News / Sports / Clark County Sports

Clark beats Yakima Valley to reach NWAC final four

Bryan Berg scores 26 points on 13 of 14 shooting

By Becca Robbins and Josh Brody, For The Columbian

Published: March 11, 2016, 10:42pm

Clark College's Glenn Baral, left, attempts a shot against Yakima Valley in the Northwest Athletic Conference tournament quarterfinals Friday at Everett Community College. Clark won 65-57. (Ryan Robbins/for The Columbian)

EVERETT — The Clark College men’s basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the Northwest Athletic Conference tournament by beating Yakima Valley 65-57 on Friday.

Despite five lead changes in the first half, Clark prevailed as the No. 1 seed in the South Division. The Penguins quest for a championship repeat continues Saturday against Whatcom Community College at 8 p.m.

Yakima Valley hit nine 3-pointers and shot nearly 40 percent from the field. However, Bryan Berg made 13 of his 14 field goal attempts and led Clark with 26 points.

Head coach Alex Kirk said he has asked Berg to lead the Penguins for the entire season. As for Friday’s performance, Kirk told said that Berg “steadied the ship.”

The first half was filled with nerves, according to Kirk, and it ended with Clark ahead 35-29.

But the Penguins didn’t relinquish the lead in the second half despite a barrage of fouls by Yakima Valley down the stretch.

Glenn Baral hit a pair of free throws to solidify Clark’s lead.

“They kind of scared us at the end,” Baral said. “We gave some of their shooters some open looks, but we tightened it up and made our free throws when we needed them.”

Yakima Valley’s Demetrius Trammell sank six 3-pointers, including one that tied the game at 42.

Although Berg said the tension didn’t get to him, Kirk said he was nervous enough for the both of them.

The Penguins and the Yaks alike are not accustomed to such a low scoring game. Clark averages nearly 92 points a game and Yakima 84. However, Kirk said he is eager to play Whatcom as part of their mission to play against the best teams in the NWAC.

Whatcom defeated Columbia Basin, 64-47 on Friday. The Orcas have a height advantage on the Penguins with five players above 6-foot-5.

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