Clark men hold off Green River

A 21-point halftime lead nearly vanished, but the Clark College men’s basketball team held on for a 70-69 NWAACC West Division victory over Green River of Auburn on Saturday.

In front of many members of the 2013 Class of the Penguins Hall of Fame, which was inducted in a ceremony after the game, Clark (13-7, 6-5) remained in the hunt for a playoff berth.

“We have to approach each game as a playoff game, so this was a big win,” Clark coach Alex Kirk said. “We found a way to win when we had to.”

Green River (13-10, 5-7) had the final shot, but it rimmed out.

Clark’s Sean Price, a Columbia River grad, led all scorers with 22 points. Phillip Hertz had 16 points and six assists.

Next up for Clark is a key game against fourth-place Lower Columbia on Monday in Longview.

(Click here for the men’s boxscore)

WOMEN: Clark 96, Green River 34 — Clark held visiting Green River to 11 first-half points to maintain a hold of second place in the NWAACC West Division.

Five Penguins were in double figures led by Dominique Johnson’s 16 points. Andrea Smith had 12 points and seven rebounds, and Jade Bowie, Nicolette Bond and Toni Doroha each had 10 points.

Clark, which is over .500 for the first time this season at 11-10 overall, has won four consective games.

The Penguins (9-2 division) are at Lower Columbia on Monday.

(Click here for the women’s boxscore)