throws while also grabbing seven rebounds. Marcus Lawson contributed 12 points, connecting on five baskets and adding three rebounds. Jeremiah Lewis was a standout on the boards with 12 rebounds and also scored 10 points. Quincy Linton added seven points with two assists and a block.

The Lakers will look for their first-ever NWAC title on Sunday as they take on Lower Columbia at 4:45 p.m. at Holden Court.