Six players. Three games. Three days.
That’s the mountain the Clark College men’s basketball team climbed successfully in Roseburg, Ore.
The Penguins’ reduced roster won two out of three games at the Umpqua Crossover tournament, completing the weekend with an 83-79 overtime win over Highline on Sunday.
Due to various injuries, the Clark squad had to persevere over three consecutive games with just six players.
“I told the guys that this is a program-shifting moment,” Clark coach Alex Kirk said. “We want to have this identity come March.”
Clark was down eight points to Highline with 2 minutes to play.
“We weren’t going to foul,” Kirk said. “I told them to just stay the course and we’ll have an opportunity.”
Three-pointers by Sean Price and Phillip Hertz helped get the Penguins into overtime.
Once in OT, Clark was able to get to the free-throw line and pull away.
Price led all scorers with 35 points on 12 of 18 shooting. He also had 13 rebounds and four assists.
Stanthony Nelms scored 17 points and Hertz 15 for Clark (5-2).
Clark next plays the Linfield JV at McMinnville, Ore., on Wednesday and then is off for Christmas break until a home game on Dec. 29 against Umpqua.
(Click here for Sunday’s boxscore)
Women: Peninsula 68, Clark 62 — The Clark women finished the Lane Crossover tournament 1-2 after a narrow loss on Sunday at Eugene.
Andrea Smith led the Penguins (2-7) in scoring with 18 points and eight rebounds. Ashlie Nguyen had 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Nicolette Bond had 15 points.
Clark trailed 33-29 at the half.
Clark hosts Clackamas at 6 p.m. Thursday for its final game of 2012. Division play begins Jan. 2 with a home game against South Puget Sound.
(Click here for Sunday’s boxscore)
